Happy Monday!
I like Mondays, but I didn’t always feel this way when I was younger. I read that people spend about 33 minutes complaining about Monday. When you think about it, that’s a lot of time wasted grumbling about something we can’t change.
Monday comes and Monday goes.
So let's dig into this Monday post about...Friday!
After returning from the grocery store, we decided to have a picnic and take Laydee along, as she’s been so bored lying around during her healing process. We drove about 10 miles past Old Shasta, along Whiskeytown Creek, to French Gulch.
The day was beautiful, with pleasant breezes and temperatures in the mid-70s. This site was once part of a large estate featuring 1,000 fruit orchards, including apples, pears, and peaches, as well as 400 grapevines. Established around 1850 by a local pioneer searching for gold, and Shasta became his home.
A portion of the property has been designated for various uses, with the house now under the jurisdiction of the parks department. We visited a small area off the road, featuring decent bank fishing and remnants of the original heritage fig and apple trees.
Berries make it a great foraging spot in season. We missed picking figs this summer, and most apples were gone, except those on the upper branches.
I could practically taste the sweetness of those apples in the tree, and the aroma was delightful. It's been a long time since picking apples off a tree.
My husband, ☝ ☝ ever the romantic, always seeks ways to delight me. He sets off to climb this old apple tree, its sturdy branches laden with ripe apples just waiting to be picked. While he pretends it’s my wish for sweet, succulent apples that drives him, we both know the truth: it’s his desire for me to create an apple dessert that truly inspires his adventurous spirit.
I always deeply cherish my time here. When we travel 10 to 12 miles out and find ourselves in solitude, and it's truly remarkable for someone like me, who has always lived in congested areas with hordes of people and cars. My mind often wanders back to the days of the gold rush, and I try to envision the experiences of those pioneers.
The whole time we were there, not one person came - we were truly alone. 💗
Walking around the yard - the flowers that struggle in the intense heat are starting to bloom again.
I think it’s fair to say that Autumn has arrived in Shasta County. Although our Fall differs from that of other regions in the country, it is indeed present and has been acknowledged. Daytime temperatures hover around 80, while the evenings cool down to the 50s and 60s, making it perfect for sleeping with the windows wide open.
I've never had better sleep.
I'm excited to embrace this Monday with a sense of renewed energy and feelings of peace and gratitude. It's incredible to think that this feeling began with a simple picnic last Friday. I feel well-rested and ready to take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead for this week.
Until Next Time,
Debby
