Friday, July 11, 2008

Tomatoes for Dinner


This weekend we get to enjoy the first returns from our garden. Fresh tomatoes, peppers and basil from the garden along with a little cheese and bread. It is fun to just go out in the garden and pick some fresh vegetables for dinner. Looks like we are going to have alot of tomatoes this year. I think all that prep work we did a few months ago is paying off.

Friday, July 4, 2008

Sierra Madre July 4th Parade

We had a front row seat on the curb. Great parade, every year.

No question about the Grand Marshall. SMFD.


Scouts, schools, veterans in uniform, jeeps, old bicycles, vintage cars, trucks, the Humane Society, churches, a priest on a motorcycle, a bubble machine, Sierra Madre City College, politicians, mail carriers, mini-cars, fire fighters, the forest service, a soft ball team, a cheer squad, and .... tractors. A wonderful small town parade.
No water fights though. In past parades, fire fighters exchanged blasts of water with kids toting super soakers lining the parade route. Not this parade. I hope it comes back next year.


Thursday, July 3, 2008

San Gabriel Mountains -- 1880's Views

Sierra Madre from Sunny Slope
Carlton Watkins, 1880
Courtesy of the California History Room, California State Library, Sacramento


At one time, panoramic mountain views could be had from seemingly anywhere in the San Gabriel Valley. This Watkins stereo card was made from a photo taken from L.J. Rose's Sunny Slope ranch that covered some of present day East Pasadena (south of Foothill) and San Marino. The card's title ("Sierra Madre") refers to the mountains and not the yet to be founded city.


San Gabriel Valley View
Unknown Photographer, ca. 1880
Courtesy of the California History Room, California State Library, Sacramento


I cannot tell where in the San Gabriel valley this photo was taken. But I like it because it gives a good feel for how the mountains dominated the scene when the San Gabriel Valley was mostly open plains.


Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Chicks - Two Weeks Old


Here she is. Rhode Island Red, a little older and a lot bigger than that little fluff ball she was when we got her. The chicks are constantly eating and seem to grow daily. This one was amused at her little visit outside today. She then had to return to her temporary home inside. She and five other little chicks are living in a neighbor's old rabbit cage that now dominates our living room.