The Mother Load Gold country of the Sierra Nevada has a wealth of interesting places

I was traveling through the famous California "Mother Load" gold country in 1984, while on our wedding honeymoon, and this photo happened. It reads: "Perfume Palace". It was a restroom at a gasoline station. They were proud they had a flushing toilet. Yes, it was marvelous.

--Dan

Some more history

North of the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, this five acre section of Louisiana near New Orleans was a longtime home of my Mother's parents. In fact, her Dad built it! I spent a lot of fun times there, but mostly in the very humid summers and warm bayous.


Many bugs, "skitters", and a host of snakes and alligators are but a few of the charms of Louisiana. Lightning in the summer, freezes in the winter, it had a lot of character for sure. Home grown water pumping, personal dump, target shooting in the woods beyond, it was great for us kids in the 1960's, and into the 1970's.

I took this photo in the winter of 1984. It was to be the last time I ever embraced my Grandparents, my Mom's Mom and Dad. We all knew it would be the last time around.

The property is long since gone from our family now. The Grandparents are long gone home to Our Maker, and I doubt it (the house and all) still exists, especially after Hurricane Katrina.

My oldest brother lives near there, still, and is doing OK. More family is in New Orleans, but many had to leave forever. The homes were utterly destroyed.



My Grandfather, Daddy of my own Mother, he was born in Villa Hermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. His family was originally from Spain. He spoke the Spanish version of Spanish, not the Mexican variety. He was born in January of 1900, so we always knew how old he was! We called him PaPa, or Paw Paw, from our youngest days of trying to speak. His name was Victor.






MaMa, or Maw Maw, she was from an Italian family. She wa the sweetest thing to grace anywhere...my Grandmother, Mother of my own Mother. She was near in age to my Grandfather. Her name was Irma.

By the way, all photos are December, 1984, by me.




My wife, Cruz, out in the back of the house. It is in the morning, and you wore anything you wanted to, since there were no neighbors for a long way down the road and through the woods.





My oldest Brother, Frank, standing next to my wife, Cruz. In the back is my youngest sister, Ann, and her husband, Barrett. We are in my Brother's liquor store that he used to be part owner of, in Mandeville, Louisiana. Frnak was born in '48. He is the one that still remains in that area on the north side of the huge lake.


--Dan

Friday's venture

Root Canal!

I grabbed this picture off the internet somewhere. It's just so fun. I've had one before, and it was simply living hell for almost two years, three different dentists, and about ten visits. Yes, that was for ONE root canal. Now I am in the midst of this next one. It's been a bit better, but still a pain.

Otherwise, I love life. The grass is green, still.

Oh, and I am working on a Meez. I mostly wear brown clothing stuff. The photo, used somewhere on my blog before, is a comparison.

--Dan

Photos just flow

I took this photo of some of us building an igloo during the spring of 1975. Yes, it's in California. Location: Mt. San Gorgonio.

My good old Jeep, a 1973 CJ-5. I had this Jeep in the late 1970's and early 1980's. Photo taken in Alta Loma (now Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.).

Me, Dan, left, my brother Steve is the other guy. Yosemite Falls trail, winter, late 1970's, Sierra Nevada, in Yosemite National Park.

My daughter, Marion, with my Fender acoustic, Spring, 2007.

My Dad and Step-Mom, Orange, California, 1990's (?).

--Dan

Us

Me and my own sweet wife, Cruz, in our front yard. The house behind, in the photo, has those folks related to the Frank Zappa family. The other side, not seen, is Allen's garage.

Cruz feeding ducks near Morro Bay, California, 1980's.

Dan feeding the same ducks.

Dan, Ping Pong (Table Tennis), April, 2007, Allen's garage.

--Dan

The Method -- I get a shot a this

THE METHOD

ref.:

www.lifehouse-method.com

--Dan

California

Pretty funny stuff, Arnold.

This is me a few years ago in the area near Mt. Whitney, southern Sierra Nevada mountains, on a November 1st. I was with my daughter, Marion, to visit the WWII Japanese detention camp near Independance. That was not pretty funny stuff.

--Dan

Last Saturday, in Allen's Garage

Allen plays Dan's SG. The humbuckers allow for "Cinnamon Girl", Allen playing Neil Young's song.

--Dan L.

The Risen Jesus

One of the women encounters the risen Jesus.

Happy Easter!

--Dan

Table Tennis....ping pong

Allen's garage, first week of April, 2007. Marion (in dark sweater), Rachel (with glasses at the right side, playing against Marion), Violet (Allen's daughter, the little one), and Allen. The garage was rolling.

The first photo is from the earlier in the week, the second photo was Wednesday. The third photo was Thursday night, as Allen was saluting KLOS radio disc jockey Jim Ladd, for playing a great Led Zeppelin set.

--Dan L.

Grand Canyon

My best recollection places this photo of me, Dan, on the Tonto plateau of the Grand Canyon (Tonto trail between Kaibab and Grand View), in December, 1980. It was to be the only truly sunny day for that whole week in the canyon. No, we were not riding mules, just my backpack. It was about day three of six. It was my second trip of this sort in about a year. I am not looking real happy, likely due to the intervention of the camera, though at my request, no doubt. I really was thrilled beyond belief. Remember, it is winter, and though looks warm and dandy, was actually chilly and just below the winter snow level where we sometimes slept in the snow. You can see the river, the Colorado, far below, but don't forget that the Tonto plateau is merely half way down, and thus puts this photo in perspective.

The trip we took covered what is commonly known as a loop, which involved a car shuttle, since we did not exit where we began. The entire trip was about 40 or 50+ miles in the six days over very rugged and steep terrain. I was very used to such things, so it was most pleasent for me. I will cherish those times forever.

--Dan L.

lots more....

My wife, Cruz, on that day in 1986.

Cruz and her Dad, Antonio, early 1960's, east L.A., Calif. The strip photo is from one of those photo booths. Antonio was born in 1917, and now lives in Oregon, USA.

Cruz's Mother, Antonia, 1948, age 27. She passed away due to complications from diabetes in 1977.




Cruz, with popsicle, 1960's, East Los Angeles, Calif. Gotta love it!

NOTE: Her Dad's name is Antonio, her Mother was Antonia. Her last name was Daniel, my first name is Daniel. My Catholic Confirmation name is Anthony, a form of either Antonio or Antonia!!!) We were meant to be.


--Dan

Pictures and stories continue

Dan and two youngest daughters, around 1990 (Rachel and Marion, left to right).

Again, myself in 1976, I believe.

Dan, approx. age six-ish.

My wife to be, Cruz, many years before I knew her.

--Dan

Hiking the Sierra Nevada, 1974...oops, 1975 actually

I spent a whole week on the Mount Whitney trail back in 1975, just about to turn eighteen years old. On the third day, I spent the night on the summit of that 14, 496 ft. mountain peak. It was unbelievably eventful. This photo is of me, hiking down from the summit, on day four. You do not need need a whole week to do this stuff. Go see my earlier blog entry on that...but it was a great time. The photo...it was my first time to the top of that peak. I was to do three more summit journeys, one time in only 11 hours.

--Dan

A wedding, 1984

Me and my wife, Cruz, Etiwanda, California. The year is 1984. We were so formal! I was 27, she was 24.

--Dan

Is that really me?

How do we see ourselves?...I never knew I looked like that! It's gotta be 1958. La Verne, California.

Me, Dan (age 23), and "Mimere" with "Gramps", my Dad's parents. Photo is from late December, 1980 (not long after John Lennon's death, I recall). We are in New Orleans. The house we are standing in has since been destroyed by hurricane Katrina. My grandfather (right), was to pass away in a matter of months from the taking of this picture, while my grandmother lived on for several more years.

Again, I offer this photo of the two of them (my grandparents, Dad's side)...many years before. They were both born in the early 1890's.

Then there was me, yet again. I am seated on a rock (Mt. Rubidoux) near Riverside, California. I was much interested in rock climbing and mountaineering...and we were doing just that. Note the climbing harness and ropes. One of my big heroes was Chris Bonington, the famous British mountaineer. My brother, Steve, took the photo. This photo was likely taken in the 1970's.

--Dan

my wife, Cruz, and me, 1980's

My wife, Cruz, is seen at a Bob's Big Boy restaurant sometime in the 1980's. The other photo, with me, Dan, and the "Daltrey" style hair, shows me and my then wife to be also in the '80's, though even earlier.

I am in the process of using a funky old scanner someone gave to me. It is nothing even close to the amazing old one I had a few years ago, but it will do for now. I am anxious to post so much...but also fully aware of the value to some of my family and friends, as they may find photos here of value to themselves.

There will be much more to come. Those that know me know that.

By the way, when I initially made this particular post, there was no text (like now), because....it would not work on Blogger that night for some reason.

...But it works now!!!


--Dan

A favorite place

There is a nice little ice cream and candy store located in the nearby mountains about 40 minutes from my house. We just love to go there, especially in the summer months. There is also a gift store nearby. They sell fudge, coffee, ice cream, all kinds of candies, etc. Often when we visit there, there is snow, but in the summer...though warm, it is a bit of relief from 100 degree F. temperatures.

Location: Wrightwood, California

What a great place we live in, here. The weekend comes, and if we are so able, the question is...where do we go? There are many mountains. There are deserts. There is the sea. There is glamour in the city. There is peace in the valley parks and streams. There is wine tasting. There are farms. There are many museums. There is so much art and music. There are many religious events. There is a ton of stores. There is a ton of movie theaters. Great food places abound. There is so much more.

I shared just one favorite here today.

--Dan

Ever vigilant

There are those that have been on watch...that we will never know. This photo, from the net, is of an interception of fighter planes during what we have called the "Cold War". Notice the extreme altitude. Notice the extreme solitude. Notice the edge of the earth. The things we do not know...amazing.

--Dan

Remembering

Pete's story has reminded me of my own Mother...so I post this "happy" picture for me...again, as I did more than a year ago.

Me, and my own Mother, in 1960 or '61. She left us due to to cancer, in the arms of my Father, so soon after. We trust we will see her again, in God's love.

My message?...

Love your Mom, if you possibly can. I have missed my own for a very long time.

--Dan