A break in the storms and off I went!

We had RAIN (almost an inch) here Wednesday and Thursday and I saw there was a break between that storm and another one heading in late Friday afternoon, so I took off up the mountain to go buy pellets for the horses.  I had emailed the ranch owner and she said they were almost completely out of their midday pellets, so I knew I had to get up there before the Christmas holiday.  They get 2 feedings of pellets (am and pm), but they all also get a noon snack.  I provide the noon snack pellets and I try to always make sure they have some Timothy pellets and some Integrity senior (for calories).  Otherwise they either get alfalfa hay or pellets for their two meals.

It was a BEAUTIFUL morning here in the desert, with fog all over.  We only get that effect after a tropical storm and Wednesday's storm WAS tropical.  LOTS of moisture, but not cold.  Friday's storm, however, WAS COLD.  Our mountains are now COVERED with snow!!!

I took the time driving up the mountain to stop and take photos along the way.  Here are a few of them:

 Fog moving up along Highway 74...

 Looking down from Highway 74 into the Palm Springs Indian canyons...

 Lone tree and empty field up in Anza...

My favorite view of the ranch.

P.S.  Quad wasn't feeling well (again)...lots of stretching, peeing, he even laid down at one point.  We kept an eye on him, but then he was well enough to go eat more pellets.  The ranch owner said she would keep an eye on him for the next couple of days...sigh...

Progress!

The house is pretty much cleaned up now.  I just do a little bit every day, although yesterday I was a real slacker and I didn't even get out of my pajamas ALL DAY!!!!  It was WONDERFUL!

Kitchen...clean, sparkly, and smells like orange essential oil
Living room...clean
Desk...clean and decorated with Christmas decorations
Lights out on the front porch...ON!
Front porch...swept!
Office...cleaned!  (That took 4 days!)
Bedroom...uh, cleaner, not entirely and thoroughly cleaned, but progress has been made.  12 pair of socks are now matched and put away

Bathrooms...clean and sparkly! (also smell like orange essential oil)
Front yard...clean
Back yard...clean
Side porch...uh, cleaner...still needs some work

I now have a couple dozen pine cones scented with orange, clove, and cinnamon essential oils, so when one walks into the house, you are hit with holiday smells.  My Yankee candles are out and lit most of the time.

My Christmas tablecloth is on the kitchen table.  I haven't done this much decorating in 20 years!!!!!

Laundry is up-to-date and folded and put away.  Dishes are done first thing every morning.  It's nice to settle into a "retirement" routine!   :-)

Our local mountains got a fresh dusting of snow last week.  This is the view from the Toro Peak webcam, at 8,500 feet, looking out over the Coachella Valley.  I stop by their webcams every day to see what they see.  And, we have 2 winter storms moving in starting today and the 2nd one on Friday, so the mountains may get more snow!