All posts by jd

Real estate broker, civil engineer and general contractor.
Travel

Three Days of Travel along the Coast of Northern Spain

[Show picture list]

Text by Judy J. Pinegar, Pictures by John J. O’Dell

After leaving Bilbao  we spent three days getting to A Coruna. Our first stop was Cuervas de Monte Castillo, a site with several caves with prehistoric wall paintings by humans since 150,000 years ago. We had a 45 minute guided tour of the cave which has 275 paintings and engravings of bison, deer, goats mammoths, hand prints, and other mysterious symbols dating from 26,000 to 11,000 BC. Unfortunately they wouldn’t allow pictures so you just have to take our word for it… I did get a picture of John standing outside the entrance, by a big rock, some flowers which appeared to be growing out of pure rock, and the scenery of the area!

[Show picture list]

When we stopped at the Villa Rosario hotel in Ribadesella, a beautiful, beachfront hotel, a classic century old mansion built by a returned emigrant from Latin America or the Caribbean (with money), I thought I must have really gone off my budget of 70 euros a night.  But it turned out we were in the newer addition (black glass and grey rock across the street, for only 55 euros)… still very nice, almost luxurious inside, really…. and we had breakfast for only 9 euros each in the all glass beachside restaurant next to the older hotel. The town was nice with lots of boats and a fantastic beach… too cold of course this is the Atlantic. They had our same London plane tree, but cut back like a fruitless mulberry (pollarded I think it is called), with the branched grown together within and between trees. Very interesting.

Cudillero, Spain
Cudillero, Spain

The we were on the way to Ribadeo, stopping first at Cudillero, with streets winding down an impossible steep cliff side to end at a picture perfect harbor, this tiny fishing town now gets many visitors in the summer, luckily we are before tourist season to start in June. However the food here was still about three times the average for a meal an any of the towns we have been visiting so we moved on.

[Show picture list]

Then Ribadeo with plenty of time to explore the small town. We visited Santa Clara Convent, built in the Middle ages and still operational now we heard singing from a half open door and the sign said earlier in the day they sell almond cakes to make money. Then the Moreno’s Tower built between 1914 and 1915 following the design of an Argentinean architect, which is now the best known building in Ribadeo. Then down to the port past a tiny staircase path to houses above, and a tiny shop filled to the brim with everything you can imagine! After walking the town for several hours, we had to go back to the hotel and wait because restaurants don’t even open until 8PM. Still at 8:30 we were the only ones there until 9PM. This is true all over Spain on this trip. The waiters tell us most people come to dinner between 10 and 11 PM. People working on roads, parks and in stores start at 9 or 10 until 2 PM then a siesta until 4PM then continue working until 7PM. So dinner is Later!

Next the city of A Coruna and visiting John’s mom’s birth town of Buno!

Help keep this blog going
Call or write today for all your real estate needs
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
BRE#00669941

Error: Contact form not found.

 

Travel

Travel to Bilbao, Spain

[Show picture list]

Text by Judy J. Pinegar, Pictures by John J. O’Dell

After leaving San Sebastian by bus, we arrived in Bilbao, famous for the Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art.  Again we stayed in the old part of town (Casco Viejo), and after a rest, took the river walk to the Museum.

The first thing we saw was a beautiful red bridge, for cars leaving and entering town, going over some huge towers to mark the beginning of the museum.  Next the huge spider, the dancing women and the tower of silver balls, all famous signs of the Guggenheim Museum. Inside was modern art which didn’t thrill either of us and an interesting temporary exhibit about the sculpture, painting and other art, including a full length movie by Niki de Saint Phale. Very interesting woman, now deceased. In front of the museum is a huge puppy, his body made from flowers planted in turf on a huge mesh statue.

Walking home we see some tapas bars and many narrow streets. The next day we visited a museum of the history of the Basque peoples, along with some maritime exhibits, some churches and other neat buildings.

That day we ate in a typical Basque restaurant with a cideria (a huge barrel of the local apple cider) … to pour a glass you have to start far away from the stream/spigot, and not spill a drop! Ha! that was fun, and tasty too! This area’s documents show that the people were sipping cider as far back as the 8th century. The region churns out 80% of Spanish cider up to 30 million liters a year!

 

Help keep this blog going
Call or write today for all your real estate needs
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
BRE#00669941

Error: Contact form not found.

Travel

San Sebastian, Spain

[Show picture list]

By Judy J. Pinegar  Pictures by John J. O’Dell

Upon arriving in San Sebastian by bus from the airport, we quickly found our lodgings in the Parte Vieja (old city). A quick walk and we were at the shell shaped beach, Bahia de la Concha, lots of  boats docks and shipyards were to the right and to the left the beach and the newer part of the city. The City Hall was a very conspicuous building in the middle (formerly a gambling hall that went out of business when they changed the laws to disallow gambling)! Then a garden of strange trees, which we learned were imported from Paris.

Quite near or lodgings we found a baroque style church, Saint Mary of Assumtion,  that was built in the second half of the 18th century. This was the third church built on this site. The first of Roman style was built about the middle of the 12th century, the second, Basque Gothic style in the middle of the 16th century.

Both earlier sites were burnt down due to fires from the surrounding area as well as military attacks, as it was located directly below the Castle or Urgull, a military fort. The exterior shows a magnificent rococo style facade.  In the interior, the main alter was by Diego de Villanueva and above is the large painting of the martyrdom of St Sebastian. Other alters include Our Lady of Solitude and St Catherine.

On the side in the back was The Chapel of Christ of Peace and Patience with a 16th century statue of Christ which used to be at the gates to the city.

Help keep this blog going
Call or write today for all your real estate needs
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
BRE#00669941

Error: Contact form not found.

Travel

Last Day in Barcelona, Spain

Stables

Image 1 of 14

Stables


By Judy J. Pinegar  Pictures by John J. O’Dell

We set out for the Maritime Museum, but on the way I noticed a new (since I was here with my daughter) Guell site by Gaudi: Palau Guell which was the first great commission Antonio Gaudi received from Eusebi Guell, and industrialist, politician and patron who became the architect’s greatest client and also his best friend.

The building was built between 1886 and1890, and contains the essence of the type of architecture and helps people understand better his later works… this was his test model.

The place was the Guell home (10 children) until they moved to Parke Guell when that was finished. The youngest daughter of Guell transferred the Palace to Barcelona Provincial Council for cultural use in 1945.

The palace contained a basement stable for horses, as well as storage space for wood and other household items. A fancier stable, all in brick, I have never seen in my life!  The entry floor with two huge iron worked gates, the Spanish call the “el piso bajo” floor, and they say what we would call the 2nd floor the 1st, et cetera…sort of hard to get used to!

So starting with the first floor it became fantastically beautiful, here was the great room, with a cabinet to be opened for prayer, or closed for dancing or other activities. an organ, beautiful paintings and furniture. Around this was a visitors hall, Guell’s office and rooms for music study and art study for the children as well as a fantastic dining room.

Higher levels contained bedrooms for all the children and the main bedroom suite for the parents and the “bath.”, above that was the servant’s workrooms, kitchens and sleeping rooms. the final level was the roof, with absolutely fantastic chimney’s… you will see in the slideshow! We were glad to have substituted this for the Museo! And we were off to San Sebastian by plane (cheaper and 8 hours less that the train) to the same place!

Help keep this blog going

Call or write today for all your real estate needs
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
BRE#00669941

Error: Contact form not found.

 

 

Travel

Two Wonderful Days in Barcelona

By Judy J. Pinegar  –  Pictures by John J. O’Dell

And by that I mean “full of wonder.”  First was the Museo d’ Historia de Barcelona.  In over three hours we walked from the 1st century BC to the13th century and back to the 21st century, and it was all in the same place.  Let me explain… apparently the people used to build on top of other peoples buildings, using the stones, then sometimes reusing them to make the place their own as the land filled in.

Over view of underground

Image 1 of 10

So taking an elevator down, down down..we come to the 1st century an archaeological dig within the bowels of three buildings and under an adjourning plaza (Plaza del Rey). First stop was a fullonica workshop (clothes washing) and tinctoria workshop (dying of clothes) from the 2nd century. You could see the basins, and drains, and even the color “Egyptian blue” on the stone tubs!

A little higher was a 3rd century fish salting  and factory for making fish sauce called “garum,” then to my delight was a whole winemaking facility, built in the late 3rd century. You could see where they stomped the grapes, fermented and then pressed, and stored the wine, with the help of elevation changes as there were no pumps back then! See John’s pictures.

Then the Episcopal religious complex of a baptistery, bishops home, and church evolved on  higher level in the 4th to the 8th century, that then became with some new additions, the house of a count/ and then royal palace, the very one (according to our guide) where King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella gave Christopher Columbus the contract to explore the “new world” for 1/10th of what he could find there. (Apparently they later reneged on the contract and poor Christopher died a pauper.) Then we were back on the street in 2015 Barcelona with great street musicians.

[Show picture list]

Click on above picture to change image

A day later we saw the most iconic church in Barcelona, La Sagrata Familia Church. Antonio Gaudi began as chief architect in 1883 at the age of 33. He died in 1926 with only the nativity facade (one of three planned) completed. But work has continued, now through donations and the entrance fees. When I was here with my daughter 15 years ago, the interior was not completed, and even now I would say it is about 7/8ths finished inside, but it became a church when Pope Benedict XVI consecrated it in 2010. There are now two facades mostly finished, the final one, meant to be the churches main entrance is scheduled for completion in 2026 …or later! I could say more but you sort to have to see it to believe it so I leave you to John’s pictures.

Help keep this blog going

Call or write today for all your real estate needs
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
BRE#00669941

Travel

Barcelona, Spain Days One to Four

Cathedral

By Judy Pinegar

Landing in Barcelona a full 20 hours off of takeoff from Sacramento (6:30 AM) but at 9AM in the morning really messed us up!  After stumbling around Barri Gothic, and having lunch, being lost a few times, we finally came to our shared apartment in Barri Gothic, a few minutes walk to the big Cathedral, right in the center of old Barcelona.

 

Walking along La Ramblam we saw some of the great food of Barcelona
Walking along La Ramblam we saw some of the great foods of Barcelona

 

A long nap and after a great tapas meal, we walked down La Rambla, Spain (and Barcelona’s)  most famous Street. It is divided into five areas, one for futbol gatherers, one for ice cream and snacks, one for flowers, one with a huge marketplace on the side, one for a non-existent Monastery, then the Grand Theatre del Licheu, and finally Santa Monica area, before reaching the huge statue of Christopher Columbus, and the wharf area, and a huge shopping center which we also toured briefly, before heading home.

Street people
Street people John O’Dell and Judy Pinegar with a street angel

Interestingly I found that compared to 15 years ago when I was here with my daughter the street people moving statues are few and far between on La Rambla now. They are still scattered here, but also in other areas of the city which I find interesting and sort of disappointing.

Statue of Christopher Columbus
Statue of Christopher Columbus

 

Wharf area
Wharf area

We took two days of the on and off bus tours of Barcelona to get the layout of the city, stopping at Museo National ‘d Arte de Catalunya (see fountain with Barcelona views) and large museum of Gothic and Romanesque art, also some Catalan art. For those of you who don’t know, Spanish speakers in Catalan, the area around Barcelona speak Catalan, different form the Castilian Spanish I learned and spoken by the majority of Spaniards. But as there are lots of tourists here in every language, and for all a lot of English is spoken.

Museo National 'd Arte de Catalunya picture outside fountain with Barcelona views
Museo National ‘d Arte de Catalunya picture outside –  fountain with Barcelona views

We also stopped at Park Guell, created by Antoni Gaudi, one of the most imaginative architects in the time period of 1880 and the 1920’s, called the Modernistas. His main sponsor was Count Estibi Guell, a very rich man who paid for most of Gaudi’s work, mostly bearing the Guell name. This park is three kilometers of roads, walks and steps (as our feet can testify), along with a central plaza with many modernistic touches. We actually didn’t know we need to reserve a space ahead, so walked around, peaking at the main plaza at different times, as the pictures show.

Park Guell, created by Antoni Gaudi
Park Guell, created by Antoni Gaudi

We saw both La Piedra, Casa Batllio and the Sagrada Familia Church, which was started by Gaudi but still being finished today, but again when trying for entrance to the church, discovered it must be reserved ahead…not like when Juli and I were here, and just walked in. Maybe later in the week.

John O'Dell with arm around Antoni Gaudi, picture of Sagrada Familia Church in background
John O’Dell with arm around Antoni Gaudi, picture of Sagrada Familia Church in background

Then there was the museum of Frederic Mares, an obsessive collector (with lots of money) who collected everything from medieval Spanish sculptures mostly with religious origins, knick-knacks, toy soldiers, scissors, eyeglasses, ceramic pottery, medieval weapons and armor, 19th century playing cards, and you name it , it is there!!

Help keep this blog going

Call or write today for all your real estate needs
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
BRE#00669941

Error: Contact form not found.

 

nevada county fair

Seeking Community Showcase Acts for the Nevada County Fair

Tommie performing with Pokiejoe. Picture courtesy of Nevada County Fairgrounds
Tommie performing with Pokiejoe. Picture courtesy of Nevada County Fairgrounds

Applications available for those interested in performing or demonstrating at this year’s Fair 

The Nevada County Fair is now accepting applications for local entertainers and community acts to perform at the 2015 Nevada County Fair, August 12 – 16. Do you have a dance group you’d like to see perform at the Fair? Does your group have a skill they’d like to demonstrate to Fair-goers? Want to do a martial arts demonstration or a cheerleading demonstration or show off your baton twirling skills? If so, the Fairgrounds wants your application. This is a great way to share your talents with the community!

Applications are now available on the website at www.NevadaCountyFair.com.  To be considered, the application must be returned to the Fairgrounds by June 5. There is no paid compensation for community showcases and demonstrations.

The application is for those interested in performing on the Dance Pad (available afternoon and evening hours); The Green (available during afternoon hours); or the Tumbleweed Stage (available evening hours only).

This year’s Fair is August 12 – 16, and the theme is “Catch the Fair Bug!”  For more information, visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com or call (530) 273-6217.

Help keep this blog going

Call or write today for all your real estate needs
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
BRE#00669941

Error: Contact form not found.

Environment

What Calif.’s Drought Could Mean for Housing

Scott’s Flat Reservoir Sept 25, 2014. Lowest I’ve seen the reservoir since I’ve lived in Cascade Shores. Picture taken by John J. O’Dell off my deck in Cascade Shores.
Scott’s Flat Reservoir Sept 25, 2014. Lowest I’ve seen the reservoir since I’ve lived in Cascade Shores. Picture taken by John J. O’Dell off my deck in Cascade Shores.

The Golden State is drying up and it could have repercussions for its real estate market. Lawmakers have called for unprecedented measures to curb residents’ water consumption in response to a severe drought, now running into its fourth year.

Gov. Jerry Brown last week called for a 25 percent reduction in water consumption throughout the state. The move will force a change among home owners and communities.

As water bills get more pricey, home owners will need to find ways to conserve, and their outdoor landscaping may be one likely place to do it. Lush lawns will need to be uprooted in favor of more drought-tolerant ones. Those long-held favored aesthetics for green yards and colorful, water-loving plants will need to shift among residents. “This will change what Californians see as beautiful,” says Heather Cooley, water program director for the Pacific Institute, an Oakland, Calif.-based environmental research group.

Also, resort communities in the state — known for their green oasis looks — are growing concerned at how the water reduction will affect their communities. For example, Palm Springs – which is in the middle of the desert – may see some of the biggest repercussions to its real estate. Known for its green golf courses, businesses will need to look for ways to conserve.

The daily per capita water use in Palm Springs is 201 gallons – more than double the state’s average. Palm Springs has ordered 50 percent reduction in water use by its city agencies. The city plans to replace lawns and annual flowers around the community with water-saving native landscapes. It also is paying residents to replace their lush green lawns with rocks and desert plants, as well as even offering rebates to those who install low-flow toilets too.

“Years ago the idea was, come to Palm Springs, and people see the grass and the lushness and the green,” says David Ready, the city manager. “We’ve got to change the way we consume water.”

Meanwhile, in the agricultural Central Valley of California, farmlands are drying up and unemployment is surging among farm workers. Some communities are seeing an exodus of residents as some farmers are relocating 70 miles out or more in search of work.

The drought could also prompt a reduction in housing construction, says Richard White, a history professor at Stanford University. That could come at a time when more residential development is needed in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco to meet higher demand too, he says.

“It’s going to be harder and harder to build new housing without an adequate water supply,” White says. “How many developments can you afford if you don’t have water?”

Source: “California Drought Tests History of Endless Growth,” The New York Times (April 5, 2015)

Related articles

Help keep this blog going

Call or write today for all your real estate needs
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
BRE#00669941

Error: Contact form not found.

Environment, Nevada County Information

Coming to a Dying Tree Near You, Bark Beetles

Picture courtesy of U.S. Forest Service
Chart courtesy of U.S. Forest Service

I remember in the seventy’s I had built a home for a client. He insisted that I build the front deck such that it wrapped around some large pine trees. We finished the house in the middle of a drought. Soon enough the bark beetles hit his trees and they died.  We are back again with an explosive growth of bark beetles.

Local, state and federal officials are virtually helpless against the pestilence, which has turned hundreds of thousands of acres of forest brown and left huge fire-prone stands of dead wood.

The trees are being devoured by millions of native beetles, each about the size of a grain of rice. The insects, thriving in the warm weather and lack of freezing temperatures, are overwhelming the defenses of water-starved trees, attacking in waves and multiplying at a frenzied pace, depositing eggs under the bark that hatch into ravenous larval grubs.


Mountain pine beetle (photo: U.S. Forest Service)

“Things are looking really, really bad,” said Tom Smith, a forest pest management specialist for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. “Basically we’ve got native bark beetles that are attacking the pines. They are only successful in attacking the trees when the trees are stressed. Right now all the trees are stressed because of drought.”

The infected trees are on private and public lands, in national parks, wilderness areas and managed forests. There seems to be no solution short of removing the dead and dying trees and hoping against hope for rain and cold. The worst of it is in the southern part of the state, but pest management experts say the plague is moving north.

A healthy tree can usually beat back invading beetles by deploying chemical defenses and flooding them out with sticky resin. But just as dehydration makes humans weaker, heat and drought impede a tree’s ability to fight back—less water means less resin. In some areas of the Rocky Mountain West, the mid-2000s was the driest, hottest stretch in 800 years. From 2000 to 2012, bark beetles killed enough trees to cover the entire state of Colorado. “Insects reflect their environment,” explains renowned entomologist Ken Raffa—they serve as a barometer of vast changes taking place in an ecosystem.

Sheri Smith, the regional entomologist for the U.S. Forest Service in California, said bark beetle and drought-caused tree mortality more than doubled across forests in California last year and is expected to increase even more this year. The Forest Service mapped tree mortality across 820,000 acres of forested land in 2014 compared

with 350,000 acres in 2013, according to the service’s annual Aerial Detection Survey Program results. The results of this year’s surveys, which are just getting under way, are not expected until later in the year.

 

Related articles

Help keep this blog going
Call or write today for all your
real estate needs
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
EMail John O’Dell
BRE#00669941

Error: Contact form not found.

animals, Bits & Pieces, Community Events

Pit Bull Helps Nevada County Woman Detect Seizures

  A woman who wanted a shelter dog as a companion for herself and her son instead got much more than that.

The pit bull the Nevada County woman adopted can detect seizures, something important for her. Danielle Zuckerman, a former Navy nuclear scientist never knew adopting Thor could change her life. “I feel so much more comfortable, going out in public and going to do things, because when you’re an epileptic, you don’t have control over your own body,” she said.

Zuckerman has seizures due to a spinal cord injury. 

Read more CBS Sacramento

Help keep this blog going

Call or write today for all your real estate needs
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
 BRE#00669941