but don't touch

They remind me of those snowball treats you'd get in the vending machines. The ones with the chocolate cake and the fuzzy white coconut icing.
Indulge my sweet fantasies.
They are actually a form of cactus from Venezuela, I think, that grow in the magnificent "Cactus Garden" of the Huntington Library and Gardens in nearby San Marino.
Like so many beautiful plants, they are nasty to touch (roses with thorns, etc.). It is nature's way of saying you can look but you can't touch. Like when my mom would take me into Tiffany's when I was a kid growing up in New York. All those jewels and crystal stuff.
But isn't nature's show much more dazzling!
There's more where this came from. What a great tour of some of the magnificent gardens at this fantastic place, just a few minutes from my house. Thanks to Karin Bugge (altadenahiker.blogspot.com).  She of many talents is also a docent there.

off the grid

Bicycling is back.
And in Southern California, why not. The weather suits it.
So, I'm seeing more people riding bicycles. And I'm also posting and writing about how Los Angeles County needs more "dedicated" bike trails and lanes.
Here, the bicycle is parked right next to an electric meter which you can't tell but was running. The situation is located behind a strip mall on Las Tunas Drive here in Temple City. There are actually two meters, one on the top near the handlebars of the bike, and one toward the bottom (seen through the back tire spokes).
Seeing that this one was locked with a quality lock, it must mean the person means to keep it there for a while. I'm guessing the owner works at one of the local shops or restaurants.

Beetle bashing

I own a Volkswagen. And my first car here in California was a Volkswagen Super Beetle. It was yellow with a black racing stripe on the door that said "Baja." When I sold it after getting married, I cried.
Men and their cars.
So yeah, I have an affinity for VWs.
Heck, these old Beetles made history. Some say they became the most lovable cars in American history. The old Beetles are sold at auction and fetch a nice price. They are valuable. Beloved,
Which is why I do not understand why someone would spray paint "LOL" (Laugh out loud in text parlance) on their VW Beetle, circa 1970s  or 80s. You tell me.
Or is that really a "L (heart) L." As in a love letter to a lover or friend?
I don't know. I couldn't ask the owner. I spotted the car in an alley here in Temple City just south of Las Tunas Drive and east of Temple City Boulevard.

As you can tell from the next image, the car has good wheels and the headlights are in tact. The body is not dented. I'm guessing the car runs since it was parked in front of a garage.It also has a license plate.

Mountain heat

The San Gabriel Mountains stand tall and rugged in this shot up Temple City Boulevard on Wednesday. You can check out last year's shot from this very spot, which had more sunset lighting. This was shot in the middle of the day. It was 85 degrees yesterday. We're in a warm spell.
Little known fact: The San Gabriel Mountains are the fastest growing mountains in the U.S. They grow about 2-4 inches each year.

The aftermath

Down to the nubs.
So many trees and tree limbs lost in the Dec. 1 wind storm around town. Our little town was one of the hardest hit. But so glad everyone's house seems fine and no one was seriously injured.
Which brings me to the trees.
Just now as I ride my bicycle around Temple City do I see the changes. The damage is seen after the overworked tree workers finally get to people's damaged trees. Here, the wind damage is evident. But at least the residents saved the trees.

Below, tree workers were busy, chain saw in hand, removing most of these front yard trees from a home on Live Oak Avenue, the street that had some of the worst damage.

 You can see in the image below where the trees got entwined in with the power poles.

germ free

Why do Chinese people wear surgical masks in public?
There, I said it.
I see this more and more in Temple City.
This woman walked out of her home while I was taking pictures on the other side of the street on Sunday.
Isn't it because they are trying not to spread germs? I assume that when they are sick or have a cold, they want to protect other people from the germs. Or is it the other way around, as in, preventing the influx of germs?
I don't think either manifestation works, frankly. I think a surgical mask won't do anything. Oh, I guess if one sneezes, the droplets are not going into the air. OK.
I used to think the mask was worn as a protection against breathing in the infamous Southern California smog. But knowing how smoggy many Chinese cities are, I don't think so. This air is great compared to those places.
Funny, I am a little of germ freak myself. I always use a paper towel or tissue to re-open a public bathroom door as I leave. And I try not to run my hands down banisters at a shopping mall or another public place. Don't get me started about hospitals and doctor's offices. They are virtual petri dishes for germs!
But I digress.
This woman, this image, there's something Future Shock about it, them. It's bad enough we hide behind computers and "friend" each other using computer software. Or talk via computer software with images instead of in person. Um, er, wait a minute ....

anticipation

On Sunday, I took this shot above a fenced in yard off Blackley Street in Temple City. The clouds are lined up and ready to come in. There is supposed to be a wicked storm that will have assaulted our area (Southern California) by the time you see this post. the storm clouds were more ominous to the north and west. This is a shot of the southeastern sky.

But for a few hours Sunday, the clouds were doing their thing, with the sky and with the light.
It's always intriguing waiting for what is to come. Though, I'd much rather take life as it comes. The latter is more healthy for you. But I always have a hard time living that way, in the moment, you know. Taking this photo helped me to do that. In fact, looking at it does, too.

Commerce

Another new restaurant comes to Temple City. This one is Indonesian food. I peered inside the other day and it looked like it has not opened yet. It is very casual, with just a smattering of plain tables. It is located on Temple City Boulevard, kind of across the street from Beto's Grill. So Temple City Boulevard (south of Las Tunas Drive) is gaining some new commercial activity lately. (Tea Station opened a year ago at TC Boulevard and Las Tunas Drive). The city experienced a 4.0 percent gain in property value assessment in 2011, according to the Los Angeles County Assessor. Though that doesn't sound impressive, it is in the Top 10 out of 88 cities in Los Angeles County. Part of that was due to new commercial growth in the corridor and also, homes holding their value and actually, beginning to increase in value now.

taken

Love.
Here, the ad is driving at love for sure but also commitment, namely marriage.
There are a lot of such ads all along the rows of bridal shops here in bridal shop central, USA, also known as Temple City, CA 91780. This one is located on Las Tunas Drive, of course.
So if you are thinking of tying the knot with that special someone, TC is the place to shop.

Table for none

Outdoor seating at Temple City's favorite Mexican Restaurant, Casa del Rey, just ain't happening. Why? It's way too chilly. Though inside, the place is always busy.
I heard temperatures at night were down to 39 degrees last night.
The sunshine during the day has been great but now, the clouds are coming. And rain is expected by tomorrow morning.
Real fine. Bring on the rain. We've been like 2 inches or more below normal so far this winter.
Just please, no high winds.

Malibu Memories

no, Temple City didn't suddenly grow an ocean. I went to Malibu this past weekend. And this boat on the water reminded me of the very first time I came here. I was 18 years old. I was out here from New York where I grew up on a family vacation. The minute I got on the airplane I knew what I wanted: a T-shirt from Malibu. We went to Malibu and I can still remember wearing that T-shirt the next two summers in New York. It had a sailboat on it and it had M-A-L-I-B-U blue felt letters. The boat and ocean scene looked a lot like this one. (BTW, that's Santa Monica in the background).