mailbox and sunflowers~~That's My World 033109

Sometimes I just walk outside, camera in hand, and see what's going on. This afternoon, NOTHING was going on, so I focused on my mailbox. I mean, my mailbox makes a statement about my world! It is covered with horses. I found the cover a couple of years ago, when I took off our old mailbox and bought a new one. I bought it, and have enjoyed the covering ever since. That's My World for Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

Yellow sun~~Mellow Yellow for 033009

I like to get out early on the weekends and view the sunrise. This particular morning, the sun was coming up behind the hills near Highway 74 in Palm Desert. I just stood and clicked pictures until I got this one. Not exactly mellow, but it is the yellow sun rising through the mountains! Mellow Yellow for Monday, March 30, 2009.

View from Vista Point

I took this photo last Sunday at Vista Point, up Highway 74, when the wind was gusting! I opened my car door and it nearly blew off! No, really! The winds were that bad! Our front fence toppled over and hubby is in the process of repairing it, since my sunflowers are right up against it! I like the pretty pastels colors of the sunset. Scenic Sunday for March 29, 2009.

Another interesting gate

This one is up in the Silver Spur Ranch area. I LOVE this gate!

desert sunrise~~SkyWatch Friday 032709

This is my view most mornings. An orange sky, trees, and palm trees. Ahhhhhhhh!!!! Skywatch Friday for March 27, 2009.

quail on the patio

When I visited the Santa Rosa visitor center last week, I could hear quail in the bushes. Since I had scared them off, I sat down and quietly waited for them to reappear. And, they did! They were so quiet, but they did reappear. It was a great way to end the week and the afternoon!

front gate

Sometimes I just drive around town looking for interesting photos. On this winter afternoon, I found this front gate. Isn't it beautiful? I like the afternoon shadows on the wall, too.

On a happy note, the wind storm that came through on Sunday, which knocked over a large portion of our front fence and also thrashed my sunflowers, is GONE! I went out yesterday afternoon, temporarily fixed the fence, and cut out two dead (huge) sunflowers and tied up the others. After a good watering, it looks like they will survive. Two are blooming and I was afraid that they had been damaged, but they were fine!

Spring wildflowers~~That's My World 032409

The desert wildflowers and shrubs were blooming and Friday afternoon I took a walk up by the Santa Rosa visitor's center. The views were beautiful, the sunshine was bright, and the air was warm! Ah, spring! That's My World for March 24, 2009.

afternoon reflection

Friday afternoon after school I came home, grabbed my camera, and went for a walk up by the Santa Rosa Mountains Visitor Center. It had closed by then, and I saw these reflected in their windows. While it was deserted and quiet, I did hear quail nearby and saw several of them out by their feeders.

First day of spring in the desert~~Scenic Sunday for March 22, 2009

Friday afternoon I drove up Highway 74 to take a few pictures of the wildflowers blooming on the first day of spring. The late afternoon shadows were lengthening and the day was winding down. This is a view looking down into Palm Desert from an overlook up on Highway 74. Scenic Sunday for March 22, 2009. Please notice that I got rid of all of the frilly "stuff" and went back to minima black. I think it shows the photos better. What do you think?

late afternoon, Highway 74, first day of spring

I hopped in my car yesterday afternoon, armed with the new (old) Olympus that hubby gave to me this week. It's more camera than I've ever had and it takes incredibly clear photos! My Canon doesn't have much of a zoom on it and while it does take clear photos, I'm always somewhat limited by the photos I can take with it. For example, it's horrible for close-ups and right now, with the flowers blooming in my yard and up in the mountains, it's pretty useless. I drove up toward Highway 74 and stopped to take some photos of the desert wildflowers along the way. It's very difficult to stop there and take the pretty purple wildflowers because there are so few spots along that road to SAFELY stop! And, on the turnouts, there aren't that many wildflowers (of course)! The shadows were lenthening during the afternoon and since it was 90 degrees yesterday I got thirsty, but it was an enjoyable afternoon outdoors!

Fiery sunrise~~The way to start a day Skywatch Friday~~March 20, 2009

This fiery sunrise greeted me yesterday morning on my way to school. I stopped along Monterey Avenue, at my favorite "early morning" photo spot to jump out of my car and take it. Aren't the colors beautiful and bright? The way to start a day, for sure! Skywatch Friday for March 20, 2009. Happy first day of Spring! What are you doing today?

Care for a seat?

I found this pretty table and chairs as we were walking along El Paseo on our way to breakfast last Sunday. Aren't they pretty?

desert waterfall~~Watery Wed. for March 18, 2009

This delightful waterfall and others are at Marriott's Shadow Ridge on Monterey Avenue. They aren't always on in the afternoons when I drive by, but yesterday afternoon, they were on. I stopped to take some photos. Very pretty! Watery Wednesday for March 18, 2009.

umbrellas on a sunny day~~That's My World 031709

We headed toward our breakfast destination, The Patio Cafe, on Sunday. It was such a beautiful, warm, spring day! We enjoy The Patio Cafe because, as the name says, you can eat breakfast or lunch out on the patio. The owners are friendly and accommodating! Thank you, Kate and Steve! That's My World for March 17, 2009. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Along El Paseo

We picked up our grandson and his parents Sunday morning and walked down El Paseo for breakfast. It was the baby's first trip down El Paseo and we saw many interesting things! It was a nice, warm Sunday morning and we enjoyed our walk and breakfast! I took all of these photos on our morning walk.

bare aspen~~Scenic Sunday March 14, 2009

Hubby and I took a drive through Garner Valley yesterday. GV is at about 4,500 feet in our local mountains. My cousin, Valerie, has a ranch up there. Aren't the bare trees pretty? Scenic Sunday for March 14, 2009. The first day of spring is next Friday!

neighborhood pics~~signs of spring!

I love to wander around my neighborhood with my camera! My neighbors all know me and my quirks and they are VERY patient with me! I wanted to show you some of the beauty I see on my afternoon walks.

desert hills and moon~SkyWatch Friday, March 13, 2009

There is a transition zone in our local mountains between the higher elevations and our desert floor. Pinyon seems to be that area. We stopped at the overlook there last weekend and I noticed the full moon hanging in the sky. I liked the afternoon shadows and the late afternoon sunlight. SkyWatch Friday for March 13, 2009.

little house on wheels

A couple of weekends ago, this little house on wheels was parked at Paradise Corner. We stopped at the cafe there for breakfast and by the time we were done, it was gone! I'd wanted to take some pics of it, but I had no idea where it was!!!

So, last weekend, we went looking for it. I thought it might have been parked somewhere along the highway in Garner Valley, but nope! We didn't see it! We've seen it parked at Paradise Corner now several times, especially when the weather starts to get warmer. It must have been down in Temecula because as we were leaving the horse ranch last Sunday, there it was! Of course, I had to stop and take some photos of it. It looks like the little houses I posted about yesterday, which are up in Garner Valley and I'm sure we'll see it many times this next summer. Isn't it cute?

little houses, Garner Valley, CA

Right down the street from the abandoned, "for sale" real estate office, are several "little" houses. These are the little ones like some featured on TV and in magazines. They are comfortable for one person and are self-sustaining. I don't know if these are for sale...perhaps sometime we'll have to stop and ask! One even has an outhouse! Hubby and I have seen some trailers built for 2 people, with a bedroom, small kitchen, and living room, but I believe these are even smaller than that! Look at the craftsmanship on these, though!

Sign of the times~~That's My World for Tuesday, March 10, 2009

We love to get in the car and go exploring up in our local mountains! Our horses are up there anyway, but sometimes we just drive other places, armed with cameras! Sunday afternoon we drove through Garner Valley, past the old Garner Valley Realty. Much to our surprise, the building was in disrepair, old, and vacant. In its prime, it was a busy place. And, the sign out front was amusing...a realty office for sale! I have always loved that office~~30 years ago it was where we bought our 5 acres in Garner Valley. We had it for several years and parked our VW van on it and went hiking on the weekends. But, then I got pregnant and we had a baby to support and we couldn't support both on one income, so we sold the property. I miss hiking in Garner Valley, but my cousin, Valerie, lives there and so I still have a chance to visit! Last summer she took one of my horses, Beauty, and boarded her for the summer and saddle broke her. This summer, she'll take another one of our horses, so I'll have many opportunities to visit GV! That's My World for Tuesday, March 10, 2009.