EAST OF ALLEN

Urban Rancho at the Lummis House

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:54:00 +0000

Seen at the Urban Rancho this morning at El Alisal in Highland Park, the former home of Charles Fletcher Lummis.      It's a bit of a hike from East Pas, but a fun day with lots to do and see and learn.   If you haven't been there, it really is an extraordinary place. It's a garden oasis in the middle of the city.

The photo is courtesy of my favorite photographer. This five day old lamb visited El Alisal as part of the day's festivities.    He's had a tough life so far -- trouble standing after birth, rejected by mom and now hand fed.    But, we're told he's doing fine now.

I think I need to give the kid the camera more often.

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Added 2-7-12:

Hey, Marcia's on You Tube!    The Zorthian Outdoor Learning Academy was at the Urban Rancho and filmed an interview with Marcia about her company HomeBody Botanicals.    The piece is up on You Tube along with some other great interviews from the Urban Rancho.

Mulch Mountain

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:57:00 +0000

Though The Windstorm was two months ago, the vestiges of the storm are still with us. Fallen trees and limbs are still being ground up into mulch. One of the grinding operations has been on Sierra Madre Blvd., just east of PHS. The mulch mountain there is big -- probably 30 feet tall.

Another mulch mountain is at the Sierra Madre Villa Debris Basin just west of Hastings Ranch. The photo just doesn't do justice to the size of the mulch mountain there. This one too is about 20-30 feet high.

At one point, I read where the mulch was available for use. But, recently I heard just the opposite -- that the mulch is being trucked away to a landfill. Anyone know what's really happening with this stuff? .

2012 Rose Parade Awards

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:45:00 +0000

As we usually do, we walked yesterday morning to Sierra Madre Blvd. to take in the parade. It was hot and sunny-- shorts and t-shirt weather - and fun. Parade highlights included some great bands, two floats built with California Grown flowers and the pooper scoopers. From the 90-odd parade entries, I've selected the most extraordinary and notable efforts for this year's coveted East of Allen Rose Parade Awards. Without further adieu:

TWO HUNDRED MILE AWARD -- CAL POLY UNIVERSITIES


This award goes to the California Grown float with the best use of flowers grown within 200 miles of Pasadena. The Cal Poly float, as usual, was one of the best in the parade. The float qualified as California Grown because 85% of the flowers used were grown in California. Even closer to home, many of the flowers on the float are grown by students on the Cal Poly campus.


Always funny, always unique and California Grown to boot.

BEST CALIFORNIA GROWN COMMERCIAL FLOAT -- CALIFORNIA CLOCK CO.

California Clock Co.makes the famous Kit Cat Clocks. The company's clocks are California- made all the way and they wouldn't go for imported flowers on their float. Though rookie entrants, they broke with Rose Parade convention and used all California grown flowers on their float. The picture does not do justice to this effort which was exceptionally colorful and featured skateboarders and great music.

BEST POOPER SCOOPER-- THE BROOM BALANCER

As a group, the pooper scoopers were extraordinary this year. I'm not sure if these folks are tournament volunteers, professional clowns or what, but this year several of the scoopers put on a show. This gentleman amazed the crowd with his act of balancing a broom on his chin and then paused for photos. Now let's put this feat into perspective -- the broom he's balancing over his face just swept up fresh horse poop over the five mile parade route. To me, this is the kind of stuff that makes for a fun time. Great act and a.real parade highlight.

BEST CHEER SQUAD -- WISCONSIN BADGERS

Like the badger.

These folks were active -- much more active than the Ducks' cheerleaders. After five miles on the parade route they were still doing stunts. Great group.

BEST BAND -- WISCONSIN BADGERS

Can't beat Midwest bands. These guys were active, engaged the crowd and were fun to watch. Band members broke up on the street to play, danced around, then some actually went into the crowd. A great show.

BEST LIVING CELEBRITY -- DICK ENBERG
BEST DECEASED CELEBRITY -- ROY ROGERS

The RFD TV float was led by 100 golden palominos and paid tribute to Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys. Saw Trigger, Bullet and Nellie Bell on the float too. Happy trails to you....

Best living celebrity had to be Hall of Fame announcer Dick Enberg. He rode in the parade with other greats and carried a sign with his trademark "Oh My" exclamation.

BEST LION -- LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY

The alma mater deserves an award. I'm biased, but LMU is an extraordinary college and they put together a pretty good float too. The float celebrates the school's 100th year. This is the first time Loyola has participated with a parade entry since 1936.

MOST ANTICIPATED FLOAT -- NATURAL BALANCE

Longest float ever, heaviest float ever and surfing dogs. This was the one everyone waited to see. Only one problem -- it was hard to see the show standing on the ground. I heard this was great on TV, but was kind of a disappointment from where I stood.

BEST MUNICIPAL FLOAT -- SIERRA MADRE

Actually La Canada and Sierra Madre both had fun floats. The award could have gone either way. But, I like the guy on top of the Sierra Madre float. Amid budget crises and decline in the local economy, fewer and fewer cities are paying to build floats for the parade. Kudos to Sierra Madre, La Canada, Alhambra, South Pas and Glendale for hanging in there. I don't remember an Arcadia float, but otherwise all of Pasadena's neighbors entered floats. I like the show of the regional pride, but seems strange to me they would build their floats with imported flowers.

News Flash from the 2012 Rose Parade: Two Floats will Use California Grown Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:01:00 +0000

The Cal Poly float is one of only two floats in this year's Rose Parade to qualify as California Grown, meaning 85% of the flowers on the float are grown in California.

The other 41 Rose Parade floats are mainly decorated with imported flowers.

The Rose Parade goes back 1890 and was started by the prestigious Valley Hunt Club. The notion was to showcase Pasadena and all its charms to easterners in hopes of enticing them to move West. "T he abundance of fresh flowers, even in the midst of winter" was part of the enticement. As eminent club member Charles Holder said, "In New York, people are buried in snow," announced Professor Charles F. Holder at a Club meeting. "Here our flowers are blooming and our oranges are about to bear. Let's hold a festival to tell the world about our paradise."

Now, more than 120 years years after the Rose Parade began, southern California flowers still bloom in January and orange trees are loaded with fruit. But today the Rose Parade floats carry flowers shipped in from South America. Holder's notion of showing off our paradise has faded to oblivion. As yesterday's LA Times pointed out, the floral paradise showcased on today's Rose Parade floats is imported.

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Though news to me, this importing flowers business has been accepted for decades.

In a Star-News piece from last year, longtime float builder Jim Hynd observed, "When I first started in this industry in the '70s, 90 percent of our flowers came from within 200 miles of us.... That's totally the absolute opposite now. Most everything we get comes in from South America or other parts of the world."

Turns out that most flowers used on floats are flown from South America to Miami and then trucked 4,000 miles across country in refrigerated trailers.   Parade floats use "an estimated 20 million flowers transported from around the world in aircraft and trucks:orchids from Asia; dried everlasts from Africa; roses from Colombia and other South American countries; and tulips from Holland."

Imports are so much the standard that the official Rose Bowl rose now hails from South America. Last year, the Tournament of Roses and Rose Bowl named Passion Growers, a Miami-based importer of flowers grown in Columbia and Ecuador, as their official flower.    As the Times reported, the news infuriated California flower growers.

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As strange as it seems, it is big news when a Rose Parade float actually uses locally grown flowers Yesterday, the LA Times reported that floats from Cal Poly University and the California Clock Company.are using mainly California grown flowers with California Clock shooting for 100% California flowers.. The Tournament of Roses says California Clock is "the only entry to attempt that feat in many decades."

The Cal Poly floats are always one of my favorites and I understand that the schools' floats have always used flowers grown at the SLO and Pomona campuses.

The California Clock Company is a parade newcomer and recoiled at the notion of buying imported flowers for its float. The company is from Fountain Valley and is best known for its Kit Cat Clocks and its CEO, Woody Young, has distinguished himself as a star of this parade. As related in the LA Times, "As the leader of a California company, Young said, he wanted to support locally grown ingredients.“All of the parts of our clocks are made in the U.S.,” he said. “We resisted the idea of going offshore for even part of our manufacturing, so it is just fitting that we should have California fresh-cut flowers and greens on our first Rose Parade entry.”

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I am a big parade fan. No other city the size of Pasadena has anything like it.   And, I respect the Tournament folks -- they're a civic minded lot who devote a lot of volunteer time to make this thing happen.

But, personally, I was stunned to learn the flowers on Rose Parade floats are imported. To me, importing the flowers gives the Rose Parade a contrived, soulless quality.   Despite all its problems, I still have pride in California and still think of the state as a place where everything grows.

I am disappointed that parade and bowl leaders don't stand up for California growers and buy local and I am disappointed for California growers who have to compete against overseas' operations that play by different rules.    I'm saddened to learn that yet another California industry has withered in the name of "save money, live better."

What ever happened to California pride?   Well, it is alive and well down in Fountain Valley. Maybe it takes a quirky clock maker from the OC to restore some of the parade's local luster.   I hope Woody Young's local pride spreads and I will certainly be watching his Kit Cat Clock float this morning.

Christmas 1878 at the Sierra Madre Villa Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 20:22:00 +0000

                                 Sierra Madre Villa Hotel ca. 1886
                                 By Carleton E. Watkins
                                 Courtesy of the California History Room
                                 California State Library, Sacramento, California

There is nothing like Christmas through a child's eyes.

William Lauren Rhoades grew up in the 1870's and 80's at the Sierra Madre Villa Hotel. His dad, William Porter Rhoades, was the proprietor of the Villa and co-owned the Villa along with his father in law, artist William Cogswell. As an old man, William Lauren recounted the history of the Sierra Madre Villa and wrote about the Christmas of his childhood.   The story includes a donkey named after his mom, a giant Christmas tree, and a gift exchange between the two cultures that lived full time at the Villa -- that of the Rhoades and Cogswell families, who had migrated west from New York, and that of a group of Chinese men, who had originally migrated east to work on the railroads and then staffed the Villa.    .

I enjoy Rhoades' account and post it every year.   So, without further adieu, let's travel with Mr. Rhoades back to East Pasadena in the late '70's.......

From The History of the Famous Sierra Madre Villa Hotel by William Lauren Rhoades:

When Christmas time rolled around the real fun began. I will describe a typical Christmas day in the late seventies. The day before Christmas was one of excitement for all were preparing the gifts, some driving into Los Angeles, a thirty mile drive, to get the last few gifts needed and to shop for all the rest and only about two dry goods stores, two book stores and a few other places to purchase but that made it all the more exciting. There was a tree to sit up fully nineteen feet high, that was the height of the ceiling, and a spread of branches in proportion. Then the trimmings, popping the corn and putting on the cornucopias, hanging the glass balls and the angel on the top. That day the Chinese boy, Sam, made mysterious trips to Mother's room with packages coming from the servants and Chinese on the ranch.

Christmas morning was always the opening of an eventful day. I well recall Christmas of 1878. After breakfast I was taken out to the front of the house and there stood my donkey, which was given me two years before to ride and I named her after my Mother, Jennie, and there she was hitched up to a two wheeled cart made to order with a swell leather seat, the running gear was painted red and the body black, the harness was black with shining brass buckles. The guests all stood round enjoying my delight. I took Mother in at once and we drove off in style and many were the happy days I had with the children at the Villa in that turnout.

Christmas morning the coach that ran to the San Gabriel Southern Pacific Railroad Station daily for the mail and passengers, was ready to take any who might wish to go to the Episcopal Church in San Gabriel, as was the custom on Sundays. Then the day passed and all were in readiness for the big event in the evening with the Christmas tree.

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Rhoades goes on to describe the evening festivities that took place in the hotel parlor with the Rhoades family and hotel guests attending. Christmas carols were sung and the tree was "stripped." There was a gift exchange with Villa's many Chinese workers. Rhoades reports that, to the delight of hotel guests, the workers would enter the parlor with a flourish. Dressed in fine silks, the workers had "their heads freshly shaved with their cues hanging down their backs with red ribbons braided into their hair." They came bearing gifts of sweet lichi nuts, ginger and dainty cakes. In turn, the workers were given a fattened pig for roasting.

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The Sierra Madre Villa Hotel was a famous West Coast resort located in the foothills of what is now East Pasadena. The Hotel is the namesake of Pasadena's Villa Street and Sierra Madre Villa Avenue, which served as the access to the old hotel. If you're interested to know more, I've a dozen or so posts on the Villa that are categorized under the Labels heading on the right side of this blog.

Hastings Ranch Christmas Lights 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:09:00 +0000

Organized Christmas displays in the Upper Hastings Ranch neighborhood have been a tradition since 1957. Last year I spoke with the "mayor" of Hastings Ranch and my 2010 Christmas post has some interesting history of this great annual event.

We drive Hastings Ranch several times during the Christmas season and I always enjoy it. One of my favorite houses has relatively little in the light category, but shows the old Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer TV special from the 60's. There is a large screen set up on the front lawn the show plays continually with sound. Seems whenever I drive by there are cars parked in front of the house and sometimes kids sitting on the grass watching the show. The house in on Daveric just south of Alegria.

Of course, when in Hastings Ranch you can also see the lights of the valley below. Upper Hastings Ranch is on a mesa in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and affords some wonderful views.

Windstorm Damage

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:41:00 +0000

No kidding.

Eucalyptus trees blew down on Sierra Madre Villa. Six trees all probably more than 100 yeas old. As you can tell from the trunks, these were very big trees.

The trees just fell over and were strewn along the road nearly end to end.. It was sad, strange and fascinating all at the same time to walk the length of these giant trees, from roots to the tree tops. And, standing in the middle of these trees there was this powerful scent of Eucalyptus.

Tree fell knocking down power lines and a power pole on Sierra Madre Blvd. There was a Channel 2 news van parked on the median while I drove past.

Oak tree uprooted and fallen on van.

Wind Damage -- Flyng Oak Tree Misses Santa Lands on Van

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:51:00 +0000

Would you like pepper spray or a cup of tea with your shopping experience?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 18:14:00 +0000

The LA Times is reporting that police are still looking for a woman who pepper sprayed other shoppers at an LA area Walmart.   The attack took place on Thanksgiving at 10 pm when Walmart started its Black Friday sales. Twenty people, including children, were injured. After the attack, the woman reportedly secured the X Box she was after, paid for the item and disappeared.

Apparently nobody stopped the attack and NOBODY CAUGHT THE ATTACKER? Why not? Were shoppers and Walmart employees so fixed on buying and selling bargains that they just let the attacker go? There appear to be dozens who saw the spray attack take place.   But no one was willing to step up and do their civic duty? The report was that people unaffected by the spray just kept on shopping.

Walmart's new slogan: "Save Money. Live Better. But Watch Out for the Pepper Spray."

Personally, I prefer the world according to Websters Fine Stationers.   Spend just a little time on their super-active Facebook and you get a flavor of what's going on. Owners Scott and Lori Webster sell fine stationery, books, gifts, and a host of goods from local artisans. The are deeply committed to offering great quality locally made goods. They're carrying our Pasadena-made HomeBody Botanicals products. And, they are staking out a place on the national map -- none other than the Wall Street Journal just interviewed them for a story on independent businesses.   Folks who live in the 'Denas actuallly do make some pretty great stuff. If you prefer locally made stuff, you need to check out Websters.

Happy Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 19:30:00 +0000

Brown Pelicans at Bolsa Chica Wetlands

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! In past years' Thanksgiving posts, I've included photos of wild turkeys that I took near Auburn in Northern Cal. This year, I'm going with the pelicans. And a little story.

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November 6 was going to be a big day. That was the day of Marcia's first Patchwork Indie Arts and Crafts show. Set in Long Beach, it would be her first outdoor show and we hoped for big things.

Now, small businesses are a labor of love. Marcia's HomeBody Botanicals is no exception. And, as small business owners know, their ventures have a way of becoming family affairs. So, her labor of love has spilled over to the whole family, and, in a way, all four of us have been working the business since it started more than a year ago at the Altadena Urban Farmer's Market.

So, after a late night doing the final touches, early November 6, we all got up loaded the van and headed south to Long Beach. Our expectations were high. But, while driving on the 605, it started to rain. By the time we reached the Marine Stadium in Long Beach, it was pouring. The storm had arrived and showed no signs of letting up.

We found our assigned 10 x 10 space -- next to a boat storage area and under a couple of inches of water. Marcia and I hauled out the deceptively-named "e-z up" and with our 13 and 8 year olds, we started the set up. There is simply no way to raise an e-z up in the rain without getting soaked and soon we were all cold and wet from head to toe. The kids were great -- both helping and game as could be. Still, midway through set up, our 8 year old broke. She just stood in the rain and cried. I could hardly blame her.

So, that's how our much anticipated big day started.

But, eventually, things got better. By afternoon, the sun was out and crowds of people slogged through the fair. There was music, great food and dozens of vendors, like us, offering homemade crafts and goods. Really, the Patchworks shows are interesting places and if you haven't gone, you should.

Anyway, when things settled down and dried out, the kids and I spent the afternoon exploring. We made our way down PCH to Bolsa Chica and walked the trails through.the wetlands. The variety of birds there is amazing and, after the rain, the wetlands were teaming with activity. In particular, it was fun to watch the pelicans as they fished by diving beak first into the water.

As it happened, we were at the wetlands about an hour before sundown and the light was perfect for photography. As we walked the foot bridges and trails, we passed many photographers outfitted with big time equipment and scanning the wetlands for pictures.

I stopped on the footbridge and took my place among a line of folks poised with their tripods and telescopic lenses. I reached into my sweatshirt pocket and pulled out my little Canon Power Shot. So there I stood among the tripods. But, you know, this pair of pelicans rose up from the water and soared right by me. I barely had time to raise my camera and never saw the birds in my viewfinder. I pointed and clicked and this photo is what I got. Not a professional shot, but good enough to give me a big smile.

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Marcia's show got better and she made a little money. In the dark, under clear skies, we packed up, then drove home to Pasadena.

It had been a long and trying day. But, we all pulled together and, except for a few hours of cold and wet, had fun doing it. The kids had jumped in with both feet to help. We made it home safely where we all slept well.

Now a few weeks later, the wet and cold is nearly forgotten and only memories of a family adventure remain. Even the worst of the cold and wet is now somehow funny -- strangely even crying in the rain can get to be funny.

And, if that's not enough, on top of it all, I have my pelican picture.

Waiting for Black Friday - Two Days to Go

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:19:00 +0000

People are already lining up in anticipation of Black Friday sales. This morning (Wednesday) we saw seven hardy souls camped out in front of the Best Buy on Foothill Blvd. I was told that the first in line was there last Saturday.

Best Buy opens its doors at 12 am Friday for Black Friday sales. These folks have today, tonight, then Thanksgiving Day and half the night until they get their prize. If I'm out, I'll check back later today to see if the line has grown.

Get Out of Your Car and Take the Picture

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 15:08:00 +0000

A couple of days ago I was sitting in the Hastings shopping center parking lot waiting for my son to come out of the store. Fortunately I had my camera with me and stepped out of the car to take this shot. Turned out there were others with the same idea. A woman parked her car few rows over and jumped out with her camera to take a picture. Then, I saw a guy put his shopping bags down to get a shot with his cell phone. Then, on the way home we saw someone set up on the Sierra Madre Blvd. median with a tripod facing west for pictures.

It's always fun to see people taking pictures. Not so much to watch them, but to try to see what they see that is so interesting. There was no mystery here. Lately we've had spectacular clouds and sky well worth some pictures.

Baby Alligator Lizards

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 03:54:00 +0000

Alligator lizard eggs hatch in late summer and early fall and it is about this time each year that I see these young alligator lizards with their amazing tails.

Unless eaten by a cat, hawk, snake or another lizard, these young alligators will grow to maturity in about 18 months and reach possibly 16-20 inches long including their tails. They'll eat a lot of insects along the way and will develop markings on their back. They will probably lose their tails, grow a new tail, and grow up to look like this:

So, there's my 2011 lizard post.

Mother Moo Creamery Opens In Sierra Madre

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 01:05:00 +0000

A small crowd gathered Saturday afternoon for the grand opening of Mother Moo Creamery. Located on Kersting Court in downtown Sierra Madre, Mother Moo Creamery is the latest effort of local gourmet and master canner, Kathy Klemens, who is better known as Mother Cluck. The new store will be offering her ice creams, preserves and classes (this Saturday's class will be canning peaches).

Here's the ice cream menu.   I had the fresh mint with chocolate flakes and the triple joe. I sampled the cinnamon, ginger and salty chocolate.   All were incredible. But, if I had to choose one, I'd probably go for the fresh mint and chocolate flake.   I've had mint ice cream before, but never mint ice cream made with fresh mint. Wow, was it good! We'll be back.

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Now, here's the thing about Mother Moo Creamery -- in every sense of the word, this is a local effort. Mother Moo-Cluck is a local talent who makes the gourmet products she sells and offers them at events around town, including the Altadena Urban Farmers Market.    She hires local folks -- my wife and son both knew people working behind the counter.    And, as much as possible, she's using locally produced ingredients.   On that score, the menu tells the story -- fresh mint and oranges from local farms and honey from Leona Valley in northern LA County.

Mother Moo has great ice cream.   And, they've got a strong Local Factor too.   I hope you'll check it out.

The Oldest Existing In- N- Out Burger

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 03:39:00 +0000

The In-N-Out on East Foothill is the oldest existing In-N-Out restaurant. This landmark neon In-N-Out sign was taken down a few weeks ago and apparently hauled off to HQ to be refurbished. The refurbished sign was reinstalled this afternoon and tonight it looks pretty good.

The compact red and white In-N-Out drive throughs, the palms and, of course, the signs have become classic southern California images.

East Pasadena's In-N-Out was built in 1952. There were a few In-N-Outs built before this one. But, the earlier restaurants have been torn down and rebuilt leaving this East Foothill location as the oldest standing In-N-Out.

Memo to In-N-Out corporate: It is time to take the banner sign down from the roof..

Pasadena Blogging and the Pasadena Sky

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:50:00 +0000

The last two nights have given spectacular views in the Pasadena sky. The photo above is of the international space station as it orbited over us Saturday night about 8 pm. It was fascinating to watch. I was surprised at how fast it moved and how different it was from stars or planes or anything else in the sky. Pretty amazing stuff when you think that there's a crew of six orbiting the earth and living up there. The NASA website has a nice little feature that allows you to find out when the space station passes over a particular town. The station will pass over us again tonight (Monday) at 7:47 pm.

Because of the heavy cloud cover and rain, we could not see the space station last night.

Which brings me to our weird weather. The weather started changing late yesterday afternoon. A few raindrops fell and I spotted this rainbow to the east. We don't see a lot of rainbows around here, so I ran to grab my camera and got this shot before the rainbow was gone. Within an hour, rain was falling and then came some good rounds of thunder and lightening. Thunderstorms are forecast for today. Strange weather for us.

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With all this talk about sky, it seems an appropriate time to say thank you and best wishes to a departing Pasadena blogger -- Ben Wideman of the sky is big in pasadena. I followed his daily photo blog for much of its four year run. His blog frequently showed me aspects of my city that I hadn't seen or appreciated. In particular, his photos of City Hall were spectacular as were his shots of the Colorado Street Bridge and, of course, the local sky.. In his blog's last month, he listed his top 20 positive and top 10 negative things about our fair city. It was interesting to see the final perspective of this young Canadian who spent four years here preparing for the ministry. Friends and City Hall were his top two positive things; disparity between rich and poor and smog were his top two negatives. I'll miss Ben's photos and commentary and wish him and his family well.

The Bears and the Bees

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:27:00 +0000

Every summer bears venture down from the mountains into our north-east Pasadena neighborhood. They are looking for food and every year there are reports of trash cans overturned or fruit trees raided. From what I've heard, few people in the neighborhood ever actually see a bear and even fewer seem concerned about the animals. Until this summer, I had experienced only one real bear encounter. Early one morning a couple of years ago, our dog surprised a bear who scrambled up a tree and then watched me while I took his picture. It was a fascinating morning.

Well, this summer I had another bear encounter.   Actually, our bees suffered the encounter and I just watched.   Last year we kept bees without any incident. No such luck this year.   Above is a photo of our little five-box high bee hive. The hive had been healthy and happy all summer buzzing along and making honey.   At about 2 am recently I heard our dog barking and watched out the window as a bear stood on its hind legs, put its paws against the top of the hive and knocked it over. The frames spilled out and the bear gorged itself on honey. It was a sad, sad sight.

Amazingly, though, the hive survived, was put back together and moved to a new home.

Anonymous Comment Leads to New Information About Pasadena's Lost Lincoln Portrait

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 05:18:00 +0000

President Abraham Lincoln by William F. Cogswell
White House Historical Association (White House Collection)

Three years ago I posted a short biography of East Pasadena pioneer and famous artist, William F. Cogswell. I followed that with a post titled Mystery of the Missing Lincoln Portrait. You see, Cogswell had bestowed upon the City of Pasadena a replica of his most famous work -- the official White House portrait of President Abraham Lincoln -- but the City had somehow lost the painting. Just what happened to the painting is a mystery.

Since the post, I've pursued the mystery with others. Sure, some know about the missing Lincoln portrait. But, no one has any theories about what happened.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, I received an anonymous comment to my three-year old post. Anonymous reported that the Albion Castle in San Francisco has a replica of Cogswell's famous Lincoln portrait. Turns out Anonymous is right. I found photos of the Lincoln portrait hanging in the Albion Castle at flicker and foundsf. And, the portrait sure seems like a replica of the White House original (above).

The Albion Castle was home to a less than successful brewery and seems an odd place for a Lincoln portrait. Could this be Pasadena's missing Lincoln? Anonymous -- What do you think?

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I reviewed my records and poked around the Internet to see if I could learn anything new about Cogswell's Lincoln portraits. How many replicas were out there? Certainly Cogswell was an enterprising guy and I knew he painted replicas of his famous Lincoln portrait for the Hawaiian Royal Palace, the California State Legislature and City of Pasadena. Were there more?

It is hard to know how many Lincoln replicas Cogswell painted. The Pasadena PL has a 1961 letter from the Library of Congress stating that there were no records of Cogswell's Lincoln portraits. A 1932 LA Times article stated, without source, that Cogswell painted 13 Lincoln replicas for states and three additional replicas for individuals. But, I doubt the report. If there were really 16 replicas, it seems like I could locate more than three with a basic Internet search. Plus, Cogswell was a busy guy. Seems unlikely he would take time to do 16 replicas.

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So, is Pasadena's Lincoln hanging in the Albion Castle? Yeah, I'd like to know how the castle acquired the painting. But, I kind of doubt that's the city's painting.

Pasadena has a pretty strong track record of misplacing this painting.

We know from Cogswell's obituary in the Evening Star that, as of 1903, a replica of Cogswell's famous Lincoln portrait hung in the Pasadena Public Library.

But, we also know the painting was later removed from the library walls and placed in storage. Seems the library had trouble finding a suitable place for the life-sized portrait of the 6"4" tall Great Emancipator.

Then, a February 7, 1932 LA Times article reported the painting had been found. The article, titled "Rare Lincoln Portrait Found -- Rare Oil Painting Discovered in Pasadena," reported that the portrait had been found in the library's storage loft. The article stated the painting was in perfect condition and in a heavy gold frame. The article announced that the painting would be displayed at the opening of the new Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

A 1961 letter from the Pasadena PL states that the Lincoln portrait was in the collection of Pasadena Historical Society. That is the last word I've found on the whereabouts of Pasadena's Lincoln portrait.

Now, the painting is lost again.

Hard to say how you misplace a life sized portrait of Honest Abe. But, Pasadena has managed to lose the portrait not once, but twice. My guess is the portrait is not hanging in the Albion, but probably still somewhere in the city. Maybe it is stacked in storage or hanging on a dark wall. But, most likely it is here --- waiting to be discovered yet again.

Summer Scenes along New York Drive

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 04:08:00 +0000

There is a short stretch of fairly wild hillside land that runs along the east side of New York Drive directly across the street from Earthlink and the Eaton Wash Reservoir. I am often surprised at what I see there. I've seen deer enough times that I am always on the lookout for more. And I regularly see interesting and colorful plants and trees. Above is a cluster of Matilija Poppies pictured above.

Buckwheat.

Dodder or Witch's Hair - a colorful but destructive parasite that is draping parts of the hillside..

Elder tree with yellow-white flowers. There are a number of Elder trees growing wild along New York Drive. I'll have more on Elders in my next post.

A Spider and a Lizard Tail

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 18:48:00 +0000

I'll save the lizard tail until the end. Some might not think it as cool as a spider. (Is this a great post or what?)

First to the spider. I don't go looking for spiders. But, sometimes they find me -- or their webs find me to be more exact. And, when I run into them, after picking off the web, I can't help but think they are pretty amazing little creatures.

One of the spiders I see around here is an orb-weaver -- meaning the spider builds a circular or wheel shaped web. The spiders seem to hang in mid-air with no conceivable support around them. The spider pictured above is hanging on a web secured on a tree about six feet to one side and a post about six feet to the other.

It is hard to get a good picture of a spider web. This is a pretty good one.

Here's our spider. She's hanging out in the middle of her web waiting for breakfast.

OK. Now for the alligator lizard tail.

Last night I saw the dog "playing" with an alligator lizard and went to check it out. Now the "play" here was all from the dog's perspective. The lizard had not chosen to play and, no doubt, did not want that instant to play. Anyway, the lizard so did not want to play, that it dropped its tail and scampered away. The dog, being a dog, was captivated by the flopping tail and allowed its playmate to escape.

I reached the scene in time to take this short clip of the lizard tail wiggling around.

I've found lizard tails and seen lizards with regenerated tails but I had not seen a newly detached tail still wiggling. Whether due to teenage whatever or lots of experience with detached lizard tails, my 13 year old was unimpressed. But, I thought it interesting and was glad to have my camera with me.

Independence Day - Fireworks and Thunder

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:50:00 +0000

We celebrated Independence Day in the traditional fashion -- BBQ and fireworks. What seemed odd, though, was the weather. July heat is not news. But, it sure seems that we are getting a lot more humidity than we used to. It was hot and cloudy last night out in Chino (where fireworks are legal and sold on nearly every corner). As we waited for the sun to set, it looked like someone to the west was getting rain.

Letting Go

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 14:11:00 +0000

Watching my little girl scooter down the street to sleep over at her friend's house.

New East Pasadena Vons Hits Homerun

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 02:09:00 +0000

Today I went to the new Vons on Sierra Madre and Colorado. I like the store. I like it a lot.

For openers, samples are important in a grocery store.   That's one reason why Trader Joes on Rosemead has been a favorite. In fact, around our house, TJ's is called "Samples."    But, frankly TJ's samples have gotten a bit tired. Well, they had better take note -- the new Vons knows how to do samples! I had eight different samples including New York steak, sushi, chicken enchiladas, fresh pineapple, chips and salsa, jambalaya and more. My recommendation is to find the meat department for the steak -- it was really good.

But, most of all, I like the design. I like the respect paid to our most dominant scenic asset -- the San Gabriel Mountains.    The main Vons building is set back from Colorado and has as a central design feature a see-through arch that highlights the mountain views. This building was very plainly designed with the mountains in mind.

Care to preserve and emphasize mountain views should be a signature design element for any new East Pasadena development. Too often building design ignores mountain views.   For example, just east of the new Vons on Colorado is a hulking multi-story storage/office building that was built-to-the-street and obliterates mountain views. And the Sierra Madre Villa metro station seems to go out of its way to block mountain views.

Hopefully any new building in East Pasadena will follow Von's example and give due respect to our mountain views. Great job Vons!

Above is a little reminder that the mountain views from Sierra Madre Blvd. can be spectacular. The photo above is a winter-time shot taken a few blocks north of the new Vons.

Now, the new Vons has rooftop parking, which is convenient. But it also provides unimpeded mountain vistas. In the short time I was in the parking lot I saw one photographer shooting toward the San Gabriels.

I'm sure I'll be back to this store.

The Simpsons and East Pasadena's Parrots

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 01:51:00 +0000

Seems most every morning I'm greeted by the screech of parrots. Often they fly over our house. Sometimes, like this morning, they hang around the neighborhood screeching back and forth. This one landed in our eucalyptus tree and, on cue, gave me that quizzical parrot look as I sneaked up for a picture.

Legend has it our local parrots are descendants of parrots that were let loose in 1959 when a fire engulfed Simpson's Gardenland and Bird Farm.   The story is often recounted as "local legend" but, as legends go, it seems fairly well accepted. I know I've heard and read the story over and over since moving to Pasadena more than twenty years ago.

Not often reported, however, is the legend's East Pasadena connection.

You see, Simpson's Garden Town Nursery and Bird Farm was a long-time East Pasadena institution. On little more than a wing and a prayer, in 1928, Hal Simpson started his nursery. He had a $500 loan, a $55 Model T delivery truck, and moonlighted on odd jobs as his business took hold.   Over time the business grew until it blossomed into a mall of sorts that included a nursery, florist, lawnmower shop, garden center, materials supply, and pet shop. Eventually Simpsons occupied a swath of land that fronted Colorado Blvd. east of Sierra Madre Blvd. and stretched north beyond the present-day 210 freeway.    Billing itself as the largest and most diversified garden center in the West, at its height, Simpsons deployed 70 trucks and fielded calls on nearly 50 phone lines.

Then, in 1959, fire hit. The nursery buildings, supplies and records were destroyed. According to legend, as the fire raged, the birds (including the forebears of our local parrots) were released.

The birds were gone and a big part of his operation decimated. But, Hal Simpson got back on his feet and rebuilt. Customers stepped forward to pay accounts that were due even though Simpsons had no records. Simpsons remained an entrenched part of the East Pasadena landscape.

But, in the 50's and 60's, East Pasadena's landscape was changing fast and Simpson's resurgence was short-lived. Eventually the State of California did what the fire could not. In 1968, the State took much of the Simpson property to build the 210 freeway.   Forty years after he started, Hal Simpson was finished.

But, the story's not over.

Old Hal was not quite ready to call it a day.   With proceeds from the State of California, he moved south. He bought a160-acre spread in East San Diego County and ... that old guy started over growing and selling plants.

And, in 2011, Simpsons Garden Town Nursery in Jamul, California is operated by Hal's granddaughter, Cathy. Like her grandad, Cathy offers plants, and lots more, for sale. She has a pretty good website, too, with pictures of the nursery, gift shop and dozens of classic cars on display at Garden Town. Fittingly enough, Cathy's website pays homage to Garden Town's East Pasadena roots and beautifully tells the story of Hal Simpson -- a story that I've recounted above.

East of Allen Highlights

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Coppess) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Hard to believe it has been three years of East of Allen blogging. Time for a little reflection and maybe some "best of" posting.

I started this back in March, 2008 to record some Eaton Wash and East Pasadena historical stuff. Then, in late April of that year, the Chantry Flat fire hit. I did a series of posts on what I was seeing here in NE Pas and closely followed altadenablog and several other Altadena and Sierra Madre blogs. The late great Foothill Cities blog tied the coverage together and, before I knew it, I was blogging.

Since then, I've done about 180 posts, nearly all of them with photos. The historical posts are my favorites and they often take a fair amount of time.   But, there are a few animal posts that I particularly like too.

What posts have been most popular with visitors? The mouse wins. According to Google statistics more people have viewed a post I did on a baby mouse than any other East of Allen post. That's a little sobering given the work I've put into other posts. But, them's the facts. The bear, snake and alligator lizard posts are also particularly popular.   Go figure.

Posts about the Hastings Ranch Christmas lights have also attracted a relatively high number of views. If East Pasadena has a top attraction, it is probably the Hastings Christmas lights and, of course, post Rose Parade float viewing.

It has been fun to get emails from people who are interested in something I've posted. I received some interesting correspondence from collectors following my post about the famous portrait of President Lincoln that is mysteriously missing from the Pasadena Public Library.   And, I've received a number of emails about my St. Luke's posts -- some from people who were born at St. Luke's, one from a producer and others interested in the proposed St. Luke's development. The series on Earthside Nature Center was plain old fun to do and also elicited some interesting feedback from persons who knew the garden's founders.

So, now I have a new category called "highlights" and may in the coming months re-post some of my own highlights from this blog.