Smoke trees

The smoke trees aren't blooming here in the valley (yet...).  They don't usually bloom until after the palo verdes.  If I remember correctly, they bloom about May. However, I always enjoy viewing them.  When they bloom, they have tiny dark violet flowers on them (and bees).  There are some up Highway 74, in Carrizo Canyon, and at the Santa Rosa mountains visitor center, where I took these photos last weekend.  I'll take more photos of them when they are blooming.

Blooming palo verdes~SkyWatch Friday~031414

The palo verde trees are ALL blooming here in the Coachella Valley.  On my way to school and then home, I see them all over.  This is extremely early for them to be blooming.  It's usually May when their yellow covers the valley.  We have a couple here in the yard, but I need to water them more.  One is a young, two year old.  The others are older.  Maybe I'll go out this weekend and take some photos of them.  These were up at the Santa Rosa mountain visitor center, up on Highway 74.  SkyWatch Friday for March 14, 2014.  To visit SWF and see other skies, please go to:   http://skyley.blogspot.com/

We're having some WEATHER here tonight!!!

It is currently 49 degrees up in Idyllwild, but they are having SNOW!  YES!  It's on the news!  And, we're having some kind of microburst with wind swirling all around.  It came up suddenly.  Actually, I saw what looked like a rain storm above Whitewater Canyon as I was driving home from school this afternoon...dark clouds, rain...By the time I got home, the wind had kicked up and leaves were blowing everywhere! WHOOSH!  Our screen door fell down and the dogs ran into the furthest corner of the back yard!  What an evening!

Here's the link to snow and 49 degrees:

http://idyllwildtowncrier.com/2014/03/13/video-snow-49-degrees/

Birds, birds, and more birds in my yard!

Okay, no more DEPRESSING stories!  I did manage to get some photos of the birds in my front yard Tuesday afternoon.  I'd had a 2 hour nap that day (I had a stomach virus Monday & Tuesday), and I was anxious to at least get out in my front yard (but not too far from the bathroom!) So, I sat outside with 2 dogs and a senile cat.  (Loki must be about 19 years old now...)  I had to rearrange a couple of bird feeders and bring in the huge trash can that I've place a couple of clay pot bottoms on for the birds.  It wasn't long before I could hear the twitter and the swish of dove wings as birds appeared!

And, while I was uploading my photos, yup...the Cooper's hawk swooped down and through all the trees after the doves.  Apparently he/she didn't get anything because he/she was back yesterday afternoon, too.  I only know it was the hawk because it is bigger than any of the doves and its feathers are much darker and browner.  It moves to quickly that I often just see a blur of feathers!

Scary encounter and a TRUE story!

I used to swing by one of my favorite places up in Garner Valley quite often to drive out and look for red-tailed hawks.  I don't do that anymore.  And, I'll tell you why...

A few years ago, hubby and I were out there together one Saturday morning.  The local gun club was out shooting in a canyon a little bit away.  We could hear them.  We have NEVER feared them.  They are responsible citizens.  However, they have now been banned from shooting in this area, due to the fire danger because of our current drought conditions.

I did drive partway out there this past weekend and I could hear gunshots, so I turned around.  I was traveling alone.

So, anyway, hubby and I were driving along in his car this one morning and we stopped to take photos.  The gun club was a ways away.  A lone male approached our car and asked if we were part of that group.  I was on the driver's side...hubby was at the back of the car.  YES, he (hubby) DID have his gun in the back (magazine clip in the front).  I told the guy, "No, we're just photographers."  I noticed hubby's body language.  He was tense.  He was easing toward the back of the car.  Over the years, I've learned to trust his instincts and SOMETHING didn't set right with him about this guy.

I'm only telling you this to protect yourself (yourselves).  Look, we ALL go out by ourselves or with a loved one.  IF you get bad vibes about a person, TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS!

Anyway, hubby motioned for me to get BACK in the car with his eyes, so I did.  I noticed that he gathered himself up big and tall and confronted the guy saying, "We're heading over to the group now."

WFT?  Excuse me?

It was only later that he told me he had a really bad vibe about the guy.  We got outta there as quickly as we could.  Later, in the newspaper, we read about...YES...a SERIAL KILLER who was targeting couples in the Inland Empire and California.  OMG!  Was that him?  Or, was he an innocent person just asking a question?  We'll never know.  But, I can say, that encounter sure did change my habits!

Now, I'm usually the one to pick up negative energy and I didn't get any from the guy, but obviously hubby did.  So, I'm telling you...PLEASE be aware of the people in your surroundings.  I'd like to think that hubby confronted this fella and possibly saved our lives.  And, yes, the killer WAS in our area at that time.

No joke.  This story is REAL.  I'm a lot more careful now and I don't drive off by myself any more.  And, yes, I do know how to shoot a gun.  Both my dad and hubby taught me and we've taught our kids.
 Do we carry a gun with us now?  You betcha.  And, yes, hubby had his with him that day, not that it would have done us any good...just saying.  Please, folks, be careful!

Al, over at Travels with the Bayfield Bunch, brought up this subject a couple of days ago.  You can go HERE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/2014/03/we-had-us-bit-of-pheebe-emergency-this.html to read his thoughts.

Stomach virus!

RV Sue had a stomach virus over the weekend and so did I.  It started Sunday afternoon with a bad headache.  I don't usually get headaches.  We had pasta for dinner and I enjoyed that, but I was extremely tired.  By Monday morning, FORGET IT...I wasn't going to school.  After running to the bathroom several times, I was exhausted.  Back to bed I went.  Now, THAT is unsual.  I can count on one hand the mornings I have returned to bed.  Let's face it...I'm a morning person!  I'm not going to waste an entire morning in bed unless I'm SICK!  I managed to feed the cats, feed the dogs, and feed the birds, but that was it.  Yes, a WASTE of a day!   :-(  Still have a touch of it this morning, and I had another headache last night, but the headache is gone today and I'll straggle down to school.  I'm sure that's where I got this, anyway...

Photos from the Whitewater Preserve on Sunday, while we were briefly there...

Palo Verde blossoms~Today's Flowers~030914

I took a walk up at the Santa Rosa Mountains visitor center this morning, since I woke up at 6:00 a.m. (new time) and it was still dark.  I was READY to go by 7:30!  So, off I went!  Did a nice walk up there and I really noticed the palo verde trees, which are now blooming.  Hmmm...they don't usually bloom until late April/early May, so indeed we are having a weird spring!  I could hear bees in the blossoms, so I used my telefoto lens!  Today's Flowers for March 9, 2014.   To visit Today's Flowers, go to this link:   http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/