GCC : A Great Blessing-- Blooming Where God Planted Me

 

 

One of the greatest blessings God has given me is to plant me in one of the most beautiful counties in California for the past two decades. I was born and raised in Los Angeles County, and spent my college years and working years there, moving to Ventura County in the middle of my fourth decade. There in the Thousand Oaks area we adopted and raised our children, and then we moved to Templeton after our nest was empty, where we have lived ever since. You can see our small barn house near the middle of the picture above and slightly to the left. I took the picture from the top of a hill next to my neighbor Martin Croad's tasting room.  His vineyards are between the trees in front and the house. The other vineyards you see behind the house and to the right belong to a neighbor across the street. I get the view of both all the time .

Before I moved to Templeton, which is halfway between Atascadero and Paso Robles, I thought it was just a dot on the map on the way to Carmel Valley, where my in-laws lived, from our home in Newbury Park. We drove by it often, but when it was time to move closer to my in-laws, I was surprised at this area's beauty when we started looking for property.

 

We finally settled on a 13-acre bit of land on the main highway that connects Interstate 101 to Cambria. The house is very small, but we didn't care. Compared to the area we came from, it was quiet. One could walk the 1/8 mile driveway to the mailbox on the road every day and see trees and fields on both sides, and hear only the song of birds or maybe the barking of a neighbor's dog or the sound of his tractor -- not the neighbor's car radio or his TV. The picture above was taken from our driveway on a cloudy day. The oak tree in the foreground is on our land, which extends as far as you can see to the left of it to just below the trees at the top of the hill. The tree-lined slope on the right side is on the other side of the highway from us. I see this scene every time I come down my driveway, on foot or in the car.

The pine trees below are almost at the top of the driveway on the hill, on the left as you come up from the highway. Across the driveway from these trees are some small sheds we use for storage, and more trees, including a redwood, between and behind those buildings. From time to time I photograph the trees and their leaves, fruits, and seeds, at different times of the year so I can learn more about them. I have become an amateur naturalist since moving here.

 

 

 

It was possible to raise a small garden with the blessing of quiet around me, and the company only of the birds, bees, butterflies and other insects -- and the lizards. Occasionally one of the neighbor's cats would keep me company. I loved feeling a connection with the land. I still feel it. The picture above shows the beginning of our first garden here in 2002. We put the fence up to keep the deer, who are frequent visitors to our property, out of our edible garden. They still eat apples and grapes which are not fenced in.

I finally gave up the garden after a devastating attack from ground squirrels in 2010. I don't have the spirit to fight them, and they were winning. It's no longer a restful hobby when it's a stressful battle and you don't have any crop because the plants get cut off at the base.  I enjoy the availability of of fresh produce from our local farmers market, when I'm unable to grow it myself. Below is a display of persimmons and tangerines at a winter farmers market at Templeton Park

 

The photos below were taken at our Templeton annual art in the park festival, Day in the Shade. Artists and craftsmen bring their creations on the Saturday before Mother's Day every year for display and sale of their many gift items.

 

 

I also enjoy small town life. I enjoy being able to visit local artists in their studios and also when they exhibit at local art festivals in our parks. When I go to shop almost anywhere, I'm likely to meet a friend and have a chat. We have enough retail businesses to meet the needs of an average household, but we still have room for parks and trails.  There are free concerts in the parks during the summer months.

My church here is also a blessing. The congregation is small. People know each other and help each other out. They celebrate and they mourn together. They see each other's children grow up and some of them marry each other. Above is a picture I took at a baptism not too long ago. That is one of our celebrations.

The photo above was taken on Twelve Oaks Drive in Paso Robles, about three miles down the highway from me. I pass the road almost every day, and when I have time, I take photo walks there and walk through the Doce Robles vineyards, which you see above, as well.

The picture above could have been taken in any of my neighboring vineyards in autumn. I believe is was taken at Castoro Cellars in Templeton. These grapes were about ready for harvest.

I love living among the vineyards. All my neighbors have vineyards. I see the vines change with the seasons. I walk the vineyards and photograph them. I was invited to watch the harvest at my neighbor Martin Croad's vineyard , and I wrote an illustrated article complete with video tour, of that experience, Croad Wines: From Vineyard to Bottle. It's a blessing to live in the California Central Coast Wine County.

The picture above was taken along the coast about half an hour from us at Moonstone Beach in Cambria.

I am blessed to live a quiet and peaceful life with the man I love in one of my state's most scenic spots as we enjoy its  mild climate. We have enough to eat, a roof over our heads, and a way to make a living. We see gorgeous sunsets and can get to beautiful beaches in half an hour. What more could I desire in life than what God has already given me?

The picture above was taken at the top of the hill from the driveway as I'm about to go down toward the highway.