Valentine's Day birthday!

Yup.  It's my birthday today...let's see...I'm 63 today.  WHERE did the time go?  Gosh!

Anyway, hubby is off today, but has to work tomorrow, so if we are going to do something, it will have to be today.  He's drinking his coffee, so I'll ask him later where he wants to go for a drive.  We've recently been to the Morongo Preserve, to the Indian Canyons, and to Joshua Tree.  However, in 40 years here, I've NEVER been up on the Palm Springs tram!  Probably won't do that today (too crowded) and the Prez is in town for the weekend.  That means roads are C-L-O-S-E-D.  Maybe we'll head to Julian for an apple pie!

Just some photos from last weekend:

Mt. San Gorgonio~SkyWatch Friday~021315

We drove out to Joshua Tree National Park last weekend.  It is a FREE weekend this weekend, so if you want to go, this is the weekend to do so!  It was a clear, bright day last Sunday and there were several rock climbers busy out at Intersection Rock.  I snapped this photo on our way back out of the park.  SkyWatch Friday for February 13, 2015.   http://skyley.blogspot.com/

lavender in my garden

I'm not going up to the horses until tomorrow (day off...) Saturday I just stayed in my pajamas ALL DAY.  ...sigh... I so look forward to the weekends and then Saturday I'm too pooped to go anywhere or DO anything.  I didn't even drive over to Whole Foods and buy lunch.  Instead, I had a two day old box of celery, cabbage, green onions, and other raw stuff that I purchased at their salad bar on Thursday afternoon.  Yes, that's how tired I was yesterday!  I did manage to water all my seeds that I planted last week and weed the area by my sweet peas.  YES!  I have sweet peas again this year.  I forced myself to go out and plant them during winter break and now I'm glad I did.  I'll have some nice color soon.

I do have about 3 or 4 lavender plants in my front yard that I bought at Lowe's.  They are blooming nicely and the bees and hummingbirds really enjoy them.  I love going out with my camera and taking photos of them in the early morning or late afternoon light, so here they are.

3 day weekend!

I have a 3 day weekend starting after school today and I also have one NEXT weekend (for my birthday!)  Whoo, whoo!   :-)  Thank goodness.  But, then NOTHING in March until Good Friday in April, so that will be a LONG, dry spell!

Anyway, I'm eager for this weekend to BEGIN!  I may take my old Nikon with me today and drive out through the vineyards to get some photos of the baby grapes.  This time of year they are just little pinpricks!  They are table grapes and there are a LOT of vineyards around my school.

Have yourself a great weekend!
Take care.
Cheryl Ann
~~Just some leftover photos from last weekend at the park...

Just some color from my garden

Just a little sunshine from my garden out front.  I have 1 daisy bush and I've planted about 4-5 packets of different flower seed mixes.  The seeds have sprouted, so I'll have some more color soon!

Lil hummer

So, yesterday I stayed home.  Well, not ALL day, of course!  I drove to the city park, to my favorite nursery center, and then home.  While at the nursery, I was admiring this beautiful purple shrub and spotted this little hummingbird busily making the rounds on it.  He just wouldn't hold still, so I'm surprised I even got one decent photo of him!  I tried to find out the name of the shrub, but the guy mumbled it and I never did figure it out...Ranch something...I've tried to find it online and can't.  And, of course, they didn't have any in stock.  I guess I'll just have to return next weekend!   :-)

Won't be going up to the horses this weekend

It was rainy here yesterday.  I took my car in for an oil change and the mechanic at Goodyear reported I needed new brake pads and rotors.  Nearly $600.00.  Nope, I said...  Then he reported I needed a new serpentine belt (nearly $200).  Nope, I said.  Then he called back again.  I handed the phone to hubby and he announced, "We'll be right over to pick up the damn car!  Have it ready."  NO further work.  I called our son, who said the brakes shouldn't be over $200.00... RIPOFF!!!!

So, I'm going to have to drive CAREFULLY until next Monday (when I'm off school) and I can take it to my reliable, trustworthy mechanic and have it done.  I wouldn't EVER take my car back to Goodyear.  I won't be going up to the horses, then, today.  The serpentine belt worries me more than the brakes because if it goes, the whole car STOPS.  That will also HAVE to be done next Monday...

Until then, I guess I'll stay around the house today and rest.  I'm trying to get rid of this darn cough.  I even bought some oil of oregano yesterday at Whole Foods.  Man, that stuff is STRONG!  Ugh!  But, I hope it kills this virus!

Stay healthy!
Cheryl Ann