PICTURE OF THE MOMENT
Over on Santa Catalina Island in March I saw this storage shed:
Made me wonder just what they were actually storing inside.
Looking for real estate services in San Diego County? I can highly recommend
James Frimmer, Realtor with Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572
If you’re just looking for a home inspector,
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PICTURE OF THE MOMENT
Since my other half and I both are in real estate (he’s a Realtor and I’m a home inspector), we can’t resist going to open houses, even when we’re far away from home.
When we were over on Santa Catalina Island for my birthday back in march, we went to an open house mainly because we wanted to know how much a view home on Santa Catalina Island went for and what it looked like inside. Of course, every home on the Island has a view.
The house was listed at $3.2 million:
As a home inspector, I can tell you that the home was old and outdated, and had a lot of deferred maintenance. However, it did have several pretty good views, such as this one from the dining room:
Here are two pictures of Avalon Harbor with an arrow pointing to the open house:
Notice all the houses that are higher up? Imagine the view that they had. Of course, you have to imagine the price tag, too. 🙂
Looking for real estate services in San Diego County? I can highly recommend
James Frimmer, Realtor with Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572
If you’re just looking for a home inspector,
I can highly recommend Russel Ray; that’s me!
PICTURE OF THE MOMENT
I found this over on Santa Catalina Island back in March. I found it interesting — kind of Stephen Kingish — but have absolutely no Earthly clue what it is. Maybe it’s not of this Earth? Did I disturb the spirits?
Looking for real estate services in San Diego County? I can highly recommend
James Frimmer, Realtor with Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572
If you’re just looking for a home inspector,
I can highly recommend Russel Ray; that’s me!
I have loved history ever since…. well, ever since I can remember. My wise old grandmother always told me that if I studied history, I wouldn’t have to repeat it. She was born during World War I and was a young mother during the Great Depression and World War II, so I think she was trying to tell me to study history so that I could help make the future better.
Back in March I went to Santa Catalina Island for my birthday. I had read so much about the place. There is a herd of buffalo on the Island. “Buffalo,” you exclaim! Yes, buffalo. In fact, we have a herd of buffalo here in San Diego County, too, but only military personnel can see it because it’s on Camp Pendleton. Geneticists have determined that it is the second purest herd of buffalo in the United States, after the herd in Yellowstone National Park.
Buffalo were brought to Southern California many decades ago. The two buffalo herds are descendents of a small herd taken to Santa Catalina Island by Hollywood in 1924 to use in the silent film “The Vanishing American.” It has numbered as many as 600 individuals but is now managed using animal birth control methods so that the herd numbers around 150.
Although I didn’t get to see any buffalo while I was there, I did visit the William Wrigley memorial. William Wrigley Jr. bought the Island in 1919. Gum afficionados and sports fans will recognize the name William Wrigley for Wrigley Chewing Gum and Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs and, from 1921 to 1970, the Chicago Bears of the NFL.
William Wrigley Jr. died in January 1932 in Phoenix, Arizona. He was buried on Santa Catalina Island in a custom sarcophogus located in the tower of the Wrigley Memorial & Botanical Gardens. During World War II, he was reinterred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. The original grave memorial marker, however, still adorns the tower site.
Following are some views of the Wrigley Memorial on Santa Catalina Island. The first four pictures are of the Memorial as I was walking towards it through the Botanic Garden:
The following part of the Memorial can also be seen in the picture directly above:
Stairs leading to the top of the Memorial:
There is tile everywhere on the Island, including the Memorial. You can see some in many of the pictures above.
The view from the top of the Memorial is spectacular:
One of the two bronze doors (the left door was open).
The blue flagstone rock mentioned in the picture immediately above:
Detail work on the Memorial:
If you ever get a chance to spend a day on Santa Catalina Island, take it! In fact, spend a weekend and do everything there is to do!
Looking for real estate services in San Diego County? I can highly recommend
James Frimmer, Realtor with Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572
If you’re just looking for a home inspector,
I can highly recommend Russel Ray; that’s me!
Back in March when I went to Santa Catalina Island for my birthday, one of my goals was to visit the Nature Conservancy, which I did. At the entrance to the patch leading to the Nature Conservancy were these four pieces of public art:
There was also a smaller piece of public art, but I don’t think it was part of the official collection:
I’m thinking that it might be a small memorial to the person who created that small collection.
I have difficulty understanding about 50% of the public art I see, but I understood Flower, People, Wildlife, Flower, and Memorial for 100% that day!
Looking for real estate services in San Diego County? I can highly recommend
James Frimmer, Realtor with Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572
If you’re just looking for a home inspector,
I can highly recommend Russel Ray; that’s me!
PICTURE OF THE MOMENT
While I was traipsing around Santa Catalina Island for my birthday in March, I found this tree:
For obvious reasons, I have titled my picture “Patriotic Tree.”
This post is dedicated to Christine Donovan, a real estate agent with Donovan Blatt in Costa Mesa, California. I have known Christine for about three years through a real estate professional networking site. I highly recommend her for anyone buying or selling a home in the southern California areas near Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, and Huntington Beach. If she can’t help you, I’m sure she can refer you to someone (almost) as good as she is.
Dedications are my way of trying to provide a little extra Google juice for people I have come to know and respect over the years.
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One of my favorite type of nature picture is of someone (other than me) eating or drinking.
When I was over on Santa Catalina Island for my birthday a week ago, there were public drinking fountains everywhere. I’m not sure if they were for the people or the birds….
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This post is dedicated to Frank and Sharon Alters, husband and wife real estate agents with Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty in Fleming Island, Florida. I have known Frank and Sharon for several years through a real estate professional networking site and highly recommend them for anyone buying or selling a home in the Fleming Island and surrounding areas in Florida.
Dedications are my way of trying to provide a little extra Google juice for people I have come to know and respect over the years.
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
On my birthday trip a week ago to Santa Catalina Island, my main goal was to see lots of wildlife.
I’m not sure if these qualified:
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
Those two adorned eagles were outside one of the small shops. These next two creatures were in one of the public parks:
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
My partner in crime while visiting the Island was Jim Frimmer, a Realtor, and I’m a home inspector. With both of us being in real estate, and being in such an awesome area where virtually everying abides by the adage “Location! Location! Location!”, we could not help ourselves when we saw a huge yellow sign on a house announcing that it would be open for public viewing from 1:00-4:00 p.m. We made sure we would be there. The house had awesome views of the City and Harbor of Avalon but was a little out of my size and price range since it had 4,200 square feet and was listed at $3,295,000. I wonder if the art on the kitchen and bathroom walls had anything to do with the price:
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
The following art was in front of the Tuna Club building, the oldest building on the Island.
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
One thing I did discover about Santa Catalina Island is that the people love their wildlife, and justifiably so since there are about 50 species that live nowhere else in the world. I’m pretty sure the above wildlife are not included in that count!
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
This post is dedicated to Erika Rogers, a real estate agent with Stout & Associates Realty in St. George, Utah. I have known Erika for several years through a real estate professional networking site and highly recommend her for anyone buying or selling a home in the St. George, Utah, area. If she can’t help you with your specific real estate needs, I know she can refer you to someone (almost) as good as she is.
Dedications are my way of trying to provide a little extra Google juice for people I have come to know and respect over the years.
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
On my birthday trip last Sunday to Santa Catalina Island, my main goal was to see some American bison, more popularly known as buffalo. They are on Santa Catalina Island courtesy of William Wrigley Sr. of chewing gum and Chicago Cubs fame.
I failed.
However, I did see a lot of wildlife which I’ll share in my next few posts.
Today I’ll introduce you to synchronized birding. First….
Synchronized sitting, presented by two California gulls:
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
Synchronized standing, presented by the same two California gulls:
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
Synchronized swimming, presented by two brown pelicans:
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
I tried to get two California gulls swimming together but had to settle for the brown pelican substitutes.
By the way, the California gull is the state bird of Utah, but I’m pretty sure Erika Rogers, to whom this post is dedicated, knows that.
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
This post is dedicated to Frank Castaldini, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker in San Francisco, California. I have known Frank for several years through a real estate professional networking site and highly recommend him for anyone buying or selling a home in the San Francisco area. If he can’t help you in your specific locale, I know he can refer you to someone (almost) as good as he is.
Dedications are my way of trying to provide a little extra Google juice for people I have come to know and respect over the years.
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
My birthday to myself last Sunday was a trip to Santa Catalina Island, a place that I’ve wanted to go for about 18 years, since the day I arrived in San Diego and saw pictures of it. Now through May 1, if you have a birthday, you can ride the Catalina Express to and from Santa Catalina Island from Dana Point, Long Beach, or the Port of San Pedro in Los Angeles — FREE! The caveat is that you have to depart on your birthday, but you can return anytime.
Following are my best eight pictures of the City and Port of Avalon, a little enclave of about 3,300 people.
The first two pictures are of the Avalon Casino, the signature building in Avalon. I think it used to be a casino in its early days but it is a theater and a theatre now:
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
When leaving the boat dock, this building towers over you from the cliffs above:
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
I thought it was going to be the most spectacular house on the island when it is finished, but in zooming in on it using the computer, I think it’s going to be a public lookout point. Might have to go back!
I think this condominium complex is where 75% of the Avalon population lives:
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
We found a very nice restaurant at The Landing to have my birthday meal. The first picture above of the Avalon Casino was taken from the restaurant.
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
From the restaurant we could see lots of parasailers:
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
Tuna fishing was once a big industry on the Island. This picture is of the Tuna Club, one of the first buildings on the Island, was also taken from the restaurant we ate at:
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
It was a dreary gray morning when we left Long Beach, and even an hour later when we arrived in Avalon. As the day wore on, the clouds broke up and disappeared, the sun came out, and Avalon turned magical, looking like something out of Europe.
Pictures copyright 2010 by Russel Ray Photos
Russel Ray Photos 