My husband went to visit our son and his family in Temecula and is now in the hospital there. I don't know when I'll be back online.
He didn't have a heart attack. He had a low heart rate (30) and fell unconscious at the dinner table. When the paramedics arrived, it happened again.
Please send prayers.
Thank you.
~Cheryl Ann~
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Last Child in the Woods
I was browsing the internet the other day and somehow came across some books about nature and children. I've always been an advocate of getting kids out into nature and now that I have 4 grandchildren, I'm "working" on them...hee, hee, hee!
I'm also reading an EXCELLENT book: "Last Child in the Woods" by Richard Louv. Here's the link to it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_2_10?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=last+child+in+the+woods&sprefix=last+child%2Caps%2C202&crid=3OHHK9YKOZGUT
What's especially ironic is that I'm reading it on my Kindle (Samsung)! I'm sure he would NOT be amused, but honestly, I couldn't WAIT to receive a paper copy of his book!
He makes a LOT of interesting points. First, our generation may be the LAST to really get out and explore nature. Do you remember splashing and jumping in water puddles? My grandkids DO NOT do this. Do you remember seeing and exploring earthworms? Same applies. Did you collect pine cones? I did...Did you have a favorite tree in your yard or neighborhood to climb? (I had a magnolia tree in the front yard and an elm in the back. I climbed BOTH of them.) Did you have a park or an empty lot to build forts on as a child? (I did...up at my cousin's house, there was a HUGE oak tree.)
Heck, I used to run around a 10 acre (empty) horse farm as a child. And, you know what? I never once came upon a rattlesnake!
Second, all these things that WE did as children our children and grandchild don't do. I know that in my case, our children don't even have TREES on their property. We have 41 different trees. We have an ENORMOUS cottonwood tree which we planted 35 years ago in the back yard. It is the largest tree in our neighborhood. I hear a great horned owl about 4x a year in it. Today I watched 4 ravens heckle a Cooper's hawk who was sitting in the top of it. Unfortunately, our neighbors are CONSTANTLY complaining about its leaves blowing into their yard and they are steps away from going to the city and complaining. So far, we haven't found a LICENSED tree trimmer who wants to even attempt to trim it...sigh...
I DO make the effort to get the grandkids out into nature. We do spend a weekend or two up in our local mountains, in Idyllwild. I DO go for walks with the 7 year old. But, really, is that enough?
He did read books about rattlesnakes and when one slithered across their back patio, he knew enough to... FREEZE...and then run and tell his dad. He has an 18 month old sister, so he was very brave! Dad did come out and kill it. And, they live right across from a creek which has water, coyotes, birds, hummingbirds, and reptiles. I often take the grandson out there and talk about things and make him stop and listen to the sounds. I need to go back there soon.
However, the grandkids are ALL tied to their ipads, tablets, and even their parents' cellphones. My 3 year old granddaughter almost knows more about computers than I do! And, the grandson can google anything. Last time I was there, he was googling types of rocks! I have turned him into a little rockhound, much to his mother's annoyance!
Anyway, if you have time, DO read this book! I'm really enjoying it. I think back to my childhood memories of climbing trees, sitting in a tire swing in the oak tree, of running all over the hills of Bonsall, and of exploring the desert in Apple Valley and Cathedral City cove...I hope the grandkids don't miss an opportunity to do the same.
The grandson exploring bones at the Los Angeles Natural History museum last December during winter break...
The two oldest grandkids at the Natural History Museum, Los Angeles...
The grandson exploring the koi pond up at Silver Lakes Lodge, Idyllwild.
I'm also reading an EXCELLENT book: "Last Child in the Woods" by Richard Louv. Here's the link to it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_2_10?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=last+child+in+the+woods&sprefix=last+child%2Caps%2C202&crid=3OHHK9YKOZGUT
He makes a LOT of interesting points. First, our generation may be the LAST to really get out and explore nature. Do you remember splashing and jumping in water puddles? My grandkids DO NOT do this. Do you remember seeing and exploring earthworms? Same applies. Did you collect pine cones? I did...Did you have a favorite tree in your yard or neighborhood to climb? (I had a magnolia tree in the front yard and an elm in the back. I climbed BOTH of them.) Did you have a park or an empty lot to build forts on as a child? (I did...up at my cousin's house, there was a HUGE oak tree.)
Heck, I used to run around a 10 acre (empty) horse farm as a child. And, you know what? I never once came upon a rattlesnake!
Second, all these things that WE did as children our children and grandchild don't do. I know that in my case, our children don't even have TREES on their property. We have 41 different trees. We have an ENORMOUS cottonwood tree which we planted 35 years ago in the back yard. It is the largest tree in our neighborhood. I hear a great horned owl about 4x a year in it. Today I watched 4 ravens heckle a Cooper's hawk who was sitting in the top of it. Unfortunately, our neighbors are CONSTANTLY complaining about its leaves blowing into their yard and they are steps away from going to the city and complaining. So far, we haven't found a LICENSED tree trimmer who wants to even attempt to trim it...sigh...
I DO make the effort to get the grandkids out into nature. We do spend a weekend or two up in our local mountains, in Idyllwild. I DO go for walks with the 7 year old. But, really, is that enough?
He did read books about rattlesnakes and when one slithered across their back patio, he knew enough to... FREEZE...and then run and tell his dad. He has an 18 month old sister, so he was very brave! Dad did come out and kill it. And, they live right across from a creek which has water, coyotes, birds, hummingbirds, and reptiles. I often take the grandson out there and talk about things and make him stop and listen to the sounds. I need to go back there soon.
However, the grandkids are ALL tied to their ipads, tablets, and even their parents' cellphones. My 3 year old granddaughter almost knows more about computers than I do! And, the grandson can google anything. Last time I was there, he was googling types of rocks! I have turned him into a little rockhound, much to his mother's annoyance!
Anyway, if you have time, DO read this book! I'm really enjoying it. I think back to my childhood memories of climbing trees, sitting in a tire swing in the oak tree, of running all over the hills of Bonsall, and of exploring the desert in Apple Valley and Cathedral City cove...I hope the grandkids don't miss an opportunity to do the same.
Friday, October 21, 2016
Finally it's Friday!
You know, it is often difficult for us "retired folks" to remember what day it is, so I've started following some daily memes here on this blog and my other one: desertsandbeyond.blogspot.com
Fridays are usually Good Fences and SkyWatch Friday. I love both of these. However, I don't always have photos of fences, so that's a bit of a hit or miss. Fortunately, I got a few fence photos on our Sierra Nevada trip.
Anyway, since it IS Friday, I thought I would end the week with some photos I haven't posted yet. Here they are. ALL of these are from Bishop Canyon.
Ripley LOVED the water! She didn't want to get out. Trying to get a photo of her is very difficult!
Fridays are usually Good Fences and SkyWatch Friday. I love both of these. However, I don't always have photos of fences, so that's a bit of a hit or miss. Fortunately, I got a few fence photos on our Sierra Nevada trip.
Anyway, since it IS Friday, I thought I would end the week with some photos I haven't posted yet. Here they are. ALL of these are from Bishop Canyon.
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Silver Lake and silver jet~SkyWatch Friday~October 21, 2016
SkyWatch Friday for October 21, 2016. To visit SWF, please go to: http://skyley.blogspot.com/
THIS is why we travel...
I always take at least one photo of my husband wherever we are. Here is one that I took on our Sierra trip a couple of weeks ago. It makes me happy to see hubby out in nature...enjoying it!
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Outdoor Wednesday~October 19, 2016
I just thought I would take a day and post odds & ends from our trip so far. I took over 400 photos during our 8 nights up in the eastern Sierra Nevada...
This is driving up Old Mammoth Road...
We saw 3 deer one morning. the other one was behind the rocks...
Boats were out on Lake George, ready for business!
This deer was at Silver Lake. There actually were 3 other ones. One was right behind me!
I love the boats at Silver Lake!
Silver Lake boats and fishermen...
The mammoth at Mammoth Ski Lodge...
To visit Outdoor Wednesday, please go to this link: http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/
To visit Outdoor Wednesday, please go to this link: http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/
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