Holiday gate~Friday's Fences~113012

I found this recently-decorated gate up in nearby Garner Valley last weekend.  Isn't it adorable?  I'm going to take down my fall leaves which are around our gate and put up some Christmas items this weekend.  Friday's Fences for November 30, 2012.  To visit Friday's Fences, please go to:    http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

Rain today!

We're expected to get some rain here in the desert today.  Not much, just a "trace", but hey...I can't wait to get out with my camera this morning!

Sick already!!!

Yesterday was my first day back at school, after being home for 9 days, and by the end of the day, I had a sore throat.  I coughed all night last night and finally fell asleep about 1:00 a.m....not a good sign.  I'm going to have to dose up on my vitamin C today and come home this afternoon and REST!  I don't want another relapse of my bronchitis, so I'm going to take it easy this week.

Red leaves

Hubby slept in yesterday morning, so I headed up to the horse ranch where I board my horses.  It is up at 4,000 feet in our local San Jacinto mountains.  I always enjoy the ride up there because I never know what I'll see or find.  Yesterday I drove through Garner Valley and was excited to see that all the cottonwoods were beautiful shades of yellow and orange.  And, this tree at the ranch was red.  It seems kind of late to finally see the red leaves as it is almost December.

Just some pics from the week

I can't believe my vacation is coming to an end and I'll be back at school tomorrow...sigh...WHY do days off go so quickly?  We spent 4 days up in nearby Idyllwild (3 nights), then Wednesday with our daughter and son-in-law, Thursday with them also, and Friday with our son (he had to work Thursday).  Yesterday I cleaned up the house and yard and today I'm running up to see the horses. We've had perfect weather this week...in the 80's here in the desert with no clouds, but I see that is ending soon and clouds will return and thus lower temps.  I haven't taken many photos this week...I took a few up in Idyllwild and I'll post them here.  The first one shows the view from the cabin where we stayed, the second one shows Tahquitz Peak, and the last two show the inside of the lodge.  We always rent a separate cabin up there.  They do allow dogs, so we took our German Shepherd with us.  She has wonderful manners.  She's the one I rehomed.  She's 6 years old and perfectly trained!  She is a pleasure to have!

Leaves~SkyWatch Friday~112312

Pretty leaves on a tree up in Idyllwild, CA, which is about another 1,000 feet higher than the ranch where I board my horses.  This is at 5,000 feet in our local San Jacinto mountains.  Hubby and I spent 3 nights there this week destressing.  SkyWatch Friday for November 23, 2012.  To visit SWF, please go to:    http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Idyllwild vacation

I've had this whole week off school (whoo, whoo!), and Sunday afternoon hubby and I headed up to Idyllwild for 3 nights.  We took our German Shepherd, Lady, with us.  This lodge is only one of four up there which allows dogs and she is so well behaved, we knew she wouldn't be a problem.  Also, I've only had her 2 months and I wasn't sure how she would be alone at home with Ripley.  So, we all piled into the X-Terra and went.  There were still yellow and orange leaves on the trees in town and it was delightful!  COLD for a change!  Brrrr!!!  There was frost on the cabins the first night.  Hubby bought firewood for the stone fireplace and we had a fire going the entire time (I know, I know...we're "flatlanders"...not used to the cold.)  Actually, hubby enjoys it.  He grew up in Pennsylvania, so he knows what cold is like.  I'm a native Southern Californian, so I get cold if it drops below 80 degrees!  We took our food with us and he BBQ'd all 3 nights.  I took Lady, our shepherd, for walks out into the areas around the cabin and she discovered squirrels!  She was quite interested in them.  This cabin has a LONG porch on the back, and she would quietly sit and watch them!  It was a great way to begin the week and we're off for turkey with the kids this afternoon.

Quad today

It was a beautiful November day today...clouds, crisp air, the open road...ahhhh!!!!  What a way to start a week of vacation.  We actually get a whole 9 days off (the full Thanksgiving week!)...WHOOPIE!  So, off I went to see the horses and to buy 4 bags of pellets for them.  Quad was anxious to see me (because he knows I'll feed him!) and nickered eagerly.  They were all FILTHY because a storm came through last night and it rained up there!  Sunni was the worst!  I'm glad I had the energy to drive up there, buy pellets, and unload all the bags!  Phew!  I've been sick for too long and I'm glad I am getting my energy back!  Even though it was an overcast day and it began misting, I enjoyed my day up at the ranch!

Desert morning

I often drive up to the horse ranch in our local mountains to visit my horses.  On this morning, the view was spectacular.  I could see all the way across the valley to Joshua Tree national park, on the other side.  It was a crisp and clear morning.  If you click on the photo, you can see a jet trail overhead!  Sometimes I just take my time driving up the mountain and I'll stop at various points to take photos.

Gigo's turn

Finally, it was Gigo's turn.  She never moved a muscle!  GOOD GIRL!

Scout's turn

Watch the ears on all of these photos!  They tell the story.  We begin with Cali being led away from Scout.  Of course, that meant that Cali got to eat the morning's alfalfa.  Scout's ears go back immediately!  "MOM, she's eating MY breakfast!".  She wasn't bad for the farrier...but I watched her ears the entire time and she wasn't happy.  AT ALL!  And, guess where she headed when she was done?  YUP...back to breakfast!

Cloudburst~SkyWatch Friday~110912

This was my view while driving home from work yesterday.  I love it when a storm moves into the desert and we have a change from our clear, blue skies!  SkyWatch Friday for November 9, 2012.  To visit SWF, please go to:   http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Cali's turn

It was Cali's turn after Quad and she did very well, too.  She hardly moved a muscle!  Scout? er...that's a story for another day!

Hey, mom~Look at me! (Quad)

The herd got another trim on Saturday and Quad, as usual, was a good boy!  "Ho-hum"...."Been there, done that~"  He nearly fell asleep!  :-)  ALL of them were good.  And Sunni?  He stood absolutely STILL and didn't move an inch!  WOW!  What a difference!  I had to hold him, so I didn't get any photos and I wasn't about to move or make ANY noise!  The first time he had a snit fit, but that was a couple of years ago.  Solomon walks quietly, talks quietly, and relaxes the horses.  I LOVE my farrier!

Fall fence~Friday's Fences~110212

I was driving around Garner Valley a couple of weeks ago and spotted this gate up there at one of the ranches.  Quite festive, eh?  Friday's Fences for November 2, 2012.  To visit Friday's Fences, and see other entries, please go to:    http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

A view of the windmills

There are only a couple of spots where I can look down and see the Palm Springs area windmills.  There's one brief glance from the road (you can see the road in the top photo), but it is very fleeting.  So, last weekend, I pulled off the road and did a little traveling up a road to some homes which look over the Coachella Valley called Spring Crest.  One can drive up the paved roads there and get a good look at the valley floor below.  And, on a clear day, you can almost see forever!