And then came the frozen air…

Frozen air - or Pogonip as it is called here - blanketed the valley for several days.

Most days it wasn't thick enough to stick, but this day

it frosted fences and bushes - or weeds, anyway.

This tumbleweed turned festive the day after Christmas.

Christmas…

Two of my favorite people, Pheenix and Patrick together,

and then one of Patrick  in front of our tree on Christmas morning.

Grandchildren are an added delight.

The frozen pond…

This is what lots of below freezing weather does to the pond.

Big ole snowballs. Solid ice beneath, and then these crystals of - snow, pogonip, 

or as some call it, ice fog.

Whatever it is, it makes for a beautiful scene.

The entire pond was covered.

Winter is here…

At first the snow was untouched except for the creatures who make their homes outside. Rabbit prints are pretty common - this probably is cottontail.

Then a few days later, there was the moon peeking brilliant gold over the eastern mountain range. It takes my breath away, and even though my toes and fingertips were freezing,

 I had to watch the full ascent.

Happy Winter.

Merry Christmas.

Been broken…

I haven't been around too much in the past 7 months - I've been broken. I lost my job, it was a shock both to my inner self and my income, but the broken part is what it did to my heart. I thought the people and worked for - thought that was 'with' - were my friends. It was that sort of job where everyone is working for the good of everyone. Turned out not so much. Let go unceremoniously, rudely, and at the end of a convention that my partner and I had organized for this association. We were told at the final banquet that our services were no longer needed. Maybe you've been there; maybe not. Maybe you survived better. But I've been broken and only now am climbing out of a deep, dark, dank hole.

So what have I been doing - I put out a newsletter, and I do that. But what has really kept me going is being in the corals with the horses. I clean corals most every day. It's always been a tension releaser, but through these months, it's gotten me out of my head - the 'what did I do wrong,' 'how was I so stupid not to see,' 'how could I ever have thought these people were good people,' - all that, but mostly, what is wrong with me. I also came to realize that I have stopped almost everything that is me to do this job. It was very demanding, and I just stopped crafting, sewing, gardening, knitting, imagining, WRITING - really so many things that are part of me. After about 15 years with this group, I found myself - BROKEN.

I think I'm finally headed to repair. Part of that is my evenings with the horses. This picture was taken tonight about 10 minutes before it was totally dark - and temps dropped to low 20s - but it's part of the beauty I see every evening. Right before this, the snow-covered mountains to the east had turned a light blue, the sky a cloudy blue. Each evening I'm treated to a spectacular sunset, an occasional screech of a hawk, a flock of geese heading to the pond in V formation - nature.

Oh - we also inherited another goat, Annie. She is my grandson's goat and oh so cute. She follows me around whenever I'm outside - one of the dogs! This shot taken 2 weeks ago before the snow arrived. Pretty Annie trimming the roses.

Tastes of Autumn…

The wild blooms of the rabbit brush, clouds hanging on the Sierra Nevada, a cold breeze singing through the sagebrush - yes, hints of autumn are here. Had to bundle up this late afternoon to clean corals. brrrrrrr - but refreshing. I'm hoping I can fight my way out of my muddle in this season I love. So far haven't moved the black cloud hanging over me…summer passed by with me barely noticing. I'm so tired.

Brave sunflower…

Brave little sunflower popped up in the middle of a rock path - I'm sure due to birds spreading the seeds. There are plenty of tall ones scattered around the gardens for the birds and bees to enjoy.

Finally, a beautiful sunset…

A sunset without smoke. This is what I've missed for the last month. Nothing like a big sky sunset!

What is this…

While I was jogging in the desert yesterday, I saw this. Wonderful surprise. I've never seen anything like this in our desert - maybe a bird dropped a seed? Anyone know what it is?

Sitting in the garden…

This ole' chair was too rickety for sitting in, so I turned it into a planter for the front yard. It should really brighten up the front yard when winter sets in - bright pink with a backdrop of snow. Hmmmmm. 

Smoke, smoke and more smoke…

No, I do not live in the Great Smoky Mountains. Actually, I don't even know if those mountains have smoke hanging in them like this, but this has been our sky for a couple of weeks now. The smoke is coming from fires in California, one west of us and the other south west of us, smoke coming over the Sierra Nevada range and filling our valleys everyday. Not lovely.

Crafting…

Brooke brought supplies. I added supplies. And we sat down and made candle holders after Monday night dinner. Brooke helped 4-year-old Patrick with his, and new grandson-in-law Danny helped us all. This Iphoto shot shares the warmth of candlelight, the warmth shared at Monday night dinners.

Smoke and sunrise…

We have beautiful sunrises and sunsets here year round - this one is added to by the smoke from a forest fire in California - the  easterly winds have carried the smoke over the Sierra Nevada and laid in thick for days here. Great sunrise…Hard breathing!

A friendly face…

This fellow greets me each time I take this particular morning run path - summer, fall, winter, spring, he is there. I always think he's been waiting for me, kind of a lonely fellow. He's the only horse in this corral. He needs a goat or a cat to keep him company.

…An update on the latest winged siblings. The doves have already flown. They worked their way to the fence and tree limbs, but returned in the evening, the two children and mom in their basket. But last night there was no one home in the basket. These two were apparently anxious to get out on their own!

Creating

This is the second mama and brood we've had this year. The first pair of maters built their next in the corner of the hay shed. It was just a few sticks and, to me, barely had room for an egg. But then there they were, 2 babies and a mama or papa sitting with (on?) them most of the day. Then…

About two weeks ago, I noticed a dove seeming to be nesting in the pine tree right outside my bedroom window - and then about four days later, the nest looked a little odd, like it had been made out of dove feathers. Oh no, there were two live babies in there. I do not know how mama managed to be there for long enough to lay eggs and have babies chip their way out without me having noticed!

Now the worry starts - those babies are going to be on the ground in no time, and we have two rambunctious Corgis who will not feel a scrap of regret snatching them up. So once again, we will have to check the nest before letting the Corgis out. The last two spent a couple of days on the ground in the hay shed before they took flight. That will be the dangerous time - hoping for a safe launch into the blue summer skies!!!

Patrick's first rodeo…

With Dusty the stick horse -

He undecorated a goat and rode Dusty, his trusty stick horse, through the barrels. Luckily, there were really kind judges (and a goat tamer) to help all the little ones finish their runs.

It takes a lot of shoes…

to keep a well-shod horse going…

Monday night dinners are always fun…

Granddaughter practicing her extra-ordinary talents!

Can't get enough of this bloomin' desert

Why I would rather run outside than on a machine in a gym.

Don't know what this is, but had to have a photo.

 The wild peach shrubs are blooming all through the sagebrush.

A good spring does wonders for the desert…

Some kind of daisy - the whole wash is alive with them.

And then there is the hard pan turned into a graphic worthy of framing.