Glimpses of South Pasadena: Winter Weather

Monday, December 29, 2008

Winter Weather

While much of the world is wrapped in Winter's snowy blanket, South Pasadena sunbathes...

The recent cold snap seems to have moved on.

19 comments:

Sharon said...: This is a beautiful photo. I'm hoping the cold snap moves past here today. It's been way too cold.; December 29, 2008 at 5:31 AM
Anonymous said...: I adore this photo. It's my favorite of yours to date. Compositionally, it looks a little bit like the post I'm putting up next. And those shaggy palms in the background. It makes me happy. sweet; December 29, 2008 at 7:37 AM
Yakpate said...: The water captured in mid-air is marvelous, but what I love most is the gardener's reverie... as if she is remembering her youth, when she fell in love with the pirate who abducted her from her parent's yacht, and sea water sprayed over the bow of the boat just as it does in her garden.

Also... is that ornate border at the bottom of the photo a garden wall? It frames the shot so perfectly it almost looks like a photoshop detail.; December 29, 2008 at 7:58 AM
Virginia said...: Just a grand photo today Laurie. TImeless. Sprinkling the garden. Bless her heart.
V; December 29, 2008 at 8:43 AM
Anonymous said...: Here comes the sun. Yea! This picture has South Pas written all over it.; December 29, 2008 at 8:45 AM
Rob said...: Perpetual summer! We sure could use that up here!; December 29, 2008 at 8:52 AM
Dixie Jane said...: Amazing. While most of the rest of us are freezing our tails off. But here in Austin, we have a few days of cold and then a few days of weather in the '80s. So you wear your shorts under your coat and are prepared for any weather emergency.; December 29, 2008 at 9:00 AM
Sterl the Pearl's Daily Pics of Boulder said...: Love it! Great slice of life shot. Wish my garden was growing right now!; December 29, 2008 at 9:05 AM
dbdubya said...: This photo immediately made me think of my 87 year old mother. After 62 years of marriage to my father, and much encouragement from her sons, she finally made the difficult decision to move him to an Alzheimer's home last June. Since then both of them are much happier and my mom is no longer a fulltime caregiver. That means she can get out into her garden, play with her potted flowers, and water to her heart's content. When I talk to her now there's happiness in her voice as she tells me about doing routine things, including tending to her garden.

Thanks, Laurie, for posting this beautiful photograph that prompted an appreciation that good things can come out of difficult circumstances.; December 29, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Meead said...: Laurie, thanks so much for your visit and comment. I actually cut/paste them into a new post as "Breaking Post" as my 100th post on this blog. You can find the link of that human rights organization there. I wish I could also move your comment to that new post. Thank you again.; December 29, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Wayne said...: I am relieved to hear you've broken free of winter's icy grip Laurie.; December 29, 2008 at 12:01 PM
San Diego Farmgirl said...: I think that woman is remembering her childhood in Wisconsin, and giving thanks for the millionth time for her decision back in 1958 to marry the nerdy aerospace engineer, who had a job waiting at a strange place called JPL, rather than marrying the star HS quarterback, who ended up the town drunk.

However, she's still regretting the decision to install that decorative cement block wall in 1961, but because her engineer husband did it himself, it will require a full-scale wrecking crew to demolish, and she doesn't want to spend that kind of money. Besides, he's gone now, and it puts a smile on her face to look at that ugly wall and remember the irritation of living with someone for 50 years.

As soon as I'm done visiting all my fave blogs, I'm joining this woman, and spending the rest of the afternoon gardening. Life is good!; December 29, 2008 at 1:06 PM
Dixie Jane said...: Dear Yak,

You have got to be the most romantic person on planet earth. Out of a picture of a woman with a hose you can conjur up a younger woman abducted by a pirate from her parent's yacht. A mind like yours could move mountains.

I want to know how you do it? Is it something you eat or drink?

Love,
Dixie Jane; December 29, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Anonymous said...: She's thinking: New York strip steak at $4.99 a pound. And that's on sale? Ralph's thinks I was born yesterday? When my family comes for New Year's, I'll serve meatloaf and they'll love it.; December 29, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Mister Earl said...: AH - That's you in 55 years, and you're thinking, "I remember that Christmas when I made the 16-pound rib roast. I wonder which restaurant I'll take the family to for New Year's."; December 29, 2008 at 4:49 PM
Jane Hards Photography said...: The horizontal jet of spray is so powerful. Really conveys movement in such a frozen image. I really like this shot, of course it's monochrome your forte.; December 29, 2008 at 5:15 PM
Hilda said...: The snowy scenes are gorgeous to look at, but personally, this is my type of weather year-round :)

Wonderful capture of the spray of water.; December 29, 2008 at 6:52 PM
Tash said...: There is a timeless, seasonless Southern California quality to this. I bet if you showed the photo to someone 50 years ago, it would look contemporary to them. Super shot.; December 30, 2008 at 12:15 AM
Laurie Allee said...: Hi kids,

Welcome Sterl the Pearl!

Thanks for sharing my love of this wonderful gardening woman! I have seen her watering her yard on several occasions and I always think she just lights up her street with such a joyful, glowing presence and cool style. Tash, thank you for the timeless comment. I strive to find shots that don't seem particular to any one time and on the rare occasion that I get lucky, I am so happy to share.

Sharon, I hope your cold spell breaks up soon!

Thanks for the kind words Pasadenaadjacent. I share your love of shaggy palm trees. (I will check out your post.)

Yak, my romantic and poetic friend, I want you writing the script of MY life. And yes, that's part of the garden wall, no photoshop here. I kind of like San Diego Farmgirl's take on it!

Thanks, Virg and Altadenahiker!

Dusty, I'm sending this sunshine your way, too - right after it passes to SHaron in Phoenix!

Dixie Mom, Los Angeles weather isn't nearly as bi-polar as Austin's. (I think Virginia also knows a bit about that kind of 80 one day, freezing the next over in Alabama.)

DBdubya, I'm so happy my image prompted such a nice thought. (Our own Johnny Appleseed gardener here San Diego Farmgirl is probably very happy to hear about your mom being able to get back to her little bit of land!) I hope your mom finds rejuvination and inspiration in her garden.

Wayne, my frozen Canadian friend, I always feel guilty when I post pics of our wonderful weather!

San Diego Farmgirl, I adore your narrative.

ALtadenahiker, are you still talking about discount meat!? Mister Earl has got you pegged, my friend...

Thanks so much, Babooshka. You are the monochrome master!

HIlda, I'm with you. I like our temperate winters very much. Snow is beautiful... but I'm a wimp. And I get cold easily. And wool sweaters give me a rash.

Finally -- Meead, congratulations on your 100th post. I only wish you had happier subject matter. I encourage everyone to read Meead's passionate post about the tragedy unfolding in Gaza. I've followed Meead's blog since before he left Iran to come to study in Portland and I value his perspective. I believe this human rights catastrophe in Gaza is beyond politics, or borders, or religion with a human toll too high to ignore. Please write to your representatives about finding ways to help the Palestinian civilians caught in hail of bombs and bullets. Too many innocents are perishing in this volatile region and human beings around the world must use their voices to persuade all peace loving nations to try and find an end to this violence and a solution to this decades-old dilemma in the Middle East. I still hope for a day when Israel and Palestine can live together in peace. All the children of that region deserve to see that dream come true.

Thanks for all the comments today, everyone. Until tomorrow.; December 30, 2008 at 12:46 AM