dianejp's photostream  

Miner's Lettuce is an annual herb that is a CA native. The name is supposedly derived from its being eaten by early CA miners. Not many wildflowers in bloom this year. We've only had 5.83 inches of rain, and everything is very dry so far. Usually this little plant is in bloom everywhere under the trees, but I had to look to find even this small clump.

We found this horse shoe and snaffle bit in Keats' first pasture on an old walnut ranch in Danville, CA, that we bought many years ago. We joined the pieces together and brought them with us when we moved. It's been hanging in this oak for more than ten years now. The bit was large though the shoe looked small. We wondered if it was a mule bit. The old ranch and the walnut groves in Danville are long gone, replaced by large homes, and all are without horses.

This old sheep ranch is now in use as guest cottages. It's located near the mouth of the Carmel River and is a pretty place to visit. It has water birds on the lagoon to the far right in this photo, along with sheep grazing in the pasture. There are a number of walking trails nearby.