Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

California

An Autumn Gourmet Dinner

A little change in the weather today brought some badly needed showers to drought and fire ravaged Southern California. It also brought cooler temperatures and the gusty winds calmed down.

We decided to prepare a gourmet dinner for an autumn afternoon. Grilled pork loin cutlets with baked acorn squash, braised cabbage and a gourmet dressing for which Damsel created a custom recipe. Maybe we’ll publish the recipe sometime.

We worked together to prepare this dinner. I was in charge of making the breadcrumbs for the spinach dressing, baking the squash (I use the outdoor BBQ as an oven) and grilling the pork loin cutlets. Damsel prepared the braised cabbage and gourmet dressing on the stove top.

Topped off with a glass of Kendall–Jackson Chardonnay or a Sam Adams Oktoberfest Lager, we gotta tell you, this was really good. We had to take a nice long walk in the rain after this sumptuous autumn meal.

fall-dinner

27 Oct 2007 by California Food & Dining Photography

California Wildfires Obscure Sun

The wildfires burning here in Southern California are many miles from our house yet the smoke in the air reduced the sun to a dimmer brownish-yellow ball. Objects on the ground appeared dim and yellowish. I have blue carpet in the living room and the sunlight falling on it would make it look greenish-yellow. Last night, the moon looked like a great pumpkin in the sky.

I snapped this picture of the sun surrounded by the thick smoke about mid-morning yesterday.

solar-obscuration.jpg

23 Oct 2007 by California Environment Photography

Art Deco Architecture

art-decoOne of the first things visitors notice upon arriving in Avalon is the Casino Building, Catalina Island’s most recognizable landmark. The round, white building raises the equivalent of 12 stories, and is surrounded by the sea on three sides. Built in 1929, the Casino – which is actually not a gambling hall but “a place of entertainment” – played host to dozens of big bands through the 1930s and 1940s. Guests danced the night away to the music of Glen Miller, Harry James, and many others over the years.

The Casino Building is a stunning example of original Art Deco architecture. It has been well maintained over the years and has also undergone much restoration, both inside and out.

Read more about it at Catalina Island Journal. Click the image to enlarge.

18 Oct 2007 by California Culture Photography

Breaking: Terminator Signs Two Anti-Gun Laws

In a giant leap to the left, Arnold TERMINATES legal gun owners’ rights:

terminator.jpgGov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an unprecedented law Saturday requiring that certain pistols sold in the state be equipped to mark each cartridge when fired so police can more easily trace the weapons. Another signed measure also opposed by the interest group will ban the use of lead ammunition in the habitat of the endangered California condor.

Arguably his most controversial decision, Schwarzenegger signed a bill requiring semiautomatic handguns made and sold in the state to have technology to microstamp each bullet fired from the gun.

Supporters say the micro-stamping requirement, the first in the nation, will help police track down criminals.

Opponents, including the National Rifle Association, argued the technology is unreliable and could be used to implicate innocent people if criminals leave behind stamped cartridges from other guns at crime scenes.

In his signing message, Schwarzenegger said he understands the technology is not perfect, but hopes it would give police a new tool in solving violent crimes.

Under the gun bill, every semiautomatic handgun sold in California will have to “microstamp” each bullet cartridge in two locations whenever it is fired. The stamp would identify the gun’s make, model and serial number. The law will take effect in 2010.

The Governator admitting that “the technology is not perfect,” sets the stage for a court challenge to this insane legislation.

Just in case, we’re putting a couple of .45 ACP pistols on the short term wish list. Damsel wants a Para Ordinance Warthog and I want a Glock 30.

15 Oct 2007 by California Firearms Whacko Politics

Attention Gun Owners

I would chime in on this even if I lived outside of California. Arnold Schwarzenegger may be considering national politics and could care what you think:

Just in from the NRA:

Attention California Gun Owners:
Please Contact Governor Schwarzenegger Today!

Three pieces of firearm-related legislation are currently on the desk of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) awaiting his consideration.

Assembly Bill 1471 would require that after a certain date, the make, model, and serial number of a firearm be microstamped onto the interior surface or internal working parts of all handguns in such a manner that those identifiers are imprinted onto the cartridge case upon firing. The manufacture, sale, and transfer of handguns that do not imprint their identifying information on a cartridge case would be a crime.

Assembly Bill 821 would ban the use of lead ammunition for hunting in areas occupied by California condor. By passing AB 821, the Legislature has usurped the authority of the Fish and Game Commission over the regulation of hunting and the management of the state’s wildlife. Unlike the Fish and Game Commission, the Legislature did not take into account the effects of a lead ammunition ban on the state’s hunters. Studies show that a ban will force many hunters to quit hunting altogether having catastrophic consequences on wildlife management practices and the state’s hunting heritage.

Assembly Bill 1645 will protect law-abiding gun owners during a declared state of emergency from the seizure or confiscation of any lawfully carried or possessed firearm or ammunition.

Please contact the Governor and respectfully urge him to veto AB1471 and AB821. Also remind him to protect your Second Amendment rights during a state of emergency by signing AB1645. Governor Schwarzenegger can be reached by phone at (916) 445-2841, fax at (916) 445-4633, or visit http://gov.ca.gov/interact#email to send him an email.

10 Oct 2007 by California Firearms Whacko Politics

A New Cymbidium Orchid

new-cymbidium.jpgI saw this orange cymbidium orchid at the Botanic Gardens plant sale last Saturday, and thought it was very nice. Since it was one of the first things to be seen inside the courtyard as we entered the show and sale, I put it aside and we went to look at the rest of the exhibits in the courtyard and showroom.

After cruising the exhibits a bit, Damsel bought an interesting succulent for the front flowerbed. We then went out into the garden area and took a very long walk through the volunteer garden, past the cactus patch and all the way to the lake where I took the picture of the Ruby Meadowhawk.

On our way back from the lake, I couldn’t stop thinking about the orange cymbidium, and so I decided to buy it. It already has the beautiful flowers shown, and numerous stalks and pods that promise that we should have more of these in a while. Damsel took this picture after we got it home and in the patio. Click on the image for the very large view.

10 Oct 2007 by California Home & Garden Photography

A Red and White Dahlia

red-white-dahlia.jpgToday we will be going back to the South Coast Botanic Garden for a plant sale and to visit the rest of the garden.

One of the prettiest flowers growing in the Garden is this striking red and white Dahlia. I took this picture last week at the orchid show. Click for the big picture (which hardly does this beautiful flower justice – you had to be there).

Here are some interesting facts about Dahlias:

Aztecs collected or cultivated Dahlias as early as the 15th century. Flowers were depicted in cave drawings and hieroglyphics credited to the Aztecs of the 14th and possibly of the 13th century. It was used as a religious symbol and for medicinal and cultural rather than aesthetic purposes. Dahlia tubers were an important food source for the Aztecs indeed to this day. the Indians of central Mexico rely on the tubers as a valuable part of their diet. It was woven into clothing for the Royal family, warriors shields, breast plates, necklaces, etc.

The first encounter by other than the peoples of Mexico seems to be well established as made by a Spanish citizen, Francisco Hernandez who was sent to Mexico in 1570 to investigate the “natural resources of “New Spain.” The first published pictures were drawings by an Hidalgo Gentleman, Francisco Dominguez who accompanied Hernandez on at least some part of his explorations. Both the report and drawings were published at Rome, but not until 1651, about seventy five years after first produced. Prior to publication the report was translated to Latin, and later to English. Little recorded information is found concerning the next 126 years.

(Source: dahlia.org.)

06 Oct 2007 by California Home & Garden Photography

Categories

Archives