January 31st - Heermann's Gull

I'm pretty sure this is a Heermann's Gull. They are prettier, in my opinion, than the standard gull that is seen around here. They also seem to be coming around more often. :)

Happy end of the month! Yay, the challenge is over! Now, what to pick for my final h2h photo?!?

January 30th - On Top of the World

I had a doctor appointment today (I'm getting better, no worries!), and this is part of the view from the parking lot. Nothing like living on top of the world, eh? :)

January 29th - Monterey Bay Kayaks

I almost lost it today. I deleted three pictures off of my memory stick that were from yesterday, or thought that was what I was doing, and my computer deleted the entire folder! It doesn't put it in the recycle bin, for some reason. (I guess because it's a different drive?) Luckily, I found a recovery software program online, quickly, and it worked to get all of today's pictures back!! It was actually so easy and worked so well, I was quite impressed! The one I bought is called, "CardRecovery."

Anyway, today's shot is of Monterey Bay Kayaks. You can buy (and most probably, rent) kayaks there, and I'm sure they give lessons, too. Directly behind it is the beach from my shot on day 2.

January 28th - Sweet Pea

I wasn't feeling well again, today, so here's another sweet pea for you from my garden. Sorry. I took it at twilight, so that's why the background is so blue. It's actually gray brick. I like this shot, because the sweet pea flower looks like a dragon, to me. :)

January 27th - Poisonous Mushroom

Look what I found under a tree, today! I found it in Carmel Valley, while taking photos of horses. I couldn't get close enough to the horses to get a decent shot, but when I turned around, this huge mushroom (a good 5-6 inches across, at least!) was shouting at me, "Take my picture, take my picture!" :)

January 26th - Mal's Market

This is Mal's Market, in Seaside, Ca. They claim they have the best sandwiches in town. They are pretty good, but I prefer to get sandwiches at Hilltop Market in Pacific Grove. Yum!! :)

The signs in the door read, "Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin." and, "We cannot choose the things that will happen to us, but we can choose the attitude we will take toward anything that happens. So much of fate depends on your attitude." (I'm actually not 100% sure on that second one, it was a bit hard to read, even in the full size photo.)

I remember, as a kid, going in there and getting 3 candy bars and a soda for $1.00. Wow, time's have sure changed, haven't they? ;)

January 25th - Odd One Out

Not much to say today. More rain. Dreary, actually. :P
I took this at Roberts Lake in Seaside, Ca. The rain was coming down really hard when I shot this. I don't know if it's very evident in the shot, or not, though.

January 24th - Luv Flower

I love the rain, and apparently, I'm not the only one! :) Look at the center of the flower...see the heart?

January 23rd - John Denver

I went to the butterfly sanctuary again today, and found this. :) He died here, in Pacific Grove, so this is a tribute to him, I suppose. For this photo, I am standing in the walkway to the sanctuary, and behind the bench is a hotel. The planters on either side of the bench are rather short, and it's open on either side of them, so nothing is being blocked, even though it looks like it. :)

January 22nd - Sweet Pea

It rained almost all night last night, and I am not feeling well today, so I took another shot from my garden. This is a sweet pea flower, and it smells so good! :) Cliche, or what?! They bloom around here pretty much year 'round.

Sorry about the blurry leaf on the top, but I loved the droplets on the stem so much I just had to choose this one.