The Ghost Of Chocolate's Past

 

“Memories warm you up from the inside.

 But they also tear you apart.” 

 
~Haruki Murakami,

  Kafka on the Shore

 

Finally, the spare room is finished! To celebrate it actually being livable, and the last reminder of that god awful move behind us, we decorated it for Christmas, and went to Ghiradelli in Lathrop for some chocolate, a bottle of sea salt caramel topping and bag of peppermint baking chips. I wish I had been at Ghiradelli in San Francisco, because as I remember, they had a lot more choices of products, like my hubby's favorite, chocolate covered coffee beans, and the chunks of chocolate in a barrel, and it's San Francisco! My dad used to buy me the big chunks of chocolate whenever he visited the city. I was thinking about him the other day, he loved to grab a sundae there. All it took was a big Hot Fudge Sundae to put a smile on his face. Ghiradelli's chocolate is very distinctive. The Hot Fudge is amazing but our favorite sundae was the Hot Peanut Butter. They don't have it anymore... darn it!

 

Funny, it isn't even my memory, and yet I can see him sitting at one of their little tables enjoying the view, and devouring that delicious sundae. That was dad. Gosh, I sure am missing him right now. I think he would have enjoyed the Sugar Cooking chocolate squares I bought this year. Oh my... anyway, as chocolate goes, I enjoy it but by no means am I a chocolate fiend or anything, but there are definitely some memories around it. Like the memory of my sister always having a BIG box of See's candy on the table for Christmas eve. I did love so the Milk Bordeaux, and I don't know if I ever told her how awesome it was that she did that. Smooth, sweet the candy melted in your mouth. I haven't had one of those in ages. She and I were never close, and after a certain point we never spoke again, but she is gone now too, and I am thinking about her this Christmas too. Oh boy... sigh... I think I see another post about chocolate, and family dynamics, coming! 

Lathrop sure isn't San Francisco.

 

The Mossdale Railroad Bridge

 “Although I was born in April,

 I’m quite certain I was not fully awake until October."

 
~Peggy Toney Horton

 

  Stop the World and Get Off

 

I understand that sentiment. I was born in June, but because of my deep dislike for summer, it feels like I didn't fully become a person until autumn. October in particular. I love the month of October. I love learning about new things in October, as if I were a kid going back to school. I enjoy reading all year long, but it's during this time of year I like to pick up a great biography or a book on the history of a certain place, and jump right in. See this beautiful old railroad trestle? I have driven past it upwards of 200 - 300 times in the last 40 years, and other than admiring it, and the one that sits near it, I never really thought much of it. But the other day, while visiting, River Islands, in Lathrop, I glanced over, and it just seemed so great that I just had to photograph it. I am going to do more on the railroads out here, and the rich history of the Gold Rush days, but for now I present simply a pleasant picture and a link to a brief history of something really cool near where I live. 

 

 

Winter Migration

Canadian Geese

December 21st 2019

Lathrop, California

 Nikon

"She decided to free herself, dance into the wind, create a new language. And birds fluttered around her, writing "yes" in the sky."

~Monique Duval

Migrating Canadian Geese

Black & white

December 21st, 2019

Nikon

On the way home last Saturday, I spotted all kinds of different birds making their way south. Migration in the Central Valley has been lovely so far! Not only did I spot a brand new bird, just a couple weeks ago, but on Saturday I got to watch a gorgeous flock on Canadian Geese, and then a large group of Starlings making their way south, to warmer temperatures. I am thinking of asking Santa Claus for some bird feeders for Christmas, because that is something I can have a lot of fun with, even on this horrible Fibromyalgia days when there is no leaving the house because of pain! Who knows how many new birds I might be able to spot in 2020!? What a lovely thing to be able to look forward to!

 Starlings

~Mood: Happy
~Me    :)

Please Don't Take Us To Your Leader + The Leaf of The Day

"I wonder if aliens deny that we exist?'

~Anthony Hicks

About a year ago, Alan discovered a really great market in Lathrop, California, called Power Mart. It was fairly close to where he was working, and their prices were reasonable, as was the variety of items that they carried. That's kind of unusual for a mini-mart, but what made it truly unique was the fact that it had apparently been a fairly convenient place to pick up a few grocery needs, if you were from outer space!

According to Roadside America, there are several Power Marts that stretch between Sacramento and San Francisco! I am not sure how I missed these markets, but I was happy to find this one. It's absolutely adorable and it was fun to photograph the astounding number of cute aliens throughout the place!

If you're into the whimsical, this is definitely the place for you! 

So, that was my summer, 4th Of July, close encounter, and I am pretty sure what caused them to crash, was the thought of Donald Trump proposing America create a "Space Force." Not out of fear mind you, but because it's pretty much the stupidest waste of money ever proposed by a sitting president. Especially, when you consider we already have NASA! You know, the NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION!

He's so embarrassing!

#13 Leaf Of The Day

October 4th, 2018

Ione, California

~Mood: Happy

~Me 

Power Mart #104

192 Lathrop rd, Lathrop, California

209-858-4998

Read All About It Here.

 

The Tree Within The Tree

"When your heart jumps

 every time your camera locks focus...

 you've become a photographer!"

~Mark Denman

The other day, while Alan and I were bouncing from fruit stand to fruit stand, throughout the Central Valley, we happened by one stand that was selling firewood, and I spotted this piece of wood. It was really dry, and covered with spider webs, dust and dry bark, but the pattern on the inside made me smile. I see in that pattern, an almost snapshot of a once beautiful tree, with many beautiful branches, standing tall an proud, maybe even covered with beautiful autumn leaves. I bet in it's day it filled the heart of those who viewed it, or relied on it for income, as so many do in the valley!

Walnuts, apricots, apples... we got almost everything out here. And now, it will be sold to provide warmth for someone! It's a wonderful end to it's life I think. I know seeing it inspired me and I really enjoyed the chance to see the tree within the tree! It was kinda like seeing it's soul! When I have my camera in my hand, I always try to see beyond the obvious, or the seemingly trivial, and it's brought me some amazing epiphanies and observations, and I have my camera to thank for that!

#18 Leaf Of The Day

October 18th 2017

Stockton, California

Mood: Happy

~Me :)