Photo by Mike Baird:     Surf Girls

Photo by Kevin Cole: Harmony Outhouse

Photo by Cleve Nash:        Cedar Waxwing

Photo by Earthly Images: Montana de Oro

Photo by Maggie Smith: Three Cormorants - Double-crested, Brandt, and Pelagic

Photo by Chuck Abbe: Back Tomorrow

Best Friends by Malcolm Riordan, DVM

Many of the incredible, fascinating attributes and qualities of man's best friend are traced back in evolution as inherited from the ancestor of the domesticated dog, the gray wolf:

Their Hearing:   Estimations are that dogs can hear a sound at 4x the distance that humans can, their ability to perceive frequencies way above our range is well known, and we observe that their ability to pinpoint the exact location of a sound is more accurate and faster than ours. Read More

Body, Mind, Spirit by Nancy Ballinger

This being human is a guesthouse.
Every morning a new arrival!
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Read More

California State Parks

State Parks Events

A visit to the Central Coast of California is not complete without a stop at the Museum of Natural History in Morro Bay State Park. The museum offers activities for all ages: nature walks, exhibits, lectures, puppet shows, videos, docent-led tours and special events. Check It Out

Mind Walks

It’s that time of year again!  Mind Walks are upon us, and we’ve got a great lineup for you in 2011.  Mind Walks are for lifelong learners who love natural history.  Speakers are experts in their fields and welcome audience questions.  Topics cover a broad range—there’s literally something for everybody.  This is a fabulous opportunity to broaden your horizons and learn more about your community and the world at large.  Mark your calendars!  Have a Great Mental Adventure

Double Vision by By Shana Ogren

On and off for the last four years, I have gone over to Peter Schustack's house to read him his mail.  Peter is a 60 year old, blind San Luis Obispo resident.  In order to learn how lack of sight affects Peter's life, I interviewed him and have included his thoughts below.    Read More

Exploring the Coast

The Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival is nearly here again. It's our 15th year of fantastic field trips, entertaining workshops and programs, discussions, presentations, and vendor offerings, but this year it's not just the same things we always do. This year one whole day is devoted to families. What's our mantra? The family that birds together stays together! Well, maybe not, but they do have more fun. Read More

Far Horizons

In San Luis Obispo County the recreation industry employs over 68,000 people. It is a major employer and revenue producer for the county. The terms leisure, recreation, and play are often used interchangeably. However, they have different intellectual values. Read More

Let's Go Green

Solar and wind seem to get most of the attention in the realm of renewable energies these days.  Geothermal (ground source) heat pumps generally get less exposure.  They are underground after all, but can be an attractive option for those wanting to cut energy usage.  Read More 

Medical Myth Busting by Dr. Steven Sainsbury

Advance warning: I am certain that this column will annoy many who cherish their guns, and their right to own and use them. Nonetheless, consider the following facts. And please, don't shoot the messenger - no pun intended. Read More

Observations of a Country Squire by George Zidbeck

When outdoors, picnicking or camping, did you ever lift a can of soda or sandwich ready to drink or bite and luckily spot a bee or yellow jacket poised right on the edge of the container? Or just happen to stray near a nesting site and hear a distinctive buzz? If not, count your blessings. I, on the other hand, know hosts of stinging insects up close and personal. However, one stands out in my mind more than the others: yellow jackets. Read More

Surfing Out Of The Box by Katie Finley

As I said before, I have had eight years of experience with being married to a surfer. Over the past month, I have met many wives who have been married to their surfer husband's a lot longer then that, so I know I have some stuff to learn! Please keep sending me emails if I didnt cover something on one of my articles. The next time the surf is good, I might be writing an article again for my husband! Read More

Under the Tongue

"I don't want to live in a town where I can find a parking spot." This LA transplant shares over coffee and tea on Lily's patio. He says he revels in the adrenaline rush of circling the block like a vulture, snaking into a space, outwitting other spot seekers. Memories of  Joni Mitchell's 1970s tune "Big Yellow Taxi" are conjured up: "Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you got till it's gone, they paved paradise, put up a parkin' lot" starts ringing in my ears. Read More

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Peregrine Falcon image on banner by Cleve Nash