Blue Tangle Lake in the Trinity Alps

 

On Mother’s Day, my son sent me photos from his overnight trip to Blue Tangle Lake in the Trinity Alps.

A lovely, remote lake tucked into a granite bowl with meadows and quiet trails leading down to the water.

Elevation: 5,758 feet.

A good place for some alone time.

We scattered Michael’s ashes in the Trinity Mountains in May 2023, from a helicopter. This year, on the May 8 anniversary, Navy hiked in alone just to fish, and to think. He misses his older brother.

Foodie went camping with a friend.

And what did I do?

I went about my day, keeping myself busy. It ended up being a good day. After all, I’ve got 23 years of experience behind me. And I’d already had my moment a few days earlier, and I was good.

That’s growth. Thank you, Lord.

The sun casts its reflection across the granite mountain.

Navy always shows me his catches... 

Some good fishing there. 

and good eating, too. 

It was so remote up there that Navy didn’t see another person until he hiked out the next morning. He did, however, hear a few Bigfoot calls… 

Of course, he did. It’s the Trinity Alps.

Looking for Bigfoot

We spent the day out yesterday, and when we got home in the late afternoon, the house was 81 degrees inside. It wasn’t even that hot outside, only about 93.

No air was coming out of the registers, so my husband changed the filter. I checked my old blog (My Morning Cup of Coffee from 2007 to 2023) and found the post about it. Turns out it was installed on October 30, 2012.  This morning, as soon as the heating and air place opened, I called them, and by 10 a.m., they were here. It was the capacitor, which the tech had on his truck. $239 later, it was fixed. Of course, today’s much cooler, only hitting 81, and cooler days in the mid 70's for the rest of the week. 

We definitely dodged a bullet, and it's something we’ll need to keep in mind over the next few years.

Until Next Time, 

Debby

Posting on a Quiet Mother's day

If any rose could symbolize Mother’s Day, it would be a red one. Well, this isn’t exactly red, but it’s pretty close. I spotted them blooming from my bedroom window and voilà, there’s my lead photo for today’s post.

I've been reflecting on Mother's Day and my connection to it. Honestly, I don't feel much of one, except that if it's my day, I want to spend it my way. Since I'm not into fanfare or big celebrations, I'm enjoying a quiet day at home, as usual. I listen to the sounds of my husband working in the yard and the steady hum of the washing machine. I find comfort in the simple, ordinary days of life.

Either everyone left for the weekend or something, because it’s incredibly quiet in my neighborhood. I sat in the backyard, listening to the gentle cooing of doves and watching the finches and doves flutter about - truly a gift. 

Here's what's going on in front. The husband is laying the brick - and then next will be the weed barrier and then, finally, the rocks. 

We'll buy some roses, plant them in BIG pots, hook them up to the drip lines, and never have to worry about them in our 105+ degree summers. 

Like my fake rock? That covers the sprinkler system. 

After this is completed, we will overseed and repair our grass lawn - We were going to do sod, but there are so many tree roots - not worth it. If the overseeding accomplishes what we're looking for, it should be fine. If not...it's back to the drawing board. 

It's not a big lawn area anymore. Throughout the years, we have diminished much of the lawn area with pavers and rocks. But it is always nice to have a little patch of green grass. 

Through it all, Mr. Raven stands guard. I absolutely adore ravens, and there are so many in my subdivision and the surrounding area - it must be their breeding and hunting grounds. My subdivision is even named after them, though I won’t mention the name for privacy reasons.

Shasta Dinner Cruise BOOKED  ✔

This boat serves as a floating kitchen where they prepare the meals, and once everything is ready, they bring the delicious food over to our boat, in the middle of the lake, hook up, and unload. We could actually smell the food before it came onto the boat. 

This year, Cassie, Sara’s sister, who’s been living with them, will be joining us. She lost her husband last year and moved here to be closer to her sister and start a new chapter in her life. It’s too pricey for Char, and my middle one, Foodie, just isn’t interested. He insists it’s not worth it, even though he’s never been. Gotta love him all the same! 💕

And for those who still remember:

I will take the shuttle!

A beautiful photo of Lake Shasta is a reservoir we are so fortunate to live near. The biggest reservoir in California is Shasta Lake, located in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. It has a capacity of over 4.5 million acre-feet, making it a critical source of water for the region.  

Shasta Lake water level as of yesterday 
1052.95 feet elevation
The full lake is 1067 feet elevation above sea level.

That is it for me on this Mother's Day. Just received texts from Char and Navy - (he always sends me his fish photos), and talked with Sara. 

It's a good day! 

Debby

The Weekend and the Week Ahead

Good Morning Monday 

Well, Mother's Day 2025 is history, but we moms know every day is Mother's Day. I hope yours was everything you had hoped for. 

My experience began at church, where the warmth of great teaching was complemented by a delightful ice cream social. It was heartwarming to see the men serving us and taking care of the clean-up too—we were able to relax and enjoy every moment. There were numerous flavors of ice cream and a wide array of toppings to choose from. I decided to keep things simple and went for vanilla ice cream, generously drizzled with Hershey's chocolate syrup, topped with bananas, a dollop of whipped cream, and just a sprinkle of chopped peanuts. 

YUM! 

My sons work on Sundays in facilities that care for our elders, serving the mothers and grandmothers of others. It’s sad how infrequently these residents receive visitors. Foodie makes a point to visit the moms there. Meanwhile, Navy is dedicated to serving our men and women Veterans, where families often visit their elderly relatives. So that is good. Although I didn't see my sons on Mother’s Day, it fills my heart with joy knowing they are caring for those who need it. Their kindness reassures me that I must have done something right!

Friday evening, it was my turn to go to the ER. 

Earlier in the day, I felt a pressing sensation in my chest, similar to heartburn, which left me hot and out of breath. At dinner, my husband noticed and insisted we go to the ER. I wasn't too worried, but I called my daughter-in-law, Sara, a nurse, who advised me to go.

At the ER, I was seen quickly, but had to wait for test results. Thankfully, my blood tests, EKG, and chest X-ray were all normal; however, the cardiologist recommended a stress test. He was concerned due to my family history—my dad died of a heart attack, and before that had a seven valve replacement years earlier, and my son died from one at 25.

This morning, I checked each test individually, and they were great; better than I expected for my age! I think it was just my GERD acting up. I'm currently on omeprazole, but maybe the dosage needs some tweaking. I made a follow-up appointment with Dr. B for tomorrow and to get set up for that stress test. 

The scripture that kept going through my mind while I was in the ER was one of my favorites:

You will keep in perfect peace
    those whose minds are steadfast,
    because they trust in you.
 Trust in the Lord forever,
    For the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.

Isaiah 26;3-4

I experienced a profound sense of calm.  While my husband expressed some concern, I felt an incredible sense of peace. It's surprising to me, because this isn't who I've always been. I've spent so much time worrying and battling anxiety in my younger days, and now I'm embracing this newfound tranquility. 

It's a wonderful way to live.

It's the peace of God! 

Navy caught a bass in Lake Shasta on Friday using my dad's worm lures. 

Now that was special. I gave all my sons my dad's fishing equipment, and I kept a few items for myself. 

✔Clean and organize my craft, sewing, and storage room. 

✔Thursday - Isaiah Study

✔Friday evening and Saturday - We're attending a Friends of Israel conference - 

✔Saturday evening: My husband has been invited to be one of the retired military service members for Veterans Day at the Redding Rodeo. Free admission and a free dinner. 

I can't wait to dive into my first summer read! One of my BSF friends gave it to me—her husband wrote it and even signed it for me inside. It’s a Christian fantasy book, and I’m really excited to get started!

That’s a wrap for me today. I hear thunder rumbling in the background, so it seems like it's gonna be a rainy day. Take Care. 

I am blessed by all of you! 

Debby