Looking This Way and That~This Way Thursday 022510

This is my favorite road in Pinyon. And, when I drove up there early Sunday morning, I was greeted with sideways blowing, COLD rain to the south, and clear blue sky to the north. Go figure! That's one thing I love about these mountains~how quickly the weather can change on them. There was a double rainbow off to the west, with the sideways rain, but on the east and north, sunlight! I decided to continue on my way up to my horses and by the time I returned, about an hour later to this same spot, the clouds were completely gone! That's life on the mountain! I have a good friend who lives up there and if it weren't for the fact that all the lots are only one acre, I would move there. But, with five horses, I need more than an acre! It's only a 10 minute drive up and down the hill and the weather is so much more interesting than the desert. And, in summer, of course, being at 3,000 feet is much more enjoyable than being on the desert floor and temperatures in the 120's at times! So, for now, I enjoy driving up there, visiting my friend, and then continuing up the mountain to my horses. But, I certainly do love these mountains!

"F" is for fog~ABC Wednesday 022410

Here in the desert, we rarely have fog. We did have some this year and I ran out with my camera. First, our two 10,000 mountains, Mt. San Jacinto and Mt. Gorgornio, block out moisture from the west. Second, we are over 100 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. So, when we get fog, it is after a series of rain storms, like we had a few weeks ago. The ground was saturated, the clouds were low and clinging on the mountains, and I ran out with my camera. But, up in our local mountains, fog is common. I sometimes run into it on my way to visit my horses, who are at 4,000 feet. As I set out Sunday morning, clouds were clinging to the mountains. I could see them moving across the tops, where it was snowing. And, soon, I drove into fog. I like how it seems to cling to the trees. ABC Wednesday for February 24, 2010.

"My" mountain~That's My World 022310

For some reason, I consider the Santa Rosa Mountains "my" mountains. They are only 10 minutes up the road from our desert home and are a completely different habitat and geologic zone. I love to drive up to these mountains and destress. And, believe me, after a week of third graders and third grade jokes, I'm READY to escape! So, Sunday morning, while hubby was sleeping in, I left the house at 6:30 a.m. and drove up the hill. Now, mind you, our desert home is at 228 feet above sea level. This portion of the mountains is at about 3,000 feet. So, the road up there is QUITE a drive! I love the environment of the pinyon forest...yuccas, pinyons, creosote, manzanita! I frequently see scrub jays. In fact, one of them seems to have got "off course" and ended up in our neighborhood! He's the first I've seen in 35 years in the desert! As I drove up the mountain Sunday morning, I could see the clouds moving in, along the tops of the mountains. I wasn't sure how far I'd be able to drive, as it appeared to be snowing on the highest mountain tops, but I figured I'd just drive as far as I could and then turn around. It turns out, I was able to get all the way up to my horses! I gave them a quick treat of sweet feed, and since it was nearly sleeting up there, I drove home. But, the mountain shared a beautiful morning with me and I thank her for that! It was clear and bright and sunny on the desert side, but the mountain side was dark and cloudy. Later this week, I'll share the double rainbow I saw that morning! That's My World for Tuesday, February 23, 2010.

A sea of yellow grass~Mellow Yellow Monday 022210

I drove hubby out to a corner of the Coachella Valley Preserve Saturday afternoon. We were on our way to our daughter's house for dinner with her, her fiance, and my aunt and uncle, who live in San Diego. It was a good weekend for family. Along the way, hubby and I stopped at these sand dunes and walked back to view them. It had rained in the desert that morning, but by late afternoon, most of the clouds had moved on, and the sky over our desert was blue. Our mountains got another dusting of snow and rain and the clouds hung around them for another day. I like this pic of the yellow grasses. Mellow Yellow Monday for February 22, 2010.

"G" is for guardrail...Sunday Stills Challenge 022110

"G" is for guardrail and Highway 74, from Palm Desert, to Pinyon, has a LOT of those. It is one of the most dangerous mountain roads in the nation. Remember the movie "IT's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" and the car chase down the mountain at the end of the movie? Yup. That's Highway 74. Hardly a week goes by without someone getting into an accident. Just two weeks ago, a motorcycle with 2 people aboard crashed into a car. Two of the three people were killed. Yes, there are guard rails, like the one shown here, but people also need to slow down. And, alas, sometimes, cars DO go right over the rails onto the mountain below. Dangerous beauty is what we call it. Highway 74 should be covered with wildflowers shortly, especially after all the rain we've had on it. I'm going out later this morning, with my camera, to see what it looks like after the snow storm yesterday. Sunday Stils Challenge for February 21, 2010.

Desert sunrise~SkyWatch Friday 021910

After so many days of snow, snow, snow, it was good to come home and see the desert again! And, this sunrise greeted me one morning last week. Who can resist this way to greet a new day? SkyWatch Friday for February 19, 2010.

Beyond the desert~Highway 395 turnout

Hubby and I stopped at this turnout above Crowley Lake, north of Bishop, to take this photo. Last summer, cattle were contently grazing in the pasture here. HA! Look at it now! No cattle grazing!