This and That and some Blogger Issues,

This is Mt Shasta in the distance, 

looking north 

January has brought us delightful weather, with crisp mornings that chill us until around 10:30. As the sun climbs higher, the air gradually warms, and by the afternoon, the pleasant temperatures invite us to throw open the windows and keep the screen door open till dinner time. 

Clover Creek Preserve is a great place for many of my leisurely walks, where you can enjoy the sights and sounds of diverse waterfowl and other birds, as well as vernal pools teeming with life. Numerous benches are strategically placed along the paths, inviting you to pause and soak in the serene surroundings. This 128-acre basin not only provides a tranquil escape but also plays a vital role in safeguarding over 5,000 acres of the Clover Creek watershed from flooding.

A great place to people watch, too! 👀

That is Mt Lassen in the distance, looking east

Looking west...

It truly looks like winter, with all the barren trees so 

It shouldn't be long before we start seeing signs of spring...

Although our rainy season isn't quite finished, we often experience brief interludes of sunshine that last a few weeks in the winter.  Without these dry spells, we might find ourselves drifting straight into the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. 

And yes, I know, some of you might secretly enjoy the idea of California taking a dive. 😉

I've been enjoying sitting in front with Laydee - the sun has been warm and feels good to both of us.  

☀️☀️☀️

"You talking about me?"

I wish I could tell you that by now, Laydee is wheeling happily down the sidewalk. She doesn't like it. She's a bit stubborn about it and resists. I think we might have waited too long, because she isn't having it at all.

We have until February 9 to return it for a full refund. 

🐾🐾

Laydee has found a way to manipulate us - one step, one treat, and then she won't budge until she sees the treat in our hand.  Then we're back to one step, one treat. If I reverse it and give one treat first, we end up waiting for that one step, which doesn't come. 

No, no, no, Laydee, it doesn't work that way. 

Oh well, what can we do? I can't force her, nor would I want to. The warm weather has her up, and about - but long walks are out of the question. So we're leaning toward option two: a cart we would push her in. We'll see how the rest of her training goes...

The daffodils are blooming on the hill beneath the redwoods. The vinca is starting to bloom with its periwinkle-blue flowers. By summer, they will have taken over since they grow like weeds here - trying to choke out everything. 

I'd keep them, but they don't play well with others. 

The other day, I whipped up some Hamantaschen and also baked a delicious banana bread with pecans, but my husband told me he prefers walnuts.

 That's fine - MORE for me.  

A Shoe In...

It's that time again for my husband to get four new pairs of shoes from the VA. He visits a quality shoe store, selects what he wants, and the VA covers the cost, including orthotics. This year, he chose a dress shoe and a work boot, but his hiking boots and sneakers are still good, so he’ll wait on the last two pairs since he doesn’t need them right now.

I need some new shoes this year, and with the money saved from not buying his expensive ones, I can treat my tired feet to a nice pair, or two. 

Blogger is giving me issues again. I can't leave comments on your blogs or reply to comments on mine, which is really frustrating.

Until this issue clears up, I'll answer comments here. 

I've been facing issues uploading images, and my blog theme is acting up, similar to when my blog went POOF a couple of years ago. 

I'm convinced Blogger hates me. 

To Janice and Carla, who asked how my folks landed in San Francisco. 

My parents followed a job offer when my dad's army buddy, a successful general contractor, mentored him. A few years later, he got his contractor's license. 

❓❓❓❓

I believe that's all the "This and Thats" I needed to share. I hope everyone keeps warm with the snow system and dropping temperatures coming your way. I'm not very well-informed about it, but please stay warm and be cautious. I assume you all are very accustomed to it and know how to manage it effectively, or else you wouldn't be living there. 

I would gladly embrace some snowfall here - It was approximately 5-6 years back. And we all enjoyed it.

Times Flies

A foggy sunrise at Clover Creek 

I hope this finds you all cheerful, content, and thankful for life. It has been a wonderful week. The only drawback I can find about this week is how quickly it has passed.

So I decided I needed to find out WHY.

As we age, we often wonder why time seems to pass more quickly. Dr. Christian Yates, a lecturer at the University of Bath, shares insights into this change in our perception of time.

One key factor is that daily routines and familiar experiences cause our brains to blur time together, making it feel like it speeds up. In contrast, children perceive time as expansive due to their constant engagement in new and stimulating experiences, which create lasting memories.

Another aspect relates to the biological changes that occur with aging. As our metabolism slows, so do our heartbeat and respiration rates, leading to a perception that time is moving faster.

The third idea is that our perception of time changes as we age. For a two-year-old, waiting a year for a birthday feels long because that year represents a significant portion of their life. In contrast, for a 20-year-old, a year is just 5% of their life, making it seem to fly by.

Dr. Yates notes that the time experienced between ages five and ten can feel similar to the time felt between ages 40 and 80. So, regardless of how we feel, time continues to fly by—both when we’re having fun and when we’re not.

So don't forget to spring forward on Saturday night or early Sunday morning. 

In 2 Peter 3:8, we are reminded that "with the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day."

No worries - we'll get through this one as we have before. 

Later - Debby

Trying to be normal on a Thursday

Today, I decided to leave the house. When you're not feeling well, it often requires some motivation to get moving. A roast chicken deli sandwich on Dutch crunch bread was the incentive I needed. We took our lunch to the nature preserve.

 Clover Creek. Isn't that the cutest name? 

I remember when this place first opened to the public about 15 years ago—there were no houses on the ridge. In the distance, you can see the Mt Lassen Caldera. That was one BIG volcano until it blew back in 1914 and 1921. 

Steam issuing from summit of Lassen Peak from head of Lost Creek following mud flow. Large boulder or "Hot Rock" in foreground. Photograph taken a few hours prior to second major eruption and hot blast. B.F. Loomis May 22, 1915 Archive VI-PH-C1.63

I love this stuff. 

Steam issuing from summit of Lassen Peak from head of Lost Creek following mud flow. Large boulder or "Hot Rock" in foreground. Photograph taken a few hours prior to second major eruption and hot blast. B.F. Loomis May 22, 1915 Archive VI-PH-C1.63

Okay, back on track...

It was around 63 degrees at noon with a cool breeze. 

Laydee was with us, enjoying the fresh air.

I found a bench and sat down in the sun; it felt so nice.

the view of the southern part of the Shasta Cascades 

We drove out to Shasta Lake near Jones Valley. 

The scenery was breathtaking—the hills were lush and green, dotted with goats and cattle. I wanted to stop and take a photo, but the narrow, winding country roads made it difficult to find a safe spot to pull over. Unfortunately, I never found a place where I felt secure enough to stop.

From last year! 

I drove out to the boat ramp to check on my favorite bench. The waterline has not reached the bench yet. I completely forgot to take my camera with me. Just driving out there, seeing all the houseboats lined up and getting ready for a good season, made me excited for spring and summer. 

It was nice to escape, even if only for a few hours.

I’m feeling better—I had an excellent night’s sleep. However, I still don’t feel quite like my normal self. Then again, what is "normal"? 

That's it for me: this late Thursday afternoon post. 

On to Friday...

Debby