Merry Christmas.....

Our Location:  Near Borrego Springs, CA


Merry Christmas to everyone! We noticed Santa streaking across the sky in the wee hours, or at least I assume it was Santa, he seemed to be doing a zig zag pattern as I watched and truly the low flying object wasn’t an airplane or they had decorated it with antlers for the holiday season. 

Christmas morning Sunrise, Borrego Springs, California

The moon on Christmas Morning.

 

Morning found a few rain drops falling, just a patter, patter, patter, nothing too much. The wind has picked up and has been pretty steady most of the day. Not a lot of wind but enough to make us know it’s around.
 

Out the living room window.

 

The morning sun playing in the fog/clouds. 

 

A few morning pictures of the sunrise before starting to call back to the winter wonder land that is Ontario. Calls to Rick & Barb, Dad, Jan & Rick, Bradey & David, Courtney & Matt, Linda & Randy and Janet & Dennis here in California all filled a few hours this morning. Snow on Manitoulin Island, a few fine flurries in Lively, nothing in Castor Centre nor Toronto/Hamilton area. Seems Santa found his way to the homes of the above mentioned and it seems they fooled him for another year by being on the ‘good’ list. Either Santa can’t read or he’s getting some bad information regarding which lists some of these folks should be listed on!

Can you see the rainbow?

This is a different rainbow.

 

Riley and I had no plans of any kind and so we just kind of lazed about. No hikes today, a day off. We did journey into Borrego Springs and sure enough there were things open, a gas station, a grocery store, a convenience store and the laundromat had folks in it as well. A quick stop at Christmas Circle to rid us of some smelly trash had us seeing numerous leaves on the green grass. The wind has been tearing them off the trees there. It looked so odd to see them as the grass is usually pristine with nothing marring it’s beauty.

Fog and clouds hung in and around the mountain tops for most of the morning.

Love the shades, shadows and the rainbow as well.

 

 The day was overcast until about 2 pm. We had some rain for 10 minutes, nothing too much but one would have been damp had they been outside in it. The clouds/fog in the mountain tops kept me snapping photos off and on all day. The sun playing it’s wonders with shadow and shade on the mountains also kept me amused. We witnessed at least 2 different rainbows as well. Lots of pictures today. 

 

I love the sunlight in this picture.

 

Such a difference in the mountains depending on the light.

 

Riley and I played Battleship this afternoon for an hour or so. It’s a new game for us and Riley is working at the strategy of the game. We were going to take it with us into town and play a game or two at the tables in Christmas Circle but the wind and over cast skies kept us from doing so. Perhaps tomorrow or another day.

One could almost imagine that might snow way up there on the mountain top, but it isn't.

This looking toward Rockhouse Road, those mountains are usually dark and stately.

  

Lunch was a salad of course, followed by mashed potatoes, stuffing and ham. We had no desire to do anything much and we were quite happy with our limited menu. We of course had Strawberry Jello to finish off the meal. Simple easy lunch. 

Amazing the difference sun, fog, clouds and shadow's make.

The same mountains as above.

 After that we read, watched out the window and just enjoyed the peace of the afternoon. So a very quiet Christmas here in Borrego Springs, California. I hope you all had a most joyous day no matter where you are or who you are with. Great family, good friends, health, love, peace, a roof over your head, and food in your belly. What else could we ask for? 

The sun is starting it's descent.

 

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed your visit.
 

It slips behind the horizon.

 

Until next time…take care, be safe,

 

The fire is fading.

 

Deb

Merry Christmas.....

Our Location:  Near Borrego Springs, CA


Cool again this morning but it warmed up very quickly and very nicely. A few chores before our hot drinks and we discussed the plans for the day, which were basically none. Well that’s not quite true, we both wanted to walk but not in the same directions and so we went our separate ways. Riley walked around the neighbourhood again, while I once again crossed the Parkway to the mountains and began my hike.

 

Sunrise this morning.

 

I walked along this path you see in the middle of the picture.

 

I took the same path as yesterday to get the to the top of the first big climb but from there I swung to the west and began my long journey. I climbed up and down and up and down and you get the idea. I stopped often to take pictures and enjoy the views. My goal was to reach the furthest peak from the Igloo. I didn’t manage that goal but I did enjoy my trek regardless. As I said it was a roller coaster like ride while I walked west but at the farthest point I reached I decided I would walk back along the trail on the top edge of the middle peaks. So I strolled back toward the same starting point at the top of the big climb and while I moved along I again enjoyed the sights and the warmth. I also could see the snake far off in the distance as I headed back in that direction as well. 

You can see how rough the water ways can get.

For anyone familiar with the area that is Henderson Road BLM at the bottom of the picture. The road to Borrego Springs is the long straight dark ribbon. We are parked just out of the picture off to the left.The small road you see coming from the right is the road we took the other day on our drive around.  I do not recall the name of the road.

 

Back home the rest of the day was quiet and peaceful. A very wonderfully relaxing Christmas Eve for Riley and myself. We have no special plans for tomorrow, just another quiet day here in Borrego Springs, CA. I’ll be making phone calls to the white winter land of Ontario to friends and family  of course. A call to my sister in law Janet and her hubby Dennis here in California will also be on the agenda. This is my 6th winter away from Ontario, but only my 3rd one not returning to Ontario for Christmas, while I miss the people terribly I don’t miss the weather or the cold.

 

This is the west of the Henderson Road BLM. The green is palm trees and some kind of pine trees.

If you look off to the right you can see a path continuing along the mountain side, that was my goal but I just didn't have it in me to go that far as I would have had to come back too. Perhaps another time I'll do a more direct route instead of wandering around.

 

From our Igloo to your home Riley and I wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. May the goodness of the season bring you joy, peace and love. May you find in your fellow man  warmth, love and generosity the whole year round, not just during this holiday season. We wish you all a safe and happy festive time.  

 

I love the colour of those far away mountains. Julian, CA is on the top of those mountain although much further to the south than this picture takes in.

 

Off to the east. You can see the snake down there in the bottom toward the middle.

 

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed your visit. Today’s pictures were all taken during my 2 hour hike this morning.

 

Some spectacular views up here.

Well worth the climb. I took that path you can see on the left, it winds down across the middle of the picture and ends up on the right side where it keeps going.

 

Until next time… take care, be safe,

 

Merry Christmas from Borrego Springs, California

 

 

Deb

 

 

 

 

 

A visit to the snake nest today.....

Our Location:  Near Borrego Springs, CA

I slept well last night and woke up shortly before 5 AM PST, I’m happy with that time. I didn’t roll out until around 6:30 AM though, I had no plans for anything today and so I lazed about. A hot drink and a nice breakfast burrito had me getting myself ready to head out for a walk. 

The view out the living room windows.

I would never tire of these views.

 Riley walked around the area in which we’re parked but I wanted to see if I could find the stone snake and so headed off across the Parkway to the hills in the distance. I enjoyed the climb, it wasn’t difficult but it was necessary to pay attention to foot placement as the rocks could easily slip and roll under foot.

A bit rough going in places.

 

This looking toward Rockhouse Road.

 

I had worked up a bit of heat by the time I topped the hill that I was certain lead to the stone snake. I took my time and wandered around taking a few pictures of the views before heading off to where I was certain I would find the creature. Sure enough it wasn’t long until I came upon some stone work. However it was not the stone snake I found first. As you can see in the picture below it’s very season appropriate. From here it was just over there rise to the nest where the snake rests. 

Maybe I missed this last year but I think it may be a new addition.

 

He's a big one.

He even has a forked tongue.

 

The views of course are stunning up on the hill top and I enjoyed them immensely. I’ve also figured out where some of the trails lead and will hopefully have a few more hikes up here to follow some of them.
 

Very colourful.

Do you see the toes on this foot? I think it's the foot of a sleeping giant.

 

It didn’t take long for me to wander down the hillside and arrive back at the Igloo for a cool off. I forgot to take my cap with me today but I’ll remember another time. As I walking across the sand toward the Igloo I picked up at least a couple of dozen nails and screws from past fire pits that have been removed but not cleaned up. I have no idea why people burn wood with these things in them or why one would remove the fire pit and not clean up the debris. How unthinking these individuals are to do such things.
 

Looking toward the dry lake bed at Rockhouse Road.

Just a few of the nails and screws waiting to puncture a tire.

 

Lunch was pasta today as it’s Sunday. Our regular fare on this day. A call from my dad came in just around lunch time for us, shortly after 2 pm. We chatted about a number of things happening up there in the cold frozen northlands of Manitoulin Island. Brother Rick is still crutching it around, his wife Barb was the hostess today for the family Christmas meal. R & B’s children, daughter Nicole, her partner Steve and their 3 children, Isabel, Seth and Hazel, son Jason and wife Leah, and son Jesse with his partner Claudia where all present and accounted for. Barb’s parent’s Wayne and MaryEllen as well as my dad Doug rounded out the table for the feast. Barb is an excellent cook and when I say feast I do mean feast!!

The Igloo is down there in the middle of the picture.

 

R & B’s son Jason and wife Leah will soon be heading to B.C., Canada for a winter vacation which will include sledding, skiing and a few other interesting activities. We hope they have a wonderful and safe trip and enjoy themselves to the fullest. These two young folks are a treat and joy to be around, they are wonderful people, full of life and enthusiasm and adventure. I’m looking forward to hearing about their winter excursion when we get back home.  The last plan I heard was the they would drive out together, Leah would stay for two weeks and then fly home to Sudbury, while Craig (Leah's sister's hubby) will fly out that same day and spend the remainder of the time out there with Jason and they will drive home at the end of the month. Jason has a month off for this little vacation.

 

That would be Rockhouse Road down there.

 

After that we spent our time in the usual way, reading, relaxing and just enjoying the warmth that brings us to the southwest the past two winters. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed your visit. 

 

The Igloo is much closer now.

 

Until next time… take care, be safe,

Deb

A nice day here in Borrego Springs, California.....

Our Location:  Near Borrego Springs, CA

Cooler overnight temperatures here in Borrego Springs had me piling on some more blankets. I did however sleep very well and didn’t wake up until 6 AM. What a wonderful surprise that was. Riley and I enjoyed our hot drinks and discussed some things we wanted to do today. 

Heading toward Borrego Springs.

 

So it was around 8:30 AM that we headed in to Borrego Springs with two things in mind. Our first stop was Christmas Circle to walk on the grass, leave our trash and check out the decorations. I mentioned to Riley how Al has mentioned about bringing Pheebes here to walk on the grass. So a few pictures to help tide them over until they can do that themselves. No vendors today but it being so close to Christmas I guess I should have known that I guess. 

The beautiful green grass of Christmas Circle.

 

Our next stop was the laundry building we’ve passed many times. No we don’t have laundry to but I was thinking of doing a load of blankets while we’re here to just kind of freshen them up a bit. I sat on the bench and chatted with a local California fellow for 10 minutes about various places to see and places to stay. From the laundry we headed out along one of the roads toward the north canyon walls. We eventually found our way home.

The Palms are tall and straight in the Circle.

 

At this point I started setting up our yard. Chairs, BBQ, table, mat, etc. It didn’t take too long and I even managed a chat with Larry from the toy hauler that was parked a short distance away. A nice fella he was telling me if I noticed a coyote running around with a cap on his head I could shoot him with no bad feelings. Seems he left his cap outside last night and it was gone this morning. Larry is from northeast Georgia but is visiting his son and family. They have been here for a couple of days with multiple quads and have been enjoying the desert. Before long they were pulling out and heading home to the son's place here in California. 

 

Not the fantastic shots that Al takes but a reminder at least.

 

After that it was time to sit outside in the sun and enjoy reading. We moved from the sun to the shade and back again a few times. The sun is very intense here and we need to give ourselves a break from it’s rays for a while. I managed to BBQ lunch while reading my book in the shade of the Igloo. Today we enjoyed a garden salad, meatloaf, spaghetti squash and grilled potatoes. Jello of course ended our meal.

Looking toward the west but a little south as well.

 

I talked with Courtney this morning, she’s back in Toronto, Canada. Her first day off of work for the Christmas season and she was enjoying lazing in bed and a bit of a sleep in. She’s excited to be off for a few weeks and is looking forward to doing some cooking as well as celebrating the season with her husband Matt and his family, as well as friends in the area. Cold, gray, blustery day with a temp of -4C/28F. No snow either. 

Prehistoric Christmas?

 

The next hour or so was spent cleaning up dishes, sweeping and tidying the Igloo. No real sunset tonight as it’s kind of a weird looking sky tonight. Almost hazy here in the little valley.

 

Palms along one of the roads we travelled today.

 

 Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed your visit.

Heading toward Henderson Road from a back road.

 

Until next time…take care, be safe,

 

 

Deb