What's Up Today?

We've had two days of rains. Last night and pre-dawn this morning it sounded like we were in the middle of a roaring river, the rains and wind were pounding us. By late morning, the sun was peeking through the clouds and my yard wandering revealed fresh new life.


My garden gnome is steadily guarding the heart-leaved bergenias. I enjoy their thick, dark ,evergreen leaves. The pink flowers show up in the winter and stay through spring.

The resurrection lilies showing off thick green foliage will soon whither away. Then, late in summer we will be 'surprised' by the Naked Pink Ladies.

My primroses have been blooming nicely throughout the winter. Keeping it real here, you see I do need to do some dead-heading.

This little violet is the first of the season, I was so excited to see it this morning, I decided to share my flowers with you today.

These small, bright yellow daffodils are later blooming than our more abundant taller pale variety. The taller ones are finished already.

They are quite cheerful along the fence line.

I planted these from tiny bulbs two years ago. This is the very first one to bloom and I don't remember what it is. It's very tiny and delicate.

This flower and the following one, I have found randomly growing around the yard. When I find one, I dig it up and transfer it to a flower bed. Otherwise, they get chomped by horses, mules, dogs and mowers.

They are cute and colorful, bloom in the late winter/early spring and I have no idea what they are. But I like 'em!

The white lilac bush is ready to burst! While the purple lilacs are just beginning to show buds.

Sunny forsythia bushes signaling the approach of spring.

Plum blossom on our Elephant Heart Plum tree.

This little yearling tree is thick with blossoms. I am beginning to notice honey bees visiting.

It is a Santa Rosa Plum Tree. I certainly enjoy my little hobby orchard.

The largest bud on our loaded Double Delight Nectarine Tree.

This decorative plum tree is in full bloom. I'd like a few more of these.

Blue skies and white clouds, but NO oak leaves yet.

I hope that your day has been a lovely one, no matter what your weather has been.


Tomorrow, Jerry and I head off to the deep winter snows of Idaho for a few days. His son is home on leave from Iraq and we want to visit before he ships back out.


Keep our military men in your prayers please.

Happy, peaceful trails to you.

Summer Produce and Blooms

Darkness creeps in earlier, the night air is refreshingly cooler, rain is falling in the high country and the oak leaves are falling in our yard. Farewell summer, I'll miss you.

August is a hot, dry time here in California. The grass is 'golden' and thirsty.

The pastures lack green grass, our wild flowers are no longer in bloom, in the country our vehicles are dust covered.

In hot, dry, golden, thirsty month of August we witness the Resurrection Lily.

The stalks seem to grow as you watch.

Bright pink Lily blooms soon brighten the gardens.

One short month and the flowers fade away.

The final day of August was one of celebration. My peach crop was ready for harvest. Our second harvest here at the log cabin was 3x greater than last year's crop.

Tristan was eager to pick the ripe fruit while I documented our great success. I battled three major fruit tree diseases this spring, insects all summer, jay birds that ate every single ripe nectarine. One peach tree survived but bore no fruit, but this tiny little tree not only survived, she gifted us with ten wonderfully delicious peaches. Cool!

Peaches in crystal.

Geraniums have been blooming. Maybe no deer will sneak in to eat them this year.

The summer squash are growing well in some very entertaining shapes. Plenty of zucchini also.

Farewell to August but I am glad that September is here.

Our dusty trails are craving some rain......

Homework Can Be FUN

Class assignment: find, identify and describe 50 different California Wildflowers.
Two months to complete project.
Three weeks left. Areas covered so far include; central valley, our foothills, foot hills further south, coastal area, canyons, American River banks, our yard and pasture and road sides.

Tristan, Cort, Carson and I spent four hours in the forest 30 minutes from here "working" on homework.

We found TEN new varieties on this outting AND we had a 'blast'.


No dust on these muddy but happy trails!

A Perfect Day

This is a big, deep hole in an old Oak tree in our front yard. It's inhabitants have been very busy lately. Who resides in this cozy nest? Can you guess from my picture or post?

Sunday was a most beautiful day. We spent the day out in the sun enjoying our little corner of the world. The fruit trees that I planted a year ago are budding and blooming.

This nectarine tree is thickly covered with pink buds. The peaches are trying to catch up. The cherries and apple trees are just starting to get tiny buds. We were careful to plant varieties that would cross-pollinate successfully.

New flowers are appearing almost daily. They are such an exciting surprise. Many flowers were planted by the original owners of our cabin and we discover new ones each season.

Lavender and purple are my favorite colors.

Another view of that habitat. I wasn't able to get a clear shot of 'who lives deep in there'.

Cort laying down catching some rays instead of trotting all about making sure that everything is in order. That is his job, you know.

Jerry mowed most of the front yard. He left a long strip for me to high-line the horses out for some extra grazing.

We had horses and mules spread out all over the property grazing since the ground had dried from the previous heavy rains. More blossoms on the plum tree.

It was so refreshing to spend the day outdoors working on plants and with the animals.

Then came Monday, and the cold weather returned. Hail, freezing temperatures and frost. I covered my fruit trees with plastic to protect from the freeze. I believe it worked!

Tuesday it was cold and rainy up here. I worked down in the valley an hour from here and it was sunny but a bit 'brisk'.

This morning the schools delayed opening an hour due to the icy road conditions. Brrrr, I have been chilled all day.

According to the folks that earn good money to predict such things, it should start warming up again tomorrow. I am hoping that they are correct.



Happy Trails!