A light dusting...

Today we got a light dusting of snow hardly enough to mention. I noticed that the leaves on the maple tree are starting to bud and the plum tree in the front yard is beginning to get a few pink blossoms.

Local Wildlife

We have coyotes and they usually come out at night. Once in a while you will see one in the day time on our street or crossing the main highway. I heard from a lady on the track below us that they had a mountain lion on their street and that it was stalking her and her dogs when she went out for a walk, but the people on the street were feeding it (a definite no no), and so it became accustomed to being around people, and being fed there.There are other birds that I used to see but they too are scarce now. When we first move up here I saw a mountain quail on our fence, but that was the only time I saw one, and we also saw quite a few California Quail. Before the Bark Beetle infestation many of these birds (shown below) were very common in our yard. Another factor that has changed is that there are a lot more people that are full-time residents now, and that keeps the birds away, I think.



This is a Western Tanager and he is rare to see as well.

This is a Spotted Towhee and he used to be frequently seen but I haven't seen any for awhile.
This is a male House Sparrow. They are also frequently around my feeders, and are around all year.

This is an American Robin. They are pretty big and we used to see them hunting for food in our front yard. They are seasonal birds and are not around all year.

This is a male House Finch. The females are all brown. They are frequently around my feeders and waterfall/birdbath.




These are Acorn Woodpeckers, and I've lost more than one mornings pleasant sleep over these guys rat-a-tatting on the side of my house, not to mention that they are wreaking havok with the paint job!





This is a Mountain Bluebird, and if you are very lucky you might catch a glimpse of one flitting through the trees. They don't frequent my birdfeeders so I have to watch the meadow behind our house to see one.

This is a Mountain Chickadee. They are very shy and it takes a great deal of patience to see one. They flitter and bob around a lot. I see them mostly in the fall and winter months.

This is a Stellars Jay, and he can be quite annoying. They have a very loud "caw caw" sound, but they are also capable of mimicking hawks. They are around all year.

This is a Black-Capped Chickadee and they have a very sweet trilling call. These little fellows are at my bird feeders all winter long.

This is a Black Bear and she probably weighs at least 500 lbs. It's a misnomer that black bears are all black, they are not, this one is cinnamon colored.

Then there's our "bandits". These are a set of twins and were very young when I took these photos. I would never attempt this with an adult.They love to play in the water and are rather partial to crackers and cookies but they'll eat anything including your garbage, which they do every trash day. It's why we have to lock up our cans and put them out in the morning.

These little guys are quite prolific and hog the bird feeders chasing off even the aggressive Stellar Jays. It seems that even if I put food out for them they eat all their stuff and then attack the birdfeeders too!

What garden?

Another Spring is on the horizon and the yard has seen very little progress since 2002. We've been concentrating our efforts on the house for the past few years and as anyone can tell you it's very expensive. But I have made myself a promise that this year I will do something, even if it's something small. As you can see the backyard is nothing to talk about right now. We purchased the porch swing and the picnic set at the same time, but they both suffered casualties this year. I was unprepared for the freak snow storms that hit us and I didn't have time to take the cushions, umbrealla, and awning in. As a result the snow collapsed the umbella and the wind caused a large branch from the pine tree to fall onto the swing awning, and it riped a huge hole in it. I hope to replace them some day. You can also see that river rock eyesore that was the heating source for the Jacuzzi tub that used to be on the deck. The way it worked was you built a fire inside it on top of the pipes, and that would heat the water.

I planted four Blue Nikko Hydrangea bushes in the planter area where the swing is, one near the rock firebox, and one over by the stairs near the hose holder. The one by the hose isn't doing so well, and neither is the one that gets sun all day; it's on the other side of the pine tree, but the two that are in the shade by that rock thing are thriving.

Heuchera micrantha 'Palace Purple' also called fairy bells, are planted near the swing and around the pine tree. They seem to have survived several seasons. I planted them back in 2004. It doesn't spread though like the Dead Nettle does. It's a very pretty, and delicate plant that gets tiny pink bells on the tips of its stems.

Spotted Dead Nettle "White Nancy". I started the Dead Nettle in the area across from the swing. That used to be where the concrete mess from the spa was, and to make the best of it I made a planting area all around the thing, but when we had the concrete broken out, and hauled off they buried the plants under the dirt they were shoveling, and I don't know if they will come back. I transplanted some of it over by the swing area, and it seemes to be thriving there.

Since the last time I took photos in 2002 we had a chain link fence installed, and made a dog run for the puppies that way I can still landscape the backyard, and they can have a place to romp, and take care of business. These photos were taken around noon as you can see we don't get much sun on this side of the yard, so I have to be careful what I plant.

This is where we store the firewood. We started stacking a cord of wood this morning. We usually burn through a cord every six weeks sometimes more depending on how cold it is outside. There is enough room there to stack almost three cords of wood.That is another silver maple in the forefront of the picture. I will might cut that down this year there's enough shade back there. I need some sun.
This is the other side yard, and right now our patio furniture is temporarily set up there. I'd like to move it to another part of the yard because it's not very private there, and the neighbors can see and hear everything we do. As you can see there are a ton of pine needles from the last windstorm. It will probably take about 10 bags to rake up the backyard. The path to the right of the set is an elevated path that leads to the side gate and up to the stone steps. Like most things on this property it was started by a previous owner, and never completed. I had tried planting something between the pic-nic set and the path, but it didn't take.This is the view directly across from the patio set, and it gets some afternoon sun. I have planted some dwarf hydrangea bushes there, but only the one in the shade seems to be thriving. I have plans to make that rock wall more permanent or to use the same kind of bricks that I used to make the steps. That area used to be under the stairs to the deck, and was filled with all kinds of debris. Whoever built the deck just threw all the rocks there willy nilly. I've haven't gotten around to do anything with it yet.This is the other shed we had built, and as you can see we have some junk piled up near it. The stuff on the left side is all of my garden gnomes, and stuff that I put out every year in the spring. Under the cypress tree on the left wild blackberry bushes keep popping up. I'd like to train them against the fence, but they are too far away from it. Anybody have any info on how to move one?This is the stone walkway, and retaining wall that leads up to the front of the house. I'd like to continue this into the backyard. It's a mess right now because it's futile to clean up the yard until after the rainy/snow season ends. As soon as the daffodils come up then I know it's safe to clean up the yard. Removing all the pine needles now isn't a smart idea either because they work like mulch, and keep the plants protected. Sometimes I let the planters go for a year because the needles make really rich soil as they decompose.

On the left is the planter filled with vinca major, and to the right is the area where the two Adirondak chairs were in previous pictures. I have planted a hedge of Indian Hawthorne there. It seems to be doing well, and even had some flowers on it last year. They get plenty of water because of the run off from the roof, and they are in the sun most of the morning and afternoon. I planted a row up by the picket fence, but I don't think they'll survive the snow plow this year. I've planted some vinca up by the street as well, and thought I could put some bulbs in there. I like tulips and peonies. I think a row of peonies should do well along the picket fence. If the vinca fills in, and takes off the flowers should accent one another. I'm trying to work with what survives up here, and evidently peonies are hardy in cold weather.
The Black Locust bush, silver maple, and the hydrangea have grown. In fact I need to trim all the suckers off of the maple. It's jsut so tempting to let them fill in, and hide the neighbors' house. In the fall our yard looks very much like this. We don't get the reds here that they have on the east coast because the trees that turn that color are not native to California or we don't get the proper light, and temperature to make our trees turn that color. Ever wonder why leaves change color? Someday I'm going to make it to New England to watch the leaves turn color. The tree's have almost blocked out the view of the neighbors house, which is this hideous color. Yuck! In the summer they also provide privacy, and a nice view from my kitchen window

This is the view of the dog run from the front yard. In the summer there is a vine with green, heart-shaped leaves that uses the fence like a trellis, and covers the entire thing. I don't know what it is, but it must be some kind of weed because it pops up all over the yard.

This is the view of the back of our house. I had a wreath over the door, but I had to take it down to have the house painted, and I never put it back up. I'm trying to find a low shrub that will cover the concrete foundation. I was hoping that the hydrangeas would take off, but so far I haven't had any luck with the one I planted just left of the door. If I could get one to grow then I would plant one on either side. If they don't work maybe the Indian Hawthorne will. That area doesn't get much sun.
This is the view from the back steps of our house. In the summer this field fills up with beautiful lush ferns, and the trees fill in as well. The birds love it out there, and I get all kinds of wild birds coming in for treats from my bird feeders, and a drink from my waterfall. I don't think anyone will buy the lots because they are impossible to build on, and when it rains a river runs through the gulch.

In the summer the oak trees and shrubs fill in and completely block this unattractive view of the neighbors house.
This isn't one of the most attractive views of our yard. As you can see there's that horrible rock "fireplace". If it were more accessible we might be able to use it as a fireplace to sit around when the nights get chilly, but the door faces the shed, and so it's totally useless, and there is no way we could break that thing up so it's here to stay.
This is just another view of the dog run. When we cut down the black locust tree that was in there it sent out suckers all along our fence line, and as long as I keep them trimmed down to four feet, and under it makes a beautiful green hedge in the summer, and a wall of golden leaves in the fall. The only downside is that since it is a deciduous tree the horrible view of the neighbors unkempt yard and house comes back in the wintertime.

And it kept snowing, and snowing, and snowing, and...

This is what the front yard looked like this morning. That flagpole is about 7 feet off the ground, so that gives you some idea of how that snowbank is. Also if you look to the left of the flag you can see our shed. The storm circled around and hit us again later that morning.

6:46PM ~ It took us about 15 minutes to shovel the walkway and we were just relaxing when we both saw a flash of light that looked like lightning out the side window and then we heard something like thunder, but the thunder sounded distant. I opened the back door and could hear the snowplow on one of the nearby streets maybe it wasn’t thunder at all but the sound of the blade hitting the street. That just leaves the bright light to explain. I’d say it might have been a transformer but the lights didn’t go out. Maybe a squirrel got electrocuted. It just doesn’t seem likely that it was lightening. I don’t even know if it can lightning and thunder during a snow storm. Can it thunder and lightning during a snowstorm? I had to know so I Googled it and this is what I found out...

Thunder and lightning sometimes happen in a snowstorm, although it is somewhat rare, said Fred Gadomski, a meteorologist at Pennsylvania State University. In fact, he said, the biggest snowstorms are those marked by thunder and lightning, a phemomenon meteorologists call a “thunder snow.”

9:46PM ~ We just finished watching a movie and had to go dig out the pathway again, about 4-5 inches has fallen since 7:30. The snowplow just made a run and buried the front of our path so I had to dig it out again. While I was up there I noticed that he pushed some snow up against the side of Eric’s Jeep burying it too, we'll have to dig that out in the morning.

The Nightmare on President's Day Weekend

It rained most of the way here from Corona. I babysat the kids today. When I got to Hwy 38 there was nothin’ but taillights as far as I could see, the line was at least a mile long. The first thing I did was call Linda and tell her of my situation and ask her if she’d mind taking care of the dogs. She said we could stay at her mom’s if we couldn’t get up the hill tonight because the snow was really coming down. (It looked like they got maybe 5-inches in Mountain Home Village, which is below 3000 feet.) Someone came by going the other way on the highway, and said that they closed the road because there was a really bad accident involving multiple cars. I only had a ¼ tank of gas left (I wasn't expecting to run into this kind of snafu), so I went to the Thrifty gas station in Menton and filled up my gas tank at $1.15 a gallon, took about $28.00 but at least I had a full tank now. I used the restroom before heading back up and I thank God I did because it was a long wait. I called CalTrans as I was driving to the gas station and the recording said that the road was open but that they were requiring chains on all vehicles, no exceptions. I decided to stop at the ranger station and put chains on because at least it was dry there and well lighted. I didn’t know if it was still raining/snowing further up the hill. While there a man pulled in next to me and I asked him if they had closed the road and he said they hadn’t got that far and that he was told they were only letting residents up. There was a ray of hope because if they were letting residents up I could go home, however, I still had to wait in that long line of cars. As I approached the viewpoint I could see a yellow CalTrans light board and a bunch of lights, I thought that was where the accident was and that they were going to turn us all back but it was a chain stop with a CHP car there checking to make sure that people had chains on. The whole back up was due to the stupid people who thought they could blow past the chain stop. Since there was an officer there they had to pull over to chain up or turn around and go home. That is what caused all the back up. Stupid People!!!

After I got through the chain stop it was clear driving all the way up the mountain. There was only one time when I had to pull over and that was when a Highway Patrol 4X4 escorted a snowplow past everyone. The road wasn’t bad at all. I made it to our turn-off and ended up behind the snowplow going down our street. I was praying that he didn’t bury our walkway and that there was room for me to park. Thankfully, he didn’t bury the path too badly and he left plenty of room for Eric to park behind me across the street. As soon as I got home all I could do was laugh at how much snow had fallen. The berm is a good foot over the picket fence and its ten feet wide! Just like the last storm.

A Snow Shoveler's Diary

December 8:
6:00 PM. It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window, watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses Print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!

December 9:
We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a lovelier place in the Whole World? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had. Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snow plow came along and covered the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life!

December 12:
The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry; we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man. I'm glad he's our neighbor.

December 14:
Snow, lovely snow! 8-inches last night. The temperature dropped to 20*. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn’t realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I’ll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn’t huff and puff so.

December 15:
20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife’s car, 2 extra snow shovels, and stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that’s silly. We aren’t in Alaska, after all.

December 16:
Ice storm this morning. Fell on my ass on the ice on the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was quite cruel.

December 17:
Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should’ve bought a wood stove, but won’t admit it to her. God I hate when she’s right. I can’t believe I’m freezing to death in my own living room.

December 20:
Electricity’s back on, but had another 14 inches of the damn stuff last night. More shoveling. Took all day. Freakin’ snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighborhood kid to shovel, but they said they’re too busy playing hockey. I think they’re lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they’re out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they’re lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he’s lying.

December 22:
Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white shit fell today, and it’s so cold it probably won’t melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to go to the bathroom. By the time I got undressed, and went to the bathroom, and got dressed again, I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of winter; but he says he’s too busy. I think the jerk is lying.

December 23:
Only 2 inches of snow today. And it warmed up to 0*. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she…nuts??? Why didn’t she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she’s damn well lying.

December 24:
6 inches. Snow packed so hard by snowplow, I broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the son of a b---- who drives that snowplow, I’ll drag him through the snow by his b---s. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I’ve just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the freakin’ snowplow.

December 25:
Merry Christmas. 20 more inches of the @#$%^& slop tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she’s an idiot. If I have to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” one more time, I’m going to kill her.

December 26:
Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She’s really getting on my nerves.

December 27:
Temperature dropped to -30* and the pipes froze.

December 28:
Warmed up to above -50*. Still snowed in. The IDIOT is driving me crazy!!!

December 29:
10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave-in. That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?

December 30:
Roof caved in. The snowplow driver is suing me for a million dollars for the bump on his head. The wife went home to her mother. 9-inches predicted.

December 31:
Set fire to what’s left of the house. No more shoveling!

January 8:
I feel so good. I just love those little white pills the keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

Snow Again!

27.5° feels like 19°

All in all a very cold and wet next few days are ahead of us. Speaking of snow we got hit with another snowstorm. It was big as the last one and it hit just about the time that most of the snow from the previous storm had melted from the last one too. So, we had snow above the three foot picket fence again and 5 1/2 foot berms. Eric is having a war with the snow plow guy. Yesterday just as he was loading up the Jeep the snow plow came by and buried our walkway to the street so he had to dig it out again. Now we have put stakes with blue flags on them on either side of the walkway and we are hoping that he won't bury us again. And now we are supposed to get hit with a storm at least as bad as the last one. That means we will have another foot or more on top of the snow we have now. I hope we don't get snowed in again. I can't afford to not be down the hill for Becca, so that means if it starts to snow heavily I'm going to have to stay at her place until the weather clears up and I can come back home. Unfortunately, both of us will be down the hill when this big storm hits so we won't know how bad it is until we try to come up. Thankfully, our neighbors will watch out for the dogs