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.

Frustrated. Cannot figure out how to make this thing look good. But a beautiful  

spring day after too much winter has inspired me to put make a change even if it is wrong. 

The blogger 'help' doesn't help me. Wish I could just create this in InDesign and post.

 Anyway - it's spring, at least for a few days.

good reading

thank you ancients

Thank you, ancients, for giving us so many of our Christmas customs of today.

As the sun diminished, many thought the world was waning.

But evergreens grew; thus, we have Christmas trees.

etc.

I welcome the shortest day of the year

welcome the return of sun

welcome winter

hope for snow or rain or both

wish all a joyous Christmas

celebrate family

celebrate the gifts of nature

celebrate the coming of a new year

the sun has set on the longest day of the year

new beginnings tomorrow

'tis the season

Auntie B (Patrick's name for Brooke) decided it was time to make Christmas cookies.

Patrick helped roll them out, cut them, and decorate them.

Auntie B is very patient.

Patrick wanted the dough, not the cookies.

He takes after Grammie.

The only reason to make Christmas cookies

is to eat the dough - of course!

Merry Christmas everyone.

welcoming the season

Papa, Josh and Patrick welcoming the new season

at Christmas tree lighting - and fireworks.

Patrick watched and watched

and then the big bangs - those that just make noise

started.

He put up his hand in the stop position

but kept watching even though

the sound was disconcerting.

Let this wonderful season begin

and be in the hearts of

each and every one of us.

Feel so lucky to have this new heart,

new eyes,

new soul,

to share Christmas with.

thankful

Many mornings this is what greets me on my runs.

It's the little things.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Better late than …

I tried to post these right after I took them.

Blogger had it's own ideas.

I got frustrated and haven't been back here since.

But now - some family Halloween fun. 

it appears Blogger is at it again and will not put

in sequence I want - beginning to end -

but I'll post anyway!

the final product

Oh, this is supposed to be the last photo - Patrick Trick or Treating.
Why is blogger so weird!!

Patrick loved his little pumpkin.

pumpkin hunting

So it was Sunday and time for a visit to the pumpkin patch.

Patrick spotted the mechanical bull.

Ride. Ride. Ride. Ride.

He was mesmerized and that's all he could say.

Auntie agreed to take him.

She screamed and laughed a lot.

He held on like a trooper.

And then it was time to choose pumpkins.

He chose one. Then two.

And then just kept piling them in my wheelbarrow.

We decided he was collecting them like eggs from laying hens.

We let him choose two.

Next up will be the carving.

Love Halloween.

high hopes

 Found this little guy one morning in the Virgina Creeper that hangs from the gazebo.

He was working away on the web,

and each day I would go out to check on him.

One day the web was a mess.

Had a bird eaten him? In subsequent days, the web was repaired,

damaged,

repaired.

mr. spider was busy.

The web is gone now.

Still think I can learn something about stick-to-it-tiveness

a family outing

My little family drove up to Lake Tahoe to see the Kokanee spawning in Taylor Creek.

These are landlocked salmon, born in Taylor Creek.

They swim to the lake for some life, 

then back to Taylor Creek to spawn and die

The circle of life.

the lake is beautiful in the fall;

an outing with the family is the best.

Here they are in their final beauty.

the guys have hooked jaws; the gals turn flashy red and green.

 Grandson Patrick mugs for the camera.

Auntie Brooke, Uncle Perry and Papa look on.

 Patrick and his dad, Josh,

after hiking to the lake's shore.

 Can't get enough of this little guy, standing on the roots of a fallen Jeffrey pine.

 Patrick's mom & dad on the left

Auntie and Uncle to the right

Grammie

desert in fall finery

The trees are still green

the roses are still blooming

the rabbitbrush is welcoming fall in it's autumn finery

it's plentiful

it's beautiful

… and it's the desert's ragweed

can't have everything