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.

Our Escape to the Snow

Eager to escape the sweltering heat of the valley, we set out this morning for Lassen Volcanic National Park. I packed a couple of delicious black forest ham sandwiches nestled in soft Hawaiian rolls, a bag filled with plump, juicy red grapes, and two sparkling waters that promised a burst of bubbles. It was 10:10 AM when we hit the road, heading towards the cool embrace of the snow-capped volcano. 

This is the cozy spot where we arranged our chairs for our picnic. 

We envisioned ourselves as the rightful owners of this land, lounging on our deck while the gentle sounds of Kings Creek flowed serenely just below us.  With hardly any souls in sight, it allowed us to feel as though we were the sole explorers of this enchanting landscape. 

Adjacent to the scene loomed a majestic section of Lassen Peak

My silly husband joked that a blanket of snow awaited us just up ahead. 

Well, that is what we came for. 

Above 8,000 feet, we encountered snow on the mountains, and the temperatures were pleasantly cool, registering at 60 degrees on the car's temperature gauge.

Lassen peak is 10,457- in elevation

When we drove up to Lake Almanor three weeks ago, we were met with the sight of closed road signs, so we were glad to see that they had finally finished plowing this section of the road.   Last season, we were blessed by generous snowfall in the mountains. 

Snowdrifts accumulate alongside the winding road, their white surfaces contrasting sharply with the jagged edges of the craggy, rocky landscape. 

I never tire of these summer day-trips to the snow, knowing it is 100+ in the valley

We find ourselves at an impressive 9,000 feet elevation, in the Lassen Peak parking lot. Surrounding us are a multitude of empty parked cars, each a temporary resting place for adventurous souls who are out there, embarking on their journeys up the peak.  The air was crisp, but not overly cold.  We were comfortable in shorts, cut-offs.   The breeze felt so nice.  There were mosquitoes that emerged from their long winter hibernation, darting about looking for me! I can't escape them even at higher altitudes and in the snow! 

As well as bumblebees, which I found unusual. 

It is early spring up here. 

Part of Lassen Peak. 

Signs warning hikers and tourists 

I love craggy mountains....








Drove by Helen Lake, just beginning to thaw out. 

You can't believe how refreshing it is to your senses, gazing at this frozen lake, while the crisp air envelops you like a soft blanket. The gentle rustle of the trees contributes to a serene atmosphere that contrasts sharply with the sweltering heat that awaits us back home. 

Ugh!

As we descend in elevation on the other side of the park, we start to observe the presence of various flowers.

and greenery! 

All of a sudden, I get a craving for a hard-boiled egg...

This hydrothermal area is a place of pungent scents, reminiscent of hard-boiled eggs, and shifting ground. Sulphur Works is part of the larger hydrothermal system in the park. Recent volcanic activity and the hydrothermal system are evidence that magma still lies beneath Lassen today.

You don't even dare stray off the path - 

Poor old Kendall Vanhook Bumpass learned the hard way. A cowboy and early settler, who, in 1865, broke through the surface of a scalding hot mudpot in an active geothermal area and consequently lost a leg by amputation. The geothermal area was later named "Bumpass Hell"

He lived another 20 years after this accident and is quoted as saying, 

"Boys, I have been in hell." – Kendall Bumpass

The stream below is boiling water...

A bubbling hot mud pot 

The temperature of the high-velocity steam jetting from it has been measured as high as 322°F (161°C).

Just around the bend, we're at the south end of the park - closer to Red Bluff. 

It's now around 75 degrees. It's 1:30 pm

Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center is our last stop before heading home.

We stayed a little to watch a video on volcanic activity. It was a film I have seen many times before, yet I never grow tired of it. The stunning visuals of molten lava flowing down mountainsides and the rumbling sounds of eruptions always fascinated me as a child.  I have always found myself interested in the geological sciences of our earth.

As we journey home, the car's outside temperature gauge reads 105 outside. It is 3:00 as we drive into the garage, never stepping out into that heat, only into the coolness of our home. A truly wonderful picnic filled with joy and laughter.  I am incredibly grateful for my husband, whose laughter brightens my days, and for the free admission to the park that saves us $30. Being close to nature allows me to reflect on the beauty of creation and acknowledge God as our Creator.

I cherish our diverse landscape here; we're always close to something truly extraordinary.

 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Genesis 1

 

Extra Extra Read All About it - Volcano Eruption

 

Benjamin Franklin Loomis is the amateur photographer who took most of the photos of Lassen Peak's initial eruption on June 14, 1914.

I took the opportunity to explore the eruption of Mt. Lassen more thoroughly by utilizing my Newspapers.com subscription. This allowed me to access a wide range of newspaper articles from across the country, during that time period. I wanted to read firsthand accounts from individuals who directly witnessed events, rather than relying exclusively on contemporary analyses from those who were not yet born at the time. This way we can gain insights and a deeper understanding of the experiences and perspectives of those who lived through significant moments of Northern California history. 

Join me as we travel back to

 May 23, 1915...

On May 22, 1915, a powerful explosive eruption at Lassen Peak, the southernmost active volcano in the Cascade Range, caused widespread devastation in nearby areas and scattered volcanic ash as far as 200 miles to the east. This eruption was the most significant event in a series of eruptions that took place from 1914 to 1917, marking the last volcanic activity in the Cascades until the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens. Lassen Peak is the largest of more than 30 volcanic domes that have erupted over the past 300,000 years within Lassen Volcanic National Park.

As reported by those in Redding, CA, where I live now...

Incredibly, no one died from the Lassen Peak eruptions, but there were some close calls. 

Scripture does not explicitly mention volcanoes, yet it offers vivid imagery that can inspire us to consider the power of God's Creation. In Exodus 19:18, Mount Sinai enveloped in smoke and trembling with the presence of the Lord evokes a sense of awe. Here, we can reflect on the extraordinary and the wonders of creation. 

I hope you enjoyed our little trek back in time. 

Have an awesome evening and a blessed Sunday! 

In Christ, 

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