We enjoyed an interesting self-guided Spring hike of two oases at the Thousand Palms Oasis – Coachella Preserve (on the San Andreas Fault, no less) in the Southern California Desert (about 10 miles East of Palm Springs).
Here’s a video with photos that captured some of our day hiking at the Thousand Palms Oasis at Coachella Preserve!
A Hike at Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve – Coachella Valley
Here are some photos from our hike at Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve!
Visitors Center at Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, Coachella Valley Photo by SJF CommunicationsEnormous palm fronds at the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, Coachella Valley Photo by SJF Communications A View of the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, Coachella Valley Photo by SJF Communications McCallum Pond at Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, Coachella Valley Photo by SJF Communications
We started our journey by stopping at the Palm House Visitors Center (the original homestead log cabin, complete with really cool artifacts) and hiking over a few boardwalks (and a bit of sand) on the flat McCallum Trail (round trip 2 miles). The amazingly tall fan palms (Washingtonia filifera – some over 50 feet) are a sight to behold!
Side giggle note: The lengthy fronds resemble ‘Cousin Itt’ from the Addams Family!
In the middle of this desert, there were two magnificent oases, as well as beautiful purple, yellow, blue and white wildflowers, and a few birds.
At the end of the trail was McCallum pond (yes indeed, a pond – with water courtesy of the San Andreas Fault) with an added bonus – the endangered Desert Pup Fish!
We enjoyed a great drive through much of the Joshua Tree National Park, and discovered an interesting ‘flat’ hike with our family ~ the Wall Street Mill Trail (adjacent to the Barker Dam Trail). The trail (approx. 4200 elevation and about 2 miles round trip) houses a historic gold ore crushing mill and stamp mill. The mill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Wall Street Trail is home to many Joshua trees! Walking the trail was a bit sandy in places (the sand in our shoes had to be emptied after our hike). We saw authentic relics like rusty old cars, a windmill and the stamp mill.
Oh, I almost forgot, there’s a grave marker acknowledging a 1943 violent land dispute, where land owner Bill Keys shot and killed Worth Bagley who wanted access to the water. Bill Keys wound up in San Quentin prison for several years, but was pardoned due to self-defense!
The memorial states:
‘Here is where Worth Bagley bit the dust at the hand of W.F.Keys. May 11, 1943’.
Susan of SJF Communications enjoying the flower fields!
Susan’s friend Ninon at the Flower Fields!
It was such a fun morning (into the afternoon) enjoying a wagon ride and strolling through the vividly colorful Tecolote Ranunculus flowers (and more) at the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California.
Here’s a short SJF Communications video to share the delightfully colorful fields that seemed to go on and on!
. Prices range from $9-$18. YES, we did pay the extra $5 for the fun (and a bit bumpy) wagon ride and YES we also treated ourselves to a strawberry shake!
A special unexpected treat was smiling while observing the adorable caged dove exhibit!
A great children’s area will keep the kids happy with fun activities, gold panning plus workshops for school groups!
There were sweet pea & orchid areas, fresh lemonade, ice cream, the ‘Strawberry Shack’ with yummy drinks and sweets and overall a great way to spend time!
Our family spent a few wonderful hours hiking at Tahquitz Canyon ~ part of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Reservation in Palm Springs.
Take a look at our short video below with photos by Susan J Farese, SJF Communications and music by Ah Nee Mah: ‘Native Visions: A Native American Music Journey’.
We saw a variety of beautiful wildflowers, rock formations and boulders, crossed over two streams, and ultimately reached the gorgeous 60 foot waterfall at the end of the trail. The land was spectacular. The views magnificent. It was a bit steep, but well worth the climbing!
What a spectacular day hiking at Lake Hodges in Escondido, CA! Beautiful scenery, wildflowers blooming, birds enjoying the plentiful rain that we’ve had lately, magnificent rainbows (did we mention the larger than life rattlesnake)? Take a look at ‘art in nature’ and ‘nature as art’!
Music: If We Knew All the Laws of Nature’ by Robert Farmer.
Photos/Video by SJF Communications ‘Creative Ideas | Dynamic Results’ sjfcommunications.com
My husband and I enjoyed a walk along the lower trail near Annie’s Canyon the other day. We began at the Northwestern end of Rios Avenue in Solana Beach and heading East towards Highway #5 (Manchester Exit). Note: We didn’t hike into Annie’s Canyon his time…but hopefully next time!.
Here are some photos captured by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications. Take a look at the variety of shorebirds pictured solo or in a flock. An extra treat was spotting the cutest Anna’s Hummingbird building a nest as we exited the trail!
Feel free to click on each photo for a larger view.
It was mesmerizing to see and photograph several hawks up close and personal on January 5th at Hawk Watch Ramona, thanks to the Wildlife Research Institute !
These free Hawk Watches (donations accepted as well) will continue on Saturdays throughout January and February at 10 a.m. (suggested arrival time 9:30 a.m.). The Hawk Watch lasts about 1.5-2 hours. The location is at the private Begent Ranch, 18528 Highland Valley Rd. Ramona, CA 92065.
More suggestions: Bring binoculars, cameras, wear layered clothing, and sturdy shoes. (It could get muddy and wet there)! There are chairs set up outside but you can also bring your own if you prefer. There is free parking.
There were several varieties of hawks to see up close and personal, including the Red-Tailed Hawk(s), as well as a Peregrine Falcon, Ferruginous Hawk, White Gyrfalcon and an American Kestrel – plus several exhibitor displays inside the building and demonstrations outside, such as a net trapping and learning how the handlers work with the hawks. Each week will feature different species.
According to the WRI flyer at the event- Here is the upcoming Owl schedule:
February 2nd: Barn Owl, Great Horned Owl, Western Screech
February 16th: Barn Owl, Western Screech
February 23rd: Barn Owl, Western Screech
Here are some photos from the day!
White Gyrfalcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
White Gyrfalcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
White Gyrfalcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Red-Tailed Hawk – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Red-Tailed Hawk – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Red-Tailed Hawk – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Red-Tailed Hawk – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Red-Tailed Hawk – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Ferruginous Hawk – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Ferruginous Hawk – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Ferruginous Hawk – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Peregrine Falcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Peregrine Falcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Peregrine Falcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Peregrine Falcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Peregrine Falcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Red-Tailed Hawk – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
American Kestrel – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
American Kestrel – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
American Kestrel – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
American Kestrel – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
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We had lunch at the Calico House Restaurant (complete with being allowed to throw opened peanut shells on the floor), visited Maggie’s Mine, the Calico Odessa Railroad, the Mystery Shack, and several shops! We didn’t get a chance to do any panning for minerals, stay overnight in a cabin, visit the cemetery, or take a gander inside the old Calico schoolhouse.
However, it was truly a fun, educational and memorable day.
We had such a spectacular, fun and educational morning (along with a large group of attendees) at the first 2019 ‘Hawk Watch’ Falconry event including a Q & A with Biologists from the Wildlife Research Institute (WRI).
These free Hawk Watches (donations accepted as well) will continue on Saturdays throughout January and February at 10 a.m. (suggested arrival time 9:30 a.m.). The Hawk Watch lasts about 1.5-2 hours. The location is at the private Begent Ranch, 18528 Highland Valley Rd. Ramona, CA 92065.
More suggestions: Bring binoculars, cameras, wear layered clothing, and sturdy shoes. (It could get muddy and wet there)! There are chairs set up outside but you can also bring your own if you prefer. There is free parking.
There were several varieties of hawks to see up close and personal, including the Red-Tailed Hawk(s), as well as a Peregrine Falcon, Ferruginous Hawk, White Gyrfalcon and an American Kestrel – plus several exhibitor displays inside the building and demonstrations outside, such as a net trapping and learning how the handlers work with the hawks. Each week will feature different species.
According to the WRI flyer at the event- Here is the upcoming Owl schedule:
January 12th: Barn Owl, Great Horned Owl, Western Screech
February 2nd: Barn Owl, Great Horned Owl, Western Screech
February 16th: Barn Owl, Western Screech
February 23rd: Barn Owl, Western Screech
Click below for a short video from our day!
Here are a few photos representing the hawks we observed!
Peregrine Falcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Red-Tailed Hawk – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
These free Hawk Watches (donations accepted as well) will continue on Saturdays throughout January and February at 10 a.m. (suggested arrival time 9:30 a.m.) The location is at the beautiful picturesque private Begent Ranch, 18528 Highland Valley Rd. Ramona, CA 92065. Coffee and donuts were on hand (donations accepted) and afterwards hot dogs and refreshments were available for purchase.
There were also exhibitors (including reptiles on display) plus hawk related and other goods for sale.
A great day to observe and marvel at the hawks!
White Gyrfalcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF CommunicationsAmerican Kestrel – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
An Anna’s Hummingbird building and guarding her Nest – This was exciting to see! Thanks to the fellow bird watcher who told us about it!A pair of American Wigeons exploring in the lagoon
The beauty of the trail at the San Elijo Lagoon
A lone pine cone in the torrey pine tree
Gadwalls at the lagoon
Sweet female MallardThings happen in threes, even Mallards!More of the lovely trail at the San Elijo Lagoon
Mallard pair staring!
Visitors at the San Elijo Lagoon – including Curlew, Godwit, Willet shorebirds
I spent a late morning into the early afternoon at Lake Miramar (also known as the Miramar Reservoir) in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego, walking along the 5 mile paved Loop Trail.
The address is: 10710 Scripps Lake Dr., San Diego, CA 92131
There were beautiful views throughout!
Feel free to click on each photo for a larger view!
I took a detour and hiked a bit below the paved trail on the dirt path.
Little bird watching surprises: a Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Western Grebe, Gadwall, Snow Goose, Cassin’s Kingbird and of course, plenty of Mallards and Coots!
No swimming, but there’s fishing and bike rentals!
Besides people walking and jogging, there were many on bikes and one on roller skates!
If you go: bring WATER to drink. Yes, there are plenty of portable toilets along the trail.
New York City based Korean Illustration Artist Moonsun Shin will be collaborating with Classical Pianist Jeeyoon Kim on an exciting new project: ‘Over. Above. Beyond.’ Jeeyoon’s National CD Release Concert’ will be held on December 9th at the Auditorium at The Scripps Research Institute in San Diego (La Jolla).
Jeeyoon’s concert events combine dazzling technical mastery and profound musicianship with her personal commentary on stage. The ‘Over. Above. Beyond.’ concert will also feature a unique collaboration with Moonsub Shin’s newly commissioned art. Each of the twelve drawings by Mr. Shin depicts a movement of Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 21, No. 1 by Johannes Brahms, nicknamed the ‘philosophical variations’.
Here is our SJF Communications Q & A Interview with Moonsub Shin and Susan J. Farese:
SJF: Please tell us a bit about your upbringing.
MS: I’d lived in Daegu, South Korea until 2007 when I came to the United States. I was a normal kid who loved drawing. When I was a high school student, I decided to go into the art-field. However, my parents didn’t allow me to enter the art major for college right away. They wanted me to study media and society first, so I choose Advertising and Publicity for my college major. After I got my Bachelor’s degree, I studied art to prepare for art school.
SJF: Where did you study visual art/ illustration?
MS: In 2009, I was admitted to the School of Visual Arts (SVA) BFA program for Illustration and Cartooning in NYC. I studied for 2 years, then prepared for the MFA program in the same school. In 2012, I started the SVA MFA Illustration as Visual Essay program and received my Masters degree in 2014.
SJF: What compelled you to collaborate with Classical Pianist Jeeyoon Kim?
Moonsub Shin’s Drawing of Classical Pianist Jeeyoon Kim, Carnegie Hall, December 14, 2017
MS: First, I love Classical Music. When I was a student, I drew musicians frequently because their playing motions and feeling are a great theme of my work. So collaborating with Music as an artist has been one of my desire projects.
SJF: How did you decide to pursue illustration (rather than other visual arts, such as painting, sculpture, photography etc.)
MS: Actually, I wanted to be a character concept designer in an Animation Company such as Pixar or Disney. When I sought the ways to be a character concept designer, I found that studying illustration was one of them. So I decided to study illustration. However, while I’d studied illustration, I fell into the enchantment of it. Illustration should contain characters, color, appearances, feeling and storytelling at the same time in an image piece. I really felt these features.
SJF: Tell us about last year when you watched and did several illustrations of Jeeyoon’s Carnegie Hall concert?
MS: Carnegie Hall where she performed was really fit with her performance. I was compelled to draw her performance. The Piano, Carnegie Hall, the microphone stand and Jeeyoon – everything delivered stories to me so I really enjoyed that drawing time.
SJF: What inspires your art?
MS: Everything. Mostly, memories are strongly working when I get the inspiration. If something may contain some sources related my memory, it would inspire me.
SJF: You seem to be doing lots of cup drawings. How did you start with your cup drawing art? Can you explain more about the process?
Follow Moonsub Shin’s Blog with his coffee cup drawings and videos on Tumbler
MS: I used to draw cafe interior sketches in my journal but I now draw them on paper-cups instead. People loved it so I’ve been doing Paper Cup Drawings since then. Every cafe has their own paper cup, which means it contains each cafe’s identity. I think every cafe’s paper cup can be a distinguished canvas to draw the cafe. I try to contain each cafe’s specialty on the cup and it is still going on.
SJF: Do you get paid/compensated with the cup project?
MS: No, It is my personal project. I just visit some cafes with researching (but sometimes visit accidentally). Sometimes, when I give the cup drawing to a cafe, they present coffee or some goods. Recently, some company gave me a brewer machine. What a kind company…
SJF: Do you give them the cup when finished or keep it for a collection?
MS: I draw two cups. One is for my collection and the other is for the cafe.
SJF: Will any of the cups illustrations be mass produced?
MS: No, but some cafes request my illustration and some items with my illustrations – like mugs, sleeves, packages or boxes…
SJF: What is your hope for this project? TV? Other recognition?
MS: Um… Actually, I just want to collect paper-cup drawings. There is no specific purpose. I love coffee and cafes and this project is a really good motivation to reach another world – coffee. Because of this project, now I know many coffee people and it opens my eyes to the other world where it is not about an illustration. So this project is not only a simple personal project anymore. It’s brought many opportunities to promote me as an illustrator and extend my work abilities.
Now I have one dream. Visiting many cafes in the world and make as many cup drawings as I can. This project will be ongoing and I want to visit the West Coast as well as other countries where coffee is popular, such as Italy, Australia, France the UK and Japan. Finally, I want to have the exhibition when I collect over the 300 cups. I wish it. I’ve visited over the 100 cafes in NYC, Portland, Seoul, Jeju, Busan, and other cities.
SJF: Do you have any role models, female or male?
MS: Jean Jacques Sempe’, French illustrator. He is my role model. His lines are dramatic and deliver all kinds of emotions and stories in a single piece of an image. He knows how to use the drawing line to present image scenes. He’s never wasted drawing lines.
SJF: What does the phrase ‘Over. Above. Beyond.’ mean to you?
MS: Something, that is not Music but still is in the Music.
SJF: What are 3 values you believe in?
MS: Love, Faith and Faithfulness
SJF: What do you do for fun, hobbies, interests outside of illustrating?
MS: I love Coffee. Visiting cafes and enjoying the coffee is part of my life. Also I love to make coffee at home
SJF: How did you collaborate with Jeeyoon in the project, ‘Over. Above. Beyond.’ with the Brahms’ variation Op. 21, No. 1?
MS: First, I just listened to the music over and over again. Sometimes, I really focused on the music and other times, I just turned on the music while I worked.
When some images were released from my brain, I sketched them. When I repeated these process, I got some frames of the whole images.
A few days ago, I met Jeeyoon and she played the Brahms’ variation Op 21, No. 1 in front of me in the studio. While she played the variation, I made images more clearly.
When some parts were not clear to visualize, we discussed and found the theme and image that were good for it.
SJF: Have you ever worked with performing arts and drawing art together in the past? What is your general thought in terms of this kind of collaboration?
MS: For the fashion brand “Nan Seo”, we collaborated when they had a photo shoot for their F/W campaign. The theme was “Dancing with Father” and they hired a dancer. She was dancing on the beach and I drew her and a model.
Illustrating for the performance is not just drawing the scenes. It has to contain an invisible source such as sound, feeling and atmosphere. Also, I should make one scenery image that presents movements and time. So I have to listen to my emotions while I see and hear the performance and then find out the good images from my memories. It is the simply one process with complex steps.
SJF: Thank you so much Moonshin. It was great to get to know you and I look forward to your collaboration with Jeeyoon Kim at her national CD Release Concert, ‘Over. Above. Beyond.’ – December 9th at the Auditorium at The Scripps Research Institute.
This was a wonderful sold-out event at a beautiful theatre (one of my personal favorite places to see films) with nearly 30 projects (some of my colleagues also presented) shown on the big screen that evening!
So…sit back, relax and enjoy this clip of some of my photography!
We walked 1.5 miles of the north side of the trail and back again.
It was a beautiful, enjoyable day in nature!
We saw the glistening blue water of the lagoon, a variety of shorebirds and other varieties of birds, beautiful aromatic eucalyptus trees, wildflowers complete with bees, a woodpile of artistic tree rings, several inviting thatched roof benches for resting and viewing the lagoon, a lizard on a rock, and much more. We were inspired with so much beauty surrounding us!
We chatted, laughed and decided to plan on excursions such as this in the future.
After our walk we stopped in the Nature Center, which is open:
Monday through Friday from 9 am – 12:30 pm
and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am – 3 pm
Feel free to enjoy these photos! Click on each one to see a larger version!
