It's Not Foggy...

When I took the dogs out the other morning, I breathed in the pleasant smell of wood smoke. "That's nice, but why is someone lighting a fire so early in the morning?" The sky had a weird haze to it, tinted with orange.

Turns out, California is on fire. Here's a NASA image showing the fires and smoke:

Most of the fires caused by lightening. Scary. Air quality is officially bad today in the east bay and parts of the north bay (good thing SF is on a peninsula as this usually keeps our air clean).

Soulstice

(Click on image to get a much clearer pic)






Greeted the summer solstice appropriately with-what else?-a day at the beach. It was so hot today, even Tikka went in the water! Not the nicest beach SF has to offer (had to convince Mr. Dog-ma that it would be better to hang out with a myriad of dogs than nudists....he wanted to go to Baker Beach-a much nicer beach, I admit, but I didn't want to see fat men's dangling bits on this day), but who could resist the view?
That guy in the water is one of San Francisco's 300 dog walkers. He and his pack were swimming for at least two hours.
Facing south towards Pacifica.

Another Day, Another Beach...or Two

I finally feel my summer vacation has started. Went to Crissy this morning (got to take advantage of that fickle sunshine)...Click on picture to get a larger image.


Look! A mini beagle...isn't she so cute?
"Yeah...you can't catch me..."

doG, how I take this view...this beach...this water...for granted. Must change that.
A little crab comes out of the marsh to bask in the sun.
The tide is out of the marsh this morning...I wonder how many of the joggers ever stop and observe the multitude of wild life that lives in this marsh?
I could get used to this dog walking all day lifestyle.
Now...off to Ft. Funston and Ocean beach for our afternoon romp.


"Yeah, I own this beach people..."


"Uh, maybe not..."


The party didn't start until the poodle contingent arrived...

A dog...and dogwalker's...paradise. View of Marin headlands and Mt. Tam in the background, priceless.

This little one was hoping for a treat but got her photo taken instead.


I don't think I've ever seen a human drink out of this fountain, LOL. Where is my dog? (Lake Merced and part of twin peaks in the background).

The day ended with me taking my nephews to see "Kung Fu Panda" (or, rather, they took me. They already saw it and I really wanted to see it. At 15, I can't use Erik anymore as my cover for these movies...).

So, all in all, a perfect summer day. All it needed was a BBQ and fine wine to wash it down.

Area Woman Guilted into Making Mickey Mouse Pancakes

San Francisco, CA: Bay Area resident, Angela C., attempted to make Mickey Mouse pancakes after a ten year hiatus last week. "I would not have even attempted it, but it was my son's birthday and he, quite frankly, gave me a guilt trip." The first go round (see below) was not successful and resulted in being covered with whipped cream to hide the hideousness.


"Erik demanded chocolate chips, which requires the chef to use some finesse," Angela shared. "I did finally get the flip timing down and was able to keep the ears joined to the head."
Her son commented that it tasted, "Delicious!" In fact, he insisted on seconds, but Angela was not able to reproduce the same results. "Hopefully I will not have to do this again for another ten years."

Dog Daze of Summer

Does anyone ever get tired of going to the beach? There is something about the waves that immediately erases all stress. Couple that with walking among dogs, all having a great time, well...what more does one need?

Click the pictures below to get a better view.






Here's a shepherd/cattledog mix that we met along the beach. She would wait up on the hill for her owner to throw her this soft ball.
Then she would drop it back to him.
They even allow horses on this beach!
Though, obviously not thoroughbred horses since Roman ran circles around them.

"You can't catch me, sukkkkaaaahhhhh!" (don't forget to click to see a better picture!)