I've been asked several times over the past months how my patio and pool have recovered from the mudslide of February 2005.

The winter of 2004/2005 was Southern California's second rainiest on record. Early one morning I heard a loud crash and rushed downstairs to find a pancake batter-like ooze running into the pool. My patio was covered with several feet of mud and other debris. The wrought iron fence securing the pool area was knocked onto the patio below. There was nearly five feet of mud and rock at the bottom of the pool, where my barbecue grill had been catipulted. My patio furniture was destroyed as were my rock garden and most of my potted plants.

I'm happy to say that things have recovered nicely.

The view from just outside the back door.

This is what the pool looked like following the slide.

This is how the rock garden appears now. I replanted with a number
of the potted succulents and cactus that recovered from the slide.

Another view of the rock garden. The mark on the chimney is
the "high water" mark from the mud as it ran down the hill.

The rock garden the morning after the slide.

Miguel on his "outside perch" under the new patio umbrella.

Another picture of Miguel.

Miguel's outdoor house .. most days Miguel gets
to disturb the entire neighborhood! I call it sharing.

A larger view of Miguel's outdoor house, which replaces his
outdoor perch next to the patio table.

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