Fair Weather Has a Unique Meaning in Paso Robles

Fair Weather In July

The most common usage of the term "fair weather" is as the opposite of "foul weather." According to the Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, fair weather is 'FINE, dry, bright, clear, sunny, cloudless, warm, balmy, clement, benign, pleasant.'  Here in Paso Robles, though, locals have their own interpretation of "fair weather."

It seems that very year in July when the California Mid-State Fair comes to Paso Robles it is very, very hot. This week, for example, with the fair in town, we've had triple digit temperatures that are expected to last most of the week before dropping to the nineties. That's what I call fair weather.

I took the photo tonight at 8:30. The temperature was still 85 degrees when I went to get the mail. As I walked back home and looked south, those clouds looked like layers of heat to me.

I can't handle hot weather, so I rarely get to the fair. I understand that the air conditioning went out in at least one of the buildings yesterday -- the one a friend of mine was working in. She said they had to depend on fans to fight the oppressive heat.

Murder at the Mid-State Fair

Did you know that Earlene Fowler wrote a murder mystery set at the Mid-State Fair? She is one of my favorite authors because most of her Benni Harper mysteries are set here in San Luis Obispo County. I love her characters and I enjoy being able to visualize the places mentioned in the books -- even though the author disguises the place names a bit. For example, San Luis Obispo is referred to as San Celina. Any local will find it easy to figure out the settings, and some, like Paso Robles and Morro Bay aren't disguised. Read my review of State Fair here.   Why not pick up a copy at the library while the fair is happening? Or pick it up at Amazon.

Paso Robles Public School Students Show Off Their Art at Studios on the Park

Drawings of Abraham Lincoln by Second Graders
 © B. Radisavljevic

During my most recent visits to Studios on the Park I've noticed a new gallery. I discovered it shortly after it opened and I first shared it with you here in December when the Alice In Wonderland Costume display was on exhibit there. Currently the theme is Leadership, in honor of Presidents' Day. Since today is Abraham Lincoln's Birthday, I'm featuring some of the pictures  drawn by second grade students of Abraham Lincoln that were hanging on the wall during my last visit.

There were actually two walls of student-drawn pictures of both Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. Here is one of those displays.

Drawings of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington by Second Graders, © B. Radisavljevic

Fourth grade students, with a bit of assistance from art teachers Louann McKinley and Leslie Moss, prepared this exhibit of their drawings of what the USA means to them.

What the USA Means to Me Drawings by Fourth Graders, © B. Radisavljevic

Studios on the Park and the Paso Robles Unified School District have worked together to provide this studio for the students to use in not only displaying, but also for selling their work. Not shown from the gallery in this post is a display of stoneware created by Joshua Potter,  a Paso Robles High School student. His pieces are currently for sale in the student gallery.

Another advantage of having this student gallery at Studios on the Park is that it facilitates communication between the resident artists and the student artists. Students can watch the artists in their studios, and they can ask the artists for feedback on the work they themselves are doing.

The Leadership Exhibit will last until February 27, so there's still time to get in and see it. If you happen to have any art books around the house you aren't planning to use anymore, bring them along and leave them on the table in the student gallery for student use.

If you'd like to know more about Presidents Lincoln and Washington, these books might be a good place to start. The books by Genevieve Foster, Abraham Lincoln's World and George Washington's World, are some of the best books for giving upper elementary age children and above a worldwide view of history during the times these two presidents lived. I find them a delight to read because they read like fiction.

I personally find it easier to understand a period of history when I can see on two facing pages Foster's illustrated charts of what's happening world-wide before each new historical period in the books. You see who the political leaders are all over the world, new inventions and discoveries in science and technology, prominent artists and musicians, and more for each historical period. These visual aids are very helpful, and one can keep referring back to them if one forgets who is king of where.

 If that isn't enough to convince you of the value of these books, consider that each reads like a novel, except it's true. Reading these books aloud together as a family is a great way for you to refresh your own memory and fill in the gaps of your history education as you make sure your children learn about two very important periods of America's history -- its founding, and the Civil War and what that led up to it. Why not pick up one of these books today?

 The Annotated Lincoln Abraham Lincoln's World, Expanded Edition George Washington's World The Spiritual Journey of George Washington The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln: A Book of Quotations (Dover Thrift Editions) George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution George Washington's Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation (Little Books of Wisdom) 1776

Is Your Kitty a Fur Person Who Has Chosen You?

Does a Fur Person Live with You?

Many years ago I read a book called The Fur Person by May Sarton, that perfectly captured the personality of an independent cat who decided one day to choose a person to settle down with. I loved the book. One of the regular parts of the gentleman cat's day was "to read the newspaper." That meant finding a good place to observe the world and see what was happening. I thought of that as I walked past this house in my neighborhood one day and saw this cat through the window, looking out -- probably "reading the newspaper."

Fur Person Looking out Window, © B. Radisavljevic

If cats fascinate you, you won't want to miss this book. It's been around a long time, but it's still available.  It contains ten original drawings and a fictionalized story for grown-ups of a cat about town, The Fur Person, and his search for a suitable home with a suitable housekeeper.


I highly recommend you get a paper edition if you don't have an eReader that properly displays illustrations. The illustrations are an important part of the book.The gift edition above is perfect. This book should be an important part of any cat lover's library. Get it for someone you love, even if that happens to be you.

Does Your Dog Climb Trees?

Every now and then when I'm out walking I see something that makes me question my eyes. This is what I saw one day while walking past the old cottonwood tree at the north end of Larry Moore Park -- a dog who had climbed a tree. When I asked the man if the dog had really climbed the tree, he said he had. Then a passer-by said her dog had also climbed that same tree.

This reminded me of a book by Farley Mowat that thoroughly entertained me -- The Dog Who Wouldn't Be. Mutt was Farley's companion during his childhood on the prairies of Canada. Mutt did all sorts of things most dogs don't, including climbing trees and ladders.

 If you love dogs or humorous memoirs, I highly recommend this book. Although it was written for adults, it's fun for a family to read aloud together. Even upper elementary age children would be interested in it if they love laughing and animals and most seventh graders can read it themselves.

Have you ever seen a dog climb a tree?