Thursday, August 29, 2013

Autumn

The children are back to school. I live next to a middle school. All summer I have had a creeping feeling that something was amiss. Monday, I solved the mystery. School bells, announcements over the PA system and most of all the children noises were back and I felt much more content.
The mid level school children are very quiet in the morning on the way to school, but Lordy, Lordy come 2:30 in the afternoon and they are full of piss and vinegar. I missed that all summer.
Living in the desert, Autumn is very different from Alaska. Labor Day weekend it is not uncommon for it to snow on the mountains and hills surrounding Anchorage. The colors are turned over night to yellow and red.
Here, in the Mojave Desert, this year we're having higher humidity and the temps are lower. Everything is pretty much the same as last week, except another variety of mimosa tree is blooming and my nose is back to plugged and running.
The mountains are not clear to see with the humidity haze. I can just see the Sheep Mountains, and Little Black Mountain and Sunrise, at this minute I cannot even see Sunrise.
I think you need more pictures.
This is Elk Creek at Elk Creek Campground, Happy Camp California. If you need a very friendly rustic camping place in Northern California with nice Camper and Motor Home spaces this is the place for you. There are some tent camper spaces as well. Call 530-493-2208 for reservations. Roberta Collum is the owner. California does not allow fishing in the creek. There are lakes further up the mountain for fishing. After this weekend you will be certain to get the space you want. The spaces are not concrete. Propane available.
Same spot. I was watching a family of Wood Ducks shooting the little rapids. I watched for the longest time but could not get a photo of them. This is in May of 2010 or 2011. This is pretty close to the natural swimming hole.
That's it for today.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Oh My Gosh! I Forgot.

I said I would post pretty pictures, then I forgot. I blame the heavy duty pain meds. That is my story and I'm sticking to it.
So here we go, some photos.

The cat looks like Ranger, but he wouldn't give a mouse's patootie about dust bunnies.More likely HE ate the cleaning fairies.
Okay, here are some more.

Klamath River, Siskiyou County, California. Pink Daffodil or Mike's black pickup truck, take your pick. I'm looking for the Asiatic Lilies photoa. So far can't find them.

Mike and my two sons on the gold dredge. Klamath River, California. How about some tree moss on Douglas Fir. Elk Creek Campground, Happy Camp,California.
Will search for the lilies and show them another day.

Friday, August 23, 2013

Been there, Done that.

Been gone awhile. I had knee replacement surgery on the 15th of July. Talk about your basic fiasco this time was and still is. The first knee surgery 18 months ago was a dream compared to this nightmare. Different surgeons and hospitals, etc. I had the most lovely view from the third floor of Southern Hills Hospital in Las Vegas. The staff there were terrific and the only thing weird was the food. Even had WiFi and all the comforts of home (sort of). No one could fault the night staff on the third floor, they were very caring and good.I thank them all. Then the story gets stickier. But I ended up with a great roomie at TLC rehab center after I walked out on the first one and threw a mild snit fit about her noise. The new roomie was and is a real character, turns out we live about less than a mile apart, I can practically see her house roof from my living room. The most interesting thing, she has been an Avon lady for 43 years. Yes, 43. Just amazing. She has been in the hospital and rehab for almost all year and her husband is running her Avon business. She is home now, at last, and I wish her the best and have to call her tomorrow with my Avon order. So, I met someone new, and that is always a good thing. The rest of the adventure has been bordering on nightmare. My son has been an angel, picking up my laundry and returning it clean. Taking out the garbage and making sure I have food and getting pastry surprises even when I don't want them. So a big thank you to Brian. He, of course, is really relieved that I can do all the personal cleaning and getting into and out of shower on my own.
I loaned out my camera so I'll have to get you a picture of some flowers grown by Craig two years ago almost. The weather has been so overcast and T-storms, that there isn't much to see anyway. The pictures of my knee is too gory to put on the blog. So you get flowers. Not that bad of a deal.