Snow on the mountains

I took these photos a couple of weeks ago, after one of our recent late winter storms.  I forgot I had them on my camera and didn't see them until I uploaded them this weekend...DUH!!! The snow is all gone and it's been in the 80's here lately.  In fact, it was 90 degrees here on Friday.  Today was pretty warm, too!

morning clouds

I've been taking my little pocket Nikon COOLPIX camera with me on my morning walks because I really don't like taking my big CANON to school with me.  Unfortunately, the COOLPIX has some spots on the lens which I haven't been able to get rid of and believe me, I've tried.  There may be dust inside it??????  Anyway, I was able to capture these photos yesterday morning on my walk.  I don't see the dust spots, but that's because they are there up in all the clouds!

Blogger error!!!

I've tried leaving comments on a couple of blogs this morning and I keep getting an error message...is anybody else having this problem?

Raven~Nature Notes~032912

The desert is alive with ravens right now.  The other morning, as I was out for my morning walk, I saw 2 of them chasing each other.  They must have been males competing for their territory as one divebombed the other!  This raven was perched on top of a joshua tree at Joshua Tree National Park last weekend.  Another time, during my morning walk (AND, OF COURSE I didn't have my camera with me that day!) six of them were swooping and flying right above me!  DARN!~why is it that we NEVER have our cameras with us when these things happen?  So, I just stood and watched the aerial ballet.  Nature Notes for March 29, 2012.  To visit Nature Notes, please follow this link:   http://ramblingwoods.com/

Morning by the golf course

This is my morning view when I'm out doing my morning walk (which now is a hobble...).  But, I so enjoy the sights and smells of the desert in the early morning that I drag myself out there!  I walk around the course (non-golfers aren't allowed down in it...) and I often see other people out enjoying the views and the early morning coolness.  We will be having a "taste" of summer this week, when temps reach 90 degrees here in the desert on Friday, but that's okay.  I can deal with 90 degree temps, but not the triple digits! I keep trying to get there in time to catch the sprinklers running in the morning, but apparently they are watering the course when it is still dark.

Joshua Tree National Park, east entrance~Our World Tuesday~032712

It was a gray and overcast day on Saturday, when hubby and I traveled from the west entrance, near Joshua Tree, all the way through the park to the eastern entrance.  We really didn't stay long at the western side.  Instead, we drove through the park to the Cottonwood Springs area.  There were lots of wildflowers on that side of the park.  Unfortunately, it was quickly getting dark and I didn't get the photos I wanted.  This area has had a lot of rain and the road was full of holes and there were barricades along a lot of it.  I'd like to return and see the wildflowers next week, when I'm off school for spring break!  Our World Tuesday for March 26, 2012.   To visit OWT, please go to:    http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/

Spring buds~Macro Monday~032512

I found these buds on the trees out in front at the Living Desert Reserve yesterday.  We took the grandson there to see the trains because both his parents had to work.  It was warm while we were there, but then clouds formed across the valley and by late afternoon, it was sprinkling, so I'm glad we had the chance to go when we did!  Macro Monday for March 26, 2012.   To visit Macro Monday, at Lisa's Chaos, please follow this link:    http://lisaschaos.com/

Weekend weather~Sunday stills Challenge~032512

This week's challenge was to photograph spring weather in our locale.  Last weekend, a late winter storm came down the whole length of California.  It started snowing late Saturday afternoon, snowed all night, and this was the view of the San Bernardino mountains Sunday morning.  This would be looking up at Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead and Mt. San Gorgonio.  I took these photos on my early morning walk.  SSC for March 25, 2012. We have another storm coming to our area today, but the snow is only forecast for 6,000 feet and above, which means these mountains could get more snow, as they are up to 10,000 feet in elevation.

Desert morning

This was the view one morning as I went for my walk before school.  I tried to walk yesterday morning, but my leg was so uncomfortable and I wasn't able to get up and down the rolling walkways of the golf course.  I gave up.  My aunt and I walked up and down her lap pool yesterday afternoon and that seemed to help my knee somewhat, so we are doing it again this morning.  I'm not going to wear my brace today as it is starting to slip down my leg, which is extremely annoying.  I turns out that I DO have arthritis in my knee, so I'm not sure how long this is going to last...sigh...I can drive just fine, but getting out of the car is very painful, especially when I put weight on that leg.  It was wonderful to be able to walk in the lap pool and I enjoyed every minute of it!

Morning view~Nature Notes~032212

I never know what I'm going to see on my morning walk.  This was the scene last Sunday.  Just look at the golden yellows of the desert shrubs against the background of the mountains.  Oh, and if you click on the photo to enlarge it, you'll spot a cottontail rabbit next to one of them.  The clouds moved back over the mountains and it snowed again later, bringing another fresh blanket of snow to our local mountains.  Another storm may be moving in again this weekend, but we'll have to wait and see.Nature Notes for March 22, 2012.  TO visit Nature Notes, please go here:   http://ramblingwoods.com/

Ducks and mist~Watery Wednesday~032112

We don't often get a view like this here in the desert. I drove hubby to work the other morning, which was after our most recent late winter storm moved through the valley.  I got out and hobbled over to one of the lakes at the resort and this is what I saw...ducks and mist. Watery Wednesday for March 21, 2012. To visit Watery Wednesday, please go to:    http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

Spring color and snow~Our World Tuesday~032012

This pretty brittle bush was blooming when I hobbled about, attempting to walk last weekend.  No, the knee isn't any better.  In fact, it hurts MORE!  I cut short my walk, but not before taking a photo of this bright bush against the background of our local snow-covered mountains.  Our World Tuesday for March 20, 2012.  To visit OWT, please go to:   http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/ 
UPDATE:  This is a desert brittle bush (Encilia faranosa), which is a member of the sunflower family.  The flowers actually do look like tiny sunflowers.  The desert is covered with these colorful shrubs right now and they dot the landscape..

Sunset Sunday~March 19, 2012

I forgot I had these photos on my camera until I uploaded some photos this weekend.  I usually upload my photos as I take them, but I'd taken my camera with me to school a couple of days and I just forgot that I had them.  I'm glad I sat down and looked through them.  This wastaken on one of my morning walks, before my knee problems set in...sigh...My knee isn't any better.  In fact, it is WORSE!  It's really restricting my outdoor adventures! This is a typical desert sunrise...no clouds!  BUT, we had an incredible late winter storm this weekend, with lots of dramatic skies!  Sunset Sunday for March 19, 2012.  To visit Sunset Sunday, please follow this week:   http://www.scottlawphotography.com/

Whimsical Windows and Delirious Doors~031912

More intriguing and interesting windows and doors from Pioneertown, CA, which is near Joshua Tree.  I LOVE the high desert and I enjoy exploring it whenever we can.  It is only about 45 minutes from our home in the low desert.  WWDD for March 19, 2012. To visit WWDD, please go to this link:   http://iwishiwereaphotographer.blogspot.com/

Desert homesteads near Pioneertown

We drove by these two homesteads (or, what's left of them) on the way to Pioneertown last weekend.  The desert is full of such homesteads.  Some make it, while others, like these, do not.  Hey, the top one is FOR SALE!  Any takers?  It's got a great view of...the desert!

Pioneertown fence~Friday Fences~031612

I was really surprised to find this beautiful fence last weekend when we were in Pioneertown.  Isn't it interesting?  It's so unusual to find one like this in the desert.  Pioneertown is off Highway 62, past Morongo valley, between it and 29 Palms and on the way to Joshua Tree National Park, in southern California.  There was a HUGE fire in this area about 6 years ago and some of the town burned, as did many, many acres of joshua trees outside of town.  We saw many, many joshua tree skeletons last weekend.  Friday Fences for March 16, 2012.  To visit Friday Fences, please go to this link:   http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/  

Knee update

I went to my doctor today...sigh...she thinks I have arthritis in my knee.  She ordered an x-ray, which I got done this afternoon, and then I'll start physical therapy.  She gave me some CELEBREX (an anti-inflammatory) and also ordered me off my legs for 3 work days.  I'll need to drive out tomorrow and get a knee brace.  Honestly, I've been in so much pain lately that I really haven't been able to think straight.  If the x-ray isn't conclusive, then I'll undergo a MRI in a couple of weeks, especially if this course of action doesn't have results. I have NEVER had any kind of knee problems, but my back MRI did show a lot of arthritis there.  Thank you all for your concern.

Tracks in the sand~Nature Notes~031512

I've been taking my little pocket Nikon COOLPIX with me in the morning for my walk.  Unfortunately, with my leg like it is, that hasn't been that often.  I go to my doctor this afternoon and I'll find out why my knee is so swollven and stiff.  Anyway, on this morning, which was after a major windstorm in the desert, the desert had been swept clean.  There were ripples in the sand and a few tracks.  This bush seems to be on a major corridor (bottom photo).  Yesterday I saw a lot of bird prints, which I thought were roadrunner tracks, but then I realized that they were ravens.  There are a lot of ravens in this area~more ravens than roadrunners. I always enjoy reading the footprints in the sand and I'm glad I was able to see this before a major winter storm moves into the valley over the weekend.  Nature Notes for March 15, 2012. To visit Nature Notes, please follow this link:   http://ramblingwoods.com/

Pioneertown~Outdoor Wednesday~031412

Some of the sights at Pioneertown, CA, which is about 12 miles from the west entrance to Joshua Tree National Park. I just LOVE old towns like this.  It was a windy day up there and COLD!  I had to bundle up.  However, in the national park, it was warm enough to remove my jacket!  Outdoor Wednesday for March 14, 2012.  To visit Outdoor Wednesday, please go to:   http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/

Joshua tree blossoms~Our World Tuesday~031312

Hubby and I drove to Joshua Tree National Park on Saturday.  We both wanted a day to see something different, so off we went.  The joshua trees are just now starting to blossom out.  They aren't in full bloom yet.  I did manage to catch one bee on one blossom, but, for the most part, the bees weren't all over them yet.  The campgrounds are all FULL every weekend now until the end of April!  If you have a chance to go see them, GO!  The joshua trees are so fascinating!  I'm thankful that we live just an hour away from this amazing national park and if you are ever out this way, be sure you drive through it.  Take plenty of water, however, and gas up BEFORE you enter the park, as there are NO gas stations inside it and it takes a couple of hours to drive from one entrance to the other.  There are lots of picnic tables inside the park, as well as restrooms.  Finally, there are plenty of places to hike.  Just be sure you know where you are going and don't go off on side roads.  Stay on the main ones.  Finally, be aware that desert temperatures can be DEADLY in the late spring and summer, exceeding 100 degrees.  Have a hat and sunscreen.  Also, be sure you have a gallon of water PER PERSON PER DAY... at LEAST.  Enjoy the park's beauty and have a good time!  Our World Tuesday for March 13, 2012. To visit OWT, please go to:   http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/