June is...

Adopt a Cat Month!  This is "kitten season" and more cats than ever need our help.  Whether you adopt from a shelter or save a stray/feral, you'll be saving a precious life.  The joy they'll bring to you is just an added bonus.

Of course, every month, year in and year out, there are cats, dogs and other animals who need help from a kind and loving human (October is "Adopt a Dog Month)...but I just wanted to let you know that June is Adopt a Cat Month! 

(Photo is from Pinterest, sadly the link doesn't give credit to the photographer.  If you are the photographer, please let me know).

Faeries Friday

I guess it's summer, even though we haven't reached Solstice yet.  The foxgloves have been blooming for a while, and the Foxglove Faery has shown up to touch up their fast-fading blooms. 

I wish there was an Ageing Woman Face Faery...I could really use a touch-up/lift from her! 

Wednesday's Winding Road

Taken in May of 2010 down around Lake Silverwood.

Last Blossoms

The dogwoods' blossoms are looking pretty tattered and tired...this one was the best that I found today.  The tree that it's on is in a little micro-climate down by the creek that stays cool even in the hottest weather.  My husband jokes that it's always cool because it's haunted.  I don't tell him that he's right.  The little dell was my Godmother's and mama's favorite spot, and I've felt their presence there many times.  She and my mom used to spread a quilt on the ferny bank when they wanted a break during the summer from me and my cousins.  They'd carry down a big pitcher of "sweet tea" from the cottage.  I think (know) it was mostly iced tea with a generous portion of Irish whiskey added.  I do the same nowadays...my relatives know that when I'm there, I'm off limits, just as my cousins and I knew that my mom and my Godmother were not to be bothered when they were there.  Only now my pitcher of sweet tea is just that, because I developed an allergy to alcohol several years ago.  Talk about annoying!  But the little dell is still a quiet, magical spot to pass an afternoon.  Sometimes, as I sit on the quilt beside the creek and sip my sweet tea, I think I hear their laughter.  My Godmother and my mama were best friends for most of their lives and, wherever they are, I think they're still best friends, visiting their favorite places and favorite people and sipping their "sweet tea" during hot summer weather.

Weather Faeries

The rain and hail faeries paid a brief, very brief, visit today.  Up at the top of the ski resorts, which have been closed for quite a while, it actually snowed enough to give a good ground cover and down in the deserts it rained enough to flood some areas!  My hope and prayer is this storm will intensify, move eastwards and put out that terrible fire in Arizona.

(I don't know why this photo has such strange patterns in it; when it's enlarged they disappear and on my computer they're not there.  Blogger, what did you do?)

Wednesday's Winding Road

Wild sweet peas blooming beside Highway 18, also called Rim of the World Highway.  I took this last June.  The sweet peas have the most delicious fragrance.

Last night and today were such a welcome relief.  It was cool and cloudy during the day and the temperature got down to 38 F last night.  It even sprinkled a little last night...a very, very little, but still appreciated!

Sunday Sunsets

Taken in May of 2009.  I just found it while I was sorting through my photos.  It's strange how I can forget so many things that I want to remember, but details of where and when, etc., of photos usually stick in my mind. I look at this photo and hear the lapping of lake water behind me, feel the slight breeze scented with pine and damp air, hear the particular sound of a Nuttall's Woodpecker singing its goodnight song. But can I remember where I put my sunglasses, which I need every day?  No.  Maybe one of the cats hid them, and it's not my faulty memory...

Strawberries and Hope

There are little wild strawberries blooming everywhere.  They're even popping up in the ivy.  Hopefully, there will be lots for the birds, mice and skunks as they all love strawberries.  I love them, too, but I only eat one or two of the beyond-delicious little wild ones because there just isn't that much food for the little wild cousins up here anymore.  My sister always has lots of strawberries to share, so I content myself with those. 

The wildfires in San Diego County are terrible.  I heard on the news tonight that a badly burned body has been found, poor soul.  And when I think of all the animals that have perished, which the news never mentions, my heart hurts more.  135,000 homes have been evacuated across the county.  Fires have never, never been a problem in Southern California in May.  I am terrified of what months of hot, dry weather will cause in the autumn.  But, since we're having Santa Ana winds now, which is unusual, maybe they won't blow in the autumn.  It's the hope of that which I hang on to. 

A Quote For Monday

"The true beloveds of this world are, in their lover's eyes, lilacs opening, ship lights, school bells, a landscape, remembered conversations, friends, a child's Sunday, lost voices, one's favorite suit, autumn and all seasons, memory, yes, it being the earth and water of existence, memory."  Truman Capote

A Quote for Monday

"Praise the mutilated world and the gray feather a thrush lost, and the gentle light that strays and vanishes and returns."  Adam Zagajewski

Sunday Sunlight

Sunlight highlighting some Lunaria blossoms...and a lot of wicked foxtail weeds that I must get rid of!

Faeries Friday

Is it still a Faery Ring even though it's moss instead of mushrooms?  Also, it's not perfectly round.  I didn't step inside it...just in case!

Happy May Day!

Despite the horrible winds, some of the lilacs are still hanging on.  I think the Faeries may have visited this one...it seems to have a little bit of a lingering glow of Faeries about it.  If, while you're dancing under the stars tonight, you should happen to meet some of the Fae offer them  refreshments!  But, don't take anything they might offer you.  Some of them are pretty tricky...

Wednesday's Winding Road

A little dogwood tree by a sharp curve on a back road somewhere in the San Bernardino mountains...

Sunday Sunlight

Dark and light, death and growth...

Roses and Snow

I was down in Crestline yesterday visiting a friend, and she told me about this incredible rose she had seen...at their water company, of all places!  So we drove over to it and, sure enough, the rose was incredible.  The poor thing has powdery mildew and several other problems, but it was blooming proudly anyway. 

By the time I drove home the clouds were rolling in and the temperature was dropping rapidly.  Our low last night was 25 and we had howling winds plus a mix of snow, rain, and sleet.  I talked to my friend today and she said they just had rain and wind down in Crestline, but I keep wondering how that rose fared.  That roses are blooming anywhere in these mountains in April is astonishing! 

Happy Arbor Day!

A new little oak tree (planted by Mother Nature) springing up by a middle aged Ponderosa pine. 

What's Blooming Today

The always welcome Baby Blue Eyes and the always not welcome Chickweed, even though the tiny white flowers are pretty.  It would be welcome if it didn't try to choke out everything else.

Stinging Lupin: It also has pretty flowers, but those tiny hairs on the leaves cause a reaction worse than stinging nettle.

Tulips...sadly, not mine.  Some critter thought they were quite tasty!

My favorite, lilacs!  The temperatures have been in the upper 60's for the past few days, and the air is saturated with the scent of lilacs.  I've had all the doors and windows open so my cottage would fill up with their wonderful fragrance.  I wish I could bottle up the fragrance and send each of you a bottle.  It's supposed to be much cooler tomorrow, but I still plan on leaving the all doors and windows open, only I'll have fires going in all the fireplaces to keep the cats warm.  The white and the pink lilacs haven't opened yet, but it shouldn't be too long before they do, hooray!

Sunday Sunlight

This is a Cornus florida dogwood tree, which is not native in the west.  Several years ago I bought it from the nursery and planted it in a sheltered spot close to the house, which is why I think it is thriving even though it's supposed to be hardy only to zone 5, according to the USDA plant hardiness map.  I live in zone 4.  (The post below has a photo of the Cornus nuttallii dogwood blossom, which is endemic from British Columbia to the mountains of Southern California).

A Repeat

I've posted this photo before, back in 2011, but, of all the dogwood blossoms I've photographed, this one is my favorite.  So, I hope you'll forgive me for a double posting. 

Interestingly, the actual blossoms are the tiny yellow flowers on the center mound.  The white 'petals' are really just bracts to attract pollinators.  Hmmm...maybe the dogwood trees think all insects are near-sighted!

Wednesday's Winding Road

Dogwoods blooming along Kuffel Canyon road; it leads down into Lake Arrowhead.

Goodbye for Now, Georgie

                    (Taken last Christmas morning)

My precious Georgie went to Heaven last Monday.  There was no long illness, but Sunday night I could tell he wasn't feeling well.  He didn't eat all of his dinner, which was unusual for him.  I got up several times in the night to check on him, and he was hiding under a chair, which was also unusual for him.  On Monday morning, right before we took him to the vet, his urine had blood in it.  The vet said it was Sudden Onset Acute Kidney Failure and there was nothing that could be done.  So we held him and told him we would love him forever, and to not be scared because he was going to a wonderful place where he would be with his sister Betsy (she passed away in 2011).  I kissed his cheek and he kissed mine, just like he always did.  His soul passed on while we were both holding him. 

Georgie and Betsy in happier times.  They were litter mates from a feral mother, Ms. Violet, and they loved each other with all their hearts.  I hope someday we'll all be together again. 

Sunday Sunlight

I finally got outside for a bit today.  I've had some sort of semi-nasty stomach bug since Thursday.  It's leaving, but oh sooooo slowly.  My friend had it about two weeks ago, so I'm guessing it was a gift (although I know it wasn't one she would have wanted to give) from her.  Hers lasted about six days, so I'm hopeful mine will be gone soon, since I'm feeling a bit better every day.  And, daffodils always cheer me up!