Laguna Beach sunset and seagulls~SkyWatch Friday~112913

It was late afternoon when we got to Laguna Beach this week and we walked out on the sand to where there were some rocks.  Seagulls were all around and a couple of flocks of pelicans flew by close to the water.  We watched the waves hit the rocks as the sun set.  Seems the seagulls enjoyed this, too!  SkyWatch Friday for November 29, 2013.  To visit SWF, please go to:   http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Have you ever wondered where old surfers go?

Apparently they still love the ocean.  I've often wondered where the surfers of my generation, who are probably now in their 60's have gone.  Well, apparently some of them still enjoy ocean life!  I saw a few of them yesterday, down at Dana Point.  I don't usually take photos of people, but these guys were so intriguing, I just HAD TO!  :-)

Dana Point, CA

You know, I don't ever recall going to Dana Point before yesterday.  I know that hubby had never been there, so off we went.  First we drove out to the Ocean Institute and stopped at the gift shop and bought stuff for the grandkids.  Then, we headed up to the top of the cliff and a nice hike down to the edge of the cliffs.  There is a path and guard rails, so you actually can't go off the path...lots of brush and rattlesnakes!  Ugh!  Finally, we drove around the harbor next to the sheriff's office where the pelicans were feeding on fish and being followed by hungry seagulls!  That was a pretty exhausting morning, especially the hike back to the car from the edge of the cliff (uphill).  I need to remember that when one travels downhill, one must come back uphill.  And, after 4 bouts of pneumonia and chronic bronchitis, I MADE IT!   :-)

Mission San Juan Capistrano~Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors~112513

Hubby and I took a couple days and went to San Juan Capistrano. We always enjoy going to the mission there.  For us, it's very relaxing and pleasant.  This year is the 300th anniversary of Father Serra and I was surprised that more people weren't there yesterday (Sunday) afternoon.  It was a GORGEOUS day, with puffy clouds overhead, so in we went!  I do believe that this IS my favorite California mission, so if you have a chance, do visit it!  It was $8.00 each for us to get in (60 and older), so that's a great deal!  :-)  I also think it IS the most photogenic of the California missions, although I do recall Santa Buena Ventura having LONG columns, too.  Hmmm...guess that's another trip!  I didn't plan to go to this mission just to take photos of windows and doors, so these are the ones I accidentally took!  WWDD for November 25, 2013.  To visit WWDD, please go to:   http://iwishiwereaphotographer.blogspot.com/

WHERE is Toro Peak?

Where is Toro Peak? HA!~It's hiding behind the clouds!

Ravens

As we pulled into Vista Point yesterday, we spotted two lovebird ravens on one of the rock posts.  I drove in slowly, so I would scare them and took these photos through the windshield.  As soon as hubby opened his door, they were gone.  Cal Trans, the California Department of Transportation, had 3 large, clear plastic trash bags attached to some of the hitching posts there at Vista Point, and GUESS WHO got into them and scattered trash ALL OVER?  Well, it wasn't me or hubby!  :-(  BAD RAVENS!

Salton Sea

Throughout all of last summer, I glanced out at Vista Point for a chance to get a decent view of the Salton Sea.  Believe me, I TRIED.  It was often just too hazy.  But, yesterday, after our "winter" storm, the sky was clean and fresh and I got a good view of it.  So, hubby and I pulled over at Vista Point to take some photos.   The middle photo, of course, is looking the other direction, toward the San Bernardino mountains!  

Red berries and blue sky~SkyWatch Friday~112213

Red berries of a flame tree against the blue sky.  SkyWatch Friday for November 22, 2013.  To visit SWF, please go to:   http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Orange leaf~Orange You Glad It's Friday~112213

Am I glad it's Friday?  YOU BET!  I am now off school for 9 straight days~~whoo, whoo!  What a welcome break!  AND, my year is 1/3 over, with winter break still to come (that's another 3 weeks' break).  I found this leaf up at the ranch the day after it drizzled up there.  Those mountains, above 5,000 feet, are getting snow today.  I'm anxious to see the snow tomorrow!  OYGIF for November 22, 2013.  To visit OYGIF, please go to:   http://writingsofmaria.com/

Roses at the ranch

It drizzled all day Saturday up at the horse ranch and when I arrived Sunday morning, their beautiful roses were covered with drops of water.  Of course, wanting to take advantage of this, I zoomed in!  I always stop and admire their roses, since I simply cannot grow any myself.  I've tried for 30 years and I've finally just given up!  My neighbor has gorgeous ones, but I've managed to kill EVERY rose I've ever planted!  Go figure...So, please enjoy these!

Old man cottonwood

There's a lone, huge cottonwood near the oak forest which I drive through when I go up to the horse ranch.  I often stop at the turnout across from it and take a couple of photos.  If I were to document one tree throughout the year, it would be this majestic cottonwood.  Once in a while I'll spot a hawk in the bare trees next to it, but there weren't any hawks last weekend.  Right now its color it at its peak.  I can't wait to see it next week, when I have 9 days off!

Somebody asked why I awaken every morning at 4:00.  Well, my body is used to it.  And, I fall asleep each night by 8:00, so that's a good 8 hours' sleep!  :-)

Now go out and enjoy your day!

One week on and next week OFF!

I have one more week, then next week I'll be off school for 9 days!  I CANNOT WAIT!  I do have parent conferences this week (ugh!) and Wednesday will be my late night.  My brain is usually MUSH by 6:00 p.m. and I have to last until 7:00 p.m.  Oh, well...Then, we have conferences again on Thursday afternoon, but that's usually a very light day.  Wednesday is the BIG DAY.  And, we only have 1/2 day on Friday, then I'm off for the weekend and 5 days next week.  My plan is to get up at my usual 4:00 a.m. time and drive out about a mile from our house to TRY to find the 4 comets which are currently hurling toward the sun.  We just have too many trees around our house and I can't get a decent view of the eastern sky.  Anyway, that's the plan.

I drove up to the horse ranch to check on the horses and see whether or not they needed more pellets.  They didn't.  I'll have to buy some next week, when I'm off, however.  The ranch had a steady drizzle all day Saturday and they had a heavy frost Saturday night.  Their maples are starting to fade and lose leaves and I'm sure that by next week, ALL their leaves will be gone...sigh...

Here are some photos from yesterday up at the ranch.  I took my German Shepherd, Lady, with me because the ranch owner said she could flush out her ears.  She's been shaking her head and whining and I've tried cleaning them, but I never got deep enough to clean out the crud.  SHE did!  Ears are all clean now!   :-)

Pinyon forest

Every time I travel to visit the horse ranch where I board my horses, I pass through several zones.  I leave the desert floor and first travel through the pinyon forest.  I love this area because it has scrub jays and I deeply miss our jay.  He stayed with us nearly 4 years, in our neighborhood.  I learned a lot just from watching him.  I would stop above the pinyon forest, in the oak forest, and gather acorns for him.  How he loved his acorns.  Unfortunately, when the hawks moved into our neighborhood, he disappeared (or was eaten...)  No more scrub jay.  I never found his feathers, but I'm sure one of the hawks got him....sigh... Anyway, after the pinyon forest, I travel through an area of oak trees, which is on Indian land.  After that, the tall pines (Ponderosa?) of the area by Garner Valley.  But, I especially enjoy the pinyon forest and I frequently stop there to take photos, like these I took last Sunday.  I'm heading up there this morning to check on the horses, buy pellets, and do some chores at the ranch.

Fall trees and sky~SkyWatch Friday~111513

I was wandering around our local mountains last Sunday and I found a road I hadn't traveled in 30 years.  So, I took it.  And, I found a beautiful stand of aspens.  And, beautiful sky!  Aspens + sky = VOILA!  SkyWatch Friday for November 15, 2013.   To visit SWF, please go to:  http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Old thoroughbred farm fence~Friday's Fences~111513

There's an old thoroughbred ranch up in our local mountains.  Actually, there are several of them, all no longer used as breeding farms, however.  This one is right at the corner where I turn to Anza, to go visit my horses every weekend..  It's been there as long as we have lived in the desert, so that's over 30 years.  At one time its fences were white and freshly painted.  Now, however, they are in need of repair and paint.  I kind of like them the way they are...they're like me...old and tired!  :-)  I hope they never paint them!  I love to stop here during the seasons and watch how the trees change and the fences deteriorate!  I can't wait to see this place in the winter again, covered with snow, but for now the autumn leaves add a real sense of color to the ranch, don't you think?  The trees were at their peak last weekend.  I wonder what they'll look like this weekend?   To visit Friday's Fences, please go to this link and see other entries:  http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

The mountains are calling to me...

I spent quite some time last Sunday driving around Garner Valley.  First, I was looking for birdhouses.  Second, it was such a beautiful autumn day!  I find that I need my "mountain time" every weekend and I am just not happy the next week if I go without it.  These are a few photos I took last weekend.  Don't you agree?

Frisky horses!

I drove up to the horse ranch early Sunday morning.  Frankly, I was too tired to go ANYWHERE on Saturday.  I actually stayed in my pajamas ALL DAY!  That's pretty unusual for me, but after dealing with this year's group of kids, I'm finding that I just collapse on Saturdays and pretty much just stay home.  So, that only gives me Sunday to go visit my horses.  We don't own the ranch.  It is owned by a lovely couple, Bill and Cathy, who own several horses themselves.  Their horses are purebred Peruvian Pasos and most years you can see them in the Rose Parade.  For some reason, however, last year, they didn't get their paperwork in on time and they weren't in the parade.  They currently have 3 mares in foal this year, after several years when they didn't breed any of their horses.  My horses, all rescues, are not show horses (obviously, since I know NOTHING about showing a horse, nor do I want to do that!)  I just want my horses to be happy and healthy.  PERIOD.  Three of them are in training to be ridden.  Quad has been ridden, but isn't cooperating with my trainer, who comes once a week.  Frankly, I think he's just TIRED from being on the track.  We aren't pushing him.  He's a little too clumsy anyway for trail work.  Scout would be perfect, but there isn't ANY of us willing to get on her!  She's too headstrong...sigh...I need a teenager to get on her the first time!  Sunni?  FORGETABOUTIT!!!  He's too scared and I'm afraid he would panic with me on him and take off...he is basically just my buddy.  So, when Lucille's owner bailed on her board and was 6 months behind, I offered to take Lucille.  She's a BIG GIRL!  She's 1/2 draft and 1/2 Tennessee Walker, but she is very CALM.  I can ride her and I have now, 3 times!  :-)  My trainer rides her every week, just to get her back into shape.  So, Sunday I first let Sunni out into the arena, since he usually doesn't get much time with my trainer.  After lunging him and him following me around for a while, he went and rolled and then took off!  :-)  It's good to see him get his "yayas" out!  Next, it was Lucille's turn.  No, I don't EVER put two horses in the arena together.  I used to do it with Cali and Scout, since they were herd mates and they were fine.  I also used to do it with Sunni and Beauty (RIP).  But, then Cathy told me how her cousin once put a mare and gelding together and the gelding went after her mare and the mare broke her leg and had to be put down.  Uh, yeah...none of that for me!  So, I only do one horse at a time in the arena.  I always try to get Lucille down there because she does need to build up her muscles.  So, I lunged her (very easy to do!) and then told her, "OK, you can go!" and she self-exercised.  Both horses enjoyed their turn in the arena and it was a beautiful day up at the ranch.  I'm glad we all had an extra day this weekend.  Yesterday I trimmed tree branches (thanks, Al...you got me started) at home and filled up two of our HUGE green trash containers with the debris.  Today we have a staff development day (no students), so it is really like another day off!   :-)  The first 3 show Sunni and the bottom 3 are Lucille, my riding horse.  We think she is about 14 years old.  I never got Gigondas out...she's my big red thoroughbred mare...But, my trainer is coming today and they will all have another chance for some training and exercise.