My mountains were magical yesterday!

A snow storm was moving in yesterday morning and I drove up into our local mountains to take some photos and to smell the wet earth.  Ahhhhh....isn't that a lovely smell?  It wasn't snowing where I was taking these photos (it was misting), but further up the mountains, it was.  I can't wait to get out this morning and see all the new snow.!  :-)  Yes, I have ONE MORE week of vacation!

Long table and chairs~Shadow Shot Sunday~010613

Inside the ranger station/office at the Whitewater Preserve is this LONG table and chairs.  They often have workshops for children there and it gets good use!  They have a volunteer day on February 9 and they will be planting native seeds and plants.  I always wander through the office/ranger station whenever we go to Whitewater because it is so beautifully done inside.  Unfortunately, the office was closed on this day (New Year's Eve), but I'm sure we'll make it back there again soon!  Shadow Shot Sunday for January 6, 2013.  To visit SSS, please go to:   http://shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com/

Leaves and more leaves

I was so amazed by the color and variety of the leaves up at the Whitewater Preserve last Sunday that I wandered around by myself and took photos.  I didn't even know where hubby was!  Aren't they gorgeous?

Cottonwood and blue sky~SkyWatch Friday~010413

This is one of the cottonwoods up in Whitewater Canyon.  Don't you love the blue sky?  SkyWatch Friday for January 4, 2013.   To visit SWF, please go to:    http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Fall colors in DECEMBER!!!

Can you believe these colors!  And, these photos were taken on December 31, 2012!!!  I was amazed to still see fall colors on the sycamores and cottonwoods up at the Whitewater Preserve!

Whitewater River

The Whitewater River runs down the canyon onto the desert, where it replenishes the great aquifer for the entire Coachella Valley, so we especially rely on this water.  According to the water district, it takes 8 years for the season's snow to seep down and be used again.  Isn't that interesting?  So, this year's snow is what we'll all be drinking in 8 years!  Don't be fooled by this river...it can be DEADLY, as people unfortunately have discovered when they swim in it further down.  No, no, no!  This is a quick-moving river!  People used to stop and swim in it down by Highway 111 outside of Palm Springs, but I believe there are now warning signs and it is patrolled.  You can see, in these photos, where the river surged after the storm two days ago.

After the snow storm Whitewater Canyon

It snowed in our local mountains Sunday, so yesterday hubby and I headed over to Whitewater Canyon, which is below the San Bernardino mountains.  It was actually warm up there and I took off my jacket.  We like driving up to the canyon and the Whitewater Preserve.  The trees still had leaves on them, making a nice foreground against the snow!  :-)