Old cabin ~ Windows and Doors~January 14, 2013

This old cabin can be found as you travel the road to the Palm Springs Indian canyons.  It only costs $9.00 to enter the canyons and there are two major ones there:  Andreas Canyon, where you can hike a 1 mile loop, and which has beautiful sycamore and cottonwood trees as well as palm trees.  It also has interesting geological rocks because it sits on a fault line.  The second canyon, at the end of the road, is Murray Canyon.  Murray Canyon has a palm tree oasis down in the bottom of it and it also has the ranger station/gift shop/refreshment stop (which is handy during the summer).  Morning is a great time to visit these canyons (they open at 8:00 a.m.).  We arrived in the afternoon, about 4:00.  I took these photos going up into the canyon and again back down.  Here is a link to more info about these amazing canyons:  http://indian-canyons.com/  Anyway, I was intrigued by this old cabin, its doors, and lack of windows!  Whimsical Windows and Delirious Doors for January 14, 2013.  To visit WWDD, please go to:   http://iwishiwereaphotographer.blogspot.com/

This is pretty much what we've had lately

This is pretty much what we've had lately, for the past several days, but the nighttime temps are down into the teens.  I didn't make it up the mountain at all yesterday.  I spent 3 hours helping with our daughter and son-in-law's yard sale and that wore me out!  I mean...COMPLETELY!  I came home from their house, ate lunch, and passed out for 2 hours!  That was my afternoon!  I'll definitely get up there today, however!  :-)  This is my last day of vacation before I go back to work...:-(

Just catching up!

I headed up the hill yesterday because I wanted to drive up to the horse boarding ranch and give my herd an extra meal.  It was 18 degrees up there Friday morning, their water troughs were frozen over, and it was windy.  First, however, I headed out to Thousand Palms Canyon Road to take some photos of the wash over there.  I haven't been out that way for some time!  I get so darned busy with everything...sigh... I came home, ate lunch, took a short nap, and headed up toward Santa Rosa mountain.  I was anxious to see how much snow they got up in Pinyon.  What?  What's this FROZEN white stuff?  It was HAIL.  Lots of hail was still on the ground yesterday afternoon!  I didn't see any snow, except at the higher elevations, but there was hail everywhere!

Wagon and orange wall~Orange You Glad It's Friday~011113

I whizzed by this wagon earlier in the week when hubby and I were in Yucca Valley, but on the way home, I stopped, handed hubby my camera and asked him to take a photo of the wagon and wall.  After yesterday's dark and dreary photos, I figured this one would brighten up the blog!  Orange You Glad It's Friday for January 11, 2013.  To see other participants in OYGIF, please go to:   http://www.hoodphotography.com/2013/01/orange-you-glad-its-friday-21.html

Sawmill Trailhead and storm~Friday's Fences~011113

I drove up to Pinyon Flats this morning to drop off a book and a newspaper article for one of my son's friends.  These two have known each other since they were in kindergarten and still remain friends today.  Anyway, I wanted to get these up to Aaron before the storm hit (THE SNOW STORM...).  It was misting when I drove up the mountain about 9:00 this morning, but the WIND was unbelievable!  I nearly lost my car door when I opened it!  Man, it was blowing!  The clouds were moving across the mountains very quickly.  Then it got so foggy I couldn't see the road, so I dropped off the book and newspaper (wrapped in plastic), took a few photos, and drove home. Brrrrrrrrr!!!  Friday's Fences (and fog) for January 11, 2013.  To visit Friday's Fences, please go to:   http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/   Yes, I made it home safely.  In fact, I drove the other direction and took photos of the windmills near Palm Springs!  :-)

Windmills

You know, I can see the Palm Springs windmills from a couple of spots up on Highway 74 in the Santa Rosa mountains, but only a couple.  They are hidden by hills between the highway and the desert floor.  Spring Crest is a good area to view them and there is ONE turnout on the highway that offers a good view.  Yesterday, instead of heading up the mountain, I headed over to Yucca Valley and Desert Hot Springs.  First, I wanted to get some photos of the windmills because hubby refused to stop and take any on Sunday, when we were out in that area.  Second, I wanted to take my time and drive around Yucca Valley.  We don't get up that way very often and I missed some photo opportunities that I wanted to have yesterday.  So, off I went!  Some of these photos have wires in them (which I usually TRY to avoid), but one can't always get the shot one wants, right?  Anyway, it was a nice day...high clouds, not too cold.  More clouds and rain and even snow will be coming to our mountains and valley.  Snow is forecast down to 2,500 feet.

Another storm

Another storm is coming.  TOMORROW.  Pinyon Flats sits at a little over 4,000 feet and the forecasters are saying that this storm will be snow down to 3,000 feet, so Friday should be a good day for more photos, and hopefully I'll be able to drive up to Pinyon and take photos of more snow!  I'm not sure what I'll be doing today...I have some housework to do (I know, I know...BORING!), but it's too dark to see outside yet this morning!