G-N-A-R-L-Y ! ! ! ! !

Doesn't this tree look like it should be in Harry Potter or the the Hobbit??? It's actually a pepper tree with it's foliage quite thinned out...there's debate as to what has caused the gnarly trunk...some tumors like this on trees start from an infestation of bugs, some because they're trimmed at the start of a branch...but try as I might on google and at the local nursery, I couldn't find a definitive answer as to what it is....any suggestions???

Classic Cars with a Twist!!!

I was on my way to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription when I saw these cars and thought of Laurie Allee's old cars of South Pasadena...instead of finishing my trek to the pharmacy, I beelined it home, picked up my camera and returned in a flash!!! I thought to myself, Laurie may have the corner market on old cars in South Pas...but here in Montrose, we do it with a twist!!! Hop them up, chop the top, paint little filigrees on the fenders....and those flames!!!!

Need I add that they were parked on the side of Rocky Cola, the 50's diner of Montrose???

Corazon-Rotary Super Build 2009

Once again, the South Pasadena Rotary club, in conjunction with Corazon, participated in another successful Super Build in Tecate, Mexico!!! Rotarians from So. Pas to Las Vegas helped Corazon to build a house on one site and a room for their school on another site. In the meantime, the Corazon group from Mexico built another house at the 3rd site. Mother Nature was good to us as it stayed in the mid 80's this year, about 20 degrees cooler than last year!!! And as you can see by the photos, there were considerably more trees with opportunities for a shady spot to sit...

This school site houses two school programs, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The building we built on Saturday will be used to house the Director's offices for both programs which will then open a room that they will use for a computer lab. If you're interested in the cause...Corazon is looking for donations of computers and ceiling fans for the school! Yes, they do have internet!!! http://www.corazon.org/

It was a weekend of hard work and great reward, with a lot of fellowship thrown in for good measure!!!

A word of warning to those venturing across the border...upon your return, make sure to dump the fruit...or you may find yourself on the Border Patrol watch list for illegally transporting fruit flies across the border!!!!

Corazon-Rotary Super Build, 2008

On Friday, my husband and I will join the Rotary Club from South Pasadena at the Corazon-Rotary SuperBuild 2009 in Tecate Mexico. My post shows photos from last year's Super Build. For the past few years, the South Pasadena Rotary club has joined with the Rotary District 5300 and the non profit organization Corazon in "building a house a day" in Mexico. Corazon was established 30 years ago with the idea of providing "food, clothing, basic supplies and spiritual help". Since then, they have expanded to include 5 programs: Academics, adult programs, youth programs, sustained development, and the one that is most widely known and that we're involved in, construction. Please check out their website...http://www.corazon.org/...for more information about this wonderful organization.

It is an awesome experience working for a day to provide a home for a family...

Springtime at Descanso...

Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as men or animals. Some seem to smile, some have a sad expression, some are pensive and diffident, others again are plain, honest and upright.
- Henry Ward Beecher

These seem to be a "shout out" for spring!!!