New Years Eve

 

In the afternoon, we drove over to Whiskeytown Lake and settled in to soak up the peace and quiet of a year barely hanging on. There we sat, on a bench with Laydee by our side - just enjoying the quiet and looking west toward the dusting of snow on Shasta Bally. 

Shasta Bally, the tallest peak in the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area at 6,174 feet, is just minutes from my home. It's especially stunning in winter with a dusting of snow. Our area's TV/Radio transmitters are located here, so during heavy storms or snow, signal outages occur, requiring technicians to hike to the top to fix the equipment since the gravel road ends at 4,000 feet.

Silence has always spoken to me. I know that's an oxymoron, but even in silence, there are lessons to learn, and it's where, I believe, God speaks to me through His creation. 

As in the way the geese glide on the lake's surface, the haunting call of a loon in the distance. Then there is the turkey vulture, a fascinating bird that is the master of soaring, using warm-air thermals to glide long distances with hardly any effort. It's incredible to me how such a visually unattractive bird can glide just as elegantly as a bald eagle. I watched one for about 20 minutes there at the lake, swooshing down, eyeing his prey, then coming up again and gliding to another place. While watching, I thought what fun it must be to fly through the sky like a vulture?? 

Have you ever taken the time to watch a vulture soar? 

Okay God, what are you saying... 

Just as God designed the vulture for its role in nature, He has equipped each of us with our own role to fulfill. As we age, it can feel as if we have lost our importance, leading us to believe we have no more value. However, God knows our true worth. Like the vulture, our value isn’t based on our outward appearance - but on how God sees us through His eyes to be. We still matter. Until we go home to Him, each of us will still have a purpose.   

I recently shared my thoughts on how pigeons are often misunderstood, and you know what? Vultures are, too! Before I moved here, I only saw these amazing birds in the wild. Now, I see them all the time. They're such a joy to watch, especially on those windy days when they seem to soar effortlessly. 

https://myshastahome.blogspot.com/2025/11/war-pigeons.html

After our last visit to the lake for 2025, we came back home, and I whipped up another pot of chili! The batch from last week was such a hit that we just couldn't get enough of it. A cozy evening, just the two of us plus Laydee and Susie. Earlier in the day, Laydee was given her trazodone for anxiety because of the inevitable sounds of celebration, which always include firecrackers. 

And then it started - The bane of my existence - illegal fireworks. 

What part of "illegal" don't people understand? 

It started with occasional pops and cracks - and some loud BOOMS came thundering down around 7 and continued on and off till the final act- the grand finale at midnight, which lasted nearly 30 minutes. The worst we've had in 17 years! My poor dog was terrified, and my cat was all over the place, full of energy, jumping from window to window. I felt sad watching my dog struggle under the weight of the stress. The challenge is determining the origin of the firecrackers. A neighbor claimed they saw a truck throwing firecrackers out of the window as it passed by, so the police can't trace them. 

I feel great compassion for animals - there are chickens, goats, and a horse hospital nearby. Many birds visit our yard, and I know dogs and cats that get lost. Plus, we must consider Veterans with PTSD.

But we survived it. Like we do every year and with our nation's 250th birthday celebration on July 4, I have a feeling it's going to be cRaZy. 

Until next time, 

Debby

And as if no one has said it to you yet, 

HAPPY NEW YEAR