Achievement: Possibly, a tale of inspiration....

So, after  almost a year, my maiden solo book is nearing publication...I just finished proof reading its 10 chapters encompassing 160 pages..
The book is on 'emerging nutraceuticals from underutilized resources'...

Springer publication is so generous to provide me with this opportunity....of course, I already  have  23 scientific papers published with it...and that is 56% of my total 41 papers!!

Anyway, authoring a whole book that too on your own..right from conceptualizing to writing the manuscript to editing and proof reading, is different, quite an experience!!

A renowned Professor from Netherlands also deserves my profuse gratitude, who suggested me this endeavor....who helms a journal in Springer and after I got 6 papers published there, he came up with this idea...

Well, while baring out my heart, I must not fail to mention it, what a leap it has been for me...3 years back while I arrived in the USA,  despite the pinnacle of education (yes a PhD degree), I fell victim to the law that bars dependent, alien category of VISA holders from working in this country...and despite having immense to contribute to the society, I was sidelined....

I would roam around the wilderness, derive inspiration from natural world, flora and fauna and taking advantage of writing skill, would find solace in publishing scientific articles...

Time came when I had many followers in academic sites, ample citations in Google scholar, many invitations to review manuscripts submitted to major publishers, my papers would top the list of most-downloaded, people from around the globe will ask for the articles...yet, I had no affiliation, no official e-mail ID, no earning...how miserable a period it was!! It taught me how to get used to unfair situations, that life often doles out....

Anyway, like 'cloud gives way to sun' and 'tunnel ends at light', after much hardship, I got admitted in a promising degree in San Diego State, and though the mandatory bumps encountered every now and then persists, its rather a smooth ride...

I feel not that proud of having a substantial publication list, as much I feel to have "made lemonade out of the lemons thrown" at me....

Place: Flora in Santee lakes park...across seasons...

We spent one afternoon of the Holiday weekend at Santee lakes, a conglomerate of 7 lakes....

Some beautiful plants viewed there............

Cottonwood...........

Rose blooming in sensory garden...........

 Also, Mexican marigolds....

Manzanita blossoms...

Sprawling sycamores....

Bountiful berries on pyracantha bush...

Mulberry...........

Unlike the previous  December visit, this time they were fuller, lush green......some of them were blooming..

Mulberry was deep green, last time I had seen it in golden yellow....

Mistletoe..it was hidden in the crown of cottonwood tree.......unlike last time when it was conspicuous by its presence...

Water periwinkle flowers gracing the lake edges......

California pepper dangling on a lake...

Also a willow raring to touch the water.....

The locust trees were grabbing much eyeballs, with their stunning pink flowers...

Gold medallion flower clusters brightening the landscapes...

Southern magnolias were sporting their saucer-sized, white flowers..

It was nice, hanging about the pretty vegetation dotting the park..

Observation: Vineyard in fall...

Vineyard in  early autumn.........

In late autumn......

Place: A visit to Mount Laguna recreation preserve......

To make good use of the Thanksgiving holiday, we headed to the alpine east county of San Diego...destination Mount Laguna recreation preserve...

Only an hour drive from home, yet it was 10 degree cooler and the conifer-scented air was fresher...

Though much foliage had been shed, the black oaks were sporting blazing yellow leaves..

We hit the Indian trail.....

After a short but strenuous hike, we reached to the top of a hill from which the famous radar dome was clearly visible...

After  a brief rest on the fallen logs, we climbed down....

It was funny and interesting that my dress color matched with the autumnal oak :)...and here I am holding a Jeffrey pine cone....

Found this pretty hummingbird plant hanger lying near-by...

On our way back we paused here to soak in the sweeping lushness and distant layers of blue mountains........

It was a refreshing outing...

Bird: The joy of feeding the hummingbird....

We were relaxing after lunch...and this tiny Anna's hummingbird that perches on the old pear tree visited the balcony feeder..

Of late, work has kept me so busy, I had forgotten to refill it...the poor guy left hungry...It felt bad, especially when I had just taken my meal...

I asked my spouse to clean the feeder while I prepared the nectar....as soon as we hung it, two hummingbirds arrived...

It felt good...

Observation: Watching the dusk prevail....

Pink eastern sky at dusk, viewed from the hillock of Mission San Diego complex....

The  bustling city of La Mesa...the houses nestled atop the hill, in a wavy pattern offer a quite spectacular picture...

The distant blue hills curtained by the drooping branches of California pepper.........

People: Heartwarming people photography at Ocean beach....

I enjoy people photography...and feel, there can't be a better place than sea shore for clicking meaningful pictures...here, enjoy some of my favorite shots taken in Ocean beach, San Diego...

  

As I often say or as most of you know, sea shores are just great locations for people photography...

There you can find myriad subjects of interest...
Also, those being public places, no one prevents you from capturing their shots....
I would like to showcase some of my clicks from one of my favorite San Diego beach..Ocean beach!!

As dusk approaches, people celebrated spring equinox with bonfire....

Surfers riding the waves...

Street musicians were enthralling the audience...