From far away these blooms don't look like much, haphazard spots on a somewhat scraggly plant. Close up, though, I love the carnival colors, the waxy, witty shapes, real flowers riffing on fake flowers, showing how it should be done.

In case you missed Kevin's link, here's Mark Gold's post on his Heal the Bay blog about the ongoing battle over sewage in Paradise Cove. Residents have struggled with city and state agencies, and with the Cove management for decades. Here's a shot of a sewage flow back in 2007, before the new septic system was installed. Are things any better? Read Mark's piece and you'll see what he thinks.

Meanwhile, here's something else we worry about when the winter winds get to blowing -- miles and miles of power lines amid the tinder-dry brush.

So we're on our morning walk, the dogs and I, and the birds are singing and sun is rising and the treetops are all lit up with that early light when some crows start cawing and cackling and sounding their alarm. And there it is, high on a eucalyptus branch, a hawk.

It's a cold, cold morning and he's waiting for the sun to warm his wings, to warm the air a bit so he can fly and glide and maybe catch a thermal. And there they are, the gathered crows, above and below and all around him, cawing.

But he sits and waits, ignores them utterly. The only move he makes is a head tilt in my direction as the camera shutter snaps. And one by one the crows grow bored, fly away, and the hawk is alone again, waiting to take flight at precisely the right moment.

If anything says autumn as loudly as the lifeguard towers towed into storage at the end of Zuma Beach...

It's the scores of sand volleyball courts standing empty.

Movie? What movie?

Saw this sailboat yesterday, moored near the Malibu Pier -- and just north of Carbon Beach, aka Billionaires Beach. Wish I'd had time to get closer for a better shot because really, it looked amazing.

This is a favorite sign of mine in Palos Verdes, a warning that works on so many levels.

Still can't quite get used to Evinrude being gone so here's another photo of The Rudest One. That was a cranky magnificent cat.

As the debate over Marine Protected Areas continues to rage, a hoard of fishing boats converged on the coast north of Malibu.

This was just one flank of the fleet, which leaves you wondering -- what were they catching, and will there be any left?

Here's the beach this morning, autumnal minimalism.