Mount Lassen

 My son and his uncle planned a camping trip, and last week they took their hiking shoes and warm clothes and drove up to Lassen Volcanic National Park.  There is a nice campground there at the park while they explored for a few days.  I told them to send me any interesting pics that they take, and to listen for Bigfoot in the wild.  They left from my house, and I kept asking them if they brought this and that, and they were surely prepared.  But first, I made them a cup of coffee and dessert before they headed out.  Don't these cake cookies look yummy?

They really are!

The elevation of Lassen Peak is 10,457 feet.  The American Black Bears live in and around Lassen National Park, an estimated 30 to 50.  No grizzly bears in the park.  They had such a nice and peaceful time; sat around the firepit, made homemade jambalaya, tri-tip tacos, bacon and eggs for breakfast, went on hikes, and just relaxed.  Except for the first one, here are a few pictures my son took while they were there.  On one of the mountains on the very top, it looked like the shape of a bear.

This is Summit Lake.  It's in the park about 10 miles from their campsite.

  Here is the devastation area where the fires occurred back in 2006 or 2007.

Mount Lassen.  Do you see the eye up there?

This cliff was near Mount Lassen.

Manzanita Lake is also located in the park.

I thought this was neat.  This is a mud pot where the volcanic mud boils up from the earth.  The whole area that surrounds it is a sulphur mud pit that's called "Sulphur Works."

They invited me to come along, but I thought I would stay home, go shopping, indulge in some good food, and you know, pamper myself. *a juicy, delicious, and messy barbecue burger.

I went to A's Home Shop and got to visit with my friend for a time.  She has a room that is adorned with Christmas all year 'round, and I bought this pretty candle because I could put it out anytime or any season.

I also bought a chocolate huckleberry bar.  This chocolate is a treat for me, as they are $7 for just one.

I had pizza one night, and watched the movie, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris.  It's a delightful film, especially for the fashion lovers.

I spent some time deleting old photos and making new files.  That takes time, and it's always nice when I clean and clear out.

*Mia Charro Art

The autumn trees in my town are starting to wake up, sharing secrets with their golden and amber neighbors.

And Happy Birthday Jess, my October girl.

I hope you can take in some of the smells, tastes, sounds, and colors of October this week.  It goes so very fast.

A Visit To The Lake And Other Things

 My county is widely considered one of the most stunning and scenic areas of northern California.  It offers us mountain peaks, serene lakes, and lush forests.  I make it a point to visit nature in my town, but I wanted to see the lake at the start of fall, which is on the outskirts of my town.  My son came with me, and I'm glad, as there are mountain lions and other animals lurking in the wild.  We first got a breakfast burrito and a coffee and then drove over to the lake.  It was as pretty as I remember it last time, and here's a few pics.

Not sure what these red berries were, but they looked like a Christmas card.  *thank you, Shug, for identifying it as the Pyracantha bush.    

The other side of the lake.

The fall leaves were changing color, and were much more vibrant at the lake than anywhere in town.

This is the dock area facing the sun.

The waterfalls are very close to the lake, so I wanted to go there next, but the parking lot was full when we arrived.  So, do you think I would leave without seeing the falls?  Nope, I know the side roads and shortcuts in every town I've lived in, and managed to see these majestic falls once again.  I'll have to return this autumn because the area I drove through I could only see the falls through the trees.  Very pretty though.

School Picture Day!  When Nel showed me this picture of Mia it reminded me so much of the dress I wore on picture day in third grade.

I know, what was my eight-year-old self thinking back then?  I wanted a pixie cut really bad, and my mom agreed to chop all my hair off.  She was good that way; she always let me express myself with clothes and hairstyles.  When I was a child, I had blondish-brown hair.  This was my favorite dress, and I think my mom got it at JC Penney for that first week of school.

You know, I've tried many coffee brands over the years, and I always come back to Starbuck's.  The House Blend, French Roast, and Pike Place Roast are my favorites.

Some fun facts about Starbucks:

*It is the largest coffeehouse chain in the world, and operates in more than 80 countries  worldwide.

*When the first store opened in Seattle in 1971, it sold whole-bean coffee and equipment.  They did not sell their first latte until 1983.

*The Twin-Tailed Mermaid: the famous logo features a siren from Greek mythology.

*The first Starbuck's holiday cup debuted in 1997.  And it was purple, not red.

*The famous Pumpkin Spice Latte was invented in 2003.

Nel and Jess and I always get excited when the new holiday cups come out.

It was a fun week.  I met brother-in-law at the Chinese Restaurant.  I don't know if I was hungry or what, but it was exceptional this time - spicy soup, kung pow chicken, rice, egg roll, crab with cream cheese wonton, chow mein, and coke.  Then, I headed over to the new boutique in town.  They have a nice clothing line and good quality, but most of the sweaters were cropped, and I don't care for cropped tops.  How 'bout you?

  Some pretties in town.  Isn't it funny how daisies remind me of my mom when I don't remember her particularly liking them?

After that third-grade pixie cut, I've had long hair ever since.

~Welcome October~

The Pumpkin That Says It All

I told you last time that I wanted to get a pumpkin at the grocery store with a funny face, and this week I rummaged through the box, and found the perfect one.  It even has a word written on it.  People in the world sometimes say and do bizarre things, and we are surprised and just flabbergasted when it happens.  We hear it on the news and even see it in our own towns and neighborhoods.  Whenever that happens, the only response that I can come up with is.......

I made one of my favorite things of all - my mother-in-law's potato salad.  It's such a simple recipe, and I love it.  I always add more eggs than she used to though.  ; )

Some people go to the store when they have a meal to prepare.  For me, I use what's in the cupboards and fridge most of the time.  *Some cooked bacon (I took the fat off), broccoli, bell peppers, onions, red potatoes, a little milk to keep it moist, sprinkle with a generous amount of cheese, cover with foil, and bake at 350 for about an hour.  It turned out really delicious.

Francesca is in her second year of Holy Communion classes.  This grandma is so pleased that she will receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion (the Eucharist).  She came out of her class one day wearing this sticker on her forehead.

Jess bought a new car!  And she celebrated by driving to Ventura Beach for the day.

"One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats."

~Iris Murdoch

Nel and Jess have a way with decorating for the seasons, and here are a few pics of Nel's creative fall ideas.  The greens are pretty that she used this year in her decorating.

These scarecrows belonged to her grandma.  I love that she puts them out every year.

This just cracks me up.

The landscaper came by and did so much work around here.  I like to get caught up on fall chores to get prepared for the cold winters we have.  The lawn looks nice, so I wanted to get a pumpkin for the porch.  It's just the right size and shape.

It's deer season, and they seem to come around in September.  Not a good pic, but it was exciting to see a doe across the street at my neighbor's house.

It's so neat that Renecke coaches Mia's soccer team.  When I first saw this picture, I saw a little "me" in Mia.  It's funny; every once in a while, when we see our grandkids, we see not only our children in them, but ourselves.  It can be a look they make, a smile, or even their personality. 

Along with the cooler weather, this is the first real sign of Fall.  We're supposed to get more rain this winter than usual, so I've heard.

So, if you're ever appalled at some of the things you see and hear out there, you can use my response if you'd like.......