since we got back

It's been an easy week at home, just me and Van, no Conrad (who comes home tomorrow from a conference in Chicago).  There have been the morning walks, increasing in length from 6 point something miles on Tuesday morning to over 8 miles today.  The June Gloom has been great for the walks, though blue skies might have made better backdrops for the rare photos I am taking on the walks,

including of me. 

Van picked up to-go food from Julienne on Tuesday, and we sat outside for dinner and cocktails. 

Last night was out on the deck again, cocktails again,

ribs that I cooked for dinner.  Some television, some early nights to bed.  A nice week, and a quiet one at work as well.  Ahhhhh.

jacaranda

The June Gloom makes for very comfortable walks and swims but not always the best backdrop for photos.  A shame, because it's jacaranda season in SoCal, and all over the place you can see masses of the purple blooms where the trees are in abundance or poke above the surroundings.  Del Mar is the Pasadena street that is really known for them, and I caught a shot of them on an early morning walk on Wednesday.  Not as vibrant as on a sunny day, perhaps, but lovely enough!

jacaranda

The June Gloom doesn't show them off very well, but the jacaranda trees are in bloom. 

A lovely, pastel purple lining streets here and there.  Not a native tree, but a beautiful one.

Although there is a purple "snow" that results, and apparently it can be a messy one at that!

 

On a side note, the matilija poppies (native to California) that I saw on my Thursday morning walk were in all their fried egg glory!