Halloween trees, Deep Canyon 103110

Deep Canyon has no towns, no cities, and only one road through it. It climbs from the desert floor, elevation 200 feet, to over 4,000 feet tall. I liked how these trees gave a spooky feeling! Sunday Stills Challenge for October 31, 2010.

sunrise~Looking at the Sky on Friday 102910

I saw this beautiful sunrise one morning as I drove to work. Sometimes when our valley gets clouds, we have gorgeous sunrises, but most mornings are crisp and clear! Looking at the Sky on Friday for October 29, 2010.

Road and tree, Pinyon Nature Notes ~10/28/2010

One morning I came upon this dirt road and instead of driving down it, I walked down it. I'm glad I did. I got out into the cool air and observed what was along the road, including this dead tree. I looked down and saw all kinds of animal tracks. I can't wait to return on another day and see what's there. Nature Notes for October 28, 2010.

Fall foliage~Sunday Stills Challenge 102410 and SOOC

I took these photos yesterday up at the horse ranch, which is above Deep Canyon. The maple trees are finally getting some color! After our trip to the Sierras, these are pretty tame, but they are all we have near our home here in the desert. They are pretty, however, and I'm enjoying watching them change every weekend when I stop by to visit my horses. Sunday Stills Challenge for October 24, 2010 "fall foliage" and SOOC (Straight Out of the Camera).

Car~Sunday Stills Challenge 101710

This long abandoned car sits up high on Highway 74, along Deep Canyon. I don't know the full story of what happened, but I remember the local news coming out with a story about its discovery several years ago. Apparently somebody driving by FINALLY spotted it and reported it. Since Highway 74 is known as "The Killer Highway" due to the large number of accidents on it, I'm not surprised to see this wreck. I frequently spot it out of the corner of my eye as I zip up the mountain, and one morning, as I was driving up, there wasn't ANY traffic behind me, so I was able to stop and take this photo of it. It has been up there on the mountain for many years now and nobody seems to know the story of how it got there or whose car it is. Sunday Stills Challenge for 101710.

Palm Desert sunset~Looking at the sky on Friday 102210

After a 3 day weekend in the Sierras, we came home to Palm Desert and Deep Canyon and this beautiful sunset. It was the most beautiful one we've seen in quite a while! And, it was right near Deep Canyon! Looking at the Sky on Friday for October 22, 2010.

Blue morning light~Looking at the Sky on Friday 101510

Since I woke up very early again this morning, I headed out. The sky was dotted with clouds and I wanted to get out and take some photos. As the sun rose, I looked up toward Deep Canyon and saw this beautiful scene...the billowing and rain-filled clouds, the pink shades in them, and the mountains below. I wish I didn't have to go to work today! Looking at the Sky on Friday for October 15, 2010. For other participants, please visit: http://www.crazyworkingmom.com/?

"The Dancer"

I found this skeleton of a pinyon tree last weekend when I pulled off the highway and walked along a dirt road. I call it "The Dancer". What do you think?

"M" is for mountain~~~ABC Wednesday 101310

I love to drive up to our local mountains and I found this dirt road last weekend, so I had to explore it! The mountains in the background are the Santa Rosa mountains and the one with the two peaks is Toro Peak (of course!) Santa Rosa mountain is the one just to the right of the road, in the background. This road is the one I take from the desert to the mountains where I board my 5 horses. I drive the main road every weekend to work with my horses, who are all in training. ABC Wednesday for October 13, 2010. "M"

Ocotillo and sky~That's My World 101210

I drove up the mountain early Sunday morning to spend the morning with my horses. Along the way, I stopped to admire this view. there weren't any cars behind me and I was able to stop, click, and continue on! There are some sheer cliffs along the way and there aren't a lot of turnouts, so I'm glad the road was quiet that morning. That's My World for October 12, 2010. For other participants, please visit: http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/

Yellow leaves~Mellow Yellow Monday 101110

I'm documenting the trees up at the horse ranch where I board my horses. The ranch is at 4,000 feet in our local mountains, which is a lot further up than Deep Canyon, which is at about 2,500 feet. I took this photo on Saturday. I love to watch the trees change colors every fall up there. I took a drive around Garner Valley yesterday, but didn't see as much color as this. Mellow Yellow Monday for October 11, 2010.

Look out! Cactus Monday 101110

I took a short hike yesterday morning up at the top of Deep Canyon. Good thing I didn't run into this fellow!!! Cactus Monday for October 11, 2010.

sky and clouds SOOC 101010

Who wouldn't want to get out and take a drive on a day like this? This was last Sunday. The monsoon clouds were gathering. I'd been at the ranch where I board my horses and on the way back down to the desert, I stopped to admire the view. This is straight out of the camera, no editing or tweeking! SOOC for Sunday, October 10, 2010. Enjoy your day! To see other Sunday pics, please visit: http://www.murrieta365.com/

Scenic Sunday~Yuccas 101010

Last Sunday I stopped at one of the turnouts and saw a dirt road used by the utility company to maintain their power lines near Pinyon. I decided to take that road and I'm glad I did or I would have missed these yucca blooms and the beautiful sky. Sometimes you have to get off the main roads and take those different ones, right? Scenic Sunday for October 10, 2010.

Billboard~Sunday stills Challenge 101010

This week's challenge was a real challenge for me because Deep Canyon lies on Highway 74, which is a narrow two-lane road that travels from the floor of Palm Desert to our local mountains. There are NO billboards along this road at all. So, I had to be a bit creative with this challenge. I DID find some interesting signs in one of the towns on top of the mountain, so I'm sharing them. Sunday Stills Challenge for October 10, 2010.

Mountain road and sky~Looking at the Sky on Friday 100810

Last Sunday I found a semi-maintained dirt road and decided to investigate it. The clouds were gathering while I was working with my horses. I looked up and decided I should get back down the hill to the desert before the skies opened up! But, I couldn't resist this road and its view! Looking at the Sky on Friday for October 8, 2010.

"L" is for...ABC Wednesday 100610

The Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard is a lizard that lives here in our valley and near the end of Deep Canyon. It is an endangered species. It has specially adapted webbed feet so that it can scamper around the sand dunes. There are some lizards up in the mountains which are a very dark color (snake lizards?) and they are HUGE! Every time I go by one of them, I spook and screech like a banshee! ABC Wednesday for October 6, 2010.

Sunday afternoon~Tree

After working with my horses Sunday, I looked up and noticed the clouds gathering overhead. I stopped to admire the sky and this pinyon tree at one of the turnouts. There were several other motorists who had stopped at various spots to take photos, too. It was a beautiful afternoon and by late afternoon, the desert was spotted with downpours.

Sunday Stills~red and green~October 3, 2010

I found these pretty bougenvilla blooming and thought they were perfect for this week's challenge, "red and green". They were up at the Bighorn development, which is at the foot of Deep Canyon. Sunday Stills for October 3, 2010.

Highway 74, late afternoon

I drove up Highway 74, which is the road that parallels Deep Canyon Wednesday afternoon, after school. Sometimes, for me, it just helps clear my head to get out and see "my" mountains! The temperature dropped, the clouds rolled in, and the afternoon shadows were long and crisp. Ahhhh.....what a wonderful time of the day!