Yellow house and white picket fence~Friday's Fences~030813

I look at a lot of fences these days.  One reason is that I'm thinking about going to Home Depot and installing a white picket fence at the edge of our patio.  That way, I could plant seeds on both sides of it and have a beautiful front yard instead of the ugly barren one which we currently have!  HA~  I've already ordered and planted some black-eyed Susans for one long spot near our porch, but I love the look of a white picket fence, like this one.  Friday's Fences for March 8, 2013.   To visit Friday's Fences, please go to:   http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

Grapes~Nature's Notes~030713

This summer's table grapes are on their way!  The Coachella Valley grows acre after acre of grapes~seedless green one, and other varieties.  They are sweet and delicious in the summer and if you put them in your freezer and then take them out on a hot, summer's day...why, they are AMAZING!  I pass by row after row, acre after acre of vineyards on my way to school every day.  In fact, they cover most of the lower end of the Coachella Valley.  Look at the babies in the top photo...see the cluster?  They are loving our warm temps this week, but a cold winter storm is on its way down from up north and a late frost will be damaging to these young grapes, so I'm hoping we don't have a frost after the storm!  Nature's Notes for March 7, 2013.   To visit Nature's Notes, please go to:   http://ramblingwoods.com/

"Cheeky fellow"~Scrub Jay~Wild Bird Wednesday~030613

While I enjoy watching blue jays, I absolutely ADORE scrub jays.  They are smaller than the blue jays of our local mountains and, for me, more interesting to watch.  Both can figure things out, but, at least it seems to me, the scrub jays are more friendly.  We had one in our neighborhood for nearly 4 years, until the resident Cooper's hawk killed him and ate him for dinner...sigh..."Burt", as I named him, would sit on our fence and watch for my car in the afternoons and then demand his acorns!  I often drove up into our local mountains to collect them by the hundreds for him, since they are only available in the fall.  I'd dole out 3 or 4 for him a day.  He would also greet me in the mornings with a squawk or a fly-by.  He got quite tame and I fear the hawk spotted his antics one day and zeroed in on him and POOF! ~~ he was a goner.  I miss my scrub jay and I constantly seek them out when up in the mountains, or, in this case, at Joshua Tree National Park.  This guy was fairly tame, too, and casually landed in one of the joshua trees for a song and a photo.  Wild Bird Wednesday for March 6, 2013.   To visit Wild Bird Wednesday, please go to this link:   http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com/

Street fair~Our World Tuesday~030513

I don't usually go to places full of people, but Saturday morning I needed to stop by our local street fair and get some photos of vegetables for the Sunday Stills Challenge, so off I went to our local one, which is held at the community college. This is a HUGE street fair during "the season" from October through April, but after that, it's pretty small.  With all the visitors who come to the desert looking for bargains, I'm not sure this is the place to go.  I did find some nice rocks from a vendor who was a former high school science teacher, but otherwise, at least to me, the prices aren't that great a deal.  This is more of a weekend thing to do than a real bargain-hunter's delight.  They also have a good court with lots and lots of wonderful smells, but I avoided that area.  If you want sunglasses or socks or out-of-date dresses, or a purse (I saw one for $75.00), then this is the place to come.  Frankly, I enjoy my thrift stores much more than all of this, but to each his own.  I probably won't return for another year...just too much "stuff" and too many people!  Our World Tuesday for March 5, 2013.  To visit Our World Tuesday, please go to:   http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/  If you are wondering where this street fair is~~it's at the College of the Desert in Palm Desert, from 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. every weekend.  There is also a farmer's market with various stalls of fresh produce (see my post from 2 days ago), but it isn't certified organic.  If you wish to buy organic produce, you'll have to visit one of the certified organic markets which are either in Palm Springs or La Quinta on the weekends.

What is it? Macro Monday~030413

First it goes this way, then that way, then another way...What is it?

It's some kind of glass sculpture near the lobby where I take my morning walk!  Macro Monday for March 4, 2013.  To visit Macro Monday, please go to:   http://lisaschaos.com/

Archway and shadows~Shadow Shot Sunday~030313

While I was out walking yesterday morning, I decided to explore the bathrooms  clubhouse at the golf resort where I take my morning walks.  And, on my way out, I noticed this archway (if you can call it that...) and morning shadows.  Good thing I took a break, eh?  Shadow Shot Sunday for March 3, 2013.  To visit Shadow Shot Sunday, please go to:   http://shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com/

Fruits and vegetables~Sunday Stills Challenge 030313

I decided to participate in this week's Sunday Stills Challenge, which was to photograph fruits and vegetables because it would give me an excuse to go through our local weekend street fair, which is only a couple of blocks from our house.  It's a HUGE, expansive street fair and it's located in one of the parking lots of our local community college.  I hadn't been to it for over a year.  I parked my car, walked across the street, entered the street fair, and immediately saw a man selling all kinds of rocks.  Now, THAT's my kind of vendor!  And, they weren't expensive!  Mostly $5.00 or less, although he did have some really nice ones, too, which were more money.  I bought a heart-shaped rock to take to the kids at school, and then 1 cut, polished one.  He actually threw in a couple more "for the kids".  Turns out, he is a former high school biology teacher!  I may stop back at his booth this morning... :-)  They have booth after booth of fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts.  I stopped by this one booth to take my photos.  Aren't the veggies BEAUTIFUL? Sunday Stills Challenge for March 3, 2013.  To visit SSC, please go to:   http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/  Yes, this is ALL fresh produce.  The Coachella Valley is second only to California's central valley in agriculture.