On the Lookout!!!

Spent the day here in training for fire lookout detection at Delilah Lookout, elevation 5,156 ft. and about 80 stairs!  What a view!!!  I learned about 100 landmark features! (or so it seemed) and got to practice with the Osborne fire finder and learning more of the ropes of being a volunteer fire lookout!  It was great!

 

Here I practice taking the wind and temperature reading with a cool instrument called a Kestrel.  It was briskly blowing that day.  As you can see bye the cloudy sky there was a storm approaching.

 

Here you see the Osborne fire finder where the azimuth in degrees and minutes can be determined (sometimes, if you can see the base of the fire!)  A lookout must be just that always on the lookout and continually watching.

Another important aspect of the duties of a fire lookout are to keep other lookouts informed of what has happened when you were on watch.  A detailed record log of traffic and fires and other observations is made in addition to a daily journal of events.  In this way hopefully there will be no repeat reporting of a fire that has already been seen.  As you can see, some spend the night here…I think that would be awesome to see the evening fade and the night stars from the lookout and the coming of the dawn the next day.  Sign me up! LOL

The Beauty of Buckeyes!

Glorious Buckeyes are in bloom!  These crazy trees only grow about four months of the year.  Such stunning green they give in the early spring!  Next the spires begin to grow and fill until….

They blossom in this incredible show of beauty for a few short weeks.  The lower in altitude the earlier the show so we get to enjoy them longer as we travel up and down the mountain. 

 

The white blobs are everywhere on the hillsides…This doesn’t last long until the leaves dry up and turn a rusty brown and the tree is dormant till next spring!  Then we see blobs of dead looking rusty colored trees on the hillsides! LOL

Check out our Mountain Adventure Walk!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Visit at Grandma and Grandpa's house!

Fun times with Jaden and Grandpa!

Reed knows that bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios will always be ready for him when he visits!

 

Never is a visit complete without a ride on the cart with faithful chauffeur, Grandpa!  Up the hill they go!

Gosh, can't believe that Reed is almost five and Jaden is nearing two!  Where does the time go?

Spring, Garden Tour and Metal Art!

Oh happy spring!  I just have to add this one!

 

Poppies cover the hillside!

 

Here is our "uphill" church!

 

Baby blue eyes sparkle in the sun!

 

Amazing...metal art!

 

LOL, I told you we lived in the hills! 

 

Probably at least a mile of this kind of fence greeted us at the Metcalf Ranch.

Here is the artist of all this metal art....  Lyell Metcalf

 

No kidding...this is Lyell's outdoor shower!

 

Another Metcalf original creation!

Thanks for the great delight of seeing "patina" at its best!

Great Spring Pics

Spring comes and goes quickly in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada's.  At the end of March poppies are seen across the valley here but some grass is already starting to turn brown.

Redsmom and I at the nature trail behind the Bear Mountain Library.  What a beautiful flowering tree!

Such beautiful pines in bloom?

Lovely flowering crabapple!

Perennial lupine bushes cover the mountainside.

Poppies and lupine and popcorn flowers.e

I'm long overdue in getting these pics on the blog!  On Friday, March 27th I was blessed to have Redsmom from the chat room join me for a whirlwind two days!  We had SO much fun!

 

  Here you see Redsmom as she sees snow for the first time in her life!  How fun to be there to see her amazed at how cold it felt and see her eyes light up when she saw it so white.  God was gracious and kept all this snow safe and sound for her almost a week in Icebox Canyon.

On Saturday we took the day to tour the Squaw Valley Garden Tour.  It was so beautiful.  This place had flowers and the most amazing metal work I've ever seen. 

 

 

Redsmom could not believe our acorn filled pine tree compliments of the woodpeckers.  Here she points at all the thousands of acorns poked in the millions of holes they have pecked in this tall pine tree up on our mountain.  Thanks for coming Redsmom!  Come again soon!

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you! Enjoy what we did today! Take time to love your family! Our son and daughter-in-law do such a great job of that very thing! Hope you love these pics of the Valentine Snowman!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Snow Much Fun!

Jaden and Reed, too cute, wait for time to go out and play in the snow. An up close of these precious exuberant faces.

 

Lisa and Ray enjoy the snow, too.  Lisa had last night off, Yeah!  And we all waited for the snow.  Ray woke me up at 12:30 to tell me it had begun!   He's still a kid at heart!

 

Little Jaden sure has a bad cold...and didn't feel good at all.  This was about as excited as she got today in the snow and spent most of the time on mom's lap.

 

Ray and Reed having a snow hug!

 

Boy and dog enjoy the big rock in the meadow!

 

Snow fun all done, time for hot spiced apple cider.  Tye leads them in from the meadow!

Grandkids...so much fun!

Wow...Jaden at 18 months and Reed at 4 1/2....time flies!

On the Rhodes again...our friends Glen and Irela head out.

Glen and Irela headed out a day before we did.  This year they had a new to them rig...and are hopeful to make it up the mountain by themselves to see us!  Last year Steve drove down Pete and hauled up their bigger heavier trailer.

Tye says good-bye.  He thought Glen was the best!  Each day Glen would take him for a bike ride...Well actually Glen rode and Tye ran!

 

 

 

 

Hmmm, Grandma here said she needed a grandkid "fix" but Grandpa sure looks like he's enjoying himself.  Gotta love the sheets hangin' over the windows.  That's the way we keep warm in the cold mountain air along with hay bales around the bottom of the rig.

More Arizona Fun

We visited the tank display near Yuma Proving Grounds.  Here is our friend, Irela from Canada enjoying the briskly breezy day!

 

We took a day trip to see

the Imperial Dam and ate lunch in a little park by a best dam site.

  Irela, Ruth and me watching the men sitting on the couch!

And here they are, Steve, and Glen (who goes with Irela) and Tom (who goes with Ruth)...such fun to spend time with our dear Canadian friends!  Tom and Ruth brought to me such delicacies as Tim Horton's decaf coffee, Canadian flour and A&W Diet root beer!

Arizona- The Little Chapel near Yuma

Here is our friend, Tom, about 6 foot 4 in the doorway of a little chapel near Yuma. You can see how tiny it is inside.  There was room for about 10 to sit comfortably in the single pew on each side.

Here is a great pic to show you how tiny it is!  Tom walks toward  Glen and Irela's truck.

Enjoy our year in pics!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Merry Christmas everyone. Our Christmas greetings for you....humming, I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas!

Make a Smilebox photobook

Grand Delight!

Now, I'm thinkin' this is one awesome picture!  Yippee!  Thanks to some dear friends who gave me their old camera when mine broke, I am now back in the picture taking business! Reed looks out the window at morning!  "The sun is up!" he says!

 

It is so much fun watching Tye and the kids play.  He loves them and they love him as this picture shows. 

 

Spaghetti at Grandma's!  Yum!

 

It is so fun to slurp up spaghetti and then giggle!

 

Reed does some Kung Fu Panda moves after filling his tummy with spaghetti. 

 

Jaden lays next to Tye.

 

Now he gets a kiss from her.

 

Tye and Jaden explore down by the creek.  I have a bird's-eye view of them from the RV.

Deer in the Meadow

We had 10 deer in the meadow this afternoon.  8 does and 2 bucks.  They were "frolicking" in the meadow! 

 

This forked-horned buck came right up outside the window!

 

And then he just kept coming closer!

Finally, he took off across the yard heading for the apple tree and the rest of his herd.

Death Valley Views

Death Valley in the late afternoon sun...after the stormy morning.

 

Yes, that is snow on the top of the mountains!!!

 

The colors are so vibrant after a storm....and such contrast between Death Valley floor and the top of the mountains thousands of miles high!

 

The afternoon sun shines through the clouds and lights up the mountain tops.

 

On our way home we visited the Boron Museum.  One of the greatest things we saw was the 20 mule team complete with harnesses and wagons.  Of course the mules were not real!  But they were complete with bells on the lead mules and one horse at the back of the mule teams.

 

I know...it looks a bit unimpressive!  But here is The Wolf...our home away from our home on wheels!  Our wheels are still turning with The Wolf in tow.  I can legally drive it...if Steve will let me get behind the wheel!

China Ranch Date Farm

This is one of our favorite places and a trip to Death Valley is never complete without taking a drive to get a date shake! 

 

The girls enjoy the surroundings while Corky and Ed digest their date shake.

 

Here's a better view with their smiling faces!

 

This year even the date trees near the gift shop were "dressed."

 

The dates are covered each year to keep the birds from eating them.  We love to drive through the date grove and see the different materials used to cover the huge clumps of dates.

 

This bunch  of dates was dressed in men's pajamas!  I laughed so hard when I saw this.  Don't ya just love the dates coming out of the sleeves?

 

Just a lovely day at China Ranch....

Death Valley 2008

We were able to go to Death Valley for 10 days.  This year accompanying us were two 11 year olds from our church and long time friends!  In fact, they were some of Duke's babies that he raised.  Now, they helped to train Tye!  We certainly enjoyed having them.  Here, they had made birthday cards with poems for our dear friend, Corky, who celebrated her 92nd birthday at Death Valley. We had a great birthday celebration for Corky complete with carrot cake!  It was great seeing our RV buddies again.  It rained 3 days out of the 10 days were were there..and had 71 mph winds one morning as a storm approached. 

 

Tye certainly enjoyed his first trip to Death Valley!  Unfortunately, my knee kept me from walking as I had planned!

 

The girls helped for two hours on the composite artist's picture.  It auctioned for $125.   They also competed in the gold panning where the sweet one there on the right won first place!!

 

I had a special treat as my favorite cowboy artist, Dave Stamey, was one of the performers this year at Death Valley.  Don't ever miss a chance to see him!

 

Over 70 riders made the 120 mile 6 day ride from Ridgecrest to Death Valley.  Wednesday was their longest ride....32 miles. 

Sierra Nevada Mountains and The Point

Elevation 8500 feet is Buck Rock Lookout.  This is about a mile above where we camp at the Point...oh yes, a mile, and a trail and 172 stairs!

It's up all the way...lol...and these are the "not so steep" stairs!

 

But the view from there is stupendous on a clear day!

The lookout volunteers even take care of the hummingbirds....carrying up their food from the bottom and sharing the view with them!

Wow!  I actually got in a picture!  Thanks Pennie for taking this one of me and the high back country of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

 

Wildlife alert!  Here is a marmot sitting on a big rock just downhill from the lookout.

 

  All hands to the fire pit as it takes three of us to get out Pennie's delicious Dutch oven pizza!

 

Ah, what a way to begin the day...remembering His mercies are new and fresh for us each morning!  Great is His steadfast love!  Great IS His faithfulness...morning by morning new mercies I see.   All that I needeth His hand has provided...Great is His faithfulness, mercy and love!   My favorite time and my favorite place... I was the only one up to see this gorgeous sunrise, 

Our wonderful stay at The Point was highlighted by viewing God's amazing creation of the universe through Dr. John's and Beth's telescope.  What a special thing to see...star clusters, galaxies, double stars, star globules!

The trees were so happy this year as it has rained in the back country here several times.  I simply love looking at the branches of the Douglas Fir trees...So beautiful!

This was our "maiden" voyage in our "new to us" old RV.  We are calling it The Wolf...you know...Peter(r) and The Wolf! 

Chatter's Luncheon

Can you believe this?  It's so incredible how you can know someone and never have met them in person....this is Beams all the way from New Zealand on her way to UK by the way of Washington state and Canada next week!  It was a privilege indeed to meet my sister in the Lord after talking so very many times in the chat room at www.christianwomentoday.com

This wonderful gathering of chatters was hosted by linda.  (I am going to be in so much trouble when she sees how I gave her some bunny ears!)  The house and yard were lovely, the food delicious and such comfortable surroundings, my shoes couldn't help but want to come off! Thanks linda, you are the best!

Here are Tee, Sonett and beams.  Sonett cried tears of joy only moments earlier to finally meet her online friend, Tee.  Now she is all smiles! Sonett will host Tee and her family for a few days near San Diego before Tee heads back toward West Virginia with her family.

Tee smiles as her daughter, the Queen (Brittany) is so excited to see us all.  Tee's mom and dad accompanied them from West Virginia...across the USA, through Gustav and its refugees all the way to the Inland Empire in Southern California in four days! Beams and Tee have a hug.  More than halfway around the world they came to meet each other and yet so connected because of their belief and faith in Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that binds believers together. So, here's the shoe story! LOL  For those of you who don't know, Tee's "signature" is her six inch heels that she wears everywhere!  mrk, on the left, just arrived bringing Tee her "California footwear"...gold bedazzled flip flops!

  And last, but not least, Tye attended the get together as well, from a special request from beams..that she would get to meet him.  He was such a gentleman and thoroughly enjoyed romping in linda's back yard.  

Jaden is ONE!

Tye and Jaden love each other!  She is always sitting down next to him and he always makes sure he knows just where she is.  He did come around the corner the other day and was so excited he sort of body slammed her and she hit her noggin on the floor! 

Jaden is one year old!  So many gifts for this little lady.  She was excited to take a sneak preview of them.

OK...every beauty has to have a shower picture!  And here she is having a great time in Grandma's shower!

Red Letter Day! No more baby teeth!

Hip Hip Hooray!  No more sharp razor baby teeth for Tye!  He now has official canine choppers!  Delaney captured this great shot of him.  He has sure been busy taking care of the six kids we've had here the past two days. 

 

  Tail up and head down Tye always has his nose ready! If he didn't display so many Queensland characteristics, I'd swear he was a bird dog! As we took a walk in the circle meadow, Evie, Payton and Maddy inspect the spiny gooseberries.  We cut one open and we sure wonder how anyone gets enough "filling" out of them to make a pie.  They were mostly seeds inside!

Remember the Unknown Comic?

Well, here is that Tye dog playing the part of the unknown comic!  He absolutely loved the oatmeal container...for days!  LOL The last several he would jam his head in it and then shake it for all it was worth!  Delaney caught this version of the unknown comic routine!

It was a long awaited day as our son graduated from UC Santa Cruz with his B.S. He has worked long and hard and we are so proud of him. Here are a few of today's highlights!

Here comes the graduate complete with sunflower that each graduate gets.

Proud sister, Karen, was able to be there to see her baby brother graduate!

It surely was an accomplishment to graduate and be a husband and dad!

Dad and mom are proud, too!

Grandma's favorite picture of the day....little Reed tries on Dad's mortar board. I told him I'd be there for his graduation!

Double birthdays = Double fun

Reed is now "officially" four!  His birthday party was a bit delayed this year due to the move into the new house and Dad being gone to school.

And....it was a double birthday as Ray's birthday was in a few days, Lisa planned a double celebration.  There new back yard worked perfect for a summer afternoon party!!

 

Ah, one of my highlights of the day was holding Miss Jaden....who, by they way, loves her grandma!  She is such a sweetie!

Mountain Flowers!

A few weeks back this gorgeous yellow flower began cascading down the mountains on our drive down the hill . (which we have made many times lately!) It only grew at a certain elevation and direction.  I must say it was a stunning drapery of yellow gold! Hmmm, keep eyes on road, not on flowers, is not an easy lesson.

 

But, I wasn't driving when I took these photos.  This is the amazing buckeye tree.  It only grows about four months out of the year.  It gets leaves, which are the most incredibly brilliant green when they appear.  It grows for a short time then these spires begin to grow.  Soon they bloom in this amazingly showy way. 

And...then the very first sign of any heat (we had several days of close to 100 at this elevation) the leaves turn yellow, then brown and cling to the tree which now appears dead.  Next spring the cycle will begin again!

 

I hope you can see this in the photo.  The hillside is just teeming with the spires of the buckeye.  I'll try to get a shot when the hillside is dotted with summer dormant buckeyes as summer progresses.

Tye 3 months-How to Cuddle Lesson

Tye is learning that every time Steve gets down on the floor, it is time for a Tye hug!  He's a quick learner, I must say!

This lesson is a bit more challenging....to lay next to Steve and control his rambunctiousness (that's an O'Reilly word for ya!) and not to use those razor sharp puppy teeth.  He is doing much better at this.  We thought you might like to see how big he is getting as you compare him to Steve's size.