Cows, Mist, and Green.

This morning I went searching for a picture of water in the San Benito River. Couldn't find one. But, I did find this sweet scene off of Southside Road. Moooo.

Free December Days at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

We, residents of San Benito County, are in luck! Between today and Sunday, December 13, 2015, admission into the Monterey Bay Aquarium is f-r-e-e. Free!

The aquarium offers free entry every year during its Community Open House to not only San Benito County residents, but also residents of Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. Thank you very much, Monterey Bay Aquarium!

San Benito County residents: To take advantage of the free access, you must show a valid photo ID with your local address. The aquarium also accepts a recent utility bill or monthly San Benito County Express bus pass as proof of residence. If you're a student attending a community college or university in San Benito, Monterey, or Santa Cruz county, you can show your student ID.

For information about the Monterey Bay Aquarium's hours, exhibits, and other matters, click here to go its website.

Time to Go Home

As I was riding my bicycle yesterday, I noticed the goats on Enterprise Road. Of course, I had to stop and photos. I watched a black and white goat for a while. It was apart from the others, gazing up at the barn. It took a few steps up the hill, stopped, walked a few more steps, stopped. Then, slowly it made its way up the hill as if drawn by some alluring music.

When I looked at this photo hours later, I noticed goats hanging out in the shade of the barn and in the fenced area to the side. Maybe the black and white goat was missing its partner. One can imagine.

Until tomorrow.

Flying to Church

It's the Sacred Heart Church steeple. For another view, click here.

Llamas in San Juan Bautista

Sure, everyone knows about the wild chickens roaming the streets of San Juan Bautista. But, who knows about the llamas?

Now, did I say they are live llamas?

But, there are live llamas in San Benito County. Oils of Paicines raises llamas on their ranch just north of the Pinnacles National Park. They shear the animals yearly and turn their wool into fiber which they sell.

Back to the llamas in San Juan. If you want to check them up close, here's where you'll find them.

A Mooooooo-ving View

"Moooove along," said this cow on the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. "There's nothing to see here."

I took the photo anyway. Ha!

Come check out other black and white photos from bloggers around the world. Click here to go to The Weekend in Black and White.

The Peafowl of Casa de Fruta

Peacocks and peahens wander aimlessly around the grounds of Casa de Fruta. I came across this peahen near the swimming pool of the Casa de Motel, also known as the Peacock Inn.

Seriously, these guys and gals are all over Casa de Fruta. They walk through the parking lots. They hang near the pond. They saunter around the exhibits of antique farm machinery. They even stop and watch the kids ride the Casa de Carousel and gaze at folks eating their lunch on the patio of  the Casa de Wine.

Yes, a visit to Casa de Fruta for me is not complete without an encounter with one of the peafowls. Now, if only one of the peacocks would've strutted about with his feathers in full display. Next time.

Today, I'm linking up with The Weekend in Black and White. Please click here to see other B&B white photos from around the world.

Livestock at the Fair

Do you remember the folk song (or children song) Animal Fair? 

We're going to the animal fair.
The birds and beasts were there.
The big baboon by the light of the moon
was combing his auburn hair.

That's the first verse of the version I know, which according to Wikipedia was first sung in 1898 by American sailors. I'll probably hum that tune on Saturday as the Husband and I take the free shuttle to the San Benito County Fair. Alas, there shan't be any baboons, but domestic birds and beasts shall be there.

The San Benito County Fair is this weekend at Bolado Park: Friday, October 3 (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.), Saturday, October 4 (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.), and Sunday, October 5 (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.) The San Benito County Express will offer a free shuttle from San Juan Bautista and Hollister on all three days. Click here for the shuttle schedule.

The cows, pigs, goats, chickens, and rabbits are all raised by members of the various 4-H clubs in San Benito County, as well as high school students who belong to the Future Farmers of America (FFA). Every year, the youth sell their cows, pigs, and goats at the Junior Livestock Auction which is held at the fair. This year, it's on Saturday, starting at 10 a.m.

Today is Mrs. Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday. That's where I'm hanging out, checking other letter L posts by  bloggers from around the world. You can join me by clicking here.

By the way, I'm featuring the county fair this whole week. Here are Monday's post and Tuesday's post. Swing back tomorrow if you can.

Took Wing

One definition of to take wing is to become joyful.  Perhaps, these ocean birds flying over the Asilomar State Marine Reserve may not be able to smile, but I like to think their spirits wore joyful smiles. I know that's how I felt as the Husband and I took wing and wandered around Monterey yesterday.

No Parking!

Some of our fine flying friends just think the laws don't apply to them.

Hanging out at ABC Wednesday today. Come join me to check out blogs from all over. We're all featuring posts around the letter F. 

Watch Out for Deer

On Sunday afternoon, the Husband and I took an out-of-town friend on a drive down some of the country lanes in our county. On Comstock Road, we came across a bunch of deer hanging out at the end of the road. Interestingly, the three males standing on the road were separated from the four females by a wire fence. The females were grazing on the grass. It looked like the males were saying to them, "You've got it going on."

As we drove closer, two males ran across the street and up the hill, while the third jumped the fence and  nonchalantly walked pass the females. The ladies? They stood their ground, munching away at the grass as they kept an eye on us.

Today, I'm hooking up with Our World Tuesday. Click on the link to check out photos and posts from other parts of the world.

How About Those Chickens in San Juan Bautista

Have a great day!

The 2014 SBC Saddle Horse Show & Rodeo

After all these years, I finally went to the annual Saddle Horse Show & Rodeo. It was lots of fun. So many amazing riders and horses. Watching the kids gallop on their horses at lickety-split speed got me wanting to learn to ride a horse now.

If you'd like to see more of my photos of the rodeo, click here. The link will take you to my SBC Saddle Horse Show & Rodeo album on Facebook.

Want to know more about the horse show and rodeo? Check out its official website.

A Great View of the Parade

I had the best seat ever to watch the parade that opened the 2014 San Benito County Saddle Horse and Rodeo. This old lady is just not used to sitting on the curb. Next time, I'll remember to bring my beach chair, which, now that I think about it, was in my car trunk. Oh well.

If you didn't have a chance to get down to the parade or want to re-live it, I have an album of photos at Facebook that you're welcome to view. Please click here.

Grazing Cows and Horses

Cows graze towards the west. Horses graze towards the east. Does that happen all the time all over the world when you have cows and horses in the same pasture? Or, was this just an odd instance at this particular moment when I took this shot?

Again, the things you might think about and see as you're moseying along Airline Highway between Hollister and Tres Pinos while pushing a bike with a flat tire. This is my last photo from my slow trek down Highway 25 the other day. Maybe. If you'd like to see my other photos, here you go: grass, palm trees, and yellow barn.

A Horse is a Horse

Two horses snacking on the grass behind the Highway 25 sound wall was a very cool sight yesterday morning when I was riding my bicycle. Of course, I had to pull over to take a photo.

Both horses turned to look at me. "Who's that?" they seemed to say. The white horse came over to greet me, probably thinking I had some kind of yummy snack. When it realized that I was just going to pet him, it went back to the grass.