Pine Cove fence~Friday's Fences~053113

Another rail fence up in our local mountains.  This one was near Pine Cove, which is the neighboring community to Idyllwild.  I can't WAIT to return to the mountains!  We aren't staying up there, but I'll have some time Sunday morning to return for a while before I have to go clean out water troughs and give the horses their spring wormers~what fun!  Friday's Fences for May 31, 2013.  To visit Friday's Fences, please go to:   http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

Coyote pups at play~Nature Notes~053013

We were given a real treat Sunday night up at the house in Pine Cove.  Out in the meadow behind it a coyote family came every morning and evening.  At first I only saw one of them.  The next morning I saw three.  But on Sunday night, all 6 of the family was there...mom, dad, two juvenile pups, and two young pups.  It was the juvenile pups and one of the adults who were out playing late Sunday afternoon.  First, they rolled in something at the far side of the meadow.  Then one of the parents and the two pups disappeared.  The others went running across the meadow playing tag.  They also rolled on top of one another and played silly coyote games.  It was getting dark quickly and I just stood on the back porch deck taking these shots, so they might not all be in perfect focus, but I think you get the idea.  While I don't like to read about coyotes attacking pets, this family was out enjoying their late afternoon, just as we were.  Nature's Notes for May 30, 2013.  It was one of the young ones who was out alone in the field Friday evening when a fire truck went down the main highway and it started to howl, only to be answered by its family members on the far side of the meadow.  That's how I realized that there was more than one coyote out there and it wasn't until our last evening there that we saw the entire family group.  To visit Nature Notes, please go to:   http://ramblingwoods.com/

"T" is for tree trunk~ABC Wednesday~052913

A short walk down the road from the house that we stayed in over the weekend was this tree.  And, LOOK at all the holes in it!  I didn't notice any other nearby trees with this many holes!  "T" for tree trunk for ABC Wednesday.  To visit ABC Wednesday, please go to:   http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.com/

Mountain meadow~Our World Tuesday~052813

There was a small meadow behind the mountain house that we stayed in over the weekend.  It was full of quail and coyotes!  I never saw deer out in it, but the coyotes came every morning and late afternoon.  At first I thought there were 3 of them.  I'd spotted them Friday afternoon when I went out there to scatter birdseed about.  They were at the edge of the property line and I don't know who was more surprised~~them or me!  One of the young ones serenaded us Saturday night and we heard a chorus of answers in the trees on the far side of the meadow.  Finally Sunday afternoon, we counted 6 of them~~two parents, two juveniles not yet driven off by their parents, and two pups!  We watched the parents roll in SOMETHING at the edge of the meadow and the pups play silly games:  chase, tag, and rolling and frolicking in the meadow.  They were quite entertaining!  I watched one of the parents stalk and catch a mouse out in the meadow and then run off to eat it.  The house owners have small dogs and their back porch is completely fenced, but I'm sure they keep an eye on them when they are up there!  OWT for May 28, 2013.   To visit Our World Tuesday, please go to:   http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/

Gate and fence in Idyllwild~Friday's Fences~052413

I found this beautiful gate and rockwork while driving around Idyllwild the last time we were there.  I enjoy driving around the town and viewing all the fences and gates.  Friday's Fences for May 24, 2013.   To visit Friday's Fences, please go to:   http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

Vulture~Wild Bird Wednesday~052213

As I was leaving the horse ranch last Sunday, a shadow crossed the sky above me.  I turned and saw a lone vulture.  Immediately grabbing my camera, I turned and pointed upward.  Yup.  There it was!  I don't often see vultures up there, but when I do, I get very excited.  There was a pair that used to drift up and down Deep Canyon, but I haven't seen them for a year...maybe this summer?  There are lots of empty fields in Anza, as well as roads, so there's a food supply for the vultures.  Driving home that same day, I noticed a raven in the middle of a road, so I stopped, and yup...found a dead gopher snake that he was feeding on.  Wild Bird Wednesday for May 22, 2013.   To visit Wild Bird Wednesday, please go to:   http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com/

Empty field ~ Our World Tuesday~052113

I love driving around the little town of Anza.  While there isn't much in the town (my feed store is there), I love to take a road and just see where it goes.  This one passes next to a vacant field which always seems to have the elusive meadowlarks.  I can hear them, but the minute I stop the car, they take off!  I sometimes do see ravens in the fields across from this one, but I have yet to capture one of the meadowlarks here.  It's a quiet, restful spot, don't you think?  Our World Tuesday for May 21, 2013.  To visit OWT, please go to:   http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/

Wind turbines~Sunday Stills Challenge~051713

Palm Springs is known for its wind turbines and these are just a few of them.  Actually, these are off of Indian Canyon Drive (see the road in the top photo)?  That street is often closed down on windy days due to the blowing sand, which you can also see in the top photo.  Do you know how LOUD those wind turbines are?  There are some up by Whitewater Canyon and I drove by them one day, got out to take a couple of photos, and hopped back into my car!  Boy, they are loud!  And, several of them are near homes!  Sunday Stills Challenge "W" for May 17, 2013.

Flowers from my garden~Today's Flowers~051913

I didn't have to go far for Today's Flowers.  All of these are in a sunny spot in my front yard.  The cosmos just started blooming about a week ago and yesterday I noticed several more.  There are plenty of zinnias coming up, so I'll have a BUNCH of them shortly!  I've already seen hummingbirds out there enjoying the flowers.  Today's Flowers for Sunday, May 19, 2013.  To visit Today's Flowers, please stop by:   http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/

A quiet Saturday

Well, I didn't go anywhere yesterday...just too darn tired.  After two weeks of state testing and unscheduled fire drills Thursday, I'm worn out!  So, I enjoyed the beautiful weather yesterday, sat on our couch, read a book, and watched the birds in the front yard.  And, there were plenty of them!  Doves, finches, even grosbeaks!  I set up the hose to drip onto a clay pot and the birds eagerly drank from it and took baths!  I also caught up on my sleep...zzzzzzz.....It was a perfect day!  Oh, and my summer flowers have begun to grow!

Downtown Palm Springs~My Town Shoot Out~051713

Palm Springs is a great town for the senses, between the food and the sights.  When I went to urgent care a couple of weeks ago for my severe sore throat, I drove down Tahquitz McCallum Way and went out Indian Canyon.  I don't often get to Palm Springs anymore.  I used to work right on Indian Canyon, many years ago, before I had our two children.  I worked for a law firm and my office looked right up into the mountains.  I remember one time it snowed and the snow was ALL the way down the mountains.  It was gorgeous!  Now, I'm at the far side of the valley and I get to view these mountains on the way home.

Anyway, this week's challenge is senses, so I chose this photo of all the sights and colors on Tahquitz-McCallum Way and Indian Canyon Drive.  It's my first time on this weekly meme and if you wish to view it, please go to:   http://mytownshootout.blogspot.com/

View from my house to the mountains~SkyWatch Friday~051713

Sometimes we get gorgeous sunrises or sunsets just from our front yard, like this sunrise earlier this month.  We haven't had many clouds lately, though, but there will be some this morning and the temps will be down into the mid 80's, which is just about perfect here in the desert!  And, thank goodness~~it's FRIDAY!  SkyWatch Friday for May 17, 2013.    To visit SWF, please go to:   http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Blue jay antics~Nature's Notes~051613

I love to watch blue jays!  They are crafty little guys!  I can throw out peanuts to them when they aren't around and they come and find every single one of them!  Or, if they are up in the trees, they can outrun the squirrels and get them.  They are quite entertaining.  These guys were up in Idyllwild last weekend.  Nature's Notes for May 16, 2013.  To visit Nature Notes, please go to:   http://ramblingwoods.com/

Town statue, Idyllwild~Our World Tuesday~051413

Idyllwild has a BEAUTIFUL town statue, which sits in downtown Idyllwild,  and I always enjoy stopping to take photos of it.  Friday afternoon was a perfect day to take photos of it!  There were a few parents parked near it because the bus stop was there.  I saw other visitors parked near it during the weekend, also taking photos.  Artist David Roy made it and here's a link to a blog article about it:  http://cherylspelts.com/2010/07/idyllwild-town-monument/  He used a chainsaw for the entire thing!  Amazing!  If you are ever in Idyllwild, do make sure you stop to admire it!  Our World Tuesday for May 14, 2013.  To visit Our World Tuesday, please go to:   http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/

Idyllwild windows and doors~Whimsical Windows and Delirious Doors~May 13, 2013

We invited our son, his girlfriend, and our grandson to join us for a weekend in a rented cabin last weekend up in Idyllwild.  We ALL needed a break from the desert, especially with temps up in the 100's down there! I really didn't get out and around much in town...just too dang tired!  We went through our first week of state testing at school, and all of us teachers were EXHAUSTED!  And, I'd had a bought with a severe sore throat the previous weekend, and, frankly, I was run down from that!  So, it was good to get up into the mountain air.  It had rained either Thursday or Friday morning because Friday afternoon the air was still thick with moisture and thunderheads were still building up overhead.  Next time I go, I'll take more photos of the little town.  There are some cute buildings and windows and doors, but I mostly stayed at the cabin and vegged.  WW,DD for May 13, 2013.  To visit WWDD, please go to:   http://iwishiwereaphotographer.blogspot.com/

Green gate~Friday's Fences~051013

We found this cute gate and stone fence guards last time we were up in Idyllwild, in Fern Valley.  We are returning this weekend, but to the Silver Pines Lodge, which is closer to downtown.  The grandson and his parents are coming with us.  Fortunately we have a HUGE cabin!  I'm sure the little guy and I will feed the blue jays and squirrels until they are absolutely stuffed!  And, we'll take some nice walks!  I love this gate, don't you?  Oh, and I cleaned out my cache and cookies and now the blog is viewable again.  I followed the help suggestions and found where to do this on Google Chrome!  :-)  Life is good again!  Friday Fences for May 10, 2013.   To visit Friday's Fences, please go to:   http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

The woodpecker tree and the woodpecker~Nature Notes~050913

**** Well, BLOGGER is giving me FITS this morning and I can't even see this post on my blog, so I'll wrestle with it this afternoon!***  (...pulling out hair...) At the cabin we stayed in two weeks ago, there was an interesting tree in the middle of the quad~a woodpecker tree!  It was obviously used over many, many generations because it had holes all up and down it!  And, yes, some woodpeckers were busy attacking it the weekend we were there.  I enjoyed hearing and watching them.  One even flew down to a tree stump where I had placed some birdseed, turned his head sideways, and got some of the seeds.  It was fun watching him.  I've seen a flicker do that at the other cabins where we stay in Idyllwild, too.  Here are the pics of the tree and woodpeckers.  Nature Notes for May 9, 2013.

Koi pond

We're going BACK to Idyllwild this weekend, with the grandson and his parents.  We're all staying at a different cabin this time~one at the Silver Pines Lodge.  It's a large cabin, with a huge back porch that even has a sitting swing on it.  Oh, boy!  The grandson will love it!  And, there are LOTS of blue jays and squirrels to feed!  A couple dozen quail even stop by in the mornings and afternoons to feed, so I'm buying some extra birdseed today.  Oh, and there's the koi pond...hehehehe...guess who will be down there with a book, keeping one eye on the grandson!  I just finished In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead by James Lee Burke and now I'm starting at the beginning of that series with Neon Rain.  I really enjoyed the Electric Mist book, but I'm having a hard time getting into his first novel about the detective...sigh...I'll take a couple other ones, too, in case I give up!

Fire in a canyon!

It was cloudy here yesterday and Monday.  As I drove home from school, I could hear a helicopter flying up Highway 74.  (Highway 74 is the mountain road through our local mountains, which goes to either Anza, Hemet, or Idyllwild).  This was at the southern base, near Palm Desert, on the desert side.  Turns out,  there was a fire burning back in one of the canyons.  A helicopter was making trips to a golf course pond to pick up water and drop it on the fire.  So far, it was only about 3-4 acres.  (Here's the news link to the story:  http://www.kesq.com/news/fire-breaks-out-in-palm-desert-mountains-near-hwy-74/-/233092/20049342/-/4rtop1/-/index.html)  I could hear the helicopter all afternoon from our house.  Hope it is all out by now...Apparently another helicopter came to lift fire fighters up to the Art Smith trail. I took this photo yesterday morning, out by Interstate 10, looking up at our mountains.