My brother and sister-in-law came to Santa Barbara to drop off their ‘baby,’ Sarah, who is attending UCSB. While they were here, we got some good time in at the beach, one of the things they miss most about moving away many years ago. Here are a few captures of the day.
School has started, and that’s when a lot of people prefer to travel… when the summer vacationers go home and it’s less crowded out there.
I don’t travel all that frequently, but I found these travel tips really great. Some are common sense, but others I wouldn’t have known. For one, I like #20 since I tend to get motion sick, and I didn’t know that the turbulence factor differs depending on where you are in the plane. We sort of figured out #22 last time we were on a trip and driving from place to place without wifi or data turned on. #31 is cool. And #35! I use Photoshop, but I had no idea about that one. There are some excellent tips here. See what you think.
I ran across this article this morning and have to share. It hits the nail on the head. There is a large percentage of the population that doesn’t know the difference (and a few designers I’ve run across that don’t seem to get it either). Most people don’t understand that we are, first and foremost, problem solvers. Not on some mission to ‘leave our mark’ with every job we take on. It’s about presenting the best solution in each individual case for each individual client.
If you’re unsure whether or not you know the difference, please take a minute to read this short article…
Your designers are not artists and you need to stop thinking that way.
Awhile back, I signed up with Thumbtack as means of adding new business. They have lots of categories for people looking to have work done, and I think it could be a fruitful partnership. As an designer, I bid for jobs that Thumbtack sends me as possible job matches. I input my rate or an flat fee estimate and my bid is submitted to the customer. It also works for possible music/band-related gigs. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes of it.
My daughter moved to Egypt two years ago and hadn’t been back to visit since. But that changed this month. She wasn’t able to bring both kids — imagine two hyper kids on an 18-or-so-hour trip — but brought her youngest, Abdu. We traveled up to gold country to see family and took the most amazing hike. We even had my mom with us, who turns 80 in October. It was a very special time spent together, for all of us.
Treasure time spent with loved ones. We can’t be with them all the time or always.
Isle sur la Sorgue
Catapault at Les Baux
Cheese vendors
Taking a nap on the barge
Life in St. Remy
Well, we did it. We went back to France this year. I think it’s starting to become an addiction.
We stayed in the south of France, mainly Provence. I hadn’t really been to this part of the world before, so it was a real adventure and we covered a lot of territory. To the left is Isle sur la Sorgue, where they have a ‘brocante’ or flea market every Sunday. The items for sale on one side of the river are nice antiques, silverware, linens and the like while the vendors on the other side sell inexpensive clothing, bags, food, and basically cheap stuff.
One place I highly recommend if you’re ever in the area is Les Baux. Plan to spend most of the day exploring this historic site, then catch the Carrières de Lumières afterward in the nearby quarry. ‘Klimt and Vienna’ and ‘Invisibles Cities’ were playing when we were there.
We went to the outdoor markets in several towns and they sell the most amazing local fruits and vegetables, olives, soaps, hats, clothing, and lavender. The sights, smells, and sounds are so inviting. The French really know how to live. They would gather around little tables at lunchtime for a glass of wine and share some food. Very friendly and warm.
Then there were the many castles, vineyards, lavender fields, and roads with circles just about every time you blink. And the food. Oh, the food… We stopped to get gas one afternoon and found a place serving food. Really good food. At a gas station. And espressos. Really good espresso, not your 7–11 crap. How great is that?
We were happy to be able to stay with some friends, which was the real highlight. We also stayed several places that we found through Airbnb. It was an opportunity to meet some new friends. We even stayed on a barge one night and met some real characters who we hope will come visit us one day.
We made a road trip, which by California standards isn’t a big deal. It was only about three hours. We drove to Nice and met an online friend who has a music studio he built there. It was great to finally meet up in person. The ocean off the coast of Nice is an amazing shade of aqua. It was a windy day, and watching those waves crashing and the palm trees blowing was a memorable experience.
In reference to my post in February, I decided that to keep the rodent population under control, it would be nice to have a barn owl nesting box on the property. Luckily, ‘I know a guy’ who was willing and able to build it. We hope to have many owlets born in this cool little pad.
If you are looking to build one yourself, here’s a great resource that has all the info you need: http://www.scvas.org/pdf/cbrp/BuildingBarnOwlBoxes.pdf. You can also buy them, but I can’t guarantee that they will be furnished with all the right accoutrements needed for the survival of the barn owl pair and owlets.
Winter moving toward spring, these healthy mixed berry muffins seemed like the perfect thing to make and indulge in without having too many calories, like muffins tend to have. They were really good!
One of the challenges that we’ve taken on around here is the clearing of our property. California is suffering quite a drought and living a bit out-in-the-sticks, in a canyon no less, can be a bit scary to say the least. So clearing dead wood and brush is always a good idea. It’s been quite a project.
One of the benefits is that the hawks and owls have been hanging around more since it’s easy pickins’… there’s basically nowhere for the rodents to hide. I certainly have no objection, since the varmints have eaten most of what I’ve planted. Yes, what the gophers don’t get from underneath, the chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits, and an occasional deer take care of. There are also mice and rats around these parts. And they’re all pretty cute until your investment in time, effort and money is wiped out basically overnight. And fruit trees ain’t cheap, I can tell ya!
And of course, other benefits are firewood and wood chips. And those certainly come in handy.
Happy New Year! I took this photo on my walk New Year’s Day. I try not to go overboard on New Year’s resolutions, but I do love a new beginning and the hope and promise that it inspires. Here’s to new beginnings and being our best selves.
