A Saturday Walk, and the Christmas Take-Down,
We're all drying out from the HEAVY rain we had. Up to 15 inches of rain in seven days, in my area, which is good news for our HOT, dry summers.
I walked the Sacramento River Trail on Saturday. It was a bit cold, in the 50s, and thankfully, no wind. Once the sun dips below the western mountains and casts a shadow over us, it gets chilly.
Today we have reached a pleasant 62 degrees - nice in the sun, and when the car is parked in the sunlight, getting inside feels wonderful.
I found this funky place to sit and enjoy the area...
Some murals on the bridge
The surrounding area was devastated by the 2018 Carr Fire.
It was nice to get outside after all that rain and flooding. We're looking at dry sunny weather until New Year's Day. I plan to take advantage of being outdoors.
Maybe a day in the snow??
We'll see...
A lovely little flower is blossoming on our hill. We're beginning to notice the early green shoots of our daffodils emerging on the hillside. Typically, they flower in late January, but I uprooted them from the front yard and moved them to the hill last spring, so they might be a little off this growing season.
My husband removed all the outdoor decorations - sooner than we typically do, but with a storm approaching later in the week, now seems as good a time as any, while it is sunny and dry. We decided to keep the icicle lights on the patio up - likely until sometime in February.
I have a few winter decorations that I'll keep out, and I have additional winter pieces to incorporate into the mix.
Today I bought a rolled beef roast from the butcher for New Year's Day. I plan to serve it with Irish mashed potatoes, gravy, garlic green beans, and Tennessee onions, in honor of my Tennessee side of the family. My grandma made the best version with sweet Vidalia onions. I looked through online images for ones that look like hers, since I don't take photos of my meals. Yummm, I love the crispy edges. They pair perfectly with grilled steak, prime rib, or roast beef (my husband calls it Roast Beast).
I also bought some chicken thighs and breasts at the butcher's because I'm not impressed with the grocery store's oversized, Dolly Parton Breasts. They're unnaturally large and on the tough side. No doubt pumped with hormones...
My husband will make pizza tonight...we missed it last week, and we have to have our homemade pizza once a week!
I also had my hair trimmed, which I really needed. My hair is thick - and I have a lot of it. I'm pushing it if I wait 6 weeks.
I don't have anything else on my mind that needs to be said - I'm looking forward to the conclusion of this year and the start of a new one. I love new beginnings.
Lord willing, I'll see you tomorrow as I try to get out at least one last post for 2025.
Debby
That seating is a funky one. Last night we reached 57 which is unusually. Then the high winds came in, follow by more high winds and snow today. Always love seeing that Sacramento River. Janice
ReplyDeleteThose winter temperatures can really drop fast. It hasn’t so far, gotten down too cold. Just chilly for us.
DeleteWhat a nice walk along the Sacramento River trail. And an unusual place to sit and rest. We are supposed to get snow maybe Saturday and Sunday, we'll see. Homemade pizza sounds so good to me. Your New Year's meal sounds delicious, and those crispy onions will be a great addition to the meal. I see Dolly Parton things pop up all the time - just items for the home, but didn't realize she had a food line as well. Have a good rest of the week leading up to the new year. And I so appreciate your highlighted font from time to time. I visit posts sometimes with font so small it's hard for my eyes to read. : )
ReplyDelete~Sheri
I originally wanted that meal for Christmas Eve - so decided I’d treat my husband and I since I had everything and all I needed was the roast beef.
DeleteSorry to hear the area was damaged. Sounds like a heatwave here. Blizzard here on the hill. Very nice though. Started as rain the other day. Then ice and snow and now several snow shovels later, I’m back inside baking.
ReplyDeleteThat’s great that your hubby took care of things before the storm lands.
I LOVE onions in meals and as the star. Would be neat to see your food photos too. I love that when folks share stuff like that. It’s fun.
Wishing you a wonderful rest of the season and a kickbutt good New Year.
Cheers, Ivy.
Baking is always more pleasurable when the weather outside is cold and blustery. I’ll take a kick- butt good new year! 🤩
DeleteThe bridge artwork is lovely, made by a talented artist. My favorite is the Blue Heron.
ReplyDeleteThat was mine, too Ginny
DeleteI want to dig a fork into that onion dish. It looks so good.
ReplyDeleteOh, it’s very good and simple
DeleteI have really been thinking and praying for you all in the California areas that have been hit heavy with the rainfall. My son-in-law works just a few hours away from you all, and even though he has been home for the past couple of weeks, he's been keeping up with the all the rain and flooding. So many folks have been flooded out. Looks like a lot of artist live near by. Lots of pretty art work. I find myself being amazed with the talents of those who paint murals. Even though I do not like onions, I must say, these look good. Wishing for you all a lot of sunshine in the days ahead...
ReplyDeleteYes, Redding was hit hard - because of that conversion line that tends to set up camp over us during heavy storms. It’s because of all the different topography and microclimates we have. Nothing new but this one just happened to be a perfect storm scenario.
DeleteSunshine is nice but we need those BIG water producing storms for that liquid gold. 7-8 months of no rain, we need to bank it up for those hot dry summers!
Such a lot of rain in a short period! I hope the transition from 2025 to 2026 is smooth and enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I’m optimistic for a very good year!
DeleteOh my, I don't know what I'm going to look up first -- Irish mashed potatoes or those Tennessee onions. This image has my mouth watering.
ReplyDeleteHere's to New Beginnings!
Comfort food at its finest!
DeleteYes, I'm ready for new beginnings too. This past year has been a bit wearing and I need a fresh start.
ReplyDeleteRoast and those onions would certainly help me !!!
I'm also getting hungry for some pizza too. HaHa, I guess I am just plain hungry...
Love the photos of the river trail. We are back into the dense fog days. I think tomorrows rain forecast will probably help that mess. Glad I don't have to travel anywhere in the next few days ... except going out for my Hubby's 84th birthday meal. He's a New Years baby January 1st...
Hopefully our yard will dry out some before the rain. We did get things cleaned up pretty good, thank goodness.
Well, all of our Christmas decor is down and all over our family room, just waiting to be put bck into tubs and boxes today. I will miss it but at the same time its good to have things back to everyday order.
Happy New Year
Sue
Happy Birthday to your husband. How cool to be a New Years baby!
DeleteWe have some fog today as well. We’ve got some good rain coming. We took down the outside decorations because of it. I have things inside coming down - tree is still up. Hopefully either today or tomorrow. My husband wants to keep the nativities up till Jan 6. They were the first Christmas decor we put up and will be the last we take down.
My son was supposed to go camping at Whiskeytown Lake New Year’s Eve and it doesn’t look like he’ll be able to, which is fine with me. Happy New Year, Sue.
What great pictures and that bridge is beautiful. Your photographs always make me want to visit California. I hope 2026 brings you and your family an abundance of blessings.
ReplyDeleteYou live in such an interesting area - and a diverse area. The weather too.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got some much-needed rain - but not like that!
The onions look sooooooooo good!
Happy New Year to you.
Sandie
NICE walk. It makes me smile that you think 50 is chilly for walking. :). I'll probably take down our decorations Friday.
ReplyDeleteI hope much of that rain soaked into the ground so it can make it to the aquifer instead of running off.
ReplyDeleteWhat a walk you had. That's a pretty flower. Your New Year's Eve dinner sounds delicious. That's something about those chicken breasts. Your Pizza sounds yummy. Happy New Year to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful photos, thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeleteWow, a beautiful place to walk! I took all my Christmas deco down the day after Christmas. I usually keep everything up until after New Year but I wasn't feeling it this year so I got it done early. Happy New Year to you and your family!
ReplyDelete