Bellagio Panorama

The Bellagio's Conservatory was festive as ever. This year they featured penguins and polar bears. All the winter animals had fun skating, twirling and spinning.

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Wonderful Weggie

I feasted on a Blue cheese wedge, along with a baseball size top sirloin. A special that was well-worth the $17.99. Great service at the Harris Ranch. Perfectly medium-rare. What a delight--yeah, wish you were here.

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Harris Ranch Restaurant

We're on our way to Las Vegas, through LA. A nice stop is just after Coalinga at the fabled Harris Ranch, known for it's beef.

We arrived too early for the romantic Steak Room. But hope the meal will be great.

Early Dawn from Waikiki

First morning in Honolulu a few days ago. A quiet dawn awoke me to enjoy the tropics. The coming days would be filled with good times.

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Rock Creek Lake #1

We're fishing today at Rock Creek Lake. Hard to concentrate with such beauty all around.

Wei, out of cell phone range--how nice!

PS: sent when we returned to the condo.

Living It Up at Snow Creek

We've been enjoying our stay at a condo-home in Mammoth Lakes (Eastern Sierras). Three large bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths. What luxury for a fishing trip.

More to come.....

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Old-time Photo in New Era

We're going back, again. Fish or no fish. The place grows on you. Too beautiful. Too serene. Too old. 

Going to the Eastern Sierras rejuvenates you. Maybe there is a god. And religion may not matter. Just be at peace. Soon. 

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Pano of Eastern Sierras

We visited the Hot Springs Trout Hatchery. To the West were the magnificent Sierras. Though thunder clouds formed overhead, the peaks towered over the landscape.

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Twin Lakes - Mammoth California

At the North end of Twin Lakes is quiet Vista Point. You mainly see Upper Twin, with the mountains of Lower Twin rounding out the scene.
Solitude near sunset...

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First Fish at Lake George

Here's the treasure. Rainbow Trout aught by Danny Chong in the early afternoon. I couldn't believe he nabbed this fish with a Kassmaster (blue & silver).
For all fishermen out there, we wish you were here.
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Eastern Sierras

George Lake, Eastern Sierras. We've got some trout! Kastmasters lures do the job.
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Father's Day Special

My wife Diana whipped up a wonderful mushroom/cheese omlette, fit for a king. Or should i say, "Kings?" We gorged on the dish, all too fast.
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Another Location Quiz

Yes, this is an enclosed fireplace. It's big, as you can see.

Can't figure it out? Hey, it's near Manteca, in a rather large store. 

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PS: the last place (last week) was in Clayton. At Cup o' Jo's. That also where Canesa's Brooklyn Heros are created. Good stuff.

Okay, Where Is This?

I'll give you a hint. It's in Clayton California. Nice cozy place with some killer lunches.

At least try a guess....

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Summer's Just Around the Corner

There's nothing as bright as a yellow spot of gold to announce the transition to summer. The orange garland around it's center, this one's ready for gracing the table....or maybe just left to enjoy the sun outside.

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Spring Day at Sonoma

We enjoyed the great Spring day in Sonoma's city square. After dining at a superb Portuguese restaurant, LaSalette (Cozinha Nova Portugesa), we rolled out to enjoy the sites. I really should have taken a nap after that wonderful lunch, but I had to drive back to Napa Valley, amid some gorgeous landscapes in wine country.

Life is good....

Evening Wisteria

 
During an April evening our wisterias bloomed profusely, clusters weighing down its bows. I don't remember such vibrant colors on these branches. Bumble bees took their last feedings, before retiring for the next day's gorge.

Spring will be nice this year, even though the cold is again coming on.

March Daisies

How can you not like daisies this time of year? This year March did come in as a lion and left like a lamb--in mellow sunshine.

Got tomatoes from Navlet's, so here's hoping for a bomber crop this summer.

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Spring's a Comin'

On beautiful early March day I weeded our garden. When I came upon this flower, the "weed" begged not to be pulled. It so enhanced our lush hill in the back I felt the least I could do would be to capture it's essence....before dumping it into my green barrel.

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Yosemite Snow

Well, at least my blog two posts ago showed I was quite prepared for a winter snow at Yosemite. Just as we headed for breakfast at 8am on Wednesday, snowflakes gently descended upon Yosemite Village. An hour later we left the diner to pack up and leave, only to find the snow 7 inches on our car.

What a wondrous site. We were so enthralled with the sites, we took another two hours to sight-see a winter Yosemite. Our guest from Hawaii always had a wish to visit Yosemite. In the previous two days he had seen the grandeur that his mother used to talk about her honeymoon over 75 years ago. So he had his wish satisfied. However, he had never seen snow fall. Like a child whose wish was fulfilled by a white Christmas, he became ecstatic at living a second lifelong wish.

BTW, this is El Capitan, in winter storm, 2011.

Here's Where I've Been

Hi everyone,

My mystery place was Yosemite. Late the first evening we stopped by the SE end of the roadside and just enjoyed the unseasonably large water falling, due to an early snow melt.
You'll want to stick around for my second installment, which contrasts with the near-spring weather you see here.
See me soon,

Sent from Wei's iPhone

Practicing for the Snow Country

This picture is a teaser to encourage you to guess where we're going next. Yes, it's to the mountains, where, we hope, will be some snow. Wanna guess where?

Hope there's not too much snow! I'm too old to be crouching down where it is frigid and wet.

Will fill you in when we return.

Still Another Delectable Sashimi Dish

Hard to eat something so beautiful. But eat we did. Finished everything, including the Shiso garnish and wasabi sauce. What you can't see is the wasabi mixed in the soy sauce. Made-from-Scratch wasabi has an indescribably delicious texture. Yes, I wish you were here.....