🍎 Monday Comes and Monday goes

 

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

Apples, Bats, Butterflies, and Lizards

Apples are in. 

There are apple festivals and harvests going on all over, up here in far Northern California. 

So we moseyed on over to the Camden House in the Whiskeytown National Recreational Area, just outside the old mining town of Shasta. 

They had some apples—we could taste them and sample some of the entries for the baking contest.

One apple I tasted was a northern California apple called a pink pearl. It's a pink-fleshed apple that is one of the best apples I have ever tasted. Stores don't sell them. I was told there is one farmer who occasionally brings them in from her farm but you never know when. 

In Northern California, Albert Etter spent years developing a unique apple variety descended from the "Surprise" apple, known for its pink flesh. It became known as the Pink Pearl apple. In 1945, the apple seed was patented and officially named "Pink Pearl," marking a significant milestone in apple cultivation history.

The California Gravenstein apple is my all-time favorite variety. Its rich history dates back to the 17th century. I have fond memories of visiting the Gravenstein apple harvest in Sebastopol during my childhood, where we would wander through the orchards and bring home a crate filled with apples.

Sadly, "Big Apple" or "Big Wine" began phasing out native apples in favor of apples that were more cost-effective, easier to ship, and, of course, grapes for the wine industry. 

The Mystery of the Apple Caper 

I was told that they didn't have as many apples as they usually do. Apparently, all the stored apples were stolen! They had to get apples from neighboring Manton. 

Sounds like an inside job! 

Camden House is so vulnerable - it sits all alone off the side of Hwy 299. 

Just before they cut into it - giving everybody their fair share...It was yummy. 

Then we saw the old Camden House - 

What the heck? 

The upper windows of the house were completely boarded up, which was unexpected because when we last visited a few months ago, the windows were not covered. We were looking forward to taking a tour of the house.

It looks like they have totally abandoned the house. 

Here, you can see the upper windows 

are not boarded up.

APPARENTLY 

There are bats inside this historic house

 that is 172 years old. 

I was informed that these bats are an endangered species.

So I asked what they planned to do—were they going to sacrifice a 172-year-old historic home to save the bats?

I have a deep love for all of God's creatures, including bats. There is a humane way to remove the bats from the house safely without harming them. Our ancestors knew the benefits of having bats. So now, this situation has created a significant mess inside the beautiful home, which is quite distressing. After seeking information from various officials there who seemed reluctant to share with me - (what's that about?) I finally was told that due to the presence of these endangered bats, this will now require additional taxpayer funding to safely remove the bats according to environmental guidelines - then carry out a complete renovation of the Camden House, which is estimated to cost millions of taxpayer dollars - due to the bat infestation. Seems it would have been a lot cheaper just to remove them in the first place. 

Speaking of bats - 

The other day, my husband made an interesting discovery: he found a baby bat nestled inside the folds of our patio umbrella. Although he startled it, the tiny creature remained perfectly still. We decided to bring our dog Laydee inside, and once we did, the bat took flight and disappeared. We caught sight of it again at dusk last night, so we've decided to purchase a bat house in hopes that they will choose to make our yard their permanent residence. Bats are incredibly effective at controlling pests, and we also find them quite adorable.

Has anyone ever read Stella Luna to your children?

Walked over here to sit and relax for awhile. 

During moments of tranquility and stillness, the butterflies emerge. We sat among them and enjoyed watching then flutter about.  However, amidst this serene setting, a stealthy lizard made it's presence known as well.  First time I observed a lizard deftly extending its tongue to seize a delicate butterfly, consuming it with swift  efficiency.  

Poor butterfly.

In this area there was quite a sprinkling of pyrite or fool's gold scattered

 all around; in the sand, on the rocks. 

Happier times. 

2011 was probably one of the last years before the Carr fire when they opened it up for the community to enjoy.—You could tour the house and walk through the 150+ year-old apple and pear orchards. 

Now its gone to the bats!

Until next time -

Debby

 

Finding Hope and Strength on a Monday

I had such a wonderfully relaxing weekend! On Saturday, I decided to stay in and focus on doing things that made me happy—it was exactly what I needed.

 Then, on Sunday, I went to church in the morning and later enjoyed a peaceful drive to French Gulch. It was so quiet and serene, with nobody else around. My husband spent a short time panning for gold and searching for interesting rocks. It's incredible to think that over 170 years ago, this area was where gold was first discovered in the French Gulch area. 

The weather had turned notably cooler, and the telltale sign of an impending rainstorm was evident. A smattering of droplets can be observed making contact with the water's surface.

After a brief shower, we could hear the distant rumble of thunder. We decided to head back and relished the cooler temperature by keeping the doors and windows open at home.

The two of us relaxed on the back patio, the air heavy with anticipation as we listened to the distant rumble of thunder. Suddenly, the sky opened up, and rain poured down, drenching everything. It was an intense thunderstorm that carried on throughout the evening and into the night, creating a cozy atmosphere.

At least, I thought so - Laydee didn't like it at all. 

After enjoying a couple of leisurely days, I woke up feeling rejuvenated and prepared for the upcoming week. 

I took the time to create personalized name tags for each member of my group. I then laminated them to ensure durability. Additionally, I prepared a few extra blank name tags in case new members join our group in the future. I'm glad to have completed this task!

I went to Dollar Tree to look for a journal in which I could record and organize my group's prayer requests.

I enjoy staying ahead of my schedule. The study is not until Wednesday. Right now, I'm trying to get into a comfortable rhythm.

I have a few hours before dinner. My husband is volunteering, and I'm doing the laundry while tidying up the house. Later, he will attend his Bible study.

✝️✝️✝️✝️✝️

In a world filled with evil, remember that God is Sovereign and that His purposes will ultimately prevail. Our hope is in the eternal kingdom of God, where justice, peace, and righteousness will reign forever (Revelation 21:4).

Until next time,

Debby