Rock climbers and sky~SkyWatch Friday, Photo Time 010611

I snapped this photo of two rock climbers on a rock at Joshua Tree National Park. Hubby and I were leaving the Barker Dam area and, as we drove by this rock, I spotted the rock climbers. I leaned out the driver's side window and snapped it and drove on. I like the clouds in the sky! SkyWatch Friday for January 6, 2011 Photo Time. To visit Photo Time, please go to: http://fredamans.blogspot.com/2011/01/photo-time-photographers-choice.html

Ranch House Cafe, Olancha, CA~~Window Views and Doors, Too 010611

About 5 hours north of Deep Canyon are the Sierras. Along Highway 395 is a little town called Olancha, CA. It is where Crystal Geyser water is bottled, yes, straight out of the Sierras. Right outside of town, along the highway, is the Ranch House Cafe restaurant. We drove by it for years and years and never stopped, but I noticed it always seemed to be busy. Finally, last year, hubby and I stopped to eat breakfast there. Believe me, now it is ALWAYS one of our stops! We love this little place. UNFORTUNATELY, if CalTrans builds a new highway and bypasses this little town, this restaurant will die. So, I'm secretly hoping that California won't be able to afford to do that, just so the Ranch House Cafe will remain open. Hubby walked over and took this photo of their side door and window. Window Views and Doors, Too for Thursday, January 6, 2011.

"Black"~Weekly Color for January 5, 2011

Across the valley from Deep Canyon is the Coachella Valley Preserve, out by Thousand Palms Canyon. Behind the preserve, along the Indio Hills, lies the San Andreas Fault and on this fault are a number of palm oases. One such oasis, the Willis Palms oasis, caught on fire in November. My husband and I were driving home one evening and I spotted it from the freeway (Interstate 10). I told him, "Something's on fire over there!" and (of course), he said, "Nah!" Turns out it was this palm oasis. I hiked out there a couple of weeks ago just to see what was left. The palms were still there, stark and black. It was a very sad sight to see, indeed. But, with all the rain we've had this fall and winter, I understand that these palms should grow back next spring. After all, fire doesn't usually kill these palms and they do grow back. By the way, the cause of this fire is still "under investigation"...Weekly Color~black~January 5, 2011. To view other participants, please visit: http://livingtakestalent.blogspot.com/

Joshua Tree~Tuesday Takes 010411

When hubby and I visited Joshua Tree National Park on Saturday, I stopped to take this photo of one of the joshua trees. This park is on the opposite side of the Coachella Valley from Deep Canyon, but we like to visit it at different times of the year and since we were both home this past weekend, off we went! I like the joshua tree against the clear, blue sky. By afternoon, however, storm clouds were moving in. I'm not sure if the park got snow that evening, but snow was reported down to 1,500 feet here in Southern California, so I imagine the higher elevations in the park got snow. This is my first "Tuesday Takes". To visit other participants, please visit: http://fredamans.blogspot.com/2011/01/tuesday-takes-36.html

Ocotillos at Joshua Tree Natl. Park~Cactus Monday 010311

Hubby and I took the XTerra up to Joshua Tree National Park on Saturday. It was a clear day, but storm clouds began moving in by the afternoon. The park was very busy and many people were out hiking, taking photos, or rock climbing. We always enjoy driving up to Joshua Tree (it's about 45 minutes from our desert home). We came in through the west entrance, drove through the big rocks, stopped and hiked the Barker Dam trail, then headed out to the ocotillo forest. By then, the clouds were gathering and the temperature was dropping. I had seen ice at the west entrance and there were patches of snow at Barker Dam. But, the stark beauty of the ocotillos made the drive worthwhile! Cactus Monday for January 3, 2011. Back to work and school today! :-(

Joshua Tree shadow~Shadow Shot Sunday 010211

Hubby and I did the Barker Dam loop at Joshua Tree National Park on New Year's Day. On our way back, I spotted this shadow of a joshua tree on one of the rocks there. The park is only about 45 minutes away, on the other side of our valley, and hubby and I like to go there whenever we can. I see and learn new things every trip and I love to see how the park changes throughout the seasons. Shadow Shot Sunday for January 2, 2011. To visit other posters, please visit: http://heyharriet.blogspot.com/

Fossil Falls~Scenic Sunday 010211

On our way home from Lone Pine on Friday, hubby and I stopped by the Fossil Falls turnoff. We did a little bit of exploring, but, honestly, after my recent bout of bronchitis, I am still not able to walk very far without gasping for air and having a coughing fit! We have passed by this turnout many, many times and hadn't stopped until this trip. I would love to stop here again, when I am feeling better! Scenic Sunday for January 2, 2011. Fossil Falls is a turnoff on Highway 395. It is near Little Lake, south of Olancha, which is south of Lone Pine. Really, it is out in the middle of nowhere!