Everybody's Fault.

Picture and more info about the SAF here

Early this morning the San Andreas Fault woke me up with quite a rattle.

The bed was shaking and I could hear the room creaking.

Having grown up in Mexico City, I am quite familiar with earthquakes (most notably I experienced this one when I was just a girl). So, it was funny for my sleepy self to think that all that shaking was caused by an epic raccoon fight on the roof.

The quake was over very quickly, giving me no time to get up or react.

I was back asleep in no time at all.

The way I see it, it is best to have periodic smallish quakes often rather than not to have them in a while, as the energy of the earth's plaques is released with fury when that happens.

This one, however, is the strongest I have felt in quite some time (4.0). After all I was, quite literally, sleeping right on top of the fault!

Have you ever been in an earthquake?

What was your first thought about what was going on?

I would love to hear your stories,

R

PS. For an interactive  map of the San Andreas Fault click here, and for a comprehensive explanation about how the Fault shapes the San Francisco Bay Area visit here.

Leap day!

Yet another leap of faith collage print by the fabulous Living Feral

Let's make this a day to take chances
and make changes.
Let's leap with our eyes wide open!

Go take an Obsessive Compulsive Hike!

My mind was completely blown away when I first saw Simon Beck's "drawings" on snow. To make his patterns, Simon walks on snowshoes for up to 9 hours a day, sometimes to find the morning after that his progress has been erased by overnight weather. 

The OCD part of my can totally understand this! It has to be hypnotic to walk on and on for hours, paying close attention to the pattern your footsteps make on the soft snow. 

Simon Beck in his snow shoes with one of his patterns behind him.

Doesn't this remind you of labyrinths and meditation mazes?

New Harmony Labyrinth (Image and more info here)

Image from here

Images of Simon Beck's art from here and here, but most likely taken by Simon himself.

Monterey's Aquarium

A couple of weeks ago J attended EcoFarm, a prominent forum for organic farmers to meet and discuss the latest research, methods and advances in eco-friendly farming techniques.

While he attended lectures on pond management, natural pest control, fruit tree pruning, beekeeping, and seed swaps, I visited one of my favorite places in the whole wide world: the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Their displays are incredible, with fresh ocean water pumped into their tanks several times a day. The Aquarium's building used to be a cannery, so if you go pay attention to the huge canning ovens as you enter.

I was lucky to visit on a slow day, as it can be a bit crazy in there with tons of kids, strollers and groups. If you can ignore them all, the Aquarium is like a dream come true. Go early, as you won't want to leave. Also, eat at the restaurant (past the café), it is a bit pricey but super chill, with delicious food, wine, ocean views and your own pair of binoculars at each table.
Oh, and remember to charge your camera's battery the night before you visit, as it is super easy to run out of power with all the spectacular displays!

For more info and to see the creatures in the pictures in action, plus live feed from their research submarines, make sure to visit the  Aquarium's site.

Androgynous beauty: satin dress.

Isn't this photo of Iggy Pop just wonderful?

Given the number of posts about androgyny I have created, I bet you can see a pattern. 

I just love the idea of blurred boundaries; of unclear, dissolving lines. 

I found this photo via Pinterest and sadly I have no idea who the photographer is. I also wonder if the text was part of the original idea or of it was added after the fact. I hate not to give proper credit, so if you have the answers please let me know.

Found love: The girl with 7 horses.

Browsing around, I found Ulrika Kestere's gorgeous blog Ulicam.

She just finished a photo project called The girl with 7 horses.

Aren't these images whimsical and beautiful?

Image by Ulrika Kestere.

Image by Ulrika Kestere.

Image by Ulrika Kestere.

All photos by Ulrika Kestere. To see all 7 horses and to lean more about them and the girl visit here.

Celebrate!

Image from  here

Last week was this little blog's first anniversary.
I can't believe I have been able to keep it up!
Ironically, I have been celebrating it by trying to be away from the computer, getting crafty.
I have been gardening, knitting and chopping my long mane off one inch at a time.
There are no inches left to cut off anymore!

While you sleep...

...your books come out to play!

December redux.

I can confidently tell you that December is, by far, my least favorite month of the year.

If I could dig a hole deep enough, I would spend the month in there, waiting for January to come.

Then, while reviewing my latest photos, I realized that this December brought some serious fun.
Besides parties with good friends and lots of yummy food:

There were magnolia buds,

Cows,

And a parade of lighted tractors.

We discovered a persimmon tree on our back yard,

Played with fire,

Had a beach all to ourselves (and lots of birds),

Saw Elk,

And ate the freshest of crabs.

I suppose I should be reconsidering that "least favorite" label.

Hope you are having fun!

R

Happy New Year!

Image found via Pinterest (Unknown original source)

Taking a break from my December posting hiatus to wish you all a wonderful 2012.

See you next year!

xox,
R