Posted on by Anne Sandler · 25 Comments

Downtown Roseville

We moved to the Sacramento Area, specifically Antelope, in 2001. In the last 25 years Sacramento County has grown and changed. Cows were walking in Citrus Heights (where I now live), and there are still farms in our neighboring city Orangevale.

Roseville was spreading her wings and spreading out annexing properties. Roseville is in Placer County. The town now consists of West Roseville (suburbia). East Roseville (office buildings), Downtown Roseville (City Hall, shops and railroad). Old Roseville where smaller buildings are found and the railyard.

Roseville became prominent because of the railroad. There is still a depot there, and Amtrak still stops there. The day these pictures were taken, my friend and I were strolling Downtown Roseville. There are shops, restaurants, city offices and two movie theaters. Here are some of the pictures I took that day.

A freight train was moving slowly along that morning.

The Tower Theater.

The square where community events is held and water features entertain the children in the summer has a beautiful fountain. I concentrated on the sculpture and base. I guess I was in a close up mood.

Some other sights I thought were photographable.

Linda Creek borders the Downtown area and beautiful old homes.

That’s about it for Downtown Roseville–for now! Stay tuned for a festival in the square.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 15 Comments

Out of the area: Port Costa, Contra Costa County

Bulletin: most places won’t let customers use their restrooms because of COVID! That’s what Jean and I found out when we left recently to drive out of the Sacramento Valley with our cameras. We were driving to Port Costa, an old little port city in Contra Costa County. I had been there twice before, but that was several years ago. Nothing changed! I decided to take pictures in a way I didn’t before.

On our way down to the port, we stopped at this viewpoint to take a picture of the Carquinez Bridge while it was being enveloped by approaching fog. A couple of seconds after I took this image, the bridge was totally fogged in.

We then made the usual stop at the C&H Sugar refinery. Photographers are not allowed in, but they do let you take pictures at the entrance. You may have seen this view before if you’ve been following this blog for some time.

Now for Port Costa itself. The railroad still runs by it.

The town is old and the hotel shows it. Homes are overrun with overgrowth.

The shoreline, beyond the railroad tracks is interesting and we saw some kayakers paddle by.

It was just before we left Port Costa that we realized there was not a public restroom to be found. We did find a portable toilet at a small park near a fishing pier. The flush bathroom was closed. It was a good stop in more ways than one!

  • The Carquines Bridge
  • The sugar factory in the distance.
  • The guys said no fish today!

Before heading home, we stopped at Mare Island. I knew that the only public restroom was in the museum which was closed. There was a Navy ship in for repairs. No, we couldn’t go on board! So, after taking our pictures as best we could because it was all fenced off, we headed to a Starbucks in Vallejo.

When we found the Starbucks, we were allowed to buy coffee but not use their restroom! CostCo to the rescue. Fortunately there was one on the way home. All in all, it was a fun day. We did learn, though, not to go too far from home!

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 7 Comments

Only twice a year: Maple Rock Gardens, Newcastle

It’s some place you’d like to visit often, but this home and popular event venue is only open to the public twice a year. Other times, you need to be at a wedding or some other event to see the beautiful gardens. I’ll admit that at the end of summer, the flowers aren’t blooming and the lavender fields are hiding, but the property is beautiful just the same.

Maple Rock Gardens is a private estate, in Newcastle, and is affiliated with High Hand Nursery in Loomis. Its 30-acres is host to one of the largest garden railroads in Northern California. There are themed gardens, like a Japanese Tea Garden, and a 4-acre farm that supplies flowers to the High Hand Nursery. We spent almost 2 hours walking from one garden into another.

Each garden was decorated with sculptures, plants, small water falls and more. The easiest way to describe it is to show you. I did take a lot of pictures, so this will be a two-part post. Oh, you’ll also notice that I am now using a logo rather than a copyright symbol. Since I’ve made a little money with my photography, doing some real estate shoots, I decided to be more professional.

So, come along with me and visit Maple Rock Gardens.

They were selling sunflowers.
An arrangement.
Fixing a train.
One of the trains.
Carrying special cargo.
The land is on a hillside with meandering paths.
One of the water falls. There is so much stuff at each area, it was sometimes difficult to shoot one area. I had to crop in close for this.
Each path was beautifully landscaped.
A peak inside the home.
Another path.
There were many places to sit and rest.
Overlooking the valley and parking area.
One of the waterfall areas.
A place to sit and look at the valley below.
One of the many bird baths.
Part of the tea garden.
An interesting fountain.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 2 Comments

A scavenger hunt: Old Sacramento

Sometimes you just want to have fun, so I borrowed a scavenger hunt list for a Tuesday morning outing. With camera in sling, four of us hunted the streets of Old Sacramento for items on the list. They ranged from “Something you can taste through the lens” to “bokeh” to “lines and patterns.” We exercised our minds and imaginations!

Here are some of my trophies.

Lines, patterns and shadows.
Three of a kind.
Sign with bokeh in the background.
Locks
Block of color
biker and older person
Hole and texture
Gate
Stairs
You can smell it through the lens
Railroad track.
My shadow
Spinner
Paddle
Rust

This was a fun exercise. And, of course, photo buddies who help and joke around made it an extra special morning.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 2 Comments

Seeing things a little differently: Downtown Roseville

Have you ever gone somewhere more than once and had a different experience each time? Downtown Roseville isn’t exactly a hot spot for photography. I posted on it when I took my friends there. I showed them the small area called Downtown and we watched kids play in the water fountains. However showing the area to Brian a fellow photographer was an entirely different experience.

He had two hours in Roseville and I was in the area for a chiropractic appointment. We met in Downtown and walked the area. Forget the Tower Theater, we went directly to the railroad tracks.

Before the dot com boom in the early 2000’s, Roseville was a railroad town. But the only place you’d recognize that fact is in Downtown Roseville. East Roseville is where all the office buildings are located, and West Roseville is suburbia. They also have a small section called Historic Roseville. You’ve seen some pictures of that area also in this blog.

So Brian and I spent some time near the rail road tracks and by Linda Creek. I also showed him the train sculpture that welcomes visitors to Downtown.

Just a disclaimer, I don’t live in Roseville or in Placer County. I live two blocks from the Placer County line in Sacramento County. Before I retired, I would network and look for new business in there. And, yes, in those days that city was a totally different experience for me!

 

I just couldn’t resist shooting the theater from this angle.
Trains and tracks.
The fence line above the tracks.
Working on the train.
The train sculpture from the back.
A neat mural.
Reflection.
City Hall.
The bridge going over Linda Creek.
The Veteran’s Memorial Hall at Royer Park.
Flowers are beginning to bloom.
This guy was washing his hands.
Walking on the bridge.
A mail man and his reflection.

Posted on by Anne Sandler

Good to be back: Downtown and Historic Roseville, California

For Richard, it was back surgery; for me it was a dreaded cold. We were stuck inside and not even wanting to go anywhere. Richard is progressing well after back surgery, and I’m finally over my cold. So, he’s driving short distances now. For him that’s freedom! If’s tough on a Californian when you take the car away!

My first outing after my role as caregiver and receiver of a cold was to the Action Camera Swap Meet. They host this event twice a year. It’s a great way to get filters, camera bags and old equipment. One gal was selling off all her Dad’s old film cameras and gear. I bought a camera bag. I needed something that would hold enough, but not be heavy.

After that, Marlene and I went into Downtown (Old) Roseville. I was there a couple of weeks ago with friends from Los Angeles, so I tried to find other things to shoot. It was quiet. There was no farmers’ market or kids jumping through the fountains of water. There was just Marlene and I with our cameras. I’m hoping the only duplicate you’ll see here is the sculpture bench which is in need of repair. I call this area Old Roseville because the office buildings, new restaurants, etc. are located in East Roseville. If there’s an East, then there must be a West Roseville too. And there is–it’s mostly houses.

Soon hunger got the best of me and off we went to Historic Roseville. I think it’s historic because of the history of some of its buildings. I’ll tell you a bit of the history in the picture caption. This area certainly has a different look and feel from Downtown Roseville. After lunch we took our time to discover and shoot. We did find Dr. Bob’s Donuts and DoYos...”The World’s Most Delicious and Nutritious Donuts!” You just cannot walk in to see what it was all about–and we did.

After that, I went home. I was tired and happy with just one regret: I was too full from lunch to try a Dr. Bob’s Donut! It was great to get out with my camera again.