Y is for "yonder"

From the shoreline or the hills, Oakland offers some pretty nice views.  In the middle distance you can see buildings in our downtown area.  Way out yonder on the right you can see downtown San Francisco.  Yep, it's that close.  The fog was in retreat, leaving surprisingly warm days and nights.  Linking to ABC Wednesday.

end of day

Taken at the Middle Shoreline Park in West Oakland.  San Francisco is on the horizon line.  Submitted to Skywatch Friday, Weekend Reflections, and SOOC Sunday.

Skywatch Friday: before the rain

The last light a couple of days ago.  Last night and this evening it was too foggy or rainy to get much.  Taken from Mt. View Cemetery.  For skies from around the world, visit Skywatch Friday.

Skywatch Friday: rain

We've gone from balmy to rainy with big winds that got a little scary.  If we get a few more days of mild weather, my last round of roses should bloom.  Always a welcome sight in any weather.  As is this vista of the bay.  For more sky views, or to post your own, visit Skywatch Friday.

ABC Wednesday: E is for evenfall

Evenfall is a word you don't hear anymore.  Has a nice lilt to it, don't you think?   Here we are in Mt. View Cemetery as the last light fades. The Bay Bridge is twinkling in the background.  The deer came out to forage but it was too dark to get a picture of them.  For more "E" photos, visit Mrs. Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday.

I'll be out of town for a week so probably won't be able to leave comments on your blogs.   These photos are brought to you courtesy of autoposting.

Skywatch Friday: no rain today

Looking west toward Angel Island from Mt. View Cemetery.  No rain today but more is on its way.  For more sky shots, visit Skywatch Friday.

ABC Wednesday: B is for bay view

One of the many pleasures of living around the Bay is our fabulous bay views.  This one is from Mt. View Cemetery.  The weather has been practically balmy this past week.  It feels like spring.  But we know better.  Rain and frost are just around the corner.  Who cares.  Sitting out in the sun for lunch in January is its own reward.  For more "B" photos, visit ABC Wednesday and see the many offerings for this week.

Skywatch Friday: view from Joaquin Miller Park

The Oakland hills is home to several regional and city parks that preserve the natural woodlands of the area.  This 500 acre park is named for Joaquin Miller, a 19th century poet and adventurer, and some might say rascal and liar, whose work is no longer well known.  During the Great Depression the WPA helped build park trails, a beautiful water cascade, and an amphitheater where musicals are performed in the summer.  While walking some of the park yesterday I encountered runners, hearty bicyclists riding the steep hill trails, kids playing, Pacific Islanders performing a graceful hula dance for their family at an out of the way picnic area, and an aging hippie practicing the drums.  Typical Oakland.  This shot looks southwest across the bay with the coastal range in the distance.  Click here for more Skywatch photos from around the world.

SF Bay on Skywatch Friday

Skywatch Friday:  Looking toward San Francisco this afternoon from the Mormon Temple.  The past few days the clouds have started out a billowy, snowy white and stack up above the Oakland hills.  In the afternoon they start to get dark undertones.  Late afternoon they turn into a grey "marine layer."  Eventually the rain starts to fall in the early evening.  Mostly we're grateful because we sorely need the rain.

interlude between storms

Taken from Mt. View Cemetery near sunset.  Looking toward Marin County.

SF bay at dusk

Downtown Oakland is in the foreground with SF in the background.  You can see one span of the Golden Gate Bridge on the right.  This photo was taken from the Mormon Temple.  The low slung cloud cover  in the background is actually the fog coming in from the ocean.