Some words about the photo are in comment #1 if you are interested.
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Category Archives: History
Santa Ana Winds ~ Southern California
So we in Southern California are experiencing Santa Ana Winds or Santana Winds. Besides heavy hot winds there are several fires, downed trees, power outages, etc. Usually Palm fronds hang down uniformly on either side of the trunk. This was the best I could shoot from the comfort of my car to show that the wind was blowing very strongly.
Here’s a more technical description of what Santa Ana Winds are. (Good info for homeschoolers!)
The Santa Ana is a dry, sometimes hot and dusty, wind in southwestern California that blows westward through the canyons toward the coastal areas. Santa Anas are a seasonal phenomena, occurring mostly during fall, winter and spring, tending to peak in December. The wind usually has its origin when cold air spills southward into the Great Basin, trapped between the Rockies to the east and the Sierras and Southern California coastal range to the west. This cold air mass is characterized by unusually high pressure near the land surface. Winds are driven into Southern California when the pressure of this interior air mass exceeds the pressure along the California coast. Winds are often strongest in mountain passes which are ducts for the continental air flow. Because the air over the higher elevations of the Great Basin sinks as it flows into coastal California, it is heated adiabatically, and temperatures are often quite warm. This continental air mass is invariably dry, so humidities in Santa Anas are low, often less than 25% relative humidity. Santa Anas have occurred irregularly over the time period since about 1950 when we have collected detailed wind and humidity observations, with some months experiencing Santa Ana conditions 30% the time, and other months less than 5% of the time.
Santa Anas have several colorful nicknames including “devil’s breath”.
What Atmospheric circulation features are associated with Santa Ana events?
Any low-pressure system in the Pacific off the California coast may change the stability of the Great Basin High. The Great Basin High winds then turn southward along the eastern slopes of the Sierras. The low-pressure system over the Pacific literally sucks the winds through the mountain passes of Southern California toward the coastal areas.
This next part is not technical or educational just informational and personal…
When Dear and I got home from church on Sunday we found we had lost power in our condo. So what do you do when the weather is hot and windy and your power goes out? Why you find the closest eating establishment that has power and eat out! J.J. Brewsky’s was open and ready and willing to feed us.
Dear ordered the Steak and Guinness Pie with what else but a Guinness.
I had the Carnitas cooked in Arrogant ******* Ale, a seasoned shredded pork, egg, and pica de gallo dish (very spicy and yummy) with an Arrogant ******* Ale of course. And now because when the power goes out it makes us a bit giddy and creative and desperate, we have a challenge for you.
Which of these heads is the Guinness? The one on the left or the one on the right?
UPDATE AND ANSWER!!: Because I have the patience of a Hare in the Long Patrol (Brian Jacques Redwall Readers will understand) I can’t wait any longer to tell you that Katie, Beth, Mz. Ellen, Southernbell, and Crystal are correct. The Guinness is on the left! Thanks for taking a stab at the quiz everyone. They were two similar heads so it wasn’t easy. And Katie you certainly do make your father proud because you listen to him and remember what he says….
update #2: Dear says, “The head on Guinness is famously smooth and creamy, with fine bubbles (right on Katie!) because the gas is not carbon dioxide but rather nitrogen which creates smaller, more persistent bubbles. Until somewhat recently Guinness was the only brew to utilize nitrogen. Imitation being the sincerest form of flattery some other brewers have used nitrogen to replicate the creamy head.”
Leave your answer in the comments…
And here’s a photo of me flapping in the wind. I think the wind widened my hips! I really don’t think it’s all that good food and ale that I just had, yep I’m blaming it on the wind….
Now later in the day we are seeing the effects of the Malibu and other fires in our skies outside our condo. The orange cloudy glow that blocks the sun is a very telling sign of the fires and winds.
Show and Tell ~ Torch Relay 1984 Olympics
Before the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles Dear was chosen by his company to run a leg of the Torch Relay. This was a fun event for our family to experience. He ran his leg of the relay in Ontario, California. We were all there to cheer him on. His company representatives were there too with one of their Cal-Mat Cement trucks on the sidelines. Fun times…
Oh and no we didn’t get to keep the torch. The company has it on display somewhere but they did pay for the photo!
For more Show and Tell Friday go to Kelli’s at There’s no place like home….
Show & Tell Friday ~ Russian Immigrants in the Early 50’s
From the late 1940’s thru the early 1950’s many of my parents’ family and friends immigrated to the U.S.A. from Iran and settled in the Los Angeles area. Because they were in a new country and didn’t know the English language they spent much of their free time together. There was fun, fellowship, and comfort in socializing with these old friends in a new country.
My dad is sitting on the floor in front with the tie on. My Uncle Paul is standing on the left in the back. I’m going to have to get my family to fill in some of the names of these men. I don’t know who the two standing next to my Uncle are. 2nd row Hamzieff, V. Katkov, A. Menn (the one American born in the group who married a Russian Katkov girl in Iran while serving for the U.S. in WWII) , N. Katkov, C. Titov, ??, A. Katkov. Who is sitting next to pop? Mr. Law on the arm of the chair. The guy in the back with the funny expression?
Some of the ladies… My mom in the back on the left, Z. Katkov, O. Hamzieff, Aunt Nina, Aunt Anna, P. Katkov, L. Titov
I love the hairdo’s.
For more Show and Tell head on over to There’s No Place Like Home….
Baba and Deda ~ Grandchildren ~ Heritage
On Sunday afternoon my children got a rare treat of being at their Baba and Deda’s all together. My parents have been in their Senior Apartment for one year now and Katie is the only one of my kids that has had a chance to visit them there. We had dessert then 4 more grandchildren arrived and we got to listen to my Pop tell some stories about their time in Russia and Iran before they came to the U.S. The Photo below is of my Pop’s cousin who served in the Russian Army during WWII. The story my dad told us about him is below the photo…
This is Feodor Ivanovich Aryeshen. One night during patrol of the trenches, as he walked with his rifle in his hands he came face to face with a Nazi soldier. They faced each-other with their rifles pointed at each other. Then they both turned around and ran for their lives. When he woke up the next morning his hair had turned pure white! They say it was from being so frightened.
My Father told a few more stories about his life that were great for all his grandchildren to hear. What a rich wonderful afternoon we all had with my parents. What a joy to hear how God has kept them safe and close to Him for so many years. We ended our time with my Pop praying for all of us and blessing his grandchildren again…
Ventura…Where it all Began, the Bayles/Spiro Friendship and First Hike…
On Sunday Dear and I drove North for a great breakfast at Allison’s Country Cafe in Ventura before we headed to the Ventura Fair Grounds Flea Market. The Flea market was row upon row of stuff, Antiques, Shabby Chic, New, Old, Furniture, Chotchkies, Jewelery, Treasures and Junk…
The weather was lovely but we got toasted because we forgot our sunblock. Silly Washingtonians in California!
But the real fun treat was to see Two Trees. This was the site of our very first Bayles/Spiro Hike way back in early 1985. We know it was before Katie (Katherine) was born so Jamie was a wee babe…
I stood at this intersection to take the photo of Two Trees. That was quite the infamous hike with Dave, Jody (who we think had her arm in a cast), Lucy, Bridget, Jamie (a baby then), Dear, Ellen, Josh and Dan. Of course the first thing our boys wanted to do was to climb those two trees. We were never exposed to being outdoor type people till we started our friendship with the Spiro’s. We credit them with dragging us along on their outdoor adventures and teaching us the love of being able to tell the story of survival after the fact… God Bless them dearly!
Click to read more about Two Trees.
Wedding Customs ~ A Look Back to the late 60’s…
These Photos were taken November 22, 1969. This was the day of my sister Vera’s marriage to Nick. I wanted to show y’all what we used to do to all the cars in the wedding party. We’d make these huge crepe paper flowers and string them together and decorate the cars. We’d use the colors that were going to be used in the wedding. The kids in these photos are my 4 younger brothers and sisters. Tim, Steve, Lana G! and her twin Leonard.
Lana G! has curlers in her hair. She and Leonard were the flower girl and ring bearer in the wedding…
One other interesting note was that it was very difficult to get our favorite florist to arrange and deliver flowers on this day because they were USC Alumni and huge fans and this was the day of cross town rival games so USC was playing UCLA.
Big mistake in my photo album experience is using these magnetic layered page albums that were so popular in the 60’s and 70’s that make your pictures impossible to take out and scan today….
Awalt Menn (1919 – 2007) ~ A Military Tribute to a Well Loved WWII Veteran
“They have laid aside their armor
For the robe of spotless white;
And with Jesus they are walking
Where the river sparkles bright.
We have labored here together,
We have labored side by side,
Just a little while before me
They have crossed the rolling tide.”
From the Hymn The Lights of Home by Fanny Crosby.
This was a funeral of a friend of ours who was stationed in Iran during WWII and met and married a Russian gal in Iran who was part of our extended family. His wife who has survived him is my cousin’s aunt. In our close Russian community we would call most of these once or twice removed relatives of ours aunts, uncles and cousins…
Moisi and Nadia ~ Celebrating 64 Years of Marriage!
Because Thursday is my parents’ 64th wedding anniversary my thankful post is all about them…
Moisi and Nadia Bagdanov
Moisi and Nadia Bagdanov were married on Friday September 13, 1943 in Tehran, Iran.
My parents have been a wonderful Godly example to their children and community. They are still very much in love. I thank God for bringing them together, giving them the vision to come to the U.S., and for showing me in word and deed what it means to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Today I’m overflowing with thankfulness for God’s gift to me in my dear parents!
A very Happy Anniversary to you Mom and Pop!
I hope to get to some other thankful posts late Thursday night or Friday. To see more thankful posts click on Sting my Heart.
I’m off early on Thursday to Orange County to take my parents out to breakfast for their anniversary and then we are all headed to a funeral at 1 P.M. for an old family friend. We rejoice with those who rejoice and we weep with those who weep. This really is life on this earth for us. We’re thankful to be able to share the joy in the midst of the sorrow because our friend has laid aside his armor and he is finished with the battle…
Labor Day ~ Sept. 3, 2007
Happy Labor Day to You All ~
Hoping you find rest today!
Labor Day: How it Came About; What it Means
“Labor Day differs in every essential way from the other holidays of the year in any country,” said Samuel Gompers, founder and longtime president of the American Federation of Labor. “All other holidays are in a more or less degree connected with conflicts and battles of man’s prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed and power, of glories achieved by one nation over another. Labor Day…is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race, or nation.”
Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
To read more go here.
Good News for all those who labor!
Mathew 11: 28-30 ~
” Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
