Gary Ayala
Well-Known Member
Goodnight.
Today's Koi pond at twilight.
Today's Koi pond at twilight.
Critique Welcomed A Blog - COTiP (Cleaning Out The iPhone)
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Gary Ayala
Well-Known Member
Busy day:
1)
Before Shot-
Made some bread - Crusty Rosemary & Olive Oil bread (I added peppers, basil, marjoram and doubled the rosemary).
2)
Went shopping picked up about 14 tomatoes plants, 10 peppers (sweet, bell, Hatch and hot), a native Milkweed, zucchini, cucumber et al. (The Marigolds are for Dia de los Muertos.)
3)
Planted same. This is a native Milkweed I purchased and planted today (Narrow Leaf). Apparently, non-Native Milkweed may be harmful for Monarch Butterflies. This one came with a Monarch caterpillar! (circled)
4)
The baby Monarch caterpillar which came with the Milkweed.
5)
After Shot.
6)
18,000 steps later, Mary Lou and I celebrated with a glass of vino. (I count my steps to judge my daily activity/health level.)
1)
Before Shot-
Made some bread - Crusty Rosemary & Olive Oil bread (I added peppers, basil, marjoram and doubled the rosemary).
2)
Went shopping picked up about 14 tomatoes plants, 10 peppers (sweet, bell, Hatch and hot), a native Milkweed, zucchini, cucumber et al. (The Marigolds are for Dia de los Muertos.)
3)
Planted same. This is a native Milkweed I purchased and planted today (Narrow Leaf). Apparently, non-Native Milkweed may be harmful for Monarch Butterflies. This one came with a Monarch caterpillar! (circled)
4)
The baby Monarch caterpillar which came with the Milkweed.
5)
After Shot.
6)
18,000 steps later, Mary Lou and I celebrated with a glass of vino. (I count my steps to judge my daily activity/health level.)
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Gary Ayala
Well-Known Member
Gary Ayala
Well-Known Member
COTiP -
More from the back.
Another Clamantis.
More from the back.
Another Clamantis.
Gary Ayala
Well-Known Member
Rainy day today. Light rain and some wind on and off all day. Mary Lou, Maggie and I were thinking about a trip to Temecula wine country ... but postponed to trip for a drier tomorrow. Rain is scarce out here ... consequently it is very welcomed. All the plants seemed to be happy.
Between showers the sun poked through.
Between showers the sun poked through.
Attachments
Gary Ayala
Well-Known Member
COTiP- A bit of Wine Country
Lorenzi Estates
Temecula, Southern California
1)
Salud - A toast with our first tasting.
2)
Great clouds on a cool, but very pleasant afternoon.
3)
Lorenzi Vines, the best vino in the Valley.
This was on Sunday and Coachella/Stagecoach was wrapping up adding significant traffic which gummed up the 15 Freeway.
4)
There was entertainment ... Mike and Mo. Nice and easy stuff, perfect for the vineyard. We chatted and they discovered Mary Lou ... consequently ... Mike and Mo sang Ricky Nelson's "Hello Mary Lou".
Lorenzi Estates
Temecula, Southern California
1)
Salud - A toast with our first tasting.
2)
Great clouds on a cool, but very pleasant afternoon.
3)
Lorenzi Vines, the best vino in the Valley.
This was on Sunday and Coachella/Stagecoach was wrapping up adding significant traffic which gummed up the 15 Freeway.
4)
There was entertainment ... Mike and Mo. Nice and easy stuff, perfect for the vineyard. We chatted and they discovered Mary Lou ... consequently ... Mike and Mo sang Ricky Nelson's "Hello Mary Lou".
Attachments
Gary Ayala
Well-Known Member
COTiP (Cleaning out the iPhone):
Sunday, SoCal is experiencing June Gloom. At the end of Spring and beginning of Summer, we experience heavy overcast, gray mornings. We call it June Gloom ... but it quite nice actually. Very cool mornings in the upper 60'sF ... burning off in the early afternoon for very pleasant days in the upper 70's. When the sun pops out, so do the butterflies. I have literally nonstop butterflies in the back, Monarchs, Whites, Sulfurs are constant with the occasional Swallowtail, Morning Cloak and Painted Lady. Taking a break from pruning the grapes and basil to watching the Nations League finals in Munich. Half time score Espana 2 - Portugal 1. A very good game.
Some poppies have sprung up unexpectedly and unannounced in the gaps between the BBQ Patio pavers.
1)
I love 'em.
2)
Bees love 'em.
They have seriously limited access to my BBQ's and prep tables.
As they mature, I'll keep a close watch on the seed pods, which will be moved to areas more conducive for poppy cultivation.
Sunday, SoCal is experiencing June Gloom. At the end of Spring and beginning of Summer, we experience heavy overcast, gray mornings. We call it June Gloom ... but it quite nice actually. Very cool mornings in the upper 60'sF ... burning off in the early afternoon for very pleasant days in the upper 70's. When the sun pops out, so do the butterflies. I have literally nonstop butterflies in the back, Monarchs, Whites, Sulfurs are constant with the occasional Swallowtail, Morning Cloak and Painted Lady. Taking a break from pruning the grapes and basil to watching the Nations League finals in Munich. Half time score Espana 2 - Portugal 1. A very good game.
Some poppies have sprung up unexpectedly and unannounced in the gaps between the BBQ Patio pavers.
1)
I love 'em.
2)
Bees love 'em.
They have seriously limited access to my BBQ's and prep tables.
As they mature, I'll keep a close watch on the seed pods, which will be moved to areas more conducive for poppy cultivation.
Attachments
Last edited:
Gary Ayala
Well-Known Member
2 - 2
Gary Ayala
Well-Known Member
Extra innings for Portugal - Espana match still 2-2.
Dodgers up on St. Louis 7-3 top of ninth.
Dodgers up on St. Louis 7-3 top of ninth.
Gary Ayala
Well-Known Member
Dodger win!
Gary Ayala
Well-Known Member
Portugal wins the Shootout!
Gary Ayala
Well-Known Member
COTiP: On Saturday, while prepping the back for Sunday's Father's Day BBQ, (US Holiday on June 15), I shot some flowers.
1)
Monarch and Milkweed
2)
Honey Bee and Poppy-1
3)
Honey Bee and Poppy-2
4)
Stand Alone Poppy
5)
Poppy with fountain
6)
Artichokes
7)
More poppies
1)
Monarch and Milkweed
2)
Honey Bee and Poppy-1
3)
Honey Bee and Poppy-2
4)
Stand Alone Poppy
5)
Poppy with fountain
6)
Artichokes
7)
More poppies
Gary Ayala
Well-Known Member
COTiP: On Saturday, while prepping the back for Sunday's Father's Day BBQ, (US Holiday on June 15), I shot some flowers-2.
8)
Fuschia
9)
Rose (Mr. Lincoln I believe)
10)
Liiy of the Nile with a White in the background resting on some Basil (Cabbage Butterfly)
11)
Sipped my morning coffee while working the back.
8)
Fuschia
9)
Rose (Mr. Lincoln I believe)
10)
Liiy of the Nile with a White in the background resting on some Basil (Cabbage Butterfly)
11)
Sipped my morning coffee while working the back.
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Gary Ayala
Well-Known Member
Cleaning Out the iPhone - from July 4 - Happy Independence Day!:
More Backyard Stuff.
1)
One of Mary Lou's Plumaria's, "Rainbow".
2)
These roses are so stunning. I think the name is 'Veteran'.
2)
The pond is sooooo relaxing. The waterfall fills the patio with soothing sounds.
4)
This year there's been more wildlife in the Back then I can remember. We've always had a nice variety of creatures sharing our yard together. But this year the populations have exploded. There are lizards everywhere. Before we'd see them every once a a while, but now it's everyday. Humming and these bright yellow and black Orioles are lined up at their respective feeding stations. A pair of Doves nested and raised three Dove-lings in the grapes wrapping the patio. Before, at any given time, you'd see a butterfly winging across the yard. But now, at any. given time, a half dozen butterflies are flashing their wings at you. Monarchs are the most plentiful, but there are plenty of 'Whites' and 'Sulfurs' along with the occasional Swallowtail and Morning Cloak.
5)
Okay ... now I'm showing off. After a full and somewhat tiring day of pruning and trimming ... Mary Lou and I, armed with a glass of vino, dived into the spa. (Miss Maggie opt-ed out.) Yesterday I ended up with 13,342 steps and I never left the house. The temp was a comforting 95F and the jets felt sooo good against my tired muscles.
More Backyard Stuff.
1)
One of Mary Lou's Plumaria's, "Rainbow".
2)
These roses are so stunning. I think the name is 'Veteran'.
2)
The pond is sooooo relaxing. The waterfall fills the patio with soothing sounds.
4)
This year there's been more wildlife in the Back then I can remember. We've always had a nice variety of creatures sharing our yard together. But this year the populations have exploded. There are lizards everywhere. Before we'd see them every once a a while, but now it's everyday. Humming and these bright yellow and black Orioles are lined up at their respective feeding stations. A pair of Doves nested and raised three Dove-lings in the grapes wrapping the patio. Before, at any given time, you'd see a butterfly winging across the yard. But now, at any. given time, a half dozen butterflies are flashing their wings at you. Monarchs are the most plentiful, but there are plenty of 'Whites' and 'Sulfurs' along with the occasional Swallowtail and Morning Cloak.
5)
Okay ... now I'm showing off. After a full and somewhat tiring day of pruning and trimming ... Mary Lou and I, armed with a glass of vino, dived into the spa. (Miss Maggie opt-ed out.) Yesterday I ended up with 13,342 steps and I never left the house. The temp was a comforting 95F and the jets felt sooo good against my tired muscles.
Gary Ayala
Well-Known Member
COTiP- July 5, 2025
1)
Some leftover Independence Day sidewalk art, spotted on Maggie's walk.
2)
At the entrance to Maggi's Park.
3)
Maggie on the horse trail. She's a bit muddy and wet from running and flopping in the creek.
4)
Yesterday's backyard harvest.
6)
And some berries. There was also a zucchini ... but Mary Lou had it cooked up by the time I got around to taking a pix.
1)
Some leftover Independence Day sidewalk art, spotted on Maggie's walk.
2)
At the entrance to Maggi's Park.
3)
Maggie on the horse trail. She's a bit muddy and wet from running and flopping in the creek.
4)
Yesterday's backyard harvest.
6)
And some berries. There was also a zucchini ... but Mary Lou had it cooked up by the time I got around to taking a pix.
Attachments
Gary Ayala
Well-Known Member
COTiP- More Plumeria from today. From the front and back.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Gary Ayala
Well-Known Member
COTiP- From this morning:
1)
Starting the day with a foamy Cup of Joe.
2)
Yesterday's Harvest
3)
The grapes are getting there ... (Zinfandel).
4)
Backyard Cabernet Sauvignon arch. A pair of Doves have nested in the arch and are raising a family.
5)
Cabernet
6)
Today project- fixing a leak in the pond.
6)
Gary's second cup.
1)
Starting the day with a foamy Cup of Joe.
2)
Yesterday's Harvest
3)
The grapes are getting there ... (Zinfandel).
4)
Backyard Cabernet Sauvignon arch. A pair of Doves have nested in the arch and are raising a family.
5)
Cabernet
6)
Today project- fixing a leak in the pond.
6)
Gary's second cup.
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Gary R. Smith
Well-Known Member
What version iPhone are you using Gary?
Gary Ayala
Well-Known Member
About two months ago I traded my trusty 10 for the 16.
Gary R. Smith
Well-Known Member
Do you feel that the camera performance is better?
I'm OK with the old SE that we have. I don't use it often for "real" photographs.
I've been buying them used and plugging in our SIM cards. The SE is the "original" size and most of the new ones seem huge.