Horse-Flies Up Your Nose

What do you think.. does the term/name horse-flies have to do with the size of these beasts with wings? Or, rather is it that horse-flies like to fly 'round horses? I'll be with the party that goes with BOTH. Size of a horse, they are! And, have you ever seen the eyelash and nostril area of an equine friend? Frequent buzzing going on in those parts. Poor things !

can you believe I'm posting this picture?

Okay, that was a bit of a tangent I got lost in....

Was feeling a bit equine-ish myself while hiking around the hills much too late on a HOT summer day. Hills = exertion = sweat+open mouth breathing... and then before you know it you feel like the Burrito I talked about in a recent post. Flies buzzing all about your nasal passages... UUUUGHH.

Most days this does not happen. Most time when it does, it is actually little gnat-type insects. Still I hate those buggers near my boogers...   AHHHAAAA... hhhee haawww

He  ^ finds that funny too!! Hey! wait a minute - I don't see flies up those nostrils!! ^

Possibly the lowly horse-fly has a purpose in our world? This girl doesn't take kindly to sharing her bodily fluids with said insects, however. I'm just far too civilized for that. (yeah - read that last sentence as far too wussy).

Is this the kookiest subject matter ever?

Maybe caused by very little sleep and staring at this screen far too long. Working on Goat Hill Fair items. In fact, getting ready to do a post on that blog that somewhat relates to this. I'm going to show this photo ~

With the title:  Working Our ASSES Off!!

Think that'll go over okay?? If you never hear from me again in blogland... you'll know why!! HA

Time for this to end.... 
Need rest...

ahhhhhh break time....

Call Me Corny

Corndogs were on the menu, but I abstained - not for reasons of goodness and health - just wasn't feelin' corny this day. Possibly corny though in the fact that I delighted in all things Country Fair and took me, myself and I for a morning of Carnies and Blue Ribbons. I love a County Fair! Ours though, no longer has its rural roots. The schedule is shortened. The Halls sparse in their baking, gardening, canning offerings. I felt very sad - and maybe that too is corny.

Made the rounds to the stinky parts filled with cages, stalls and pens. The 4H'ers have my heart in the back pocket of them thar white uniforms. Darn if those children aren't so sweet to watch with their lovingly raised animals all set for showing!

See what I mean about those all white uniforms??  ^
That topper of a Forest Green beret sends my fondness over the edge....

After ribbons were given I tore myself away from the goats. My inclination towards those creatures has increased in the past year... hhhm, wonder why that might be? Oh yes - possibly because of this. 

Feathers, bristles, udders and others ....

The picture above kills me! First look at the smile and Jimmy Durante style nose on the front piglet.. and that guy in the back... PUL- EEAZE , I nearly had a fit when I saw that his head is stuck into the feed bucket and he's sound asleep. Quite content! He coulda drowned in slop if he hadn't consumed it all!!


Nothing like fair-food! In a class all its own!

If corny be not thy name, then possibly SILLY shall be ~

Red, White and GREY All Day

Our 4th of July was spontaneous and fun. Only planned part was the reservation I made to stay in a Bed & Breakfast in a small town at the coast. No way of knowing that the day was to be foggy as all get-out. Worked out fine that the town of Half Moon Bay had no funding for a fireworks display - wouldn't of seen nary a one with that thick fog. Twas grey all the day!

Half Moon Bay did display their down-home, community spirit and anyone willing could march down Main Street in the annual 4th of July parade. The most popular portion being the dog march. Waggers, barkers, fluffys, gargantuans, minis, rescues, and handicapped....tons of dogs dressed in red, white and blue.

There was a pancake breakfast ~

We bundled up and smiled  ~

Small town, big heart!

We picnicked in a garden and bonfired at our B&B ~

We're often lucky to be joined by my brother and sister-in-law... Much more fun to share these special times with someone.



Dinner was seafood heaven

The only time we saw the sun... the entire day (no sunset either) ->

See the sun hiding back behind us??  :-)

********************

Picture-a-day on the 4th was:  FUN - I enter my first photo on this post - the Bulldog with the Uncle Sam hat is pure definition of fun!

Picture-a-day on the 5th: On The Floor -

Picture-a-day for today (the 6th) was: Chair

She fits the patriotic color scheme so well!  ^

Burritos With Ears

Quirkiest moments sure can happen out of the blue - when you least expect them. Here's the scenario ... I'm on my daily {almost daily} walk. It really was golden today. Warm with a flag-blowing breeze. Neighborhoods decked out for the Fourth of July.

Up and over hills, in and around gates and fences. Admittedly even into some gated areas with warning signs! But, I'd been there before. I knew the ropes.... NO PROBLEMO! I had watched other people coming and going 'round these parts hundreds of times.

Sitting on this particular hill is a chi-chi winery on many acres. Heck, how would any of those wine-people even know I was here?? Number one rule of trespassing - Walk straight towards your destination, do not stop and admire the scenery.

A Burrito stopped me in my tracks!! Yep, a Burrito out in the field. I did not know it was a Burrito. I happened upon a pace {term for a group of burros} of donkeys grazing the sun-crisped thistles of the hill.

So?.. where does a Burrito come in?
A strong voice from behind me startled my Instagramming hand. "JUANITA!!"
...not my name, must be yellin' at someone else... Footfall coming towards me...
 Uh oh, I was caught! Traipsing in unwelcoming fields...   what now? Sure that I'd be asked to get my tennies running right off the winery acres, I put the camera down and turned to explain. Before me was an elder gentleman in overalls, cowboy hat, and piece of straw in his mouth. NAHHH - just kidding about that! But, he was in overalls.

I was scuurrred. Lo and behold, this fella just wanted to tell me the name of the donkey whose photo I was trying to Instagram. "That one there is Burrito!".. "And over there - the black one is Jack", and "the two that look alike are Jerusalem donkeys. Their names are Juanita and Juan".
GEEESHH.. this guy was just an old softy with a penchance for talking....{ hmmm sounds somewhat familiar}.

The old guy never knew what hit him - I talked him up, I asked a dozen questions, I admired his job and the beauty of his pace. I was also honest and forthcoming explaining that I pass this way only infrequently. "Yes, the trespassing signs are posted - but the neighbors on that hill are treated kindly and allowed certain privileges" - said he. "Ah, I see" I kindly retorted. "I am not of this hill". Til now~


I officially belong to the legally allowed on winery trails group


It was my love of Burritos that did it!

The end....

Except for: Instagram photo-a-day topic: Your Favorite Part of the Day.... well, DUH! take a look above at said story and photos!!

Abundant Nature

Have you seen it? I never got a chance to watch Planet Earth. I'd heard many great things about it. I love the beauty in this type of television show. Only problem is.... I do hate the food-chain in nature. Cannot sit and watch the poor little-defenseless-guy get eaten! Believe me, I know it's gotta happen, I just don't need to see it up close and personal!

Back to my question....  so, now there is the latest version called Frozen Planet. I saw an episode. BEAUTY!! Loved it and will have to tune in again soon.

This one particular animal and the photography around it stunned me ~ the Great Gray Owl. I just have to get searching and find out more about this amazing bird!

When's the next episode ?

Two In Tomales or {Part Two}

Snug and cozy in our downy bed. Coffee just outside our door, but I gulped it rather than sip with leisure - the fog was rolling!  Had to hurry and capture that white haze over the farmland. The sun was sending feelers out...

Rolling hill vistas in dairy pastures ~

All this in just my first hour awake!  ^

Let the rest of the day unfold ~




rusty, metal, corrugated country scenery




frosty ground



Religion in the country ~

Madonna in a silo

Random and odd building finds ~



not to be confused with Oyster Rockefeller



A building FIND of the century at this establishment ->

So very much to behold it needs a post all of it's own. Next time....

Too Terrific Tomales

Home base was a bed and breakfast. History sitting on a two lane highway. A wraparound porch with American bunting upon the second floor ~

Watching the town stand still from the corner of Beach and Farm ~

Day tripping along country roads leading to rocky outcroppings ~

Bays with boats a-bobbing ~

Sunny days call for pier sitting ~

Pleasantly stopping here and there to smile at frolicking pasture animals ~

Heading fast as can be to those dunes on fire ~

Our world felt lighter, sunnier and peaceful. The next day continued in this same spirit.... you'll see...