This was one of those very clear days when you can see Catalina Island, really clearly....Most days it is much more obscured---if you can see it, at all! That's it, in the distance, just right of center......It is 22 miles off of the coast of Los Angeles....and another 20 or so miles away from me......
There it is above, from a pull-back position---now you can see more of the view, including La Brea Avenue....it is dusk, and it is so very pretty....! Below, two pictures I took back in 2010.....it was even clearer on that day......
It is pretty amazing to me that there are days I can actually see Catalina from my house.....Back in the day, when I began looking at houses in the early 1960's---the "selling" point for a house with a view was always....'On a clear day you can see Catalina....'....though in truth, the only house I could ever see Catalina from was the house I have lived in for 48 years....! Maybe I just never looked at any other homes on a "clear" day......And below.....
There is a kind of panoramic view---(well, not really)---of what my camera sees.....There is Catalina right in the middle on the horizon....and there is La Brea Avenue, over to the left....with Century City and Santa Monica and The Pacific Ocean beyond, on the right.........
And above.....what the eye can see and what the camera can capture---two different things....Again, a 'pull-back' position above....Now we can see my trees....For those of you reading my blog for a long time---you know I love those trees......For those of you who haven't seen them before.....Here they are below.....a somewhat closer look.....
And, below....a really close look on this lovely twilight night...........
I never tire of this always changing and constantly interesting viewMore To Come........
Note: I feel like I have become the 'Obituary Column' of your local newspaper....I have just lost another dear dear long time friend.....Hazel Medina, who died, around 10pm on Valentines Night in NYC.....I wrote about her here....with such good news....Unfortunately that only lasted for about a year......And then, the horrible Multiple Myeloma Cancer-torture, began again, a battle she lost, on February 14th, after an incredibly long and valiant fight.....I am devastated.......My heart goes out to her dear sweet husband Jerry......He fought that good fight right alongside her....Sending you loving hugs, my dear Jerry............
In happier times...April, 2011, Hollywood, CA....The last time we were together.......A very special time.
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had this to say:
Beautiful photos, dear. I remember living in SoCal and being stunned when the Santa Ana winds blew through and cleared out the smog. I could finally see Mt. Baldy!
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My sympathies for your loss. We'll remember her and her family in our thoughts and prayers.- Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 5:39:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
dear Naomi, so so sorry for your loss. Sending you love and care.
- Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 6:12:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
Lovely photos, Naomi! I am sad at your loss. xx
- Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 7:38:00 AM PST
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I'm so sorry to hear about your friend, Naomi. Jim says that the longer we live, the more often that will happen. It's sad for those left behind.
Your views are outstanding, even when it is smoggy - but these photos are phenomenal. Too had they don't happen more often.- Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 9:32:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
yes, once we are of an age it is our lot in life to loose family and friends...I am so sorry for your loss Naomi.
wow, I always thought lyou had a fantastic view but Catalina?!! wow!!!- Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 12:08:00 PM PST
- had this to say:
Aw, Naomi, I am so sorry. Your heart has taken a beating for the past year or so.
Your views are fantastic. I do believe I would spend a lot of time on that porch.- Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 1:38:00 PM PST
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That view is amazing. So beautiful and how blessed you are to see it every day. I'm so sorry about the loss of yet another friend. Cancer really is a monster.
Sorry I'm away at the moment so I'm not able to get to blogs as often as I would like to.- Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 1:39:00 PM PST
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Naomi, those pictures are absolutely beautiful. I've never been west of PA and when I think of California, I think sun, hot, sun, hot, sun. I now have a whole different image in my mind :)
I'm so sorry about your loss. My good friend is about 15 years older than me and she went through a really rough time when so many of her friends passed. Please know I'm thinking of you.- Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 6:00:00 PM PST
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My husband was at a thrift store last week and bought an old sweatshirt that said Catalina Island - he didn't even know where it was until he got home and I told him I had been there once many years ago. Good memories.
Your view is amazing!!
I'm sorry for the loss of your friend.- Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 10:32:00 PM PST
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The heart grows where it is broken. I hope no more sadness seeps in your life. Your heart is big enough.
The Sunsets are captivating. The colors like Cinderella's dress in the original Disney version- enchanting waves of changing colors.
There is one hill between me and our view of Catalina. Every time I drive to the summit- I look for that Island.- Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 10:58:00 PM PST
- had this to say:
So sorry you have lost another friend.It is a great cross we have to bear at our advanced age and one can only pray their lives have been happy and fulfilling.
You do have the most fantastic view. Can you hear the city I wonder or is it like here where sound varies according to wind and weather?- Friday, February 17, 2012 at 2:06:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
I'm so sorry for your loss.
- Friday, February 17, 2012 at 5:40:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
Stunning view, my dear.
And I am truly sorry for your loss... ((Hugs))- Friday, February 17, 2012 at 8:44:00 AM PST
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I am sorry for your loss. I dont think you are an obituary column. You inform us when you are hurting my friend. Thank you. We would never know unless we read those papers saying such things. I got my new camera for Vday.. go me. Hugs and cheers of anything cheeful coming your way.
- Friday, February 17, 2012 at 3:48:00 PM PST
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Just great pix! Another friend lost, well, you are certainly doing their memory justice. My sympathy.
- Friday, February 17, 2012 at 6:36:00 PM PST
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Dear Naomi, I am so sorry for your loss... It is very painful lost another dear friend, a very special person... Sending to you many healings hugs...
Naomi, you have an outstanding view! I would love to be there with you seeing all this LA fantastic panorama and your beautiful trees too!
I hope you have a peaceful weekend.- Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 5:47:00 AM PST
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Looking at these pictures reminds me of how nervous I was standing at the railing at the edge of your view. The pictures I took didn't come out as nice as these ones. Here's the link to the blog post about our visit which I'm still high on! http://www.looseleafnotes.com/wp/2012/02/seeing-stars/
I'm so sorry you lost your friend. Sending wishes of peace to all .- Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 7:22:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
Sorry for your loss.
The view you show is fabulous. I know those trees too, and the path where you can sometimes see people passing by!- Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 8:05:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
I never tire of your view Naomi - it is stunning! Very happy to see that 'your trees' are all still doing well. They always look marvellous silhouetted against the sunset.
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of another one of your dear friends. my heart goes out to you. Sending hugs and warm wishes from across the ocean x- Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 10:06:00 AM PST
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I'm so sorry to hear your sad news and will be keeping you in my thoughts. The clear skies are beautiful.
- Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 4:58:00 AM PST
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Oh, Natalie, how divine to see Catalina from your window! Must feel like a wonderful gift to have the view so clear!
And I echo others in sharing sympathies for the loss of another friend. We are of the age, aren't we, where we see this more. Breaks my heart.- Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 8:42:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
Sorry you've lost such dear friends. Seems to occur much too frequently when we reach a certain age. I share your feelings about the impact of losing long time friends who knew my family. I miss east coast friends who used to make those "night owl" calls to me since three hour time difference.
Really appreciate your photos with Catalina views. Wonderful when our air is clear to see the spectacular views around us including mountains where I live.
Especially enjoyed your reviews of movies including some with which I was unfamiliar but will want to see. As for the Oscar contenders -- overall I most enjoyed The Artist, though certainly I liked most of the others about which you had favorable comments.- Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 5:10:00 PM PST
- had this to say:
I've seen many pictures from your balcony but these really give us a taste of what you experience when you look out over the city. It's BEAUTIFUL!! It's like therapy...and I do love your trees as well.
I'm so sorry to hear about your friend, Naomi. That's a nice photo of the two of you, and I'm sure she will be missed. Love, hugs and prayers for you and your friend's husband. xo- Monday, February 20, 2012 at 6:50:00 AM PST
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so sorry to hear this sad news of your dear friend, naomi - it seems in my own life that winter always brings such loss - and i wait breathlessly for the sweet promises of spring that only march can bring - a week or so ago, the day before a little snow hit here again, a tiny little crocus poked its beautiful purple head above ground and opened to the sun - two days later covered in snow - but then - another two days and she was back again in all her purple glory, bringing that sweet promise of hope and renewal! ~ sigh ~
please know that you remain in my thoughts even though i'm not back to the usual trek of things here - much love - jenean
oh, and as always, so many thanks for these beautiful vistas of your home and its surroundings! wonderful!- Monday, February 20, 2012 at 1:50:00 PM PST
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Naomi, you are spoiled rotten with a view like that!!!!
You know, I'm not sure I have ever seen Catalina Island in the distance, and if I did I probably didn't realize what I was seeing.
Wouldn't it be awesome if you had a time lapse video of that view since the time you bought that house?
It's just gotta hurt something fierce to be losing so many friends who know your history. I think that it's lovely that you put their faces and your feelings for them online, where possibly they will live on forever.
I cannot believe how many of my friends watched Whitney Houston's funeral. Even my mom watched it in it's entirety. I only watched Kevin Costner's speech on CNN later that night. I thought it was quite nice. A really nice balance of humor and insight. And I agreed with something I read that she went from being a punchline, back to being America's sweetheart. Nice. So nice. I admit that I have been listening to a lot of her music this past week.
The Arabian Horse show is on here for the next two weeks and I help one of the vendors. This show is quite a spectacle. Great people watching. Everything from full length fur coats to people who look like they don't have 2 pennys to rub together. Everyone seems to love Arabian Horses.
Much love to you, my dear.
Stan- Monday, February 20, 2012 at 9:51:00 PM PST
- had this to say:
I'm so sorry for your loss. It's been a rotten stretch for you. :(
Those beautiful trees by your house! Sweety still speaks of your awesome view. We were lucky enough to see Catalina Island!- Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 8:07:00 PM PST
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Those are such happy pics of you and your friend, Hazel. It's sad that she's gone. Thank goodness for happy memories.
I love your photos! The last one of the trees is just amazing...it could be a painting!- Monday, February 27, 2012 at 8:17:00 AM PST
- had this to say:
I too, am sorry for your loss.
But what a beautiful view you have. Evening... And at night too, I'm sure. Magnificent...
Gentle hugs,
"Auntie"- Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 11:26:00 AM PST
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