Juggling in Pleasant Hill, CA

We came out of Pasta Pomadoro the other night and found this guy performing in Pleasant's Hills' newish downtown development. Pleasant Hill is a Bay Area suburb that actually did a creative job, building a downtown center. It's kind of a half-round street full of restaurants and stores (mostly chains that I can see), but it's got lots of walking space, trees and a "public square" feel. It's a nice hang-out. (Jackson took this photo. He's crazy about juggling.)

Welcome to Calif-orn-ia

Cloudz

On the way down to California, we were followed by multiple cumulus clouds. At one point I dozed off in the car, woke up slightly and saw some very animated and funny characters in these clouds.

Saving the moment

Mental Hopscotch

Some ambitious chalk-wielding child in our neighborhood has a lot in common with my ambitious chalk-wielding child.

We'll miss you, Vancouver Parks & Rec

Nautilus Equipment has their world headquarters in Vancouver, WA and they let everyone use their sports field, which includes a baseball diamond, a football/soccer field, two basketball courts and a track.



Pacific Community Park has a skate/BMX bike park, a dog park with its own grove of trees, a walking trail through a forest and new playground equipment for climbing and balancing. Baseball and soccer fields are next on their agenda.

Oak Tree - 1867

I've neglected this blog due to our hectic schedule this month. We'll be moving back to California after nearly two years in the Northwest. It's recession-related, but we have a good set-up to go back to--a job, a nice neighborhood, and good schools, plus (bonus!) friends and family.

I thought I'd settle near Portland and live out my days here. I love this place, especially its natural beauty and...its trees. I never would have started this blog if I hadn't moved here and immediately noticed the character and profusion of trees. The trees keep it green, fresh and inviting all year round, whether it's raining, snowing or shining down on you.

I had planned to do this daily blog for one year so I would have a record of the seasons to look upon all year long. I don't know if I can keep going until August, which is when I started this project, but I'll give it a try. Of course there are beautiful trees in Northern California, but there's not the lush, watery rainforest effect, like in SW Washington. No matter. The seasons all blur into one another there anyway.

Meanwhile, here's a Dessau Oak taken by Gerd Volkerling, scanned from "A World History of Photography," edited by Naomi Rosenblum. Packing up the house leaves no time to photograph anything, but lots of time to notice old photographs, so here's a glimpse from the past that could have been taken yesterday.