Deborah Ryman, M.A. Feng Shui Services, Santa Cruz County

Late last week, Santa Cruz County was issued a tsunami warning following the quakes in Indonesia/Samoa. The beaches were closed for the day. These pictures were taken in the early evening, just before sunset on 18th Avenue, overlooking Santa Maria's beach. I believe that might be Jupiter in the picture below.

It was 5:45 mid-week. A beautiful day on the coast (there aren't many that aren't - not bragging, it's just the way it is in Santa Cruz County). Anyway, I asked my little rescue pooch if he wanted to go for a walk . . . I knew I wanted to go to the beach, but which beach? Seacliff? A really long walk if you go left or right . . . no, Capitola? . . . too many tourists still . . . How about Twin Lakes & the Yacht Harbor? Yeah that's the ticket . . . The short drive was worth the effort. I parked in front of Twin Lakes Beach - the weather was still warm. We walked down to the Yacht Harbor, and outside the restaurants, a group of "oldies" were playing music and singing oldies.

The volleyball courts were going full steam, and there was a sail boat race! Twin Lakes is one of the few beaches in Santa Cruz County that still allows bonfires, and some people were getting them started early. Families were down by the jetty with toddlers spashing in the waves. Young boys were skim boarding and boogy-boarding on medium sized waves.

Last evening, I parked my car at the Capitola Community Center, and my doggie and I walked through the charming Jewel Box neighborhood, down the Union Pacific Railroad stairs to Capitola. The Jewel Box is a very eclectic neighborhood up the bluff from the Capitola Village and Beach. The streets, not surprisingly, are named after jewels:

• Topaz
• Opal
• Jewel
• Garnet
• Emerald
• Crystal
• Diamond
• Jade
• Ruby Ct.
  

(The last three streets, I consider an adjunct to the "official" Jewel Box neighborhood, which is laid out on a grid. The "official" Jewel Box is comprised mainly of single family residences, with some duplexes and multi-res structures thrown in for good measure. Diamond, Jade, and Ruby Ct. are home to condos and/or manufactured homes, and are affordable choices for those wanting to live the Capitola experience. The beach, the Village and shopping are all within walking distance.

Some of the homes in the Jewel Box proper, are very quaint. These cute homes were on our route last night:

After taking a walk down to Capitola last night, with my pooch, we stopped to rest for a minute on this park bench, which overlooks the Capitola Pier. I turned around and saw this inscription, which says it all to me. I am sorry I do not know who the bench commemorates, but what a nice surprising and encouraging message!

Wow. Sometimes I forget how awesome it is to live and work in Santa Cruz County. I think most Realtors have office tours after their Tuesday morning meetings, BUT how many agents are touring not-so-great areas? I hate to brag, but this was the view from a new listing in our office - this was taken off the deck in the late morning. The picture is of "The 'Cement' Ship," the Palo Alto, a Seacliff fixture (literally).