Tecolote Canyon Revisited

This afternoon I returned to the Tecolote Canyon Visitor's Center and entered the garden to see if I could get better photographs of the Cedar Waxwing.  Yesterday the Center was closed so the photos I took did not do the bird any justice.  Hopefully, the collage shown above will provide a greater appreciation.

Yesterday, I did find a green and yellow bird.  I researched it and believe it to be a Lesser Goldfinch (shown below).  This was a bird that greeted me as soon as I arrived yesterday.  Its brilliant yellow color was very uplifting to someone ready for blossoms on the trees.

I also found a bird in a large bush near the entrance, but could not see the whole bird.  What I did find interesting was that it had a curled bill.  I gave up on the bird, but found it or another bird just like it in on the side of the trail.  It was a California Thrasher.

California Thrasher

California Thrasher

 

 I noticed that I seemed to have company as I traveled up and down the trail.  I find it difficult to identify hummingbirds, but always try to get a good photograph.

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Tecolote Canyon

Cedar Waxwings

This afternoon I visited the Tecolote Canyon Visitor's Center, which is located off Morena Boulevard in San Diego.  As I was approaching the Center, I spotted a crow chasing a hawk.  I think it was a Cooper's Hawk and I suspect it may have been bothering the Crow or its nest.

As I reached the Center, I heard some songs that I thought were from multiple types of birds.  Then, I remembered that when this happens, you should look for a Mockingbird.  That's what I did and I found a Northern Mockingbird, just hanging out. I had walked about a quarter mile up the trail.  On the way, I did spot a Western Scrub Jay (shown on the left)

Western Scrub Jay

Northern Mockingbird

Late last month, I heard that someone reported seeing some Cedar Waxwings there. When I was six years old, I received a gift of a large sticker book with pictures of birds.  As the years ensued, I never saw one of the birds, which was the Cedar Waxwing.  I was attending a monthly bird tour when I heard the leader speak about Cedar Waxwings.  I asked where and when she had seen them.  She responded, "Oh ... over there. It was a number of years ago," pointing to an apartment complex parking lot. So, when I read an email stating that Cedar Waxwings had been spotted at the Tecolote Canyon, I decided to visit that area as soon as possible.

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

This was a good afternoon for finding birds, including some that were new to me.  I have some research to do before adding more pictures.

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The Palette

Last Wednesday evening, I accompanied my daughter and her children to The Palette, a restaurant at the Culinary School of the Art Institute of California in San Diego. The meal was delicious. We  ordered two kinds of appetizers. The first was the Charcuterie Board, which included wedges of Bleu and Brie cheese along with small wraps of prosciutto and cheese, as well as some slices of Italian meats.  The second was a plate of calamari that my daughter and granddaughter agreed were delicious.

We were shown an assortment of rolls to accompany our meal.  My daughter and I chose tiny round rolls, which I'd love to know how to make.  Our tiny rolls came with a choice of three dollops flavored butters (jalapeno, herb, and cinnamon).  I tried the jalapeno and the herb butters. They were very good.  My seven year old grandson relished his dinner roll that was larger than his hands.

My daughter and her son shared the Caesar Salad, my granddaughter enjoyed the House Salad, and I had the pumpkin soup which was very flavorful.

We were beginning to feel very full as the entrees arrived.  My granddaughter and I had the Short Ribs with a parsnip and potato puree and broccolini.  I could not finish it, but my granddaughter polished hers off.  My grandson had the Bistro Burger with lettuce and tomato.  The menu showed that the burger came with smoked Gouda and arugula, but the chef tailored it to my grandson's liking.

To finish off our meal, we shared four different deserts offered on the menu, which were a delicious tiramisu, a layered flavored pudding type desert served in a small mason jar (very creative, as well),  a chocolate mousse, and a bread pudding with cinnamon ice cream.

This restaurant is operated by the students who are ready to graduate.  The waiters, servers, and future chefs all work together under the supervision of Chef Instructors to provide an enjoyable dining experience.  I can attest that ours was fun and delicious.  I recommend it highly.

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Post Office Visit

Yesterday, I went to the Wm Taft Post Office in Clairmont, a section of San Diego.  You might, or you might not remember my blog about my experience in this Post Office, published almost a year ago.  While waiting on line, I watched as one clerk took care of a long line of customers.  When it was my turn in line, I specifically noted that her name was Diane.

While standing on line, waiting my turn, I watched as she took care of two young men who were mailing a package.  This was apparently the first time they did this.  She explained what they needed to do as asked them to step to her right and complete whatever forms they needed.  Then she called the next person, a woman, who was mailing something overnight.  She provided the woman with what she needed and asked her to step to her left and complete the overnight form.  Then she called the next person, a young man, with multiple small packages.  The clerk, Diane, accepted his packages.  When he paid the cost and left, Diane, asked the young men to her right, if they could wait a minute because they needed more attention from her.  There were about eight people on line.  They were very agreeable, so she took care of the woman sending the overnight envelope.  She was pleasant and patient while she helped the customers.

While I was standing there, next on line, a blond man came out from the back and told her that some form she had completed needed changing and then, called out in a loud voice, "Anybody here to pick something up?"  Some people went to his station at the desk. 
Since I recognized this man as the clerk who was so rude to me last year, I determined that under no circumstances would I have him wait on me.  So, I was very happy when Diane called me to her station.  I immediately commended her on her ability to multi-task.  This was the first time I ever saw that in any Post Office.  It was awesome.

In my opinion, that's the way all postal clerks should act.  She was pleasant and most efficient.  I completed a survey, commending Diane and suggested to the people behind this survey that they make a training video of her efficiency for other Postal Clerks.

Kudos to Postal Clerk, Diane, at the Wm Taft Post Office in Clairmont, San Diego (Zip code 92117).

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Perry's Cafe

Late yesterday morning, I received a welcomed call from my San Diego daughter to accompany her family to Perry's Cafe, a 'breakfast' restaurant on Pacific Highway (near Old Town) in San Diego.

It is usually crowded, but since it was just before noon, we didn't wait long to be seated.  They seated the five of us at a semi-circle table near the entrance.  Our waitress, Meghan, was very cordial.  My 7 year old grandson quickly befriended her.  When Meghan delivered the meal, she gave him his meal addressing him by name.  She was not only friendly, but very efficient.

We all chose breakfast items on the menu.  Our choices ranged from sausage or bacon, eggs and fried potatoes to french toast, waffles and pancakes.  My grandson also enjoyed a side of pears.

The cost of a generous breakfast at Perry's Cafe is very reasonable.  The room seemed noisy, but it was a happy customer noise with families enjoying each other's company, good service, and good food.

I recommend this 'breakfast' restaurant when you're in San Diego.

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Fillipi's

Hummingbird

On Thursday evening, I went with my San Diego daughter and her children to Filippi's in Pacific Beach for dinner.  As soon as we were seated, the children were provided a plate with pizza dough so that they can make their own creations.  The children specifically asked to go to this restaurant because they remembered the fun they had with the pizza dough.  Even though they are getting older, it still helps them while away the time until their food comes.

We hadn't been to Filippi's in Pacific Beach in more than two years, so it was a nice homecoming.  The food is always delicious and the portions are generous.  I had the lasagna with meat sauce, which I have always enjoyed at this restaurant.  The portion is so generous that I couldn't eat more than a third of the food.  My daughter always enjoys the ravioli.  The children had spaghetti.  They also had one meatball each.  The meatball is very large, but tastes good.

The children finished their meal with sherbert.  Everyone left the restaurant filled and happy.

I definitely recommend Filippi's in Pacific Beach in San Diego, CA.

  

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