Umbrage is Abundant in the North County

What is Umbrage?

Umbrage is abundant in the North County. You probably see it everywhere you go. Umbrage is simply the foliage of our many trees and shrubs which produce shade. We depend upon it most in the summer when we seek shelter from the hot sun. The people in the photo below, taken at Leffingwell Landing in Cambria, are taking advantage of it.

Large Shade Tree at Leffingwell Landing, © B. Radisavljevic

You Need to Choose and Place Shade Trees Carefully

Sometimes umbrage helps cool a home in summer when you have trees near your house. These trees are helping to shade a mobile home on our Templeton property, or were. One of those large pines fell since I took this photo and we are lucky it didn't fall on the mobile home. You have to be careful about choosing and maintaining trees that provide shade on your property.

Shade Trees Threatening Mobile Home, © B. Radisavljevic

Sometimes umbrage is a nuisance. When my mother planted this tree behind her new rose garden, she thought it was an apricot tree. Maybe it is, but it has never produced so much as a blossom. What it does produce is umbrage -- lots of it. The shade makes it much harder for the roses near and under it to get the sun they need. Can you even see that small pink rose near the middle of the photo that the shade makes barely visible?

Shade Tree Covering Rose Garden, © B. Radisavljevic

Even our flowering shrubs, such as these Cecile Brunner rosebushes produce umbrage that makes shade.

 Rose Garden Umbrage, © B. Radisavljevic

 Planting the Dry Shade Garden: The Best Plants for the Toughest Spot in Your Garden
Whether you have a problem in your yard with too much umbrage or too little, one of these books should help you. When you have too much shade, you have to choose your plants more carefully and get plants that will thrive in shade.

If you have the opposite problem and need to plant shade trees on your property to help cool your home or patio, one of these books will help you make the right choices -- trees that won't clog your plumbing or be prone to falling on your home.

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 Making the Most of Shade: How to Plan, Plant, and Grow a Fabulous Garden that Lightens up the Shadows The New Shade Garden: Creating a Lush Oasis in the Age of Climate Change Shade Tree Wilt Diseases: Wilt Diseases Taylor's Guide to Shade Gardening: More Than 350 Trees, Shrubs, and Flowers That Thrive Under Difficult Conditions, Illustrated with Color Photographs and Detailed Drawings (Taylor's Guides)

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If you enjoyed this post, please share it. The sharing buttons are just above the comment box at the end of this post. The photo below is especially designed for pinning. 

This is my twenty-first post for the 2016 AtoZchallenge, a Blogging Challenge for the month of April, 2016. My theme is Things You Can See or Experience in North San Luis Obispo County. Here are links to the other posts if you missed them.

A is for Acorn
B is for Barney Schwartz Park
C is for Cattle in Wine Country
D is for Dark Star Cellars
E is for Electric Wires
F is for Family Farms
G is for Graveyard Vineyards
H is for Horses
Insects in My Neighborhood in April
J's Burgers in Paso Robles: A Review
Kosta is God's Gift to Me from Across the Ocean
Laguna Lake is Full Again
Mission San Miguel Photos
Niner Estates Decorated Heart Hill with Vineyards
Ocean Photos from the California Central Coast
Paso Robles Police Vehicles
Quiet Places Near Paso Robles
Red Soles Winery at Dusk
Shale Oak Winery at Dusk

Trader Joe's In Templeton is my Favorite Grocery Store

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Related articles

• A Tree fit for a Princess
• E is for Elderberry

Ocean Photos from the California Central Coast

Coast from Leffingwell Landing, Cambria,
 © B. Radisavljevic

One can approach the ocean from Paso Robles in many ways. Probably the closest beaches to Paso Robles are Cambria, San Simeon State Beach, and Cayucos. Continue south on Highway 1 or take 101 to Highway 41 to reach Morro Bay. Just a bit farther south and you will be at Avila Beach and Pismo Beach. Each beach and coastal city has its own unique character, and most locals have a preferred beach where they like to access the ocean. My personal favorite is Moonstone Beach, and next would be Avila Beach. The photo essays I just linked to will show you an extensive look at each beach in photos and videos as I experienced them. I will introduce some different and more recent photos here. I'm glad the ocean is only a short distance from Paso Robles, and I can get to any of my favorite beaches quickly. 

One of my favorite places to access the ocean in Cambria is Leffingwell Landing. Below are some of the reasons why.

Leffingwell Landing is one place where I can go with Hubby, who has difficulty walking very far, where he can sit and watch the ocean while I walk the boardwalk and we are both happy.  There are also restrooms easily accessible. I think the sun is in his eyes in this photo.

Hubby Watching Ocean from Leffingwell Landing, Cambria, © B. Radisavljevic

Leffingwell Landing is a place where children can be active while getting their own personal taste of nature. I remember how my own children loved to climb on the rocks when we went to a beach that had them. They would  have loved the Cambria coastline.

Children Climbing Rocks at Leffingwell Landing, Cambria, © B. Radisavljevic

Here's one more  shot of the ocean from Cambria before we move on. I love the way the sun reflects on the ocean.

Sun Reflecting on Ocean at Leffingwell Landing, Cambria, © B. Radisavljevic

Before we leave the North Coast, here's one shot taken at San Simeon State Beach.

Cove at San Simeon State Beach, © B. Radisavljevic

If you watch my video, you can  hear the ocean at San Simeon, as well as see it.

Now we will move south to Cayucos. When I think of Cayucos I think of not only the ocean and the beach, but also the seaweed and the patterns formed by the waves on the sand.

Wave-formed Patterns on the Sand at Cayucos, © B. Radisavljevic

Shadow of Pier on Kelp in Water Beside Cayucos Pier, © B. Radisavljevic

We can't leave Cayucos without a shot of a sea gull, since the gulls own the place.

Gull on Shore at Cayucos Beach, © B. Radisavljevic

Time to move south to Morro Bay now.  Morro Bay's most famous landmarks are its smokestacks and Morro Rock. Since I'm focused on the ocean, I'll show you the rock. Since Morro Bay is a fishing village, it is usually surrounded by boats.

Morro Rock and Fishing Boats, © B. Radisavljevic

The gulls own Morro Bay as they do every other Central Coast beach or pier I've been to. This one just  took off from the pier.

Morro Bay Sea Gull in Flight, © B. Radisavljevic

It's time to move on to Avila Beach, which actually is two beaches. There's the one near town with a more typical sandy beach, and there is also Port San Luis. These photos were taken at Port San Luis because there is more wildlife to look at. Below is a gull on the rocks deciding whether to go fishing.

Port San Luis in Avila Beach Sea Gull on Rock, © B. Radisavljevic

Below are more sights and sounds from Avila Beach, Port San Luis.

As usual, the sea gulls have staked their claim on the Harford Pier.

Port San Luis,  Avila Beach Sea Gulls on Pier, © B. Radisavljevic

Our last stop will be Pismo Beach. It's a popular beach with people and seagulls. Don't leave your picnic food unattended. It will soon be surrounded. This is what happened to one ice chest left by itself on the beach. It's like an airport restaurant for seagulls.

Here's a glimpse of people enjoying Pismo Beach near the pier.

People Enjoying Pismo Beach Near Pier, © B. Radisavljevic

Below is the view many people visualize when they think of Pismo Beach.

 Pismo Beach, California, © B. Radisavljevic

Here are some of my more popular Zazzle products made from photos taken at Pismo Beach, in case you missed picking up a souvenir last time you were there.

 Woman Walking Dog Along Pismo Beach, CA Puzzle Cliffs Along Pismo Beach Shoreline Poster Cliffs Along Pismo Beach Shoreline Puzzle Pismo Beach Shoreline Postcard Pier at Pismo Beach, Postcard

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If you enjoyed this post, please share it. The sharing buttons are just above the comment box at the end of this post. The photo below is especially designed for pinning.

This is my fifteenth post for the 2016 AtoZchallenge, a Blogging Challenge for the month of April, 2016. My theme is Things You Can See or Experience in North San Luis Obispo County. Here are links to the other posts if you missed them.

A is for Acorn
B is for Barney Schwartz Park
C is for Cattle in Wine Country
D is for Dark Star Cellars
E is for Electric Wires
F is for Family Farms
G is for Graveyard Vineyards
H is for Horses
Insects in My Neighborhood in April
J's Burgers in Paso Robles: A Review
Kosta is God's Gift to Me from Across the Ocean
Laguna Lake is Full Again
Mission San Miguel Photos

Niner Estates Decorated Heart Hill with Vineyards

Related articles

• This is a Great Day to Take Your Family to Leffingwell Landing
• M is for Moonstone Beach
• Clamming at Pismo Beach after 40 years

Kosta is God's Gift to Me from Across the Ocean

My Husband, Kosta, © B. Radisavljevic

"K" is a hard letter because I've previously written K is for Kennedy Club Fitness (where Kosta can often be found swimming and talking to friends) and It's Kite Flying Day -- both for this blog. My husband's name also starts with K, and  Kosta's story deserves a post here, as well as in previous articles I've written about his life. 

Many people have seen Kosta Radisavljevic around the North County at Kennedy Club in Atascadero, Covenant Presbyterian Church, KPRL Coffees, and North County Tea Party meetings and events. Few people really know him, and no one knows him the way I do. Few people realize he spent time in a Communist prison in Serbia as a child. Few people have heard the story of his escape. Some have worked with him in Southern California. Some of you knew him at UCLA when we were students. Here is the Kosta I know.

I met him when we lived in the same dorm, Dykstra Hall, at UCLA in 1962. He was active in Bruin Christian Fellowship (a chapter of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.) Another Christian student introduced us at dinner one night. It soon became apparent that Kosta was a magnet in the dining hall for Christian students from any organization and their roommates and friends. Our table seemed to have all the fun. Kosta made everyone, no matter what their religion, feel welcome to sit with us, and we all became friends.

Kosta was not raised in a church. He was born in Serbia. It took the grace of God to  get him out of Serbia. Kosta tells that story himself in the videos I made of him in this article, Enemies of the  People: Life in Communist Yugoslavia.  I also show you photos of his childhood and provide a bit of the background for the videos. This article and its videos will help you understand a bit of how Kosta became who he is. I was born in California and had a sheltered and happy childhood. It's hard for those of us who did to even comprehend what Kosta's family went through.

Kosta did not become a Christian until his family had emigrated to Canada. He went to a Christian Boarding School, Prairie Bible Institute, and it was there he became a believer. In 1959, Kosta's family finally got their green cards and moved to the United States legally. Finally, about 1961, he arrived at UCLA, where he majored in physics.

Kosta Playing with the Children One Night, © B. Radisavljevic

We became fost-adopt parents of two older children, siblings, Sarah and Jason in 1982. Kosta loved to play with the children, as you can see above. The photo was taken shortly after the children came. We loved traveling with the children and seeing the country together. We looked forward to seeing the children grow up and start families of their own, but that didn't happen. Jason died in an accident when he was just 14.  We were both crushed. Below you see Kosta speaking at Jason's memorial service, which was held outside our church.

Kosta Speaking at Jason's Memorial Service, © B. Radisavljevic

We also lost Sarah, though her death was much later. You can read the story of her life and death here.  After Jason's death we moved to Templeton to start a new life closer to Kosta's parents who needed more of his help. He was very busy during those first ten years helping me with my book business and then caring for his mom in her last years.

Now all our parents are gone. Occasionally we have time to get out and have a bit of fun. The photo below was taken by a tourist we had been talking to at Leffingwell Landing in Cambria.

Kosta and I at Leffingwell Landing, © B. Radisavljevic

I took the following photo at Cachuma Lake on our way home from a business trip to Ventura.

Kosta at Cachuma Lake, © B. Radisavljevic

The photo below was taken in Summerland on the way south to Ventura on business.

Kosta at Summerland, © B. Radisavljevic

I am  very thankful that after almost 53 years of marriage, we are still together and still have each other. Whatever Kosta may be to others, he is still my best friend. I'm hoping that we will still be allowed a few more years together.

If you enjoyed this post, please share it. The sharing buttons are just above the comment box at the end of this post. The photo below is especially designed for pinning.

This is my eleventh post for the 2016 AtoZchallenge, a Blogging Challenge for the month of April, 2016. My theme is Things You Can See or Experience in North San Luis Obispo County. Here are links to the other posts if you missed them.

A is for Acorn
B is for Barney Schwartz Park
C is for Cattle in Wine Country
D is for Dark Star Cellars
E is for Electric Wires
F is for Family Farms
G is for Graveyard Vineyards
H is for Horses
Insects in My Neighborhood in April

J's Burgers in Paso Robles: A Review

Getting Out of the House and to the Coast on Valentine's Day

After Lunch at Touch of Paso Restaurant, © B. Radisavljevic

I think I've had cabin fever. Yesterday was the first time in over a year that I did not write any blog posts or spend time online. It was almost as though my brain just wanted to rest. So I let it. I read three books on my Kindle which weren't worth my time, watched a bit of TV, and stayed in bed a lot. I think I may have been half sick. For sure I was depressed.

Today we decided to get away for a few hours and break the routines I felt trapped in. First we went for lunch at Touch of Paso. We were the last to leave, so I  took this picture just before we paid our bill. Hubby is still double-checking it.

After we had eaten, we headed down Highway 46 West to Highway 1 to Leffingwell Landing. I wish I could have stopped along the way to take photos of the cattle on the green hills which stretched all the way to the sea. It was clear enough today to actually get a glimpse of the ocean from the highway, but all the viewpoints were on the other side of the road. I was hoping to catch some of those views on the way home, but it didn't happen.

It was a beautiful day to be on the coast. It was warm enough to enjoy without sweater. The sky was very blue and clear. The waves were large enough to make some high sprays as they splashed on the rocks. I made a video I may share later in the week. I didn't see the way to the boardwalk so I mainly took my photos from the parking lot and the stairway to the beach. Since it ended on a huge rock, I didn't  think it wise for me to go down to the beach via the rock. My knees weren't up to the rough surface. I did, however, get this photo from the parking lot.

A View of Leffingwell Landing in Cambria, © B. Radisavljevic

People were friendly today and open to conversations with strangers. We met some people who lived in Fresno and they offered to take our picture together. We talked for a bit afterwards.

Just as we were getting ready to leave, another man pointed out some otters swimming some distance away. I would have missed them -- especially since my camera battery had just died and ended my being able to see through my zoom lens. I seem to have misplaced my spare camera and I couldn't find it before we left home, so I didn't get all the photos I'd hoped to get, including those I wanted to take of the hills on the way home.

It's amazing what a large dose of nature can do to combat depression. It sure beats talking to a therapist, is more fun, and a lot cheaper. I highly recommend it.

Related articles

• Take a Walk Outdoors Day
• This is a Great Day to Take Your Family to Leffingwell Landing

I wish I Were at Leffingwell Landing Today

I'm patiently waiting for the days to get cooler now that autumn is here. Were I not so busy with a couple of projects that involve a lot of physical labor and a deadline in three days, I would be here today. I love  Leffingwell Landing. To see these waves up closer, just click the photo to make it larger. Here are more photos from Leffingwell Landing in Cambria. 

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• Sharing the Road Should Work Both Ways

Take Your Family to Leffingwell Landing

Leffingwell Landing is Cool

 Cambria is often twenty degrees cooler than Paso Robles during a heat wave. What's not to love? Anyone can enjoy Leffingwell Landing in Cambria. Some people enjoy napping in the park. Perhaps these folks first enjoyed a picnic in the shade of this enormous tree.

Napping at Leffingwell Landing in Cambria, © B. Radisavljevic

Leffingwell Landing is Accessible to All

The park and the ocean views are accessible to almost everyone, even those in walkers. One can just sit under the shade of a tree and look out toward Moonstone Beach and watch the ocean and the seagulls. This couple appears to be spending a relaxing afternoon doing just that.

Looking Out at the Sea at Leffingwell Landing in Cambria, © B. Radisavljevic

I didn't have time to walk the boardwalk on my short visit, but I didn't even need to leave the parking lot to get this view and many others of the ocean. If you're not doing anything special today, why not take someone special to Leffingwell Landing and have a cool afternoon?

A View of the Ocean at Leffingwell Landing, © B. Radisavljevic

Can't go to the beach? Take it with you in this iPad Mini Case.

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• M is for Moonstone Beach