Just some pics from around...

It's SATURDAY and I'm overjoyed.  Our local mountains have had rain and clouds for two days and I'm anxious to drive up there this morning and see what's going on!  It's too early to really tell if there are clouds today, but I can smell moisture.  I can see the moon, so I know there is at least a break in the clouds at this hour (4 a.m.)...I'm just posting photos from last week, since I'll probably take another 200 or so this weekend.  It's hard to blog and work full time because I come home, eat dinner, and konk out for the night.  I have parent conferences next week, so I won't be posting for a couple of days (I'll be suffering from brain fatigue...)!So, here goes...The last 3 are the golden eagle I spotted on a telephone pole last weekend.

Chimney smoke~SkyWatch Friday~113012

Hubby made a fire the last morning we were in our Idyllwild cabin.  He'd bought firewood and he wanted to use it all up, so he fired away.  Getting bored with this whole thing, I went for a walk and this is what I saw when I returned.  SkyWatch Friday for November 30, 2012.   To visit SkyWatch Friday, please go to:   http://skyley.blogspot.com/

White fence and yellow trees~Friday's Fences~113012

I found this stark white fence and some yellow trees set back behind it up in Garner Valley last week.  A winter storm has moved into that area and it was all socked in with clouds today.  I'll drive by this place on Saturday and see what it's like.  Friday's Fences for November 30, 2012.   To visit Friday's Fences, please go to:    http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

Tree branch~Nature Notes~112912

I spotted this dead pinyon branch one morning as I was out walking around in Pinyon Flats, near the campground.  I have two friends who live up there.  It's a quick 10 minute ride down the hill from Pinyon to the desert.  Our son's best friend just bought a house up there and he's already moved there from the desert.  I always enjoy Pinyon Flats because it is cooler up there in the summer.  And, they DO get snow about 3 or 4 times a year...not a lot, but enough to last a day.  It is pinyon forest up there, with some oaks, and there are a lot of scrub jays.  I believe that our scrub jay, who has now been in our neighborhood for nearly 4 years, came from this area.  Quail are numerous and so are coyotes.  My friend Barbara recently lost her two chickens to a couple of coyotes who dug into her yard, under her electrified fence...:-(  I drive through this area every weekend when I drive up to my horses, who are boarded nearby.  It's quite a change from our desert habitat!  Nature Notes for November 29, 2012.  To view Nature Notes, please go to:   http://ramblingwoods.com/

Golden eagle~Wild Bird Wednesday~112812

There are golden eagles in the Anza Valley and this is the second time I've seen one.  The first time, I saw one take off from their "Welcome to Anza Valley" signpost.  I was driving by early in the morning, on my way to the feed store, when I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye.  The eagle was just taking off from the sign.  I was so shocked I nearly drove my car into the sand!  By the time I fumbled around and got my camera out, it was long gone.  That was about 5 years ago.  I had not seen an eagle since then, until Sunday, when I was once again driving to the feed store.  I saw something BIG on top of a telephone pole and, being older, wiser, and more experienced, I slowed down, got the camera out and ready, and stopped my car.  I stayed in it and slowly drove forward because I didn't wish to scare it off.  I knew it was an eagle because of its size and also look at the feathers on its legs.  I mean, this guy was HUGE!!!  He did take off and I got a few photos of him before he drifted over to another empty field, looking for his breakfast.  I am pleased that I was here, at the right time, and was able to get a few pictures of this beautiful bird.  Wild Bird Wednesday for November 28, 2012. To visit WBW, please go to:    http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com/

Lady and Loki

Lady is the German Shepherd I rehomed two months ago.  A co-worker announced she was looking for a home for her because (1) she'd never had a shepherd before and (2) she didn't like having a big dog...sigh...what can I say?  I immediately said I'd take her.  We've had three other shepherds (all males), so Lady is our first female.  She's at least 6 years old (I think she is older than that), but she lived with her breeder for 6 years until that lady had to move out of her house and into a condo where she couldn't keep her.  So, my co-worker, who lives alone, rehomed her and all her dishes and toys!  Unfortunately, she wasn't used to having a big dog and she left her alone at home for 12 hours a day!  So, Lady came to us.  She is beautifully trained and has wonderful manners.  We took her with us up to the Idyllwild cabin and she behaved perfectly.  She whined when she had to go outside to do her business.  Then, there's Loki.  I adopted him at PETCO during one of their adoptions back in 1996.  I remember the year because we got our 2nd shepherd, Maverick, in 1995.  Loki was already a year old then, so he must be 17 years old now.  He's outlived two of our shepherds and he's still going...although yesterday morning, he got up on our porch roof and was chasing one of our other cats up and down it and they sounded like a herd of elephants!  Then, he couldn't remember how to get down, so I had to take the ladder and grab him by the scruff of the neck and haul his sorry BUTT down off the porch!  I only got one small scratch, so I'm thankful for that. It could have been a LOT worse!!! He really is a nice cat...he can be mean to the dogs, however.  Lady steers away from him, although sometimes I catch them taking a sun nap together out in the front yard, cuddled together!  I'll have to have the camera ready for that!

Silver Pines Lodge koi pool~Weekend Reflections~112412

There is a koi pond up at the Silver Pines Lodge, where we stayed for three nights this week.  It runs day and night and provides a nice place to stop and admire the koi.  Even Lady was slightly interested when I walked her by the pond!  :-)  Weekend Reflections for November 24, 2012.   To visit Weekend Reflections, please go to:   http://weekendreflection.blogspot.com/