Spring in the desert

The desert is brightly colored with spring blooms right now and they make a nice contrast to the snow-covered mountains.  I took these pics a couple of weeks ago.  The citrus trees are blooming, the acacias are blooming, an even some of the cacti are starting to bloom.  We are having an early spring here this year and the wildflowers are pretty much non-existent.  It's just been too dry and we've had too little rain...sigh...but there is always next year!

Transitions~Almond blossoms~Sunday stills Challenge~031812

A few weeks ago, up at the horse ranch, the almond trees were blooming.  They are all through blooming now, but I did manage to get a few photos of them while the blossoms were out in full bloom.  They only bloom a short while and I'm glad that I was able to see them this year.  I remember that I missed this spectacular show last year.  Sunday Stills Challenge for March 18, 2012.

SNOW!!!

We've had a huge winter storm move through the valley the last two days.  So, this morning, I drove hubby to work and I took some photos of the newly-deposited snow.  I finally decided to drive up the mountain road to see how far I could get (not very far...).  It started snowing again, so I turned around.  Chains were required further up and I didn't wish to get caught in the snow, so I returned home.  Everything looks so different in the snow!

A quick trip up the mountain

I made a quick trip up the mountain yesterday afternoon to buy pellets for the horses before the huge storm rolls in.  I was completely OUT of pellets for all the herd and I wanted to buy some so that they would have some extra calories because snow is forecast down to about 2,500 feet and they are up at 4,000 feet.  Believe me, the feed store was BUSY!  I went to my doctor Thursday afternoon about my right knee (it has been extremely sore for a week) and she thought it was arthritis and ordered an x-ray, some physical therapy for me, and a couple of days off work.  Hmmm...just what the doctor ordered!  Unfortunately, the anti-inflammatory medication she also ordered made me sick to my stomach yesterday morning, so I was pretty out of it. I will NOT take it again!  But by afternoon, I headed up the mountain.  These are just some of the photos I took as I drove around.  I can drive okay, without pain, but the minute I put weight on that leg, I nearly fall down.  I'm going to buy a knee brace today and hope that the brace will give me the support I need.  Anyway, here are some pics from yesterday afternoon.

Just entry gates~Friday Fences~031612

Just some interesting gates around the desert.  Friday Fences for March 16, 2012. To visit FF, please go to this link:   http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/ And, no, these fences aren't really to keep wildlife out.  They are purely decorative.  Frankly, I think they are to keep PEOPLE out!!!!

The calm before the storm

A major winter storm is moving into southern California over the weekend, with snow forecast down to 2,500 feet.  The horses are up at 4,000 feet, so they will get snow.  I have 1/2 day of school on Friday and I'm going to have to zip up the mountain that afternoon, get to the feed store, and buy pellets for all of them.  I hadn't realized that I was so low last weekend, and this will be my only chance before the storm hits on Saturday and Sunday.  We've had parent conferences this week, so Friday we get to leave at 12:30 p.m.  YEAH!

Herd update~March 12, 2012

All the horses are doing just fine.  My trainer came last Tuesday and took each one out and let him or her out into the arena for some "free time".  Apparently Sunni really kicked up his heels!  Unfortunately I awoke Thursday morning to extreme knee pain in my right knee.  I've NEVER had knee problems and I don't know what brought this on, but I took Friday off school, stayed on the couch, and iced it.  I am still hobbling around and when I drove up to the ranch today, I didn't take any of the horses out, since I didn't trust my knee to hold up well.  I cleaned out the mustangs' water trough and checked my feed supplies.  I'll have to purchase more feed this next weekend.  They all got brushed, but Quad seems to enjoy rolling in his pee pile and he is a DIRTY BOY.  I'll have to get to him next weekend.  I only have a half day Friday and with the time change, I'll be able to drive up there on weekday afternoons now!  :-) That's Scout and Cali and one of the Peruvian Paso mares next to them.  I know...look at the hideous upside down chairs! I'm REALLY looking forward to getting some horse time in from now through the summer!