Deep Canyon

museum windows~Whimsical Windows, Delightful Doors~030512

2012-03-04T19:35:00.002-08:00

The Palm Springs art museum is soon opening a satellite location in Palm Desert, at the old visitor's center building, which is only about 4 blocks from our home here in the desert. I drove up that way today because they have a beautiful desert garden up there and I wanted to get some photos of the plants that are blooming. This will open in a couple of weeks and I will regularly visit it. Look at the tiny windows facing west. Many desert buildings don't have large windows that face west because they get a LOT of heat from the afternoon sun. Our own house has a sliding patio door and a large window which face the west and believe me, they get HOT in the summer! I just ordered some thermal curtains for both of them and I can't wait for them to arrive! I'd say that the smart builders in the desert don't put west-facing windows in their dwellings! WWDD for March 5, 2012. To visit WWDD, please go to: http://iwishiwereaphotographer.blogspot.com/

Flowers through a bench~Sunday stills Challenge~030412

2012-03-04T10:06:00.000-08:00

Okay, for this week's challenge, which was to look through a doorway or window or key hole and focus on what was beyond, I chose instead to look through a bench and focus on the beautiful flowers just beyond it. A keyhole? Really? Do houses still have such a thing? I know my grandparents' house, built in 1924 did, but not these days. I might find some interesting photos today if we drive up to the Cabot's Pueblo Museum, which is up in Desert Hot Springs. I hope this meets the challenge. If not, well, I tried! Sunday Stills Challenge for March 4, 2012. I also included the flowers in the bottom photo. Aren't they gorgeous? These photos were taken in Palm Desert, at the Cuistot Restaurant, which was closed (thank goodness) for the morning!

Desert Lupine~Today's Flowers~030412 and Saturday's Flowers

2012-03-04T06:40:00.003-08:00

As I drove up Highway 74 yesterday, the "Palms to Pines" highway, I noticed that the Santa Rosa Mountains visitor center had their annual wildflower festival. WHAT WILDFLOWERS? We, unfortunately, have very few this year, due to the lack of rainfall. I drove up and down yesterday and I only found 2 very tiny patches of lupines. Last year and especially the year before, the highway was full of them....not so this year, alas! I did pull over at one turnout where there were 4 little, tiny, scrawny lupines and I stopped to take photos of them. There are NONE up at the horse ranch either. And, finally, I have only 1 which sprouted out of the hundreds of wildflower seeds I threw out in my garden. ONE....I have a feeling it is going to be a long, hot summer this year! Today's Flowers for March 4, 2012. To visit Today's Flowers, please go to: http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/
To visit Saturday's Flowers, please go to: http://www.blueberrycraftandhobbytime.blogspot.com/

Palm shadows~SSS2~030412

2012-03-04T06:24:00.001-08:00

I was driving around my neighborhood yesterday when I came upon a neighbor's palms making these beautiful shadows on their wall. It's hard to tell which is the real palm and which is the shadow! We desert dwellers need all the extra shade we can get in the summer and these will help shade their house nicely, don't you think? Shadow Shot Sunday2 for March 4, 2012. I also did this in black and white to show how difficult it is to see the real trees. Here's the link to SSS2: http://shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com/

Coyote Canyon fence~030212

2012-03-01T23:55:00.001-08:00

A couple of weekends ago I drove out Coyote Canyon, which intersects Deep Canyon way back by Anza-Borrego. There are some nice ranches out in Coyote Canyon and I enjoy driving out that way every now and then, just for a change of scenery. And, I found this fence! Friday Fences for March 2, 2012. To visit Friday Fences, please go to this link: http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

Looking down Deep Canyon~Nature Notes~030112

2012-02-29T17:46:00.001-08:00

It isn't every day that I can get views like this down into Deep Canyon. I often have cars right behind me when I come down the mountain and I can't stop to take photos. However, a couple of weeks ago, there weren't any cars behind me and I was able to just stop the click away! There are so few turnouts that even if there wasn't any traffic, I would be able to get decent photos. I'm glad I had this opportunity to take pictures of the drive down next to Deep Canyon. I saw vultures up by Coyote Canyon, which intersects Deep Canyon this same trip, so I'm going to keep my eyes out for them from now on. Nature Notes for March 1, 2012. To stop by Nature Notes, please go to this link: http://ramblingwoods.com/

Seagulls~World Bird Wednesday~022912

2012-02-28T18:54:00.001-08:00

You know, even here in the desert we have seagulls, especially near the Salton Sea. Sometimes we also see them flying the thermals near Joshua Tree National Park. So, last weekend, we saw lots of seagulls at the ocean by Laguna Beach. At one spot, they were flying right above us and we had to dive for cover! It was like the movie, "The Birds"! By the way, I've spotted some vultures out in Coyote Canyon and I'm hoping I'll see some this weekend! World Bird Wednesday for February 29, 2012. To visit WBW, please go to: http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/2012/02/world-bird-wednesday-lxvii.html

LOTS more snow~~~

2012-02-28T05:14:00.000-08:00

This was the scene two weeks ago up in the ponderosa forest above Deep Canyon. However, we had a HUGE storm move through yesterday and last night. I haven't even been outside yet today, but snow was forecast down to 3,000 feet. This is actually up at about 4,500 feet. I can't wait for the weekend to go exploring and see how much is left!

Gnarled tree~Sunday Stills Challenge~022612

2012-02-25T20:35:00.000-08:00

Hubby and I aren't in the desert this weekend. Instead, since his birthday is tomorrow, he wanted to drive to Orange County and so we are in San Juan Capistrano. It is nice to get out of the desert every now and then and visit another place, which is one reason we travel as much as we do. I hadn't visited this area since our own two children were 12 and 10 years old, about 20 years ago. We did a lot of sightseeing today and at one point, we stopped along the Pacific Coast Highway to take some photos of the beach. This gnarled tree was growing there and I have no idea what it is. Can you believe the trunk? I wonder if it gets a lot of wind and that is why it is so gnarled? And, what kind of tree IS it? Sunday Stills Challenge for February 26, 2012.

Thoroughbred farm fences~Friday Fences~022412

2012-02-23T16:14:00.001-08:00

Last weekend, I drove up to the horse ranch and I had time to stop alongside the thoroughbred ranch which is on the way. The place's fences are deteriorating, as you can see. I guess this is a sign of the state of the economy. There are few thoroughbreds there now, but they do board other horses there now. Isn't it pretty with the storm clouds? Friday Fences for February 24, 2012. To visit Friday Fences, please go to: http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

Snow on the mountains~Nature Notes~022312

2012-02-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

Our local mountains got a LOT of snow in a storm last week and over the three day weekend, I headed up into them. I was actually surprised to still see snow several days after the big storm. There are Ponderosa pines way up past Deep Canyon, in Garner Valley, and I wanted to see what the snow looked like up there. Actually, there was snow starting at the pinyon forest, and then all the way up. The pinyons grow at about 2,000 feet, but this is up at about 4,500 feet. It looks like there was some excitement in the snow in the last photo. I love driving through this part of the mountains, as we used to own 5 acres up there, when I was pregnant with our daughter. Of course, we couldn't afford to keep it, so every now and then I drive by the lot, which is the second photo down. It is so relaxing to drive by and hear the woodpeckers and the red tailed hawks. There is a dead end street at one point and SOMEDAY I'm going to take my backpack and go hiking up there. There are also rattlesnakes in this area! It won't be this weekend~we are heading down to Orange County, but we'll be driving by the horse ranch, so I'll be able to stop and see them. Nature Notes for February 23, 2012. To visit Nature Notes, please go to: http://ramblingwoods.com/

Egret~World Bird Wednesday~022212

2012-02-21T19:29:00.000-08:00

I found a new meme today...World Bird Wednesday! I'm so excited to find this! As some of you know, I have several other blogs and one one of them, Deserts and Beyond, I've been documenting my "duck adventures". But, you know, the desert around Deep Canyon has many other birds. On Saturday when I visited the Living Desert Reserve, I stopped in both aviaries to check out what birds were there. Both had cattle egrets. These long-legged birds are seen all over our desert and sometimes I see them out in the fields, along with cattle. Often, they are just there in small groups. I see them frequently on my morning walks along the golf course. So, here are my photos of the egrets at the Living Desert. World Bird Wednesday for February 22, 2012. To visit WB, please go to: http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/
By the way, I did spot a vulture on the top of the mountain Saturday, gliding out by Coyote Canyon, but by the time I was able to grab my camera, it was GONE! Maybe next time...

The lagoon at the Living Desert Reserve~Watery Wednesday~022212

2012-02-21T19:11:00.000-08:00

The lagoon at the Living Desert Reserve has been there for ever since I can remember (and that's 35 years!). I've watched the reeds slowly engulf it. Honestly, it's more than doubled its reed size in the last few years. I often wonder how much water will be left in a few more! But, it is such a quiet, restful spot. They have benches there where you can sit. Tadpoles swim around the border and birds gather here early in the morning, including a few ducks. I wonder what it will look like in a few years? Watery Wednesday for February 22, 2012. To visit Watery Wednesday, please follow this link: http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

Thematic Photographic~Curved~022112

2012-02-20T18:54:00.000-08:00

I'm also posted these photos for the Thematic Photographic theme of the week, "curved". I found all of these items at the Living Desert Reserve in Palm Desert. I think these are interesting curves! What do you think? I really like the curved dome and the curved wall at the discovery center. And, look at the curly threads on the yucca! Finally, look at the curves on a basket in the gift shop. Interesting challenge for this theme, eh? Thematic Photographic for February 21, 2012. Here's a link to that site: http://writteninc.blogspot.com/2012/02/thematic-photographic-184-curved.html

More from the Living Desert ~ Our World Tuesday~022112

2012-02-20T18:43:00.000-08:00

The Living Desert Reserve is located at the bottom of Deep Canyon and I really should post more about it on this blog. Please see yesterday's post about the Cahuilla Indian hut. I've been a member there since I was pregnant with our daughter, who is now 33. There was a devastating flood in the summer of 1976 and much of the reserve was washed away. Cement berms have now been built to prevent this and in 1979 we had another flood and much of the preserve was protected. Our own house wasn't, however. My husband was away on business and I was at home alone with a 1 year old and I was pregnant with our son. I grabbed both babies, our German shepherd, my purse, and a flashlight, put the babies and dog in our van, and walked across the street to wake up my elderly neighbor. Then, I came back across our flooded street and woke up the neighbors next door because they had a house full of antiques. My Siamese cat was smart enough to head for the roof, so I left her alone and headed out to find higher ground. I found some, but then was stranded. A firetruck came by and rescued all of us and we all spent the night at a local fireman's house. The water and mud had gone 18" up on every house in our neighborhood and caused a lot of damage. This was 3 years after the "100 year flood" of 1976...sigh...for years after that, every time it rained, I ran around the house and picked up ALL our shoes! We lost everything that was on the floor...couches, chairs, our bed, shoes. We got a SBA loan and new furniture. I no longer panic in the desert monsoons, but I always keep a watchful eye out toward Deep Canyon, which is to the south of our home. We actually didn't get water from Deep Canyon, but from Carrizo Canyon, which is to the west of DC.

Anyway, the Reserve is a wonderful place to take the family. I've watched it grow since 1976. It has grown from just a few buildings to a place now filled with plants and animals and lots of exhibits. It really is very educational. We are now taking the grandson there so that he can enjoy it. Here are some pics from this weekend at the Living Desert. Our World Tuesday for February 21, 2012. To visit OWT, please go to: http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/

Cahuilla Indian hut~Whimsical Windows and Delirious Doors~022012

2012-02-19T18:22:00.000-08:00

This is an authentic Cahuilla Indian hut which is at the Living Desert Reserve in Palm Desert, CA. The reserve is at the end of Deep Canyon and I've been a member there for over 30 years. A Cahuilla elder actually built this house and it is cool in summer, thanks to the palm fronds. And, the breeze gently flows through it. I love stopping by it and soaking in all of its smells. It's a delightful place to visit and just stop and listen and close your eyes. While it doesn't have formal windows or a door, it is an integral part of the Cahuilla culture which is still in our valley. WWDD for February 20, 2012. If you would like to read more about the Cahuilla Indians, here is a link: http://rims.k12.ca.us/foot_prints/Files/prehistory_portal.htm And, to visit WWDD, please go to: http://iwishiwereaphotographer.blogspot.com/2012/02/whimsical-windows-delirious-doors-12.html

Textures~Sunday Stills Challenge~021912

2012-02-18T18:01:00.000-08:00

I like to call these "dragon teeth", but they actually are agaves. There are a lot of these up on Highway 74, along Deep Canyon, but I actually found these at our local park Aren't they interesting? Don't get caught by one of these! Sunday Stills Challenge for February 19, 2012.

Desert fence~Friday Fences~021712

2012-02-17T05:35:00.000-08:00

This is typical of many of the fences in our desert and high desert. It has space between the posts to allow the wind to pass through it. If it were a normal fence without space, it would quickly be blown over! I found this one out by the Palm Springs windmills last Monday. Ahhh...another 3 day weekend! :-) Friday Fences for February 17, 2012. To visit FF, please go to: http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

Dove~Nature Notes~021612

2012-02-16T05:21:00.000-08:00

There are so many doves out right now and this little fellow was keeping his eye on me last weekend when I went walking at the Santa Rosa Mountains visitor center. There were quite a few cars lined up across the road and hikers were out on the trails all weekend. Our mountains got quite a lot of snow last night and yesterday afternoon, but this weekend should be warm and clear. Nature Notes for February 16, 2012. To visit NN, please go to: http://ramblingwoods.com/

WIND!

2012-02-15T05:27:00.000-08:00

I kind of like this shot, even with dust blobs on it. It shows how windy it was Monday afternoon. And, I mean WINDY! There were gusts up to 60 mph! YIKES! This was taken near Thousand Palms Canyon Drive, looking up toward the mountains of Deep Canyon, which are all the way across the valley. Another storm is moving in this afternoon and snow is forecast down to 3,000 feet, so I'll be out again Thursday morning with my camera!

Looking up toward Deep Canyon~Our World Tuesday~021412

2012-02-13T19:34:00.000-08:00

Yes, the wind was blowing today. Right now, it's howling outside and all of our trees and being blown about! This afternoon, I took a drive out around the valley to get some views of the mountains and clouds. We don't always have views like these and I wanted to travel around and get into the coming storm. I traveled away from Deep Canyon and instead went up to Morongo Valley, which is on the other side of the valley, then Desert Hot Springs, and finally up through Sky Valley and down Thousand Palms Canyon Road. It took me 3 hours to do the complete drive, but I got some great photos! I looked up, as I was driving home, and saw these clouds over Deep Canyon, so I pulled off and took this photo. Our World Tuesday for February 14, 2012. To visit OWT, please go to: http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/ And, if you want to see more of this afternoon's photos, please go on over to my other blog, Deserts and Beyond. Here's the link: http://desertsandbeyond.blogspot.com/2012/02/afternoon-driveour-world-tuesday021412.html

Jeep in the rocks

2012-02-13T05:12:00.000-08:00

This is one of the last pullouts as one heads back down the mountain toward the desert. I've never pulled off here because of all the ruts. But, there were two Jeeps there on Saturday as I drove home from the horse ranch. I should have pulled off here when I had the RAV4, but it is long gone...sigh...Someday I will stop here and hike up to the viewpoint. I bet it's a spectacular view! It won't be today as there is a wind advisory and snow is forecast at the top of the mountains and I have a headache. The stomach flu is making the rounds down here and I need to rest up for the rest of the week.

Looking down the canyon~Santa Rosa mountains visitor center

2012-02-12T17:58:00.000-08:00

I wanted to get out for a walk this morning so I headed up toward the Santa Rosa mountain visitor center, which is at the base of Deep Canyon. There were a lot of cars parked across the street and people were out hiking, but the visitor center was deserted. GOOD! I saw finches, quail, and a cactus wren feeding on their feeders. I had the whole place to myself. At 8:00 a.m., it wasn't even open yet, so I walked around the trails there. It was a beautiful, warm morning. We haven't had much of a winter this year and we are having an early spring, so I can only IMAGINE what this summer will be like...sigh...But, I intend to take advantage of this beautiful weather while I can! :-) This is a view from the visitor center trails looking down toward Palm Desert.

Clouds and mountain

2012-02-12T07:02:00.000-08:00

I drove up to stop and visit the horses yesterday. A storm front was moving into the mountains and it was windy and COLD! I got out of my car to take this photo and I had to put another layer on! I already had a shirt and zip up sweater, but I got out my long fleece-lined denim jacket. Brrrrrrrr! The ranch owners were at a ride with some friends, so I had the ranch to myself. I gave all my horses an extra meal and some oil to help them keep warm with the wind and cold temps. I actually caught this image in my rear view mirror on the way up. I sometimes see this cloud effect~where the clouds spill over the top of the mountains and then down below. I don't know the name of it...if you do, please let me know!

Dead tree and blue sky~SkyWatch Friday~021012

2012-02-10T05:43:00.000-08:00

It was another sunny and clear weekend here in the desert and mountains last weekend. Tomorrow, however, a cold front will be moving through and rain is forecast. I'm not really sure which I prefer~clear, blue skies or moody, cloudy ones up in the pinyon forest. I'm looking forward to taking some photos of the clouds and the mountain moods this weekend, especially since I also have no school on Monday! :-) SkyWatch Friday for February 10, 2012. To visit SWF, please go to: http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Twin agaves~Nature Notes~020912

2012-02-09T05:21:00.000-08:00

I was driving up Highway 74, along Deep Canyon last weekend when I looked up and saw these twin agaves. Fortunately there wasn't anybody behind me and I was able to just stop and shoot! There are many agaves left over from last year, along with yuccas. The difference is that the agaves shoot straight up and then the blossoms appear, where the yuccas have blooms all the way up. Yuccas also have the curly fibers on their leaves, while agaves do not. Finally, yucca leaves are long and slender, while agaves are more fat and fiborous, like aloes. I'm afraid that the lack of rainfall this year will result in a less-than-spectacular showing of wildflowers, agaves, and yuccas, but who knows? Nature Notes for February 9, 2012. To stop by Nature Notes, please go to this link: http://ramblingwoods.com/

Pinyon Crest

2012-02-07T19:44:00.000-08:00

There's a small community of houses up near the pinyon forest of Deep Canyon called Pinyon Crest. They don't allow horses there, so I hardly ever go there, but I pulled off and took that road last weekend. They do have a beautiful view of the Coachella Valley below and they occasionally get snow there, but not this year! HA! A couple of years ago, at this time, the mountains down at this level had snow, but this year has been so rainless and dry I don't think they'll get any snow at all. Maybe next year...

A view toward Deep Canyon~Our World Tuesday~020712

2012-02-07T05:50:00.000-08:00

A view toward Deep Canyon from Highway 74. There are so few turnouts up on this road that it is difficult to really get a good view of the canyon. I actually drove UP another road for this view, which looks down toward the canyon and across the Coachella Valley. Joshua Tree National Park is up on the mountains all the way across the valley. I have a 3 day weekend coming up (whoo, whoo!) and I can hardly wait to get out and explore some more! Our World Tuesday for February 7, 2012. To view OWT, please go to: http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/

Flowers~a bit of color today!

2012-02-06T05:37:00.000-08:00

You know, I never post photos of flowers on this blog because, except for the wildflowers along Highway 74, there aren't any in Deep Canyon. Pinyon trees, yes, but flowers? No. However, yesterday I stopped by Desert Ridge villas to take some photos of their waterfalls and I saw a flower bed full of beautiful, colorful flowers, and I just couldn't resist taking some photos of them. They were wet from the sprinklers and as I left, a hummingbird came by to enjoy them. I got a few photos of him before he flew off. I thought you might enjoy some color this morning, so here are the flowers. We seem to be having an early spring this year, so I'm not sure how many wildflowers I'll see this year.

From Deep Canyon to Thousand Palms canyon

2012-02-05T14:41:00.000-08:00

This is at the opposite side of the Coachella Valley, in Thousand Palms Canyon. That would be looking east, toward Indio, CA. I drove out there yesterday evening just to get a different view of things. Right off the road, where I stopped to take this photo, the coyotes were yipping. It's a different world from Deep Canyon, and each one has things to offer and enjoy. Hubby and I may drive back out this way tonight for another view of this canyon, which lies right along the San Andreas fault.

Pinyon morning~SkyWatch Friday~020312

2012-02-02T17:38:00.000-08:00

Another beautiful morning up in the pinyon forest off Deep Canyon. I so love my weekend mornings up in the mountains. I never know what I'm going to find! SkyWatch Friday for February 3, 2012. To visit SkyWatch Friday, please follow this link: http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Lifeless trees? or not~Nature Notes~020212

2012-02-01T19:26:00.000-08:00

There are many dead and lifeless trees along Highway 74 and Deep Canyon. Unfortunately, my favorite ones are all along the road where there are no turnouts, but I found these along another dirt road last weekend. I could spend HOURS just observing them and what's in and around them, animals like blue jays and hawks. But, my time is limited, so back home I drove last Sunday. However, next weekend, with the promise of continued spring-like weather, I'll have more time to explore! There are a couple of trees I'll have to hike to in order to take photos of them, but I'm ready!! There is just so much to explore up in these mountains and I can't WAIT for the weekend! I would love to find an owl up in one of these trees, but I haven't so far...Nature Notes for February 2, 2012. To visit Nature Notes, please go to this link: http://ramblingwoods.com/

Dead tree, Deep Canyon

2012-02-01T05:27:00.000-08:00

Another dead tree up near Deep Canyon. I just love to go exploring up there.

Mountain scenes~Our World Tuesday~January 31, 2012

2012-01-30T17:47:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning was crisp and clear. There were only a couple clouds in the sky and as I headed up the mountain to go work 4 of my horses, I stopped along the way and took these photos. The previous weekend, this area was covered with clouds, but it was clear Sunday and I could see all the way across the Coachella Valley. I'm always amazed by the beauty of these mountains and I love exploring them! Why do the weekends go so quickly???? Our World Tuesday for January 31, 2012. To stop by Our World Tuesday, please go to: http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/

House windows and door~Whimsical Windows and Delirious Doors~013012

2012-01-29T18:46:00.000-08:00

I was driving around this morning after feeding the ducks at the park. There's a neighborhood up in Rancho Mirage, "The Cove" and I sometimes take a drive up there, admiring the houses and fences and landscaping. I drove by this house and then drove back to see the windows and arches. At some point in the not-too-near future (probably this summer), we're going to have to take down our wooden fence as it's leaning over badly and I'm afraid it might just blow over the next time we have a good wind, which could be in March. I found a couple of fence ideas this morning and I'm eager to show them to hubby so that we can plan what we are going to do with our fence. I really liked all the windows and door of this home. WW and DD for January 30, 2012. To visit WW&DD, please go to this link: http://iwishiwereaphotographer.blogspot.com/2012/01/whimsical-windows-delirious-doors-9.html

fences in the fog~Friday Fences~January 27, 2012

2012-01-26T18:53:00.000-08:00

I was fortunate last weekend to experience fog up in our local mountains, near where I board my horses. We don't often get fog in the desert. I can remember fog twice in the past 36 years down here. But, up in our local mountains, at about 5,000 feet, fog is much more frequent. It makes everything look so different! This is the thoroughbred horse farm near where I board my horses and on this day, the fog made everything look so different! While I sometimes like the fog, I wouldn't like it every day! Friday Fences for January 27, 2012. To visit Friday Fences, please go to: http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

mountain rainbow photos~SkyWatch Friday~January 27, 2012

2012-01-26T18:41:00.000-08:00

You know, I never really know what kind of weather I'm going to encounter up in our local mountains. It can be clear on the desert floor, where I live, but be cloudy and windy and raining up on the mountains. Last weekend, this beautiful rainbow appeared and followed me on my way down the mountains. I stopped at several turnouts to take photos of it. It should be clear this weekend, so I won't see another one, at least for a while. SkyWatch Friday for January 27, 2012. To visit SWF, please go to : http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Mountain fog~Nature Notes~January 26, 2012

2012-01-25T19:09:00.000-08:00

We don't get fog down here in the desert. I believe I could count on one hand the number of days that we've had fog in the last 30 years. However, when the clouds spill over the mountains and settle down, there is fog up there, like last weekend. I love to drive through it. Everything looks unfamiliar and strange. It's like being in a different world. (By the way, while I was driving through this fog, it was clear, but windy, in the desert). I could imagine getting tired of the fog day after day after day, but it is a real treat occasionally. Nature Notes for January 26, 2012. To visit Nature Notes, please go to: http://ramblingwoods.com/

Yuccas on the mountain

2012-01-24T20:46:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of old yucca blossoms up on the mountain and last weekend, I drove down my favorite dirt road to view some. These three blossoms are last year's leftovers. Like many other ones, they are still standing tall. I see so many of them all along the highway. Yucca plants have these blossoms and also the fibers that you see in the top photo. I can't wait to see this year's blossoms!

The road down the mountain~Our World Tuesday~012412

2012-01-23T19:01:00.000-08:00

It was an extremely windy day Saturday and as I was driving down the mountain, after feeding my horses an extra meal, the wind got stronger and stronger in some areas. Actually, it was windy all over the desert and mountains Saturday. These were some of the worst winds I've seen in 35+ years of desert living! And, the road DOWN the mountain was a real thrilling ride! Oh, boy! The wind was whirling up dust, but at one point, off toward Mt. San Jacinto, there was a gorgeous rainbow. The clouds were spilling over the mountains, but the desert below was clear (but still windy!). It was an unusual day! Our World Tuesday for January 25, 2012. These photos show my trip from about halfway down the mountain almost to the desert floor. I traveled from 4,000 feet down to 200 feet above sea level. To visit Our World Tuesday, please go to: http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/

More photos of Saturday's clouds

2012-01-23T06:13:00.000-08:00

We are recovering from Saturday's tremendous winds, but unfortunately another storm is moving in today, along with a high wind warning. I haven't been outside yet, but one of my outdoor cats is huddled against the door, begging to come inside! I may take a quick run up the highway after school to take more photos if the clouds are spilling over the mountains, like these.

Blue jay~Sunday Stills Challenge~012212

2012-01-22T09:09:00.000-08:00

We have a scrub jay who lives in our neighborhood and yes, I do feed him. He's been around now for nearly 3 years. He SHOULD be up in the pinyon forest of our local mountains, about 10 minutes away "as the crow flies". His relatives are up there and I see them all the time. He disappeared for a couple of weeks last spring and I figured he went to find a mate, but he returned. I fed him all summer, as the desert is very hot at 200 feet elevation. He now looks for me and when he sees my car drive up in the driveway in the afternoons, he waits for me at the front fence. I enjoy watching his antics, as you can see! He's around this morning already. Sometimes he's the first bird to come to the feeding stations, but on other mornings, he waits until the doves are done and then swoops in for his peanut, acorns, or black oil sunflower seeds. He's quite entertaining! Sunday Stills Challenge for January 22, 2012.

Clouds on the mountain today~SOOC Sunday~012212 and Creative Exchange

2012-01-21T14:19:00.000-08:00

I drove up the mountain today to go buy some pellets for my horses. I looked at the weather forecast for the next week and every night will be down in the 20's. They need some sweet feed and pellets in the afternoon so that they have extra calories to keep them warm at night and my supply was low. I really wasn't sure if I'd even make it up to the horse ranch today! It was so windy. I mean, it was windy enough to slam my car!!! The manzanitas were all moving, the pinyons were moving, dust was blowing across the road. It was BAD! I've been driving up that road now for 5 years and this is the WORST I've ever seen the wind! I just kept thinking that I'd turn around if it got too bad, but I made it. At the top of the hill there was fog and I could barely see. I took this phot on the way back down the hill after picking up 4 bags of pellets for the horses. They will need some tonight, for sure! SOOC Sunday for January 22, 2012. To visit SOOC, please go to: http://www.murrieta365.com/ and Creative Exchange for January 23, 2012. To visit Creative Exchange, please go to: http://www.the-creative-exchange.com/

The valley below

2012-01-21T05:58:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, if there isn't a car behind me, I'll pull off onto one of the FEW turnouts up on Highway 74 and stop to take a couple of photos, like this one I took last weekend. The problem is that there just aren't many turnouts on this side of the road! There are several going up the mountain, but very few on the return route. I can only think of two and one of them, this one, has telephone wires in the view. I used my telefoto lens for this shot. Another problem is that when the farmers down in the Coachella Valley burn hay or straw to keep their crops from freezing, the sky is very hazy. It's already sprinkling down here in the valley this morning, but I'm going to head up the road later today. Snow is forecast for elevations above 7,000 feet, so I won't be running into any snow...that's for sure! That's looking down into the Coachella Valley. Joshua Tree National Park would be in the mountains all the way across the valley!

Pinyon and clouds~SkyWatch Friday~012012

2012-01-19T17:39:00.000-08:00

Pinyon pine and clouds over the pinyon forest last weekend. I never really know what the top of the mountain will be like and I enjoy seeing its many moods. SkyWatch Friday for January 20, 2012. To visit SkyWatch Friday, please go to: http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Cahuilla overlook~Nature Notes~January 19, 2012

2012-01-19T05:16:00.000-08:00

Deep Canyon is slowing revealing her secrets to me. Last weekend, I stopped at the Cahuilla overlook and walked around and read the markers. I'm learning the differences between yuccas and agaves. The bottom photo is from the yucca family and it is the Mojave yucca. I've learned that yuccas have lots of white blossoms on them and they also have stringy fibers on them, but agaves don't. The agaves have different leaves, which are much larger and thicker than the yucca ones. Slowly, slowly, I'm learning more about this amazing environment, which is only 10 minutes from my house, which is on the desert floor. This environment is up at about 2,000 feet and occasionally gets snow, but not much this year. Nature Notes for January 19, 2012. To visit Nature Notes, please follow this link: http://ramblingwoods.com/ It is the 6th year for Nature Notes, so be sure you stop by and check it out!

Cahuilla Vista~Our World Tuesday~011712

2012-01-17T05:44:00.000-08:00

The Cahuilla Vista is one of the main overlooks above Deep Canyon and I stopped there Sunday morning, on my way up to the horse ranch. I needed to do my "homework" for my horsemanship lessons and I was anxious to get to the ranch. However, it was such a beautiful morning, that I pulled into the overlook and walked around. There is a self-guided trail with many display signs and sometime I'll have to go back and photograph them all. The Cahuilla Indians lived in this area and used Deep Canyon to travel from the mountains to the desert. They harvested, cooked, and ate the pinyon nuts from the trees all along the canyon. These photos show just a small portion of the overlook. It was fairly windy up there on Sunday (and cold), so I'll return another day! Our World Tuesday for January 17, 2012. To visit OWT, please go to this link: http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/

Sunday

2012-01-16T05:48:00.000-08:00

Had a good day yesterday driving up the mountain and working with my two mustangs on my horsemanship "homework"...getting them to flex and move off their front and hindquarters. Scout, my alpha mare, caught on very quickly. Cali, my loveable palomino, er, uh, huh? didn't really get what I wanted, so I'll need to work with her some more. It was a cold, cloudy, and slightly windy day yesterday, with a rain storm moving in. It finally got just too windy and cold for me, so I headed home. I drove up the mountain about 11:00, which is unusual. I usually go early in the morning, but we had breakfast with our daughter and son-in-law. They made croissants with Nutella and bananas. I didn't eat any bacon or eggs, but they also served fruit. Yummy! We are returning today for ebelskiver (round pancakes)! Here's a link so you can see them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%86bleskiver We also get to babysit the grandson today, so we may take him to the Living Desert Reserve to see the model trains!

My lesson horse and trainer

2012-01-15T06:57:00.000-08:00

Some of my followers have written me about my horses and asked questions. Well, now I'm taking horsemanship lessons myself! This is my wonderful trainer, Annette Garcia, of the Coachella Valley Mounted Rangers, and this is my lesson horse, Riley. He is a Missouri Foxtrotter and he lets kids from the recreation district brush and groom him, as well as pick up his feet! Man, I wish MY horses were like that!!! He is a wonderful, responsive, well-mannered horse and he is helping me to overcome my confidence issues. So is Annette, who is VERY patient with me. She gives private lessons and I'm going to take one now every Saturday morning. I took 3 lessons with her on my 3rd week off for winter break vacation and I had one lesson yesterday. Yesterday, after I did my compulsory exercises with Riley...head down, flexing, releasing the front and hindquarters, I got to lunge him in the round pen. I do lunge my own horses, but now I have other things to work on with them...like "head down" to get the halter on. I've just been reaching up..."DUH"...so, I need to work with all of them on this. I haven't had any real horse lessons myself since I was a kid, except for a few with my cousin, Valerie. So, for me, it's like learning all this basic horsemanship all over again. I hope to ride Riley soon and Annette wants me to ride him...GASP...bareback so that I can get my balance. YIKES! My hands are sweating just thinking about that!!! But, for me, it will be a first step back to riding after my fall nearly 3 years ago. I told her that I do now have balance issues (I think she saw that while I was lunging him...I stumble about the round pen like a drunken sailor!) (No offense to drunken sailors!)...It's just that I can't feel where my feet are and that isn't good. So, I'll do my best with patient Riley. By the way, hubby and I and my friend Barb and her partner went to see "War Horse" last night. Some mother took her young daughter to see it and I noticed that they ran out about halfway through the movie. No, it ISN'T a kids' movie. It's PG-13. There are some gruesome battle scenes which young kids really shouldn't see. I DID enjoy the movie, but...warning...take some tissues with you. And, please, if you can, donate to a horse rescue. There are 2 thoroughbreds who need funds right now to purchase them from a killer buyer from last night's Mike's Auction and the Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue is trying to find homes for them. Here is the link to them: http://www.sctbrescue.org/howyoucanhelp.htm One is a barely-three year old thoroughbred, Smooth in Public, who just didn't make it at the track. The other one is a nine year old gelding, Red Beach. Here's the link to their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Southern-California-Thoroughbred-Rescue/155169894561912. They only have until 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time today to purchase these two gelding from the killer buyer, or they will go to slaughter in Mexico...

Skies above Deep Canyon

2012-01-13T05:27:00.000-08:00

Sometimes when I drive up through Deep Canyon, I get pleasant surprises, like on this morning. What else can I say? Just gorgeous!

San Jacinto Mountains national monument~Nature Notes~011212

2012-01-12T05:40:00.000-08:00

On my way to visit my horses, I travel through the San Jacinto mountains national monument, which is right next to Deep Canyon. The monument is a total of 272,000 acres, which includes 61,000 acres of BLM land, 19,000 of forest service land, and the rest belongs to the Agua Caliente tribe of the Cahuilla Indians. I only travel through a portion of the monument, which extends all the way to Mt. San Jacinto, at 10,831 feet. It is located near Idyllwild, CA and I don't travel that far every weekend. I love to explore the mountains, especially the pinyon forest, along the way, like this area above Deep Canyon, which is one of my favorite areas. I find that every time I stop here and explore, I feel refreshed and my head clears of all stress and strain! I always enjoy my time up in these mountains and now that the afternoons are starting to lengthen, I may start taking some drives up there in the afternoons! :-) There is an excellent visitor center at the bottom of the mountains, the Santa Rosa Mountains visitor center. It has lots of books, movies, and "hands on" activities for the kids. I sometimes walk there in the mornings, but it's still too dark for that right now. Nature Notes for January 12, 2012. To visit Nature Notes, please go to this link: http://ramblingwoods.com/

Last year's blossom

2012-01-10T04:51:00.000-08:00

Last year's blossom from a yucca. It was in my way while I was walking on my favorite road last weekend, so I stopped to take a photo of it. I see many of these old blossoms and I'm wondering when the new ones will sprout? We've had such warm weather lately, who knows?

Yellow wildflowers~Mellow Yellow Monday~010912

2012-01-08T18:20:00.000-08:00

It's very early to see these wildflowers this year. They don't usually open up until it is warm enough, like April or May. I was surprised to see this one blooming over the weekend. With all the warm temperatures we've had lately, I spotted blossoms at the top of my acacia tree this afternoon. Strange weather, indeed! Yes, I believe this IS brittlebrush! Thank you! Mellow Yellow Monday for January 9, 2012. To visit MYM, please go to: http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/

early morning, Deep Canyon

2012-01-08T06:17:00.000-08:00

Sometimes on the weekends I'll leave the house early just to drive up Highway 74, which is along Deep Canyon, and see what's happening. On this particular morning, there were no clouds in the sky, and I was disappointed at first, but look at the contrast of the rocks on the sky! I was surprised to see the first wildlower blooming. This is extremely early. They don't usually bloom until after the cold season. Hmmmm...it makes me wonder what our summer will be like here! We'd better get our air conditioner thoroughly checked out before it konks out in the middle of summer!

Clouds over Deep Canyon~SkyWatch Friday~010612

2012-01-05T19:24:00.000-08:00

I love driving up to Deep Canyon on mornings when we have clouds here in the desert. They create such unusual effects up in our mountains. Shadows, periods of sun and shade...the mountains are always changing! I took these photos this week, on Tuesday, when I headed up toward Deep Canyon to be there for my horses' lesson with their trainer. I'm heading up there again tomorrow morning, since I've had 3 lessons this week on my own horsemanship course (or what I call "horses 101") to try out my newfound knowledge on Sunni, Cali, and Gigondas...maybe even Quad this weekend! Skywatch Friday for January 6, 2012. To visit SkyWatch Friday, please go to: http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Deep Canyon in the morning~Nature Notes~010512

2012-01-04T16:51:00.000-08:00

I headed up Deep Canyon Tuesday morning because my horses had a lesson with their trainer and since I was off of school this week (HOORAY!), I wanted to watch. We have been having unusually warm weather here in the desert and the mountains are warmer than normal, too. In fact, as I was driving up the highway, I recalled last winter's snows and snows from the previous years. This year it is very dry and the forest service sign said "Fire Danger: Very High" as I drove by. But, it was an absolutely gorgeous morning, with high clouds in the sky and beautiful morning light. I had about 20 minutes to spare before the horses' lesson and I stopped to walk down my favorite dirt road and admire the mountains' beauty. I'll be going back up there tomorrow morning to work my horses and I hope it will be another incredible morning! Nature Notes for January 5, 2012. To visit Nature Notes, please go to: http://ramblingwoods.com/

horse time and Deep Canyon

2012-01-03T19:22:00.000-08:00

I finally headed up the mountain early this morning for a lesson with my trainer. ALL of my horses are in training...sigh...not an inexpensive project! But, they need it. Scout needs to learn some manners, and Quad does, too. Off the track thoroughbreds, like Quad, are sometimes just treated like a number...they get exercise, training, walking, but don't really learn basic horse manners, like how to not barge through a gate. He's pretty laid back and mellow, but he DOES have his moments, like with my trainer today! He wanted to bust out and go running in the arena and she said, "NO! You have to work first!" Hmmmpppfffff! He didn't like that! So, he needs to learn that he works first, then he gets to play! Sunni, on the other hand, is "Mr. Mellow" with regards to his training, but any sudden noise used to send him running off. I noticed today that he only gave one little flinch and settled right down. Top photo is my thoroughbred chestnut mare, Gigondas, who was rescued of a slaughter-bound feedlot in WA state. She's made a LOT of progress. And, she REMEMBERS her lessons! I do believe that someday she'll make an excellent trail horse. It was such a BEAUTIFUL day driving up the mountain. There were high clouds, it was warm, the air was clean....aaaahhhhhhh! I stopped at my favorite dirt side road to take some photos because the morning light was so breathtaking. Here are some horse pics and photos from Deep Canyon today. It really helped me to get back up in the mountains today. I feel so much better.

Sonoma fog

2012-01-01T18:36:00.001-08:00

I’m still in a funk right now due to the death of my German Shepherd. I just don’t have the heart to do much of anything. I went out today and planted my sweet peas and some sunflowers next to there he is buried. I arranged some stones around his gravesite and sewed some African daisies over it. I mean, this dog literally held onto life until we made it home. How is that for dedication and loyalty? I tell you, there is no other breed like a German Shepard. We’ve had 3 of them in our lifetime and someday I’d like another one, but from a rescue. And, it would be our only dog. Right now we have our son’s dog and Ripley, my little black lab who was a “freebie” from the swap meet. Anyway,while we were in Sonoma, we had 3 mornings of fog. And, I mean FOG!!! It was dreary one day with light sprinkles We headed up to Sonoma that day and stopped by the Buena Vista winery and I blogged about it over at http://desertsandbeyond.blogspot.com if you wish to read about it. I’m going to watch the Rose Parade tomorrow morning, then head up to the horse ranch and spend some “horse time” up there…I really need to get up the mountain and see my horses. Cathy, the ranch owner, will be in the Rose Parade with the Southern California Peruvian Paso equestrian team, so be sure to watch for them. They are one of the last equestrian units and they all have Peruvian Pasos, which are wonderful gaited horses.

I'm sorry I haven't been around....

2011-12-31T15:50:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry I haven't been around much, but my dog died. No, really. Our nearly 9-year old German Shepherd died on our living room floor last night. Hubby and I had been up in Napa for a family after-Christmas dinner (our annual trip up there) and he held on until 5 minutes after we got home. We sat and patted him and loved on him, but he had just wasted away (canine lupus) and he gave a couple of sighs and that was it. I literally drove like a bat out of @#%% to get home, as our son had called us and said he wouldn't last much longer. So, yesterday, I drove from Sonoma to Palm Desert in 11 hours. We stopped once for lunch at a Denny's off Interstate 5 and once to grab a burrito from Baker's in Yucaipa. I drove the entire trip, except for the one hour that hubby drove from Mojave to Desert Center. While I'm glad we made it home in time to see Rommel alive, I'm just numb today and don't feel like blogging. I do wish you have a Happy New Year and I'll be back soon with photos from the trip.
~~Cheryl Ann~~

Fog in Buellton, CA

2011-12-27T19:58:00.000-08:00

We stayed overnight in Buellton, CA, which is right next to Solvang. I'd forgotten about the fog up there, and this morning, when I woke up, the mountains were covered with fog. By the time we drove to Solvang to breakfast, most of it had lifted. There were still some strands along the tops of the moutains, and on our way out of town, I took these photos. We don't have fog in the desert very often...maybe twice a year. It was good to experience it again!

Almost bare trees

2011-12-26T06:31:00.000-08:00

The red maples and sycamores are almost bare up at the horse ranch where I board my horses. We've had quite a few days of Santa Ana winds, which are the winds that come down from the high desert, sweeping into our deserts and mountains. The red maples are almost bare with just a few leaves still hanging on. The sycamores are doing a bit better, as you can see. I took a quick run up the mountain to the horse ranch yesterday while the grandson took a 3 hour nap. I had 3 bags of pellets to unload for the horses and I wanted to give them a Christmas Day treat! It was a bit breezy up there, but it wasn't as windy or as cold as it has been.

Lake Pleasant, AZ~SkyWatch Friday 122311

2011-12-22T20:29:00.001-08:00

Hubby and I drove out to Lake Pleasant while we were in Arizona. I had no idea it was even there and I certainly had no idea it was so vast! We had drive over to Canyon Lake one afternoon, but Lake Pleasant is much, much bigger! Dark clouds were to the north of the lake and there was a sailboat out enjoying the wind. SkyWatch Friday for December 22, 2011. We are now home and I am anxious to see my mountains again.

To visit SkyWatch Friday, please go to: http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Live Writer

2011-12-22T18:32:00.001-08:00

I’m trying out Live Writer on this blog, since it wouldn’t load to my desert horses one. So, this is the first post in the new format. I was finally able to download Live Writer (it took two tries), so I’m anxious to try it out!

Saguaros~Nature Notes~122211

2011-12-22T08:01:00.000-08:00

We don't have saguaros in our lower Colorado desert, near Palm Desert. We have agaves and yuccas, but no saguaros unless they are brought in and transplanted. Many are, especially in some of the resorts. However, over here in Arizona, there are many, many saguaros. Even over here at the Desert Ridge resort, there are a lot and I went out yesterday morning for an early walk. There was a HUGE one down by the wash and I was eager to see if it was still there. Yup. It was. Last trip, there was a cactus wren with a nest in it. Yesterday morning, however, it was quiet...no birds there (see 2nd photo). And, the huge one up by the lobby was vacant, too, although it has been the home of many birds (see top photo). I always love to look at the saguaros and see how different they all are. I took the last photo yesterday afternoon out by Lake Pleasant. Home today! :-) Nature Notes for December 22, 2011. To visit Nature Notes, please go to: http://ramblingwoods.com/

Superstition Mountains

2011-12-21T03:22:00.000-08:00

I've always wanted to get a photo of the Superstition Mountains with snow on them. I didn't get it this time, but I did get this view of them shrouded in clouds late one afternoon. It was before we headed out to the golden-colored cliffs. It was so dark and cloudy here that hubby suggested we drive further down the road, and that's when we saw the cliffs near Canyon Lake. We drove out to the Cave Creek regional park yesterday and stopped at the visitor center. I bought a little palomino horse for the grandson (one that looks like Cali) and we took some photos there, but nothing was as dramatic as this.

Golden cliffs~Our World Tuesday~122011

2011-12-19T18:52:00.000-08:00

Hubby and I are over in Arizona for a few days. This afternoon we drove out to the Superstition Mountains. It was too dark to photograph a lot there, but we drove north on the road to Canyon Lake. We arrived in late afternoon, just as the sun was hitting the cliffs and they turned a golden color. It was breathtaking! We slowed down and got out and took lots of photos, like these. A while later, the cliffs returned to their normal state, but, for a few minutes, all that glittered was indeed golden! Our World Tuesday for December 20, 2011. To visit Our World Tuesday, please go to: http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/

Grounded today!!!

2011-12-17T10:05:00.000-08:00

It's snowing again up in the mountains, probably above 3,500 feet and the department of transportation has a snow chain requirement right now, so I'm grounded. I don't know how to put chains on and, since I drive alone, I'm not going to take any chances. As much as I'd LOVE to drive up to the horse ranch, I'm staying home. And, hubby is INSISTING. PERIOD...sigh... I can't even see the mountains right now. I called the owner of the horse ranch where I board my horses and she said it isn't snowing there, BUT, I have to drive through the areas where it IS snowing to get to the ranch. I end up at about 5,000 feet and then the road splits down toward Temecula. It's the 5,000 foot areas that always concern me, as these are the areas closed to all traffic except 4 wheel drive vehicles with snow tires OR cars with chains. Believe me, I've been up there in the snow and slush and icy roads and it isn't fun. But, it sure is beautiful! Just look at these ranches up there! Aren't they pretty in the fresh snow?

Fog and snow and fence~Friday Fences~121811

2011-12-15T18:12:00.000-08:00

Fog and snow and a fence up at the oak forest of Deep Canyon. This area is Cahuilla Indian reservation land and is closed to the public. I enjoy just stopping here and listening to the sounds of the blue jays and forest birds. It is very peaceful and quiet. Friday Fences for December 16, 2011. To see other fences, please go to: http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

Snow and mountains and NEED to get out into nature~Nature Notes~121511

2011-12-14T17:51:00.000-08:00

One of the followers of my blog stated that it must be nice to be able to just get in my car and GO! Well, I don't always have that chance, but I'd been home sick all weekend and yesterday, after sleeping in until 8:00 a.m., I really NEEDED to get outdoors. I can only sit at home for so long. I believe that one of the reasons I keep my horses up in the mountains is to have an excuse to drive up along the mountain highway and to have a change of scenery. And, yes, when I looked out yesterday and saw that it was snowing, I just KNEW that I had to go up in the mountains and see it and smell the wet earth and listen to the silent flakes hit my windshield. It's just something I HAD TO DO. PERIOD. Did you know that, out of the multiple intelligences, there is now a nature one? I must be an example of that. (multiple intelligences refers to how people learn...) Yes, I'm visual, but I'm also kinesthetic (using my hands). I constantly tap my pencil. I ALWAYS have a pen or pencil in my hand. I was a pianist and I still have the muscle memory to play pieces I learned 50 years ago! But, I also have an additional intelligence, and that is the nature one. I've always LOVED to be outdoors (even if I'm a blonde, with freckles, and fair skin....so I have to be careful). I think the only time I wasn't out with a camera, out exploring nature, was when I was pregnant and then had two small children...I've always rescued dogs, cats, and now horses. At one time, I had finches, lovebirds, and canaries, much to my husband's distress! So, for me, nature is de-stressing, but there is also a real NEED there. What about you? Do you have a NEED to get out into nature? Photos are from up and near Deep Canyon yesterday. It snowed that morning, but by 8:00 a.m., it was clear enough to drive up the mountain road. I ran into 3 CALTRANS snow plows going up and down the mountain, keeping the road clear. To visit other nature enthusiasts, please go to: http://ramblingwoods.com/

Let it snow~Outdoor Wednesday~121411

2011-12-13T16:01:00.000-08:00

I stayed home again today because of an extremely bad headache and dizziness, but by 8:00, I really needed to go to the store and buy stuff for lunch. I was out of EVERYTHING (except cat food). I managed to stop by the park and take some photos of the roses with raindrops on them (we had rain yesterday and last night and snow on our mountains this morning). I decided to take a quick drive up the mountain to view the newly-fallen snow. Turns out, I had the road pretty much to myself! It was very quiet and a couple of CALTRANS snowplows were driving up and down the mountain. Here are some photos I took today for Outdoor Wednesday, December 14, 2011. This is the second major snowstorm to reach our local mountains so far this fall and more snow is expected tonight. In fact, it started snowing again when I turned around to come home! Remember, also, this is at 4,000 feet, NOT on the desert floor! To visit Outdoor Wednesday, please go to: http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/

Oldest home in Rancho Mirage~Our World Tuesday~121311

2011-12-13T05:22:00.000-08:00

I was home sick yesterday after being exhausted all weekend. SOMETHING is going around and now I have a sore throat and cough. Not good. I stayed home all day, except for running out briefly in the morning to buy some cat food. I stopped by the Rancho Mirage park and wandered over to an old house there. I stood and read the descriptions and realized that this is the oldest home in the city. And, I noticed that one of the date palms there had a ladder on it, which is chained to the tree. Have you ever wondered how the workers got to the top of the date palms? With ladders, like this one! I see them all the time down in the lower end of the valley and was surprised to see this one. I'll let you read about the house. I looked closely at the tile roof, since we have one, too. But, this one was 3 layers thick and the tiles are cemented together. Builders don't do that anymore! And, look at the rock fireplace...sigh...I wish we had one of those right now! I have to run out to the store again later, to buy some groceries and soup, so I'll take some pics of our overnight snow. Our World Tuesday for December 13, 2011. To visit Our World Tuesday, please go to: http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/

Sunrise~Creative Exchange and Mellow Yellow Monday~121211

2011-12-12T05:54:00.000-08:00

One morning a couple of weeks ago, I left the house early one morning, on my way to school, and stopped to admire the sunrise. I'm glad I had a few extra minutes to enjoy it! There should be another good sunrise this morning as the coming storm's clouds are gathering. Creative Exchange and Mellow Yellow Monday for December 12, 2011. To visit The Creative Exchange, please go to: http://www.the-creative-exchange.com/ To visit Mellow Yellow Monday, please go to: http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/

Bright flowers to brighten up your day~Today's Flowers~121111

2011-12-11T09:16:00.000-08:00

After a couple of depressing posts about the loss of the valley's pepper crop, I went through my archives from the past couple of weeks and found some COLOR! Early one morning, I drove up and down El Paseo, which is at the base of Highway 74 and Deep Canyon. It is Palm Desert's premier shopping center. The medians there are all full of pansies, snapdragons, and petunias. And...COLOR! The sprinklers had just turned off before I drove by and some of the flowers were coated with water. Please enjoy the color and have a good day! I'm trying to fight the flu which is going around my school. Hubby had it about 8 days ago and I'm staying indoors today and I'm going to rest as I have one more week of school before our three week vacation. To visit Today's Flowers, please go to: http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/

Update on pepper crop

2011-12-09T17:46:00.000-08:00

To update yesterday's post, I drove out past the pepper fields this morning. The growers weren't burning anything as it didn't get down to freezing last night. HOWEVER, the pepper crop has been ruined. The local news is running stories about how the peppers have ALL been frozen and are mush on the inside. So, on my way home, I took the side roads through Coachella and Indio to see the crops there. One field of peppers were covered with cloth and I didn't trespass to observe those crops, but, judging by the footprints, other people had been there before me. I hope they got some un-frozen peppers. It is indeed sad that an entire crop has been lost to frost and it WILL cost consumers more at the store!

Smoke in the sky~SkyWatch Friday~120911

2011-12-09T04:53:00.000-08:00

Every morning this week, I've observed haze from the fields down by my school. We've had hard frosts here every morning this week and the pepper crop has been devastated. Growers, in an attempt to save the peppers, have resorted to burning piles of SOMETHING on the edge of the rows, creating the haze which can be seen from Interstate 10. Yesterday morning I drove out by the fields to see what was going on. This is what I saw. SkyWatch Friday for December 9, 2011. I should mention that the local news did announce that the valley's pepper crop has been ruined by the frosts....sigh... To visit SkyWatch Friday, please go to: http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Stokin' the fires~Creative Exchange~120911

2011-12-08T18:04:00.000-08:00

I drove out past the fields near my school this morning because for the last 3 mornings, I've seen the smoke curling up from them. I brought my camera with me today. A couple of years ago, when we had another deep freeze, farmers were burning bales of hay. I couldn't tell what they were burning this morning, but I saw this worker stoking the fires. I do believe thepiles were hay or straw. I'll drive by tomorrow morning, when I have more time, and take more photos. Creative Exchange for December 9, 2011. To visit Creative Exchange, please follow this link: http://www.the-creative-exchange.com/

I've got my eye on you~Nature Notes~120811

2011-12-08T05:05:00.000-08:00

These ducks were keeping their eyes on me at the park last week. Okay, maybe not. This one couldn't be disturbed from his/her nap! Aren't they adorable? I love to watch them at the park. I counted 12 white ducks now. There were 8 earlier in the season. Nature Notes for December 8, 2011. To visit Nature Notes, please go to: http://ramblingwoods.com/

Birds in my yard and scrub jay

2011-12-07T04:49:00.000-08:00

I've written about "my" scrub jay before. He SHOULD be up in the pinyon forest, which is about 15 miles up Highway 74. However, he's taken up residence in our neighborhood now for going on 3 years. Every once in a while he disappears for a few days, but then he reappears, sitting on our front fence and peering at me sideways! I had been putting out birdseed for the sparrows, finches, and doves who visit our yard and he just appeared one morning. He's been hanging around our neighborhood ever since. Here are some photos of the birds in our front yard. I have to take these in the afternoon as it is still too dark in the morning, when I leave to school, and now that the time has changed and it gets dark earlier, I have to wait until the weekends to take photos of the birds out front. Oh, and yes, a Cooper's hawk has now taken up residence on the telephone pole in our back yard and every now and then I find dove feathers on the ground...

Pinyon forest~Our World Tuesday~120611

2011-12-06T05:38:00.000-08:00

The pinyon forests of Deep Canyon are my favorite places. I frequently take side roads there and go off exploring. I love to hear the busy scrub jays scream and I enjoy looking at various animal tracks in the soil and mud. Sometimes I'll find an interesting pinyon or yucca. Here are a few pics from last weekend. I don't always go up there in the afternoon, but I needed to get up to the horse ranch and give the horses an extra meal, since it was below freezing for several nights, and I didn't get going until afternoon. I love the long, golden afternoon light and shadows and I'm glad I had the opportunity to visit the pinyon forest in the afternoon. Our World Tuesday for December 6, 2011. To visit Our World Tuesday, please go to: http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/

5 on the 5th~pinyon tree

2011-12-05T04:52:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted on this meme for quite a while and I was reminded last week. When I go out on the weekend, I usually take anywhere from 100 to 200 photos and then use them the following week. This weekend, the Sunday stills Challenge was back lighting, and I spent Saturday taking various shots in the late afternoon. I had stayed indoors that morning because it was cold in the desert, which meant it was freezing up in the mountains, where I board my horses, and I really didn't want to "slip and slide" and possibly injure myself again! (I slipped on the floor up at Mammoth and bruised my knees and right shoulder.) So, I erred on the side of caution and went up early in the afternoon. I love the soft late afternoon colors, like this pinyon tree silhouetted against the setting sun. So, here's my 5 on the 5th for December! To visit 5 on the 5th, please go to this link: http://thestateofthenationuk.blogspot.com/2011_12_01_archive.html By the way, there WAS snow on the mountains and on the side of the road further up, at about 5,000 feet! The horses didn't get any (they are at 4,000 feet), but the higher elevations of Highway 74 did. That's what was left over from our winter storm early last week, which headed over to Arizona and New Mexico and dropped more snow there.

Pinyon tree backlit~Sunday Stills Challenge~120411

2011-12-03T19:02:00.000-08:00

This week's challenge was to find a subject which was backlit. I often do shoot into the sun, just because I love the resulting photos, like this one, of a dead pinyon tree, in the late afternoon light. I absolutely to find dead trees! For backlighting, you have to block out the direct sunlight and get your subject between you and the sun and the mountains and side roads of Deep Canyon provide many such opportunities. Sunday Stills Challenge for December 4, 2011. To see more of Sunday Stills Challenge, please click on this link: http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/

Afternoon shadows, Deep Canyon and beyond

2011-12-03T05:31:00.000-08:00

During the week, I don't have an opportunity to drive up the mountains near Deep Canyon, up Highway 74, but last Sunday, I took a friend up with me to the horse ranch, and we came down in the afternoon. I'm glad we did. I got to see the shadows of the other mountains on Deep Canyon. I don't have time now because my school gets out a half hour later than last year and most afternoons, I'm arriving home in the dark. So, I await the weekends! Not sure what I'll be doing this weekend. Hubby is off work and we may drive over to Joshua Tree National Park.

Thoroughbred farm fences~Friday Fences~120211

2011-12-01T18:17:00.000-08:00

There's a thoroughbred farm at the corner of Highway 74 and Highway 371, the Anza cutoff, up in our local mountains. Unfortunately, time and the economy have both taken their toll on the fences there. They are in need of paint and repair. I saw some areas which had been chewed and chewed. And, there are only a few horses boarded there now. It used to be full of mares and foals, but now there aren't any foals...it's the economy. There are a few horses and I stopped there once to see them...there were some Icelandic horses, some quarter horses, but few thoroughbreds. I always enjoy driving by this ranch and looking at its fences, even if they do need a coat of paint! The trees on the property were beautiful fall shades last weekend and I drove by one day, late in the afternoon. Friday Fences for December 2, 2011. To visit Friday Fences, please go to this link: http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

Pinyons~Nature Notes~120111

2011-11-30T18:45:00.000-08:00

This weekend I wanted to stop by the pinyon area of Deep Canyon to pick up some pinyon nuts for our scrub jay who lives in our neighborhood. There were so many on the ground that I picked up some in my hand (see photo). They were all over the place! I brought these home for the jay, but he prefers unshelled peanuts! (go figure!)...I always enjoy the pinyon areas of this canyon and this road is a well used dirt road that leads up to a housing settlement there. Nature Notes for December 1, 2011. To visit Nature Notes, please go to: http://ramblingwoods.com/

Let the President know how you feel regarding horse slaughterpetition

2011-11-30T06:12:00.000-08:00

https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/!/petition/ban-horse-slaughter/GnNH1pS4?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl

Here's a link to a petition to urge the White House to reconsider its position on horse slaughter. In 24 hours, there are over 3,500 signatures.

Please, if you can, follow the link, register, and add your signature. We must reverse this idiotic position! Thank you.

I'm MAD as @#%% and very upset!!!!!!

2011-11-29T19:19:00.000-08:00

While we were stuffing ourselves over the Thanksgiving holiday, Prez Obama was signing a law which will now allow horse slaughter, once again, here in the U.S. Yes, I understand those who argue that sending horses to slaughter in Mexico or Canada is inhumane, but so is horse slaughter in the good ol' U.S. of A. Horse slaughter is INHUMANE, wherever it is. PERIOD. And, our mustangs are in great danger. Mustangs like Scout and Cali, who are my two most sensitive horses. You cannot BELIEVE the number of people I've had up to the ranch for some "horse time" and the ones they enjoy the most are the two mustangs. They are exremely sensitve to peoples' emotions and they KNOW when somebody needs their love and attention. And, they freely give it. And, for me to even THINK that their herd mates or siblings will be slaughtered just SICKENS ME. I cannot say it more forcefully. I don't really have anything else to say except that I'm begging you to do whatever YOU can do to stop this. ENOUGH is ENOUGH! Thank you for allowing me to vent. I seriously have nightmares over this issue. Here's a link to an article discussing this horrid turn of events: http://technorati.com/lifestyle/article/obama-legalizes-horse-slaughter-for-human/ Just LOOK at these pictures from last weekend of my friend Susan with the two mustangs...and think of other mustangs that will now go to slaughter...

On a sad note...

2011-11-28T19:00:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry to report that a young man, age 14, was shot and killed this weekend up at Little Thomas Mountain. He was out on a family outing when the tragedy occurred. I just drove up that road not long ago and many, many horse people ride up there. Anyway, since his family is from Coachella, and that's where I teach, I wish to extend my condolences to his family. Here is one of the photos I took when I drove up the road to Little Thomas Mountain, which is off Highway 74, on the road to Idyllwild, near the Garner Valley Cattle Company. My prayers and sympathy go out to this family. Apparently he was shot by his cousin, who was also 14. Here's a link to the story: http://www.mydesert.com/article/20111129/NEWS0804/111290303/Coachella-boy-killed-hunting-accident?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage

3's a crowd!

2011-11-27T18:19:00.000-08:00

I brought my friend Susan up with me to the horse ranch today. She needed some horse time and I was happy to have her come help me with the herd. Five horses needed brushing and grooming. And, Susan really enjoyed the horses and they eagerly responded to her! Here's Scout and Cali, my two mustangs, with Susan. She brushed them first. It got a little crowded with Scout demanding attention, too!

Clouds hugging the mountains

2011-11-26T16:44:00.000-08:00

When I leave the desert floor and head up Highway 74 to our local mountains, I never really know what the weather at the top will be like. Sometimes it is clear. Sometimes not. This weekend, it was clear and sunny in the desert, but up on top of the mountains, clouds were moving in, it was breezy, and soon clouds were everywhere! I thought it might even be snowing at the higher elevations, but I don't think it got that cold. As I came around one corner, this is what I saw. Don't you just love the way the clouds hang onto the mountains?

horse ranch and snow~Ranch tour, part 3

2011-11-26T06:23:00.000-08:00

The ranch gets snow maybe 3 or 4 times each year. I took these photos in 2009 right after a storm. It looks so different and the horses are all wolly! They already have their winter coats. Scout, who is light in summer, actually turns brown during the winter months! Go figure. You'd think that she would have a lighter colored coat in winter than summer, right? Nope! The mountains around the ranch have already had snow a couple of times, but there hasn't been any down at the ranch yet this year.

Around the ranch, part 2~ranch tour

2011-11-26T06:16:00.000-08:00

I went back through my archives and found these photos around the ranch, from 2009. The top photo shows the large arena. The second one down shows some of the horse pens. There are 9 pens which face down into the arena, but they are higher above it. The third one shows the mustangs' corral, which is up above and away from the arena. My tack room is next to this large corral. That's our German Shepherd, Rommel, up with the horses. He likes to go visit the ranch and he's very good around the horses. He sniffs them and they sniff him and all is okay!

Around the ranch and horse story part 1

2011-11-26T05:25:00.000-08:00

Some of you have asked about the horses and the ranch. First of all, it isn't our ranch. It's a 9 acre ranch up in our local mountains, at 4,000 feet elevation, where I board my horses. It is owned by a wonderful couple, Cathy and Bill, who raise Peruvian Paso horses. They are in the Rose Parade every year, so you can look for the Southern California Peruvian Paso group on January 1st. I found Cathy through the Horse Trader, which is a magazine for horse people (and other interested ones) ...gosh...what? 4 years ago. I had my horses up in Lancaster, which was 3 HOURS away from our home in the desert, up in the high desert. I originally started with 1 horse, Sunni, who I adopted from United Pegasus, when they were in Hemet (they are now in Tehachipi). I boarded him with a friend down here in the low desert. Then, in September of 2006, my husband took our son with him on a vacation to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons while I was in school. (Hmmmpppffffttttt!) So, while they were gone, I began cruising the Internet, looking at horse rescues. I found Beauty and Gigondas on a so-called horse rescue (that's a WHOLE other story...) up in Washington state and adopted both of them. Then, I had to get them to Southern California. Fortunately, a wonderful couple did haul horses for a living and were familiar with the rescue, so $1,000 later, I had 2 more horses. Unfortunately, my friend refused to board another 2 horses, (don't ask me why and no, we are no longer friends!), so I was left to scramble and find somewhere to put 3 horses! There was a gal who also got a couple of horses from the same so-called rescue and she offered to board all 3 of mine. BUT, she was 3 hours away! I didn't know about the Horse Trader then, so I took up her offer and hubby and I spent almost a year driving up to Lancaster every other weekend. She had a trainer and a couple of them were saddle broke, but that's as far as I went with them. Hubby got "horse fever" too and found Cali and Scout on a BLM (Bureau of Land Management) online auction, bid on them, and we ended up with 2 mustangs and a total of 5 horses! The Lancaster gal kept raising her board and finally, in frustration, I picked up an issue of the Horse Trader and found Cathy's ad for boarding and she was a LOT closer to home. I called and asked to see her ranch and immediately fell in love. She has a round pen, a large arena, individual corrals for the horses, a wash rack, and a tack room. I found a gal to haul "the herd" from Lancaster to Anza. I remember that day...she had a 5 horse trailer (thank goodness) and ALL the horses loaded except Scout. But, Scout was calling to the other horses. She just refused to be haltered. Finally, the gal said in frustration, "I'm going to try ONCE MORE and if I can't get her haltered, we are LEAVING!" Now, I'm always reluctant to split up my horses and I wasn't going to have ANY horse left behind, so finally Scout relented and off we went! MOVING DAY!!!! It sure is a lot easier having them all just 35 minutes away than 3 HOURS!!!!! And, they receive wonderful care up in the mountains and occasionally they get snow in the winter! Anyway, here are some photos of the ranch yesterday and the red leaves on a few of the maples. It was a nice, clear, warm day and I drove up to my 6 bags of pellets for the herd and it took me an hour to unload it all! I'll go back through my archives after I post here and post some more photos of the ranch. It really is delightful! It's much cooler up there in the summer and in winter, it's nice to see some snow! If you really wish to follow my horses, please go to my main horse blog, which is at: http://deserthorses.blogspot.com

Friday Fences~wooden fence and manzanita~112511

2011-11-24T19:26:00.000-08:00

I took a side road up on Highway 74 and Highway 371 today and drove up by some of the houses on the hill. I saw this wooden fence and manzanita, which was well maintained, even if it is old. I always seem to be on the lookout now for fences to photograph! Ha~a new interest! There are quite a few houses on this hill and I'll return another time to take more photographs of the fences up there. Friday Fences for November 25, 2011. To view Friday Fences, please go to: http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

The maples have finally turned~Nature Notes~112411

2011-11-24T05:32:00.000-08:00

When I went up to the horse ranch where I board my horses on Tuesday, I was thrilled to see the maples there had turned bright red. One tree, however, is already bare. But, three still had their leaves, so after the lesson with three of my horses, I wandered over to take a look. Aren't they beautiful? I hadn't been up to visit my horses for a couple of weeks, so I'm glad I have this week off school, even though Monday and Tuesday were furlough days. I was there for the horses' lesson and they've made a LOT of progress since August, when I was last able to attend a lesson with them. They all now patiently stand at the tie rack and they don't pull back. That was a real problem for Quad, my off the track thoroughbred, and Sunni, my big gelding. Each of them got a turnout in the arena and Quad was the only one who took off running and bucking! Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy your family time. I'm making a quick trip up to the ranch this morning to give the horses some psyllium, then back home for a shower and then dinner with the family. To visit Nature Notes, please go to: http://ramblingwoods.com/

Frost!!!

2011-11-22T18:38:00.000-08:00

I drove up to check on the horses this morning and to be there for their weekly lesson with my trainer. Unfortunately, she hasn't been able to work with any of them for over two weeks because of all the rain, rain, rain! Hmmmm......It rains, then clears for several days, then rains again and the arena is VERY slippery. But, since I'm home this week, I was hoping she would come today and she did. She worked 3 of my 5 horses (not the two mustangs) and I can see how they have progressed since August. They all have much softer eyes and that's a big thing for a PMU gelding who was terrified of every sound and leaf moving and a hyper thoroughbred! I'll post pics from the lesson later this week. I stopped at the oak forest, which is on Cahuilla Indian land, to gather some acorns for our scrub jay, who inhabits our neighborhood. I thought I saw snow on one of the hillsides there, but it turned out to be a heavy frost. I grabbed my camera and did my best to capture the frost on the weeds and log.

"The Dancer" and clouds~Our World Tuesday~112211

2011-11-22T05:35:00.000-08:00

I stopped by to visit my favorite dead tree up in the pinyon forest last weekend, as a storm was gathering. I always worry that someday I'll drive by and she will be gone, but she was still there, limbs stretching into the wind. The clouds were moving down the mountain. I'll be heading back up the mountain today to go check on the horses. There is a new dusting of snow on the Santa Rosa mountains behind these smaller ones, so I'll need to bundle up! Our World Tuesday for November 22, 2011. To visit OWT, please go to: http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/

More clouds and mountains

2011-11-21T05:40:00.000-08:00

Well, it was cloudy all day here yesterday in the desert and up on the mountain. I haven't been outside yet this morning, but the news reported that we got rain last night. If so, I'll head out this morning for my walk. These are some pics from last weekend, which was similiar to yesterday's weather.

Living Desert, Part 3~the trains!

2011-11-20T17:16:00.000-08:00

Yes, the little guy was fascinated by the trains! He especially liked the little train that went by with logs on the cars! These trains are very authentic-looking and are supported by the local miniature train association. The volunteers spend HOURS maintaining the trains, buildings, and exhibits. This gentleman was busy putting a sealant on the roofs of the buildings! You can see the size of the exhibits by looking at him. Both my husband's father and grandfather were railroad men, so I can see why the grandson is so fascinated, although, I must admit, I was too!!!

Living Desert~part 2

2011-11-20T08:24:00.000-08:00

And the adventure continued...No, that isn't a real wart hog. There are statues of a momma and baby and GUESS WHO went over to the baby and pulled its tail...sigh...just like a little boy! He wasn't sure about the vicious goats (see them basking in the sun?) apparently because one did head butt another kid...so Ben kept his distance from them. But, he LOVED to hear the moos of the hungry African cattle (LOOK at those horns!) They were demanding their breakfast!

....to be continued...

Living Desert and trains and grandson

2011-11-20T04:59:00.000-08:00

Well, we had the grandson yesterday. Our BIG ADVENTURE begins.....Off we go! Don't worry...I pushed the cart the majority of the time. Grandpa only had it when I took a photo...let's be real, here! After looking at the trains, which weren't running yet, we headed over to the African village to pet the goats. Nope. They weren't out yet...so we looked at the leopards, which were out and playing with each other. Ben didn't like the statue of the cheetah and wouldn't stand next to it, so we moved on......to be continued...