Fences, fences, and more fences~Good Fences~052915

Every once in a while, I like to drive through Garner Valley and see all the 5 acre ranches up there.  It is on the way to Idyllwild anyway, so last weekend, we drove through it.  We used to own 5 acres there, when I was pregnant with our first child, but we had to sell it.  We couldn't afford a newborn and payments on the land...sigh... So, now I just admire all the home and fences up there and remember when we had our own land.  Good Fences for Friday, May 29, 2015.   To visit Good Fences, please go to:   http://run-a-roundranch.blogspot.com/

Koi and cabin

 This is the main lodge.  We didn't stay at this lodge.

 The koi pond.

 The grandson got to feed the koi!  He was very excited!

This was our cabin.  It is nestled in the forest, away from the other cabins and away from the main lodge.

We all sure had a blast at the cabin this weekend.  It is privately owned by a family, but they rent it out over holiday weekends.  Apparently there were there the previous week and they had logs in the fireplace all ready for us.  Friday night was quite chilly.  By Saturday morning, we were ALL shivering!  It's such a huge cabin!  There is a fireplace and an electric heater in the living room, so that is always the warmest room.  The upstairs bedroom also has a heater, and there are some wall heaters in the downstairs bedroom suite.  We went through $100 worth of wood over the 3 nights...can you believe it?  Idyllwild doesn't allow folks to bring their own food due to the pine borer invasion, and prices in town are, well... pricey!  Hubby first bought 3 boxes of firewood from the store in town.  They were $10.00 each.  That lasted one night.  He bought 3 bundles of firewood from a local dealer for $10.00 each the second night.  By the 3rd night, he bought a barrel full of hardwood. That cost $45.00, so he spent about $100 for the 3 nights just on firewood for the fireplace!   It was worth it, however, as we all huddled around it in the mornings.  The rest of the house was just too cold.  By the 2nd morning, however, it was warmer.

Hello there little fella!

I was surprised to see this little fella next to the cabin a couple of mornings.  This was right where the bobcat walked by...There was a smaller one, too, and LOTS of squirrels.  The 2 year old even said "squirrel", although it sounded like "whirrel"...she can't say the "sq'...

Bobcat!

So, Sunday morning our daughter was having a cup of coffee with me and I opened up the kitchen curtains up at the cabin in Idyllwild and there it was...a bobcat!  He/she was right on the front porch!  Fortunately, daughter had her iPhone with her and snapped a few pics of it, including this one.  Now, this was about 6:15 a.m.  I'd been up since 5:00, puttering around, making a fresh fire in the fireplace, bringing in wood, and doing the dishes from the previous night.  He/she just wandered up to the porch, wandered right by the front door where the two of us were standing inside, and then up the hill to the cabins above ours.  They were all empty for the weekend.  I knew he/she was around because the blue jays were squawking and I saw one of them fly down from a branch to one closer to the ground.  Then it disappeared.  This is probably the same bobcat which was sighted the day before, up at the main compound.  We were staying in a separate cabin, further down by the creek.

We did hear that there are 3 bobcats in the area and the locals are upset because one lady lost 2 of her cats.  Monday morning, we heard a gun go off  early in the morning and we were wondering if somebody shot a bobcat...

Idyllwild weekend

So, Friday afternoon I zoomed out of school, only to learn I had to stop by our daughter's house to pick up STUFF to take in our XTerra up to Idyllwild.  Hubby had the car all packed, and he was able to get this stuff in it, too, but boy, was it heavily loaded!  We were heading up to Idyllwild for a weekend with our daughter, her family, and our son and his family (Saturday night), and a couple who are good friends and neighbors with our daughter.  Plus, my 2nd cousin from Alaska stopped by for 2 nights, with his son, who is the same age as our grandson.

13 people in 1 cabin!  OYE VEI!  Plus, Friday night, Barb, my friend from Pinyon, stopped by with her boyfriend and they stayed for cheese fondue and dessert!

I think I need to go to school to get some rest.

While I clearly adore my family, this was OVERLOAD for me.  I'm like Al, over at Travel with the Bayfield Bunch.  I love my "alone" time.  I got NONE this weekend.  In fact, I only took a few photos and that was Sunday morning, when I went out for 2 hours in the car BY MYSELF.  The rest of the time, I got stuck babysitting either the 2 year old, or the neighbor's 6 month old baby boy, or the 5 month old granddaughter.  Not my idea of a relaxing weekend.

I DID get in a short early morning walk Sunday morning and we did see a bobcat stop by the front porch then also.  I opened the curtains in the kitchen and there he was, on the porch!  Our daughter had her iPhone with her, and she snapped some photos of it, as it made its way up the creek.  The cabin is right next to a creek, thus providing shelter and water for the bobcat.  We heard later that there are 3 of them in the area, and cats are disappearing at an alarming rate.  In fact, the neighbor who went with us, says he heard a gunshot early Monday morning...sigh...

Anyway, while it was a great weekend, I'm tired.  Next time, hubby and I will book a cabin just for the two of us.

From the left:  our son-in-law, our granddaughter, our daughter, the neighbor and his 6 month old son, me (with my hair in a topknot), our daughter-in-law

front row:  our son and his daughter and our grandson, hubby, and my 3rd cousin (from Alaska).  I'm not sure where his dad was when the photo was snapped...All of us outside the cabin, on the porch where the bobcat was early Sunday morning.

Idyllwild weekend

We're heading up to Idyllwild this weekend.  These photos are from last year.  It is supposed to be raining up there today and all night and maybe Saturday.  Oh, well.  At least we are getting away for a couple of days!

I'll update this when we return.
Have a good weekend!
Cheryl Ann

Views from Deep Canyon

I love the last view.  It is looking down into the beginning of Deep Canyon and the valley floor.  The Bighorn Institute (part of UC Riverside) is down there and they do research on the bighorn sheep.  They run a fence along the top of Deep Canyon to keep the bighorns from walking out onto the highway and to keep people away from the sheep, especially during lambing season.  Many of the hiking trails are CLOSED this time of year, to protect the endangered sheep.  I didn't see any of them on my drive Sunday, but it is lambing season, so they are probably hidden.  I would like to learn more about them and that will be one of my goals this summer.

More from Deep Canyon...

I took a nice walk out toward the canyon on Sunday and found some things I didn't even know were there!  Click on photo to enlarge.

 Cholla garden!

 More cholla.  They were just in this one spot.

Looking down into Deep Canyon.

My Canon has the dreaded 01 error:  "Communication between lens and camera lost" (or something to that effect...).  I can only take 1 photo at a time now and half the time that one doesn't come out.  I've been on some forums and I'll try a couple of things, but I'm not too hopeful.  So, I'm back using my old Nikon D40x.  It really is a nice camera and takes better photos in low light than the Canon, but I'm already missing my 300mm lens!  The Nikon has a 200 mm lens.  Since we're heading up to Idyllwild next weekend, I'll take both cameras with me and maybe hubby can get the Canon to work properly.  Seems to be a software glitch with the Tamron lens.  (...pulling out hair...)

I already took it to the camera shop and they couldn't find anything wrong.  This is a persistent problem with the Tamron lens.

Learning from the mountains

 A cholla garden!  I've never seen this spot before or even knew it existed!

 Looking down Deep Canyon toward Palm Desert and the Living Desert Reserve.  The Bighorn Institute is also located at the bottom of Deep Canyon, but it isn't open to the public and there are NO roads beyond it.

Looking down into Deep Canyon...

Every time I drive up Highway 74, I learn something from the mountains above Deep Canyon.  Sometimes I learn about the bighorn sheep that live there.  Other times, I learn about the crows and vultures that grab the thermals and circle lazily in the sky.  Sometimes I learn about the rattlesnakes that cross the road, either successfully, or not.  I learn about the clouds and the fog.  I've learned about snow.  I've learned that when it is snowing, it is silent.  I've felt the cold winds swoop through the mountains.  I've learned many things.

Today I learned of a special spot along Deep Canyon.  I've parked there before and noticed a hand-made rock trail.  I've followed it once, and today I followed it from a different starting point.  SOMEDAY I'l going to follow it and get better photos of Deep Canyon, which is aptly named.  It IS an extremely deep canyon.  There are NO roads down through it.  Hikes do venture down into it, and so do bighorn sheep, but otherwise, it is untraveled.

During the monsoon seasons of 1976 and, again in 1979, water roared down Deep Canyon into Palm Desert and flooded the Living Desert Reserve and many, many homes.  Our home was flooded in 1979, but not from Deep Canyon.  Rather, ours was from Carrizzo Canyon, which splits off from DC.  I was alone with a 1 year old and pregnant at the time.  Hubby was working in Orange County and, at that time, he had to reach our house by either driving through Palm Springs, or by going down to Indio and then back to Palm Desert.  I gather up our daughter, our German Shepherd, the bills (???), and headed out in our 1977 VW van.  I was picked up on a bridge by some firemen, about 1:00 a.m. and spent the night at the house of one of them!  (I believe they felt sorry for me...after all, I was 5 months pregnant!)  We got a SBA loan and replaced everything.

Yes, Deep Canyon has many secrets.  I'm just beginning to understand and appreciate them.

Photos of Deep Canyon during the storm a couple of weeks ago.

Yesterday was a GOOD day! :-)

Yesterday was the first Saturday, I'd say, in a month (at least) that I actually had some energy!  And, what a difference that made.

First, I had to run to school to check on something, so I was out the door by 8:00 a.m.  Then, I stopped at our daughter's house (since it is on the way) to visit them.  Then, I went to WINCO and bought groceries, including thistle seed for the finches and verdins.  Also picked up a 25 pound of birdseed (which the birds don't really like...sigh...).  I do mix it half and half with the COSTCO branch (which they DO like), but they usually leave the tiny seeds.  They are SO spoiled!  I even did a short walk at my favorite walking spot!

Then, off to the civic center park for some photos of the grandson at his T-ball game.  I sat in the shade and took some photos and he got on base twice.  At his age, the kids ALL rotate through the list and everybody gets to hit the ball.  There were some teeny tiny kids playing and it was so fun to watch them run to first base!  I eventually wandered over to the civic center park and saw 4 baby ducks.  They weren't very old.  Unfortunately, ducklings don't last long in the park.  The carp get them and a lady told me another bird eats them!  I only saw the 4 little ones.

Then, to the camera store because my Canon is acting up again.  I keep getting a message about the camera and lens connections not working.  The guy at Camera West looked at it, couldn't find anything wrong, but I'm thinking, I shove it in my camera case sideways and I'm going to stop that.  In fact, I need to order a new camera case and find one where I can lay it flat.  Thank you, Camera West!  No charge!

Finally, I went to Whole Foods and browsed their hot food buffet.  I picked out some chicken with tumeric, some rice, some steamed cabbage, and some pinto beans, and went home, took off my shoes, and watched the Preakness pre-race show and then the race.  I even experimented taking some  photos of the horses with my camera on the TV!

After the race, it was time to head to our daughter's house for dinner of steak, chicken, baked potatoes, and a delicious green salad.  Our son and his family were able to join us, so a good day was had by all yesterday!   :-)

 

 The view of our mountains and fresh snow!

 An agave?

 The grandson.

 The granddaughter took her mother's banana and ate it!

 The park.

Momma duck and 4 babies.

We got RAIN and our mountains got SNOW!

By Thursday afternoon, a storm front was moving in.  It was gusty and the temps dropped.  Friday morning was cloudy and I dreaded going to school in case "inclement weather" was called (that means we have to pick up the kids from recess and put up with them in our rooms!)  And, indeed, it was sprinkling by the time I arrived at school (NEVER a good thing!).  We were ordered to open up our rooms early.  Recess was iffy, but it wasn't raining, so OUT the kids went!  By the end of our recess, "inclement weather" was called and that meant no more recesses.  We were told to "volunteer" and pick up our kids early, but I had to make some photocopies for the afternoon, so when I arrived at my room, THE PRINCIPAL was there, and the kids were playing "Heads Up, Seven Up".  They were absolutely quiet....hmmmm.....why can't they do that for me?  Anyway, I had some science papers for them and they were busy ALL Afternoon.  It was POURING by then!

I drove home and hubby had taken the day off, since he has to work all weekend.  Poor guy.  He's already tired.  I know the feeling!

I'm not sure how much rain we had, but the yard is completely soaked.  That's a good thing!  We NEED this rain!  And, the mountains are covered with fresh snow!  Here are some pics I took yesterday afternoon, while on my drive home.

Strong mothers and strong daughters

It takes a strong woman to raise a strong daughter.  Believe me!  My daughter (first born) was extremely strong willed.  At times I simply threw up my hands.  And, now she has an extremely strong willed daughter.

Was I strong willed?  I'm not sure.  I was an only child.  My dad stuttered badly and he didn't ever want children, but, at age 42, I came along.  My mother was 34.  I don't think I was as strong willed as some other females in my family (namely my aunt), but I wasn't a pushover, either.  Once in college, my strong-willedness came out.  I simply wasn't going to be bossed around by ANYBODY, male or female.  I developed a sharp tongue and a glare that could melt glaciers.  In fact, my husband said it was my personality that appealed to him (and, believe me, HE is strong-willed).

So, I was interested to see this posted on Facebook by our daughter yesterday:

http://advice.littlethings.com/mother-daughter-advice/?utm_source=bmy&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=misc

I REALLY like #7:  "Don't be afraid to be alone."  I LOVE my "alone" time.  I NEED IT.  I look forward to it.  I CRAVE it!

Interesting, eh?  I sit back now and laugh at our daughter with her VERY strong-willed 2 year old!  Chuckle, chuckle...:-)

 4 generations of my female DNA line.  My mother is the one in front, with her hand over her eye.  My grandmother is to her left and my great-grandmother is to her right (behind her).  My great-great-grandmother is in the back, with the dark glasses.

 That's me and my horse, Beauty.  Beauty died tragically in 2009.  My cousin trained her for me and I nearly didn't get her back!

 That's me and my cousin, Valerie.  Valerie and I are 2nd cousins on TWO of my dad's lines.  Her grandmother and mine were half sisters, PLUS, she has another family line in there, too.

This is the newest strong female in our family!  She's only 2, but she sure can demand to get her way!!!

Do you have a strong female in your family?

A big (((THANK YOU))) to my readers

Well, I've enjoyed reading all your comments.

I think we'll stay in our home.  We've been here 40 years and we are comfortable with its location (2 blocks from Whole Foods) and I LOVE my view of Toro Peak and our local mountains!  And, we LOVE our independence!  This might be an option if just one of us were living.  I don't think either of us would want to maintain the house and yard by himself or herself...And I have my birds, my cats, and yes, my dog with us here at home.  And, it IS our home.  It's our private world.  We both escape from our jobs to our HOME.

Anyway, I really did like reading your thoughts and comments.  Sometimes it is good to get advice from others!  :-)

 Dark skies a couple of weeks ago.  MORE rain is forecast for this Friday!   :-)

I need some advice!

So, our daughter and SIL looked at some model homes in Phase II of their development and found one with a "granny apartment".  Apparently it is a bedroom, bath, a small bar, refrigerator, and microwave next to the main house.  The main house would have 4 bedrooms, which they will need if they wish to expand their family.  They are still debating that situation.

For $800 a month, we could live there. That's the difference between their current mortgage and the one at the new house, with the "granny" pad.  They've offered the granny pad to us.  That, is, IF they sell their current house and order one of the Phase II ones, AND we decide to do this with them.  Oh, and I believe it would also have a pool.

 I like this (above photo)

                                                    I REALLY don't like this attitude!!!  REAL tears were coming out yesterday after breakfast.

This would be a couple of years away, as the houses aren't even built yet.  However, they want us to let them know if we want to do this.

Hmmmm....has anyone out there done this with your kids?

I worry that it MIGHT be too close and too much "togetherness".  We LIKE our independence.  However, it would save us about $1200 a month (mortgage, taxes, insurance).  And, we would be close to our daughter and her family.

HOWEVER, I would have to retire by then and be the live-in babysitter. I'm planning to retire in June of 2016 anyway.  I'm not too keen on being a full-time, live in babysitter.  I LIKE my independence.  Our dream has been to retire and live some place where there are mountains and TREES, not the desert.  We've lived in the desert for...let's see...me for 40 years and hubby for 55.  We would NOT be able to bring our dog, who is currently 8 years old, and certainly not our cat, Abby, since daughter is allergic to EVERYTHING with 4 legs!  I'm NOT giving up my dog!

BUT, as you know, we aren't getting any younger.  It would be nice to have family nearby (they already live about 12 miles away).  Company would be nice, too, since hubby and I mostly spend our time here at home in our own offices on our laptops!  We wouldn't have a yard to maintain and ALL of our appliances are 15 years old and will probably konk out in the next year or so.  AND, our air conditioner will konk out one shortly.  The inside part is 17 years old and the outside compressor is 12...sigh...and that would be a HUGE expense for us!  We would have to downsize A LOT and we would get rid of one car and probably get something smaller.  We would NOT have to deal with trees and dead lawns and yard maintenance, which would be a good thing, since it's up to me anyway and I'm too old and sore and crabby to deal with most of the yard anyway...

Has anyone done this?  What are the pros and cons?  I would LOVE to hear your ideas and thoughts about this.

Snow!!!

I stopped and took this photo with my Samsung Galaxy yesterday morning.  You can see where it is snowing in our local mountains.  Toro Peak has a very nice dusting of snow, too.  This is from the Toro Peak webcam, courtesy of UC San Diego:

Isn't the snow lovely?  I can see it from my window in my office!  I look right up at Toro Peak every day!

RAIN on the way!!!

I know some of you live east of the Rockies and you guys have rain and snow, but here in California we are in the middle of the worst drought I've ever seen!  We have mandatory water cutbacks and cities aren't allowed to waste water.

We do have a late storm heading our way, however, and we're hoping for snow up in our local mountains and maybe even some RAIN down here in the desert!  Wouldn't that be great?

Actually, we don't rely on rain for our water source.  Under Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley, there is a huge aquifer.  When the snow arrives on our local mountains (5,000 to 8,000 to 10,000 feet high), it melts.  And, when it melts, it goes down into the aquifer.  It takes 8 years for that water to get there and to be used again (I learned this from a field trip to our local water district).  We haven't had much snow in the last several years, however, so even our aquifer is drying out and the water districts, which already have wells down to 1,500 feet, may have to drill down further.

So, we are looking forward to the rain and mountain snow today!   :-)  It's too early to actually see much this morning, but this is the view from the Toro Peak webcam, looking east.  It is at 8,717 feet.