Changing Seasons in the East Bay

September to November brought the change from fire season to rainy season. We won't soon forget fire season and the devastating Wine Country fires about 50 miles north of us. The rain is especially welcome this year.

A September heat wave was one of several. August - October tend to be the hottest, driest months in the Bay Area.

September post-heatwave sunset - Bay side

September post-heatwave sunset - Canyon side

A September sunset before the smoky haze blew in

Crescent moon over the bay - September

There were plenty of opportunities for photos of smoky haze.

September smoky haze from fires to the North

First traces of the smoky haze from the Wine Country fires
- Mt. Diablo barely visible, mid-October

Smoky haze in the morning mid-October

Sun behind smoky haze bay side - mid-October

Afternoon sun through the haze bay side - mid-October

Hazy bay side near sunset

Heavy haze in the canyon -
we had several days of bad air quality

A blazing sunrise thanks to the haze

Sunrise canyon side - mid October

Sunrise over the ridge - mid-October

Toward the end of October, the wetter season began.

Return of the mists in the canyon

Rain approaching - bay side

Rain approaching - canyon side

And now it's November.  The rains are back.

Geraniums are loving it

Other views from the East Bay hills.

I took this photo for the unusual clouds,
and got the airplane as a bonus

Harvest moon - October

Hunter's moon - November

As the days got shorter with later sunrises, I got this series one morning.

Sunrise reflected in picture frames on the dining room wall

Morning star at sunrise

Sunrise with clouds near Mt. Diablo

And while the seasons changed, our grandson got a couple of months older.

At the beach in September

At 10 months

At 11 months 

Some other creatures around the place.

Buddies
Sunny & Ziggy

I think he's taking a cat nap

Dragon

A regular visitor beneath our bird feeder 

We kept up our jigsaw puzzle hobby.

Puzzle 21

Puzzle 22

Puzzle 23
We nearly went crazy with this one because,
unknown to us, there were 4 missing pieces - a mystery.

A Visit to Carmel-by-the-Sea

The weekend of October 20, we drove to Carmel, California for a destination birthday celebration with longtime friends. I love being near the ocean. The weather was a bit chilly, but sunny with high surf. Perfect for walks along the shore - and photos, of course. For a bit of the history of the area, we visited the Carmel mission and the basilica where Father Junipero Serra is buried.

Here are some of my favorite scenes from the trip.  (Click a photo for a larger version.)

After the ~3 hour drive South from the East Bay,
we arrived at Wayside Inn where we stayed in
Suite # 6, top left.

The living room of the suite

We dropped off our overnight bags and headed for Carmel Beach to stretch our legs.

Cypress trees

Ocean view

Surf rolling in

Drift wood and seaweed

On our walk to and from the beach we looked at some typical Carmel homes and shopping spots.

In the evening, it was time to party at Dametra Cafe (Greek & Italian) - featuring music and impromptu dancing to celebrate birthdays - or whatever.

The next morning, we walked with our friends to Carmel Mission.

Basilica of St Charles Borromeo
San Carlos Basilica 

Memorial to Father Junipero Serra 

Basilica interior bell

Basilica interior, just before a wedding

The Junipero Serra cenotaph by Jo Mora (a sculpture representing the deceased
who is actually interred beneath the mail alter in the basilica)

A candid shot of the bride and priest before the wedding ceremony

St Francis niche

Our Lady of Mount Carmel tile work

Basilica, mission buildings and fountain from across the plaza

Bell tower

Plaza garden

Mission cross - the style of the cross is the Caravaca cross,
venerated in the area of Spain that Father Serra came from.

Cemetery entrance off the plaza

Cemetery

Restoration of the Carmel mission is ongoing.
Harry Downie started major restoration in the 1930's.

Kitchen

Reception room

Gregorian chant book and instruments used for services

California's first library
(Note the eerie reflection on the back wall
of me taking the photo.)

Father Junipero Serra's monk cell

In the gift shop

We returned from the mission by walking along a different part of the beach front, one a bit more rugged and out of the way.

The beach just after high tide

An access stairway

Another high surf day

Checking out the price of this ocean front home -
even higher than we imagined.

Our parting celebration was lunch at the Corkscrew Cafe in Carmel Valley. Then we headed back to the East Bay.

The cafe

Carmel Valley view

On the trip, we learned that Gilroy, California is the garlic capital of the US.

These familiar undulating hills touched by
 the afternoon sun caught my eye on the return trip.