Looking for Leprechauns

 

My fake "shamrocks" are easier for me to pronounce than Oxalis. 

Oxalis are shamrock-like plants that produce a profusion of dainty flowers and unique foliage. commonly called false shamrock is a species of perennial plant in the family Oxalidaceae. It is native to several countries in southern South America.

 The shamrock, a three-leaf clover, has been associated with Ireland for centuries. It was called the “seamroy” by the Celts and was considered a sacred plant that symbolized the arrival of spring. According to legend, St. Patrick used the plant as a visual guide when explaining the Holy Trinity. By the 17th century, the shamrock had become a symbol of emerging Irish nationalism.

Just a while ago, I went out to the yards to look for Leprechauns - I saw the dreaded Vinca coming in on the hill. Here it is an invasive weed that chokes out everything in its sight. 

It's a deceiving little booger - because it's so pretty. Do not be lulled in by those bluish petals. 

It was only 6-7 days ago, and we had several inches of wet snow. This white and

 blue hyacinth has been flattened down by the snow. They are trying their level best

 to get upright. I don't know if they will, this year. 

Grape hyacinths (Muscari) are not directly related to true hyacinths, but also bloom in mid-spring and have the same care requirements. This tiny wonder has small clusters of bell-shaped, cobalt-blue flowers.

And of course my loyal California poppies - that no matter what - through rain, sleet, hail, and snow - are always a performer for me. 

I have 4 blooms on the hill - soon I will have many more blooms and no fuss at all. I can't say I have done anything to them - they just grow. 

They were all smashed down a week ago - They are a hardy wildflower here in California. 

I like to have yellows, and hues of yellow in my yard, along with blues. I am not much in for pinks. Not that they aren't beautiful in their own right - I just love the way yellows and blues coordinate. 

I bought 9 primrose plants yesterday and planted them in my 3 flower boxes that are attached to the fence. Okay, so there is a "pinkish" flower or violet-colored primrose. Or would that be considered blue? 

I'm thinking the color violet is part of the blue family with some red in it. 

Yikes, I remember learning this in elementary school - primary colors, and secondary colors...and mixing primaries with secondaries create tertiary colors, and then when you mix...oh forget it. 

Nothing like hopping down a bunny trail...which I might add is April 17, exactly one month from today! 

Take Care until next time - 

May you escape the gallows, avoid distress,
And be as healthy as a trout.

Happy St Patrick's Day! 

PS.  I never found the Leprechauns! 

Wednesday at the Lake

Lake Shasta is considered the jewel of northern California. Planted in the middle of towering mountains and 365 miles of stunning shoreline, it attracts thousands of houseboaters every year. It’s been given the prestigious title of Houseboat Capital of the World.

I woke up to a beautiful sunny day - No rain for a few more days and the timing is great since we need to dry out a little. Last night there were dramatic water rescues when a swollen creek overtook a home in the next town from us. 

My son's friend had to evacuate his home - due to rising water. Today they have lifted all mandatory evacuations. 

So we drove to Lake Shasta - less than 20 minutes from us just to check the lake levels. The news had said, the lake received 6-7 feet of water in 24 hours. 

Driving out this way made me excited for hot summer nights - I thought back to the days when I was a child and lived in the bay area and we'd come up here for vacations. We'd always roll in at night - and the hot summer air smelled so good. 

I’m getting excited for those summer nights - I'm going to need some new hiking boots and I also plan to go through my summer clothes -  it’s time to get ready…

The manzanita bushes are starting to bloom. I saw cows, goats, and lamb as we drove over to the lake, and even they looked like they too, were enjoying the sunshine. 

We drove out to the dam - to see the lake. 

It was windy out but a clear day around 60 degrees. 

Mt Shasta in the distance. 

We stopped to get a milkshake and I had planned to go get some bedding plants for my planters but the husband said his ears were bothering him/itching,  so we came home and he went to the urgent care at the VA - no infection - they gave him an antihistamine. 

Talked to an old friend on the phone while he was at the clinic. 

I did the floors this morning - opened all the windows to air out the house and shook the rugs and let them stay outside to air out as well. 

So that's all I have for you this Wednesday. 

Debby

 

Rain, Rain and More Rain

This is the little creek nearest to me  - it's the size of a river. I drove around to check it out but we're fine. I live among hills - and even though I do have a hill in my backyard, and 3 streets above us, drain into our backyard, we have a sump pump and all seems fine. We even have a backup sump pump, that is brand new and in the box - in case the other one stops working. If we lose power, we have a generator. 

My brother-in-law lives in Watsonville where the Pajara river levee was breached. We also have good friends who live nearby - called them and they are fine as well and just keeping a watch like everyone else. 

Rain is referred to as a blessing after a drought, a symbol of God's love

It's funny because when you talk to people, no one wants to say they are sick of the rain. I know we all are but we needed this so much, it almost seems sacrilegious to say we're sick of something God calls a blessing. 

Psalm 147:8

Who covers the heavens with clouds,

Who provides rain for the earth,

Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.

Deuteronomy 28:12

The Lord will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand;

So I'm ready to just wait it out - try not to complain. I figure God heard us praying for rain during our drought - we prayed and prayed and finally, He hears us and we have the audacity to want it to stop because we want to get on with spring? How selfish we can be! 

Today I heard that Shasta Dam is at 85% capacity. It is even conceivable that if we continue to get more rain, we could fill the dam by May with the snow melt. Now come on now - that is a MIRACLE. The state's biggest reservoir gets filled in one rainy season after years of drought? 

So what if my backyard is a mud pit. So what if I am not able to start my garden. Most likely after a winter rainy season such as this, we'll go back to a low rainy season next year. That seems to be the pattern. 

Maybe God is watching our response to His blessing...

And our response should be nothing short of PRAISE and Thanksgiving for giving us Rain. No matter the quantity. 

 

What a difference a day makes

Source: FORE

Our poor eagle - covered in yesterday's snow. 

Source: FORE

Today is looking brighter - 

The atmospheric river we were supposed to get, either went south of us, 

is stalled or petered out. 

As I was driving into town, the snow on the mountains that surround us, are breathtaking. Today is a nice sunny day - in the 50s and warm when you sit in the sun. I sat out on the patio earlier - it felt nice to take in all that natural vitamin D. 

While I enjoyed it - I am looking forward to warmer weather. We're just not accustomed to this kind of weather  - I don't have real "winter" clothes. I usually wear just a sweater when I go out - I've never liked wearing a big bulky coat. I only have the one big wool coat that I have been using this winter. It had saved my cold behind,  a few times this season. 

However, there is more rain in the forecast. 

I remember years like this - where we come out of a drought, with record rainfall - then it goes back to normal for a few years. We needed it - and Shasta Dam is nearing the top-off level but they are saying it will be May before it is full. The Oroville Dam might be letting some water out today -  to keep the valley from flooding. 

We have dry summers - and that is normal for us. We don't get those summer rains, like the rest of the country. It's just been years since we've had a rainy season like this. 

Be careful what you pray for - you just might get it. 

 

Have a nice weekend - any plans? 

Take Care -

Debby

Sometimes you just have to laugh...

 

It's snowing AGAIN. 

Already we've gained an inch since I took this photo. 

That little pink rose is hanging in there...

My twin cedars 

I just love it. It's been snowing steadily since about 11:30 am without a let-up. 

One thing about snow, it's so quiet. 

At the Cal Vet Home - Navy sent me this. 

Looks like the turkeys are enjoying the white stuff. 

This was yesterday - over by where the eagle's nest is - looking west toward downtown. 

Saturday (weather permitting) I plan to take the walking tour with the FORE club to get better views of the eagles. 

Foodie is trying to get home with his electric bike - Too funny. 

I offered to pick him up in the van but he said he would handle it. 

He's very capable - I just wanted to help out and truth be told, I want to get out in it and drive. 

This is really unprecedented - 

 

This is a graph of the huge atmospheric river that is supposed to hit in the middle of the night/early morning with high winds. 

Yesterday I was in the side yard taking stock of what soil I had - and how much more would I need. Looks like my garden will have to wait...

This little windmill was my dad's, and it needs a little TLC - that I am anxious to get started on. Need to grease the moveable parts - I like the rust but I don't want it to eat through the metal.

This morning, I watched an interesting documentary about the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 that vanished. 3 very good episodes - and of course, they will never really know what happened. I feel for the families that need some answers - 

That's it for me on this beautiful snowy day in California. 

Debby

My First Wednesday Hodgepodge

I thought I would try this Hodgepodge thingy - 

We'll see if I can be consistent.  

 1. We're in a season students call 'spring break'. Did you/your family travel over spring breaks when you were growing up?  Tell us something about a 'spring break' you remember (from childhood or adulthood, either one). 

Not every spring but as a family, we would go to Tahoe, since my folks owned duplexes near Heavenly Valley. Sometimes we would go down to Disneyland for the week. Another time we went to the Russian River - (Guerneville) we would swap with another family who owned a cabin and they would use our place in Tahoe. Same thing with Clear Lake - 

Hmm, so now that I am thinking about it, yeah I guess as a family we did go away more times than not. 

One spring break, my folks took me out of school for an additional week, and we drove back to Tennessee to visit my grandparents in our little VW bug. We hit all kinds of weather on our drive back but was one of the best road trips! Imagine, back then, traveling from San Francisco to Eastern Tennessee - the interstates were just starting to be built. It was patchy at best and we drove through a lot of small towns across the US. 

This was around 1962 - give or take and my Grandpa had never seen a VW bug before. We were a big VW family - my folks owned a couple more bugs and I had a 1968 VW camper van that I kept for years until it caught fire back in 1995. 

I remember one year, as an adult, we took the family to the Grand Canyon on Spring week. We stayed one night in Lake Havasu, Az totally clueless that it was a favorite place for the college crowd - from ASU. It was a party that lasted all night with crazy college kids drinking and diving off the railings into a swimming pool. 

One time we spent Easter week at a Christian retreat, called Mount Hermon in the Santa Cruz mountains. The boys were young and we had a blast. It even snowed. 

2. Last thing you broke? Was it a big deal? 

I've never officially broken a bone - but from the looks of my pinkie toe, I must have at some point in my life. 

3. March 7th is National Cereal Day...are you a fan? What's your favorite? If not cereal what's your favorite breakfast? Your typical breakfast? 

Currently, I am sticking to plain greek yogurt with some high-fiber cereal from Trader Joe's. I'm not a big yogurt fan but it's good for my tummy. 

4. Break ground, break of dawn, break down, break the bank, break one's stride, break the ice, break a law, break a habit, break bread...choose one of the idioms listed and tell us how it applies to your life currently. 

I'm thinking, of "breaking my mold" by finally participating in this Hodgepodge.  

5. Where do you go to connect with friends and family? What do you like to do most when you're home alone? 

I love being home alone. I'm an introvert and alone time for me energizes me. My friends and family know this about me. Of course, I like to get out and boogie but I am more at ease in small groups or at home.

When I am home alone, (and this may sound strange) but I like to DEEP THINK. I'm not a social butterfly.  I've been this way for as long as I can remember. I enjoy sitting in the sun, with the sound of my little waterfall in the background, and just think about life.  I guess I am trying to figure things out - I don't really understand why I do it, I just do and I enjoy it. I rarely feel lonely and am almost always content. I just need that soul and spirit-strengthening alone time to be able to get back into the busy, hectic world we live in. 

I also love gardening, creating, decorating, and crafting. 

My best friend is in the bay area and we don't talk like we used to - she is busy caring for her mother.  The other two best friends have passed.  I have a few friends here but I haven't bonded with anyone really special except for Margie - and even then, it's not like my best friend Susie or Lana who have gone on. 

It is, what it is. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

So is this where I can go off script?

 Yesterday, I took Susie to the vet - she's such a charmer and everyone tells her how beautiful she is and she eats it up. She received her 3-year shots, her nails clipped and she's in excellent health except that her gums were showing some signs of redness around her molars.  - the vet said not yet but probably next year she will need her teeth cleaned - costing about $1000 but that is covered 90% with her pet insurance. That's why we have it. Both Laydee and her,  are 9 years old. 

Today is a beautiful sunny day - Yesterday after bible study, I brought over a plate of Hamantashen to Margie. Gosh, I hate that place where she is at. At least now, she has a nice compatible roommate, named Mary. 

This concludes my first Hodgepodge post. So I guess now I link it to Joyce (who I don't know) on her blog ??? From This Side of the Pond. 

Take Care,

Debby

Remembering

 

 

Here's Susie about 5 or 6 years ago, looking at snow for the first time. 

The big snow events are now just a memory - We'll all remember back when we get really old, telling the "youngins" about the big snow in 2023. 

It has been fun. NO complaints from me. In fact, I haven't heard any negatives from anybody. Of course, for us here, this is a "happening" and we Californians love "happenings! 

This Friday, we're supposed to get one of those atmospheric rivers

 (A bunch of heavy rain that sits there) 

It will be a warm storm that will melt the snow in the mountains and could bring some flooding. 

This was about 5 or 6 years ago - the main park here which is next to the Sacramento River. 

I'm not concerned for us but those who live around rivers and creeks, are vulnerable, and then for those who live in the mountains, there will be mudslides. We're already seeing some earth movement in town. 

These are some bronze statues of children - that were inundated with flood waters from the Sacramento river. 

Foodie and I braved the waters and went down to take photos. 

Anything for a photo. 

Oh but what a beautiful spring we will have! 

Ah-Choo! 

As for summer, we'll still have our 110+ degree days - and there will always be fires; I just hope they won't be spreading as fast as in the years past due to the dry timber. 

1963

my little sister and I in San Francisco's Haight Ashbury where we lived. 

We moved to Pacifica that summer. 

Remembering back -

The 5th was my sister's birthday - She died unexpectedly a few years ago at the age of 56 and her whole life story as an adult has been tragic.

 I thank God that I have good memories that make me smile - I nicknamed her, Dedo the Rat. A typical little sister who majored in "finking" to our mom about everything I did. 

I miss Dedo the Rat. 

Today is also the 16th anniversary of my mom's suicide. It's sad that she always cared so much about how people viewed her, but it's her suicide that has become her legacy. 

A Monday Morning

Currently, it is snowing here in sunny California. 

Big-sized flakes are dropping from the heavens like manna. 

Friday, Foodie took me to lunch in town. 

We had a lovely time eating and laughing. 

Afterward, we drove to Wiskeytown Lake. 

Saturday we visited with Navy and his wife - 

Sara made us a batch of chicken enchiladas to take home - enough for 2 meals. 

Sunday, went to church - realized we missed a documentary we wanted to see, but we failed to update our calendar and missed it. 

Came home and took a nap. 

This afternoon I will make the dough and the filling for my apricot Hamatashen. The dough needs to rest a day before baking. 

Wish I could share some with you all. They are very tasty, especially with a cup of coffee in the morning. 

I'll bring a plate over for Margie to enjoy, tomorrow afternoon. 

Tomorrow at 2pm, Susie gets her nails clipped and gets to see her Doctor just for a check-up and shots. This silly cat loves to go to the vet - she walks all around the small veterinarian room checking things out - even sits on the computer keyboard. 

I just looked out the window and it has stopped snowing. 

Bummer. I was getting all psyched up for a snow day. 

Have a good one everyone!

Debby

1954 was a very good year - An Eagle update

Pretty flowers from my husband

Happy Birthday to me. I am 69 years old. 

I'm enjoying my day by treating it like any other day. I don't need any fuss over me. So on my birthday today, I did the following:

the laundry folded clothes mopped the floors, shook the rugs, baked a doz chocolate chip cookies, vacuumed, cleaned the kitchen, paid the bills for the month, read a little, watched a true crime show (while folding clothes) and I think that is it for now. 

My husband sent me flowers - that I wasn't expecting. He says I am complicated because I don't want anything. What can I say??? I am content. But it's always the thought that counts. 

Foodie wants to take me to lunch tomorrow - I'll like that. I don't know where we will go but I always like eating out. 

1954

Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands

The day before I was born:

The United States tested its first lithium deuteride-fueled thermonuclear weapon on March 1, 1954, the team of scientists behind the test expected an explosion with a yield of 6 megatons. Instead, the detonation was 15 megatons - 1000 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima - inadvertently making it the fifth-largest nuclear explosion in history, and causing serious problems in the area where the test took place.

The US president was Dwight D. Eisenhower - dang that sounds so ancient. 

And some things never change - the news was as bad then, as it is now. 

Yesterday afternoon, our eagles had some problems. An intruder eagle about 4-5 years old, came into the nest when Guardian (the male) was incubating egg#2. 

A fight occurred and the intruder left. 

I drove by yesterday and saw 2 eagles sitting near the nesting tree - there is a lot of activity. 

The FORE experts say these eagles may be from Liberty's hatch from years ago - when they get to the age of 4-5 years old, they are looking for their lifetime mates and a place to call home and they come back to where they were born. Liberty and Guardian are doing their best to fend off these intruders - 

So far it's been a crazy eagle season and we have a ways to go before the egg hatches and fledges. 

Here's a video of the attack.

   

That's it for me today - Enjoy one of the hit songs of 1954. 

Take Care,

Debby

 

March - coming in like a lamb

Good Morning. 

&

Happy March 1. 

I love March. It's my birthday month. I don't know why, since I know it's coming, but I always get caught off guard. Maybe because February is so short and then BOOM, it's March. 

So today March is coming in like a lamb - clear cold skies of blue.  The snow on the mountains is breathtaking. 

Blossoms are still on the almond tree. I'm still not sure about it.

The fig tree looks fine - hasn't budded out yet. Time will tell. 

With a bit of crunchy ice in my yard, I will look at what plants made it through the coldest winter I have ever experienced. 

My succulents were covered in snow - looks like they made it. 

The rosemary bushes made it and have bloomed - 

even the marguerite daisies seem to be fine. 

I do have some brown and dead parts of some plants I will need to cut off, but they are telling us to not do it just yet - we have more cold/freezing temps and snow coming. 

The California poppies are doing fine - they were all smashed down and smothered by the heavy snow but have bouched back. 

Still blooming - 

The rose I thought might not make it - is looking awfully pretty as it opens up more for the sun. 

Here it was on Thursday - 

Today I will pay all my bills - doing laundry. Take a walk. The husband did our taxes 2 weeks ago and we received no federal refund but did get back a small state refund from the state of California which has already been deposited. 

I'm always glad when that task is behind us. Now it's property tax time.

I'm hoping to make enchiladas today - 

I am dragging my feet on decorating 

this little free church library box, my husband built. 

 I'm just not in the mood. 

Hopefully, in the next 2 days, when my husband goes to his part-time job, 

I will be able to "get in the mood." 

I'm done here - and best be getting my day going. 

Hoping your day will be filled with the anticipation and excitement a new month brings. 

Debby