Possible Snow, Blessings, and a Sacred Season Ahead

Flowering Quince 

 Well, hi there! I guess it’s been a few days. Time got away from me, so I thought I’d poke my head in to say hello. I have a few projects underway that have kept me focused and away from blogging.

Let’s see… what can I tell you?

We’re all doing well. I think I mentioned that Behold Israel sent us over $1,000 worth of books and materials to give to college students, at no cost. Along with hats, stickers, bracelets, and pamphlets, my husband has built a wonderful rapport with Beyond Israel. Now we’re looking to purchase a canopy and are even considering starting a small Bible and prayer group in our home for the college students.  Things are really opening up, and we are grateful to be a small part of what God is doing.

We celebrated Valentine’s Day with a simple brunch. Many places were packed, so we ended up somewhere without much atmosphere, but the omelets were delicious, and honestly, that’s what mattered most, as well as the company! 💕

Yesterday was our 24th wedding anniversary. The weather was rainy and cold, so no hike this time. We also forgot it was Presidents’ Day, which meant many of the antique stores were closed. Oh well, what are you going to do? We still enjoyed each other’s company and had a sweet day of reminiscing. We wandered through Tractor Supply and the Grange Co-op for spring inspiration, and yes… the baby chicks are in! 🐤🐥

☃☃☃

Apparently, we may even get some snow. February and March are our best chances for that last little hurrah of winter. Temperatures are dropping, and old man winter is breathing his chilly breath on us all. The difference between us and those of you who just endured a big freeze? We’re actually hoping for it! Since we usually enjoy mild weather, any dramatic change feels exciting.

I’ll believe it when I see it, though. I’m skeptical of weather reports. We follow two independent local meteorologists, and while they sometimes miss it, they’re usually far more accurate than the networks.

Here are a few photos from the last time it snowed—almost to the date, February 2023. 

That storm shut the city down, but it was so much fun. My husband finally got to use the snow shovel my sister gave us when they moved from Colorado. He was like a little boy out there, absolutely delighted. 

We had about six to eight inches, which is practically unheard of here.

It looks like she is smiling - I'm thinking it is her collar. Hard to see, since she is so black. 

She LOVES the white stuff, and when she sees it on the side of the road when we take a drive, she starts whimpering...

She loves the snow but hates the rain. 

The birds sure like the white stuff, too. 

Snow sure does dress things up, doesn't it? Makes everything so picture perfect. 

Thankfully, I keep a good stock of food, so we’re set. But of course, we were nearly out of toilet paper, so I had to make a quick run to the store. I went early this morning and did not notice any panic-buying. Californians are so laid back.  

But if we ever run out, we know where to go: Char keeps a six-month stash and still worries it isn’t enough. I remember my parents doing the same in their later years. Funny how that happens with people, and why toilet paper? 

Do you have a fear of running out of toilet paper? 

I just took these pictures, and it was sunny. 

Come on, now - how can they say we're getting snow? 

Earlier, we had a thunderstorm and hail. 

The back yard is soaked - weeds are popping up, and almond blossoms are getting bigger and are more pinkish. 

Right now, it’s 44 degrees, which is very cold for us, and we’re expected to drop another 10-15 degrees overnight. We might just wake up to snow. BSF is on standby, and many of our members live in the mountains, so we’ll see how that goes.

Yes, we’re a bunch of weather weenies.

Loquat season is here. The freeze won't hurt them - the lowest we get will only be in the 30's. 

The Pomegranate tree is starting to bud...

Liberty and Guardian are excited about the possibility of snow, too. They’re hardy birds and know how to hunker down. No eggs yet, but we’re patient.

Before I sign off, I’m going to take a short break from blogging. 

We have places to go and people to see. 

There’s a lot happening, and my mind and heart are elsewhere. This is always a very busy season for us, with Chinese New Year at the Joss House in Weaverville, my birthday the first week in March (72!), Daylight Savings, St. Patrick's Day, Palm Sunday, Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and then Easter and with family and old friends sprinkled within. While my faith tradition doesn’t follow a liturgical calendar, these seasons still invite reflection, gratitude, and renewal.

As we move toward Passover and Easter, my prayer is that we all pause to remember God’s faithfulness, His deliverance from sin, and the hope we have through redemption and resurrection. May your coming weeks be filled with peace, renewal, and quiet joy that will last 365 days instead of just 40 days! 

Lord willing, I’ll be back sometime after Easter with hopefully more blog fodder than I know what to do with. Then again, don't count on it because I might not. 

Have a blessed six weeks. I know I will.

Debby

Hiking Weather

 

The weather has been fantastic for the past few days! We've enjoyed warm temperatures, reaching over 80 degrees, with yesterday being the hottest at 84. However, we're expecting rain to start tonight around 10 p.m. and it will continue into Sunday and Monday.

So we were not going to let this good weather go to waste...

this is hiking weather! 🥾

This is the bike trail we did not go on - 

We live and "recreation" on the ancestral land of the Wintu people, a local Native California tribe. 

Source: Outbound

On Wednesday afternoon, after I returned home from my Bible study group, we decided to go for a hike—my first one of the year. It wasn't a long hike, as I had to turn back at the halfway point. As I made my way up the trail, I quickly realized that I was pushing myself a bit too hard for this 71 year old body.  Although I had to hike back down, the good news was that the path downhill was easier. If I had continued on, I would have had to make a long trip back up, and I just wasn't up for that challenge. I took my time and was extra cautious because there were some muddy spots along the way.

I had a great time, but I felt disappointed in myself. When I mentioned this to my son, he replied, "Mom, you really need to prepare for those hikes, especially if you haven't been climbing steep inclines." 

Yeah yeah yeah - 

We didn’t encounter anyone else while we were out. When we arrived home, I was completely exhausted, and I slept very soundly Wednesday night. 

On Thursday morning, I woke up to the sounds of birds chirping. While my back felt sore, my legs and feet were doing just fine. To help ease the stiffness, I decided to take a walk behind our neighborhood. It's not a long walk—about 2 miles. I find that if I keep moving, I don't get stiff.

There's a piece of land for sale where this pond sits, and we couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to buy it and build a home with a view of the pond. It would be such an easy move—just 0.4 miles from our current house!

 I'd stock it with fish! 

Decades ago, this area was for cattle ranching and there are many of these cattle ponds back here. 

Typically, there are goats on this property - I did hear some donkeys in the distance. 

There are quite a few coyotes in this area. We've lost 2 outdoor cats to coyotes. If you live in a rural place, you might already be familiar with this, but it's something I've learned over the 17 years we've lived here. Donkeys can be really helpful in keeping coyotes away! These friendly animals are great at protecting their space. It might sound a bit unusual, but there's a good reason for this. Donkeys make deep sounds, known as brays, that coyotes find unpleasant. Because of this, coyotes prefer to stay away from areas where donkeys are present.

Sometimes we will be sitting on our patio and hear donkeys. Now that's a sound you don't hear in San Francisco! 

The road is on the left - 

We're still within city limits - it feels like we're in the country.

I love that I live here. I have easy access to nature while still being close to town. 

You can see the pond from another angle, but it really needs a lot of cleaning. People have thrown away all sorts of things there, including sofas and other trash. I even spotted a TV sticking out of the water once! We also noticed broken fluorescent light bulbs, which are dangerous to the environment. I tried calling the city, but this property is considered county and it is on private property. 

There has been some cleanup done, but we still have people who camp in that area, make campfires, and leave their trash behind.

I continued my walk - on this dirt road. 

My goodness, these cheery tree blossoms were gorgeous. 

I loved this curly type of cactus. I'm not sure if it is a ribbed cactus.

On Friday, I went grocery shopping with my son and took care of some errands. Meanwhile, my husband and his daughter went for a hike near the Keswick Dam, and he sent me some photos from their adventure.

The city and county use goats to help clear vegetation—it takes a herd a day to clear 14 acres. It looks like these three wandered away from their designated area and ended up in a parking lot.

pyracantha bush

Initially, I mistook these for PVC pipes, entwined within the flowers but it turns out they're actually the white branches. 

They're known as Bookbrush.

These are interesting, too. This is a species of willow. 

By Friday afternoon, I started to feel some discomfort in my mid to lower back. I've noticed that sometimes it takes a full day after a strenuous hike for the soreness to kick in.  Despite that, I couldn't just relax because we had plans to meet my son and his wife for our monthly Double Date Night! We both were celebrating our February wedding anniversaries. 

It was their turn to choose, so we met up at Cattlemen's Steak House. By the time we got home, I was completely exhausted. I changed into my pajamas and barely made it to 9:30 PM!

Foodie texted me this older photo of Mt Shasta from his many hiking treks up that way. 

Today, I have been resting and finishing up my bible study (Revelation 17) 

It is a lot cooler today at 74 and those wispy white clouds are moving in. 

Wow! I just realized today is March 1st. Happy March, everyone! And Happy Spring, too! I hope you’re all feeling cheerful and well!

 Until later...

Debby

Last Week in February

It's a very cold and cloudy 60 degrees. It’s supposed to be a warm week.

The first Iris of the season has blossomed. You can see others will follow soon. 

My husband is mowing the lawn - it rained a little yesterday. 

A New Week

This morning, I had my hair trimmed. I also bought a green sweater that was on sale for $5 and a pair of capri pants. On Wednesday, I have BSF, and the contractor will come out to take measurements for the garage door. On Thursday, Isaiah's discussion and study will take place. On Friday, we’re going out to dinner with my son and his wife. 

Anything else is just up in the air...

My husband and I have been recovering from the nasty common cold.  It's worth noting that the common cold is not anything to sneeze about. It's highly contagious and while it seems like a minor inconvenience, it can have the right punch to turn into pneumonia and other secondary illnesses.  We often self-diagnose ourselves with the flu when it's really just the common cold. There are more than 200 cold viruses out there creating havok on our health. 

I keep track and I only get a cold once a year. Usually, it is Jan-March. Last year, I had COVID on my 70th birthday. It made me feel like I was 90 instead of 70. I haven't had the flu in several years!

With the arrival of spring, many people may find themselves experiencing hay fever and seasonal allergies. These symptoms can often be confused with those of a cold, leading to some uncertainty about what one might be experiencing. It's important to recognize the differences between these conditions to manage symptoms effectively.

We were fortunate that we didn't catch anything worse than a nasty cold from our emergency room visit earlier this month.

The Good News Rescue Mission 

I thought these were cute - I like how they painted them.

 The Rescue mission in our town will open these micro-shelters on Wednesday!  They are a 17-unit micro-shelter village that will provide transitional non-congregate shelter to help men and women move off the streets and take the next step towards finding permanent housing. 

The village is located on the Mission Campus, offering essential resources like hot meals, showers, a resource center, a health clinic, and a supportive volunteer community for residents.

The Nay-sayers express skepticism, questioning the sufficiency of 17 Micro-shelters, the Christian nature of the ministry, and the living conditions of marginalized individuals. 

However, the Good News Rescue Mission provides crucial assistance to those experiencing homelessness, offering a better alternative than sleeping on the streets. The mission thrives on donations and community fundraisers, focusing on practical support rather than endless debates about homelessness.

It's a good step! 

During His ministry, Jesus demonstrated love and care for marginalized individuals, including the poor and outcasts. His teachings inspire us to reflect His heart by showing compassion and addressing the needs of those around us while recognizing the inherent dignity and worth of every person.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it! 

 

Until next time,

Debby

Binge Watching Netflix on our Wedding Anniversary

I can't say I'm really sick—just a bit under the weather. Yesterday, I had a scratchy throat, but today it's gone. However, I woke up with a slightly annoying cough and some phlegm in my chest, which means I'll be sleeping propped up tonight! Ugh!

I'm not confined to bed; (more like confined to the sofa by choice)

I'm just taking it easy.

My husband feels better but still has a persistent cough and is a little weak.

To celebrate our anniversary, I plan to get takeout from our favorite taqueria. I hope that will awaken our senses and help clear our systems!

As long as I don't go downhill - I plan on still going to my Bible Study on Wednesday. I have no fever, chills, no shortness of breath, no wheezing - just a tickle in my throat that causes me to cough. I guess I have to take it day by day. 

Meanwhile:

We're binge-watching a couple of good shows (so far) on Netflix.

Night Agent - an Action, Drama, Conspiracy thriller

About a low-level agent with the FBI who is responsible for monitoring a phone during the night shift—typically a quiet time, as the phone rarely receives calls. However, an unexpected occurrence arises when the phone finally rings, prompting the agent to take necessary action.

Fire Country - An Action Drama

 A young convict with a difficult past seeks redemption and the possibility of reducing his prison sentence by participating in the California Conservation Camp Program. This program allows inmates to assist the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, commonly referred to as Cal Fire. The convict is assigned to a camp in his hometown in Far Northern California, where he collaborates with former peers, fellow inmates, and professional firefighters to address the significant wildfires that affect the region. 

So...

Source: FORE

This wedding anniversary promises to be one for the books - as we enjoy a cozy evening wrapped in our blankets, savoring hot tea, and eating takeout.

Marriage is a beautiful gift from God, offering us companionship, support, and joy. Ecclesiastes 9:9 reminds us to enjoy life with our spouse and appreciate the blessing of our shared journey together. 

Looking forward to good health! 

Debby

Catching up on a Saturday

 

What a difference a day makes...

I drove up there real quick today because I wanted to get this photo and compare. 

Happy Saturday to one and all. 

Today, I feel fine. The husband is still coughing which takes a lot out of a person. He was doing something and got dizzy. He still needs to take it easy. 

There is no church tomorrow for both of us. I had previously arranged for someone else to pick up the bagels since we had planned to do something. Now, we'll just stay home. 

Garage Door

We ordered the 16x7 classic steel garage door in Charcoal. It does not have windows and has an insulated 18.4 R-value, so we've gone with bare insulation to really good. No windows should help with the summer heat. I have my freezer out there, and it gets so hot out there that the outside of the freezer feels warm to the touch. It should save us electricity by cooling the freezer. We aren't fortunate enough to justify an AC unit in our garage like others have. That would be nice. 

So now we wait till the contractor calls us - usually takes a week. 

Everything came to $2903.00 at Home Depot

They gave us the Behr paint color code for the exact color of the door so we can customize our front door and anything else. 

Lowes and the local garage door companies were way too expensive —upwards of $5000. So when we went into Home Depot and got the estimate, we knew.

 6 months of interest-free. 

It's our anniversary gift to each other! 👍

At the end of the month, on the 28th, we’re going out for a nice dinner with my son Navy, and his wife, Sara, to celebrate our anniversaries. Navy and Sara were married on February 29, 2020, (Leap Year) and we were married on February 16. I’m letting Sara choose the restaurant since we often get stuck going to the same places. I trust their judgment because they eat out frequently. Additionally, my 71st birthday is on the 2nd, so it will be a celebratory dinner for all of us.

Closing out in Worship

I’m reflecting on Revelations 15, which features the powerful Song of Moses. Although we can only imagine its true sound, it brought to mind a beautiful messianic worship song that embodies a magnificent Davidic dance.

The Song of Moses by Jonathon Settel. 

No one conveys emotion through song quite like Jonathon did. 

 It's a beautiful worship song. 

May this music bring you the same blessings it brings upon me.

Debby