Living Desert and trains and grandson

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...

mountain clouds

When I drove up the mountain to go see my wet horses last weekend, I stopped to take some photos of the mountains and clouds.  I'm always amazed by the many moods these mountains have.  Sometimes they are dry and dusty, other times, like last Sunday, they are wet and rainy.  Sometimes it is snowing up there...and all of this is just 15 minutes from my house on the floor of the desert!  Amazing!

Friday Fences~111811

This is how I feel...old and I need to be propped up! I also have a lot of weathering on me!  Friday Fences for November 18, 2011.  Last day of school before next week's Thanksgiving break!  Whoo, whoo!!! But, on a happy note, hubby and I will be taking the grandson to the Living Desert to see the trains tomorrow!  Believe me, he will talk about it for a week~ (he's almost 3)...They have a complete, miniature train display there, complete with moving trains, whistles, towns, farms, Grand Canyon, etc.  I'm sure I'll take 10,000 photos and share them all next week! To visit Friday Fences, please go to:  http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

sunrise and rainbow~SkyWatch Friday~111811

I stepped outside one morning, looked outside, and saw the morning light hit "The Haystack", which is this mountain, with a rainbow over it.  What a way to start the day!  Glorious, eh? SkyWatch Friday for November 18, 2011. To visit SWF, please go to:  http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Mountain rainbows~Nature Notes~111711

I've written about the many different moods of the Santa Rosa mountains.  From clear and dry to wet and rainy, with snowy days in winter.  Last weekend was dull and dreary.  It was raining as I headed up the mountain to go check on Cali and the other horses.  I wanted to make sure they all got an extra feeding during the day to help them maintain their body warmth for the cold nights up there.  Once I got up to the pinyon forest, however, the rain lightened up and a rainbow appeared.  Actually, it was a double rainbow.  I'm always amazed by what the mountains reveal to me and each trip is full of new discoveries!  Nature Notes for November 17, 2011. To visit Nature Notes, please go to:  http://ramblingwoods.com/

hawk in flight

Someday I'm going to have my camera ready and on 1/250 of a second instead of 1/60, but this wasn't that day.  I spotted a nice looking, fat hawk on a telephone phone up by the horse ranch and pulled over to try to take some photos of it, but, DUH...of course, it flew off and I didn't have time to adjust my camera.  But, I kind of like the top one, where it was taking off!  How DO you take a decent photo of a bird in flight?

Mountain clouds~Our World Tuesday~111511

As I headed back down the mountain after checking on the horses Saturday, clouds swirled around the local mountain, sometimes creating mysterious and eerie effects.  When I'm in the desert, I'm at 200 feet above sea level.  Up on these mountains, I'm at 4,000 to 5,000 feet, depending on where I am at the moment.  In the desert, I can look up and see the clouds.  On the mountain, I'm up in them.  These clouds were drifting around the mountains and I stopped to take photos of them before returning down the hill to home.  Our World Tuesday for November 15, 2011. To visit OWT, please go to:  http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/