Joshua Tree: Flora, Fauna, Fantastic Fotos

 We saw these interesting lizards in the park, including the horny toad on the bottom right.

We also saw lots of blooming cacti and other wildflowers.

These cholla cacti were also blooming. We made a trip within the park to these guys.

Violet brought her good Canon to take night photos. Joshua Tree is supposed to have amazing stargazing.

The first night, we were at our tent, and the lights from the town were polluting the sky a bit. So the second night, we went back into the park after dinner, and it was cloudy. The clouds cleared enough for some photos, though not as stunning as we might have hoped. 

Anyway, here are a few of those photos.

On our final day, leaving the hike near the mining equipment, we took a dirt road back to the paved road, and happened upon this beautiful scene. Yes, that's snow on the top of the mountain.

Poppy Day Out

Violet and I made a quick trip up to Lancaster after school on Thursday, to check out the springtime California poppies. 

This time, we paid the parking fee to go to the actual Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, where there is a nature center with art, educational materials, and restrooms and picnic benches. 

We walked some of the trails, and saw a nice variety of wildflowers, including these yellow ones, and various blue and lavender flowers as well.

We loved this little bird hopping around - we later found out, he is a horned lark.

 

As in past years, the best displays of our golden state flower were outside the reserve. We drove around and stopped on this rural side road, and enjoyed the view.

Tidbits

Violet has been busy on stained glass - she's making this larger piece for Uncle Bill and Aunt Patty from her own design.

She's also working on a squirrel.

It's been cool watching her work, from design, to cutting the glass pieces, to grinding it to shape, to foiling the pieces and then soldering them together.

 Here, she's soldering. 

And yes, it's all a bit dangerous. She has nicks from the glass and a slight burn from the soldering gun. Nothing too bad though, thankfully.

Violet returned to school this week, but it'll be a short week for her, as we're flying to Washington Thursday.

On Tuesday, Rigo and his guys came out to trim our liquidambar. It had gotten very tall, and though it seems really healthy, I've been nervous when we've had big wind storms.

Around 3 p.m. Monday, we had the windows all open, and could hear sirens outside. Then, we heard a howling and yipping that could only mean coyote. Normally though, coyotes are active at dusk and overnight. 

We went out to look for it, and there it was, on the hill. Another curious neighbor came out to see it, and said he's been seeing it around for a couple of weeks. 

Sure enough, a few days later, Stace and I went out for a later afternoon walk, and Stace found him on our lawn! Glad we no longer have free-roaming cats.

Week in Review

 
We did a few nature walks in the first week of December, a perfect month here for hiking. And this year, with the early rains, there are green hills and interesting fungi to enjoy.

On Monday, Vi and I went to Quigley and spotted this deer up on the hill. 

And on Thursday, we joined the Hiking Club with Violet's school for a walk to the Placerita Waterfall. 

Violet's supervising teacher is wearing the black coat; we're fortunate she and Vi were paired up.

After this hike, we went to Trophy Coffee for these lovely drinks...

...and then back to Quigley to enjoy the Super Moon.

Also this week, Stace and I met with a financial advisor for the first time, to start the process of thinking ahead to his retirement. Are we on track with our savings? What should we be doing to prepare? Such grownup (old person) questions! Ha!

Nature Trips

I'm so blessed with a daughter who craves her nature walks. I love them too, but I might not drive off on my own to catch the sunset and get some movement. But Vi will ask, and it's a great reason to get up and go. 

This was in Castaic, not far from the animal shelter.

Vi pointed out the oddity of a chain formed from interlocked padlocks.

On Tuesday, the girls had a day off school for Veterans Day. Violet and I drove up to Mt. Pinos, just past where we camped in June. We found a campground and enjoyed a picnic lunch in the cool woods.

If you see the white spot in the center of the photo, that's a car, and that is where you park to access the campground. It's free to stay here, and first-come, first served, but you have to walk in with your gear.

We drove down the mountain, and went a few miles northwest, to the community of Pine Mountain Club. I'd never been here, but have heard of it. It's cute! Nice homes, picturesque, fall color, and a coffee place that stayed open long enough for Vi and I to get a large latte to share on the drive home.

It was nice to feel like we'd had a mini vacation but have jus an hour's drive home.

Week in Review

 On Sunday evening, while Cora was at work, we went to the archery range again. This time, Stace let Violet drive once we got on the dirt road.

On our way home, we stopped at my Dad's house, where he fed us pizza and Stace helped him open a locked box.

On Wednesday, I picked up Ellie from her school and stayed with her for a bit, so her mom and dad could go to a museum. We had fun, and Ellie, being very outgoing, introduced me to everyone she knew. So cute!

Later that night, the three of us continued watching Tales from the Green Valley. It's the first in the series of BBC historical farming shows we've enjoyed over the last few years. This one has the presenters living farm life circa 1620.

When I got home, the cats were very interested to see what I had in the bag.

Speaking of very interested - I can't eat my oatmeal cake without Winston demanding I share it. He's so weird. I give him tiny bites so he can munch without putting his mouth on my breakfast.

Also this week, Violet and I took a sunset walk at Quigley, and spotted four deer, a big group of vultures on the ground in the field, and two great horned owls! I was very sad to not have one of our real cameras handy. In this photo, the owl is in the center, and at one point, two owls were together on this electric pole. I could see them so clearly, but the phone camera in such low light was rubbish.

Still, a very cool nature walk!

On Friday, Havana Savannah had a lunchtime deal where they sold their pizzas for $6.95 each. The line took forever - good thing Cora was home to pick up Violet before she went to work. But, they are good pizzas, especially at that price!

Sequoia, Part IV: More Trees and Lakes

We woke up and had a good breakfast in the lodge dining room, and then Stace and I took a trip out onto the big pond in a canoe. Stace then got in a kayak and sped around on his own. Violet relaxed on the bench, and we admired the nearby large black cows that seem to roam wild around the area.  

We then checked out and headed north further into the park, towards Kings Canyon. We stopped at another hiking spot and looped around to see a number of sequoias. 

Stace and Violet are at the bottom of this photograph!

The stream here sounded amazing.

We drove to Hume Lake, walked around the Christian camp, and then walked along the lakefront.

Until next time, Sequoias! We loved marveling at you, once again.