Down a Morning Path........

I'm Having a Sale in my Etsy Shop!

2011-01-18T19:34:00.000-08:00

Shop with a 20% Discount on ALL ITEMS through the End of the Month! Use Code PH20EOM at Checkout - Coupon good only at

Mrnglry's Doll House & Vintage Collectibles

until Dec. 31st - Grab 'em before they're Gone !

http://www.etsy.com/shop/mrnglry

Happy New Year 2011!

2011-01-01T11:53:00.000-08:00

The rains are departing......the sun is beginning to shine on our Bright New Year!

Our Neighbors' Trees

2010-11-23T22:17:00.000-08:00

The bluebird's house is abandoned, the woodpile is growing and the leaves are turning......fall is Here!

Autumnal Equinox: First Day of Fall Greeted by Full Moon

2010-09-22T21:12:00.000-07:00

Our Harvest Moon.....taken from our front porch, Sept. 22, 2010

My Doll Quilt is Featured

2010-08-19T21:30:00.000-07:00

See it here on Ruby Plaza's Facebook Page.....

Blue Jay in creek at Camp Connell....

2010-07-25T15:20:00.000-07:00

........near Big Trees State Park, above Arnold, CA. He was enjoying his bath, splashing in the cool water. The green color is a reflection of the greenery nearby.

We have baby quail!

2010-07-16T08:34:00.000-07:00

Two (or three) are huddled near their parents by the berry vines out back.

2010-07-08T08:40:00.001-07:00

It's a Brand New Day!

Happy 4th of July!

2010-07-04T17:39:00.000-07:00

Long may she wave -

Our visitor this morning......

Fresh plums picked this morning.....still lots more on the tree - hopefull, Miss
Doe will leave them for us and stick to eating the tree leaves!

Happy Birthday, America!

My May Day Flowers

2010-05-02T10:15:00.000-07:00

......all blooming on our front berm.....

Country drive....

2010-04-24T14:08:00.000-07:00

....for a wildflower and critter shoot. Beautiful day today and lots of animals, birds and baby colts out. They are all nesting or taking care of their babies.....it is Spring!

California Poppies

Fiddlenecks

Unknown blue flowers

Unknown orange flowers

Vetch

Lupine

Wild Mustard

Surprise Flowers

2010-04-21T07:02:00.000-07:00

These snapdragons just awoke from a long winter's sleep.......

Springtime in the California foothills

2010-04-10T12:36:00.000-07:00

This little colt was enjoying the nice weather and all the wildflowers.

Happy Easter, Everyone!

2010-04-04T08:44:00.000-07:00

May your day be filled with family & friends, good food & fellowship, and Blessings from the Lord!

Wildflowers and Wild Turkeys!

2010-04-03T14:58:00.000-07:00

The hillsides are lush and green and make a wonderful backdrop for the flowers and the critters. Now, where DO those turkeys hide out in the winter? They are out and about now, so I caught some with my camera today.

Below is purple lupine along the side of the road......

Birthdays!

2010-03-27T20:11:00.000-07:00

Today we celebrated my husband's and also the town of Columbia, CA's birthdays. Columbia is 160 years old today, established just as the Gold Rush was beginning in 1850. Columbia is now a State Park - just search it or follow this link - http://www.columbiacalifornia.com/
It is a great place to visit with lots of history and is a real gold rush town. A lot of movies and TV shows have used it for filming, including High Noon with Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly.

Here is birthday cake being given out to one and all........

Flowers from our front porch.......

2010-03-26T10:15:00.000-07:00

Orchids

Freesia

Verbena

Missed Opportunities

2010-03-25T04:12:00.000-07:00

While trying to always be ready for that 'special' shot, I missed two the other day. The first was of a bald eagle chasing an osprey (fish eagle) carrying a fish that it just picked up from the lake. The larger bald eagle made the osprey drop its catch and then swooped down to get it as it landed on the water.
What a site that was, and one rarely seen here on our lake. And of course, I was not camera-ready.
The second missed shot was of a flock of ten or more wild turkeys that flew across the road right in front of our car on the way back home - that's twice in one day! I had just put my camera away, thinking we were almost home and wouldn't need it anymore. I think I will always have my camera on my lap from now on, and I will be ready next time!

Here is a shot that didn't get away.......

It is so nice when they stand still and pose for you.

Views from Hwy 46

2010-03-17T06:45:00.000-07:00

Wildflowers on the Coastal Hills near Paso Robles, CA - Photos taken on Monday, March 15, 2010.

Wild Mustard and other Wildflowers growing near James Dean accident site at junction of Hwys 46 and 41, near Chalome, CA

Our Crazy Weather....

2010-03-11T08:36:00.000-08:00

Spring is having a tough time getting through the door, but it is pushing in! Yesterday's drive up the hill was a bit snowy......

Snow still on the roof of Ralph's Station, but starting to melt with snow turning to rain.

By afternoon, our drive through the foothills showed us another face of spring...the Canadians are starting to nest. And, those are spring flowers in the background.....the geese know what to do and when it is time!

I Woke Up to Pitter Patter on the Roof....

2010-03-02T08:08:00.000-08:00

More rain in the forecast for today. I love all the spring showers as we are going to have one humdinger of a wildflower showing!

Waterfalls off Table Mountain, near Lake Tulloch....love the views driving into town. Soon these hills will be covered in golden orange poppies and all the other little spring blossoms.

All the little streams are making their way down to the lakes......

Coming up on Eagle Point and the descent down to the lake.....

What a majestic view - left over from volcanic activity eons ago!

These are shots we enjoy every trip into town and back - though the road is curvy and a bit narrow in places, this makes it so worth it all.

In just a few short weeks, this hill will be covered in orange....stay tuned!

The Bluebirds Are Here!!

2010-02-27T09:36:00.000-08:00

The skies were gray, but this little bright spot warmed my heart. He will soon be setting up housekeeping in one of my hubby's little houses.

More little harbingers of spring.......

........and the sweet smell of the rosemary attracted this little honeybee.

Care to Join Me on another Country Drive?

2010-02-26T10:34:00.000-08:00

In between our rainy days, we are having so really beautiful spring-like days here. It is so hard to stay indoors when it is so gorgeous outside!

This drive took us down a rarely used, one lane road.....

We went by some old farms......

A lone sentinel........

And yes, the cows are happy out here in California....

An orchard in bloom........ah, spring!

So, what do you do if you don't have chickens?

2010-02-20T10:07:00.000-08:00

Why, you go down the road to someone who lives nearby, and visit their chickens!

Fresh Eggs - Let's hear that again......

Now, these just were not ordinary chickens, but Araucana or Ameraucana chickens, and they laid the most beautiful colors - but the nice brown eggs will cook up just as good.

Now, for a nice breakfast!

There is a Little Girl on my Front Porch who wants to Wish you a Happy Valentines Day!

2010-02-14T10:32:00.000-08:00

The Sun is out and my little bloomers are awake - Happy Spring from California!

2010-02-13T13:21:00.000-08:00

Photos of the Day

2010-02-06T13:15:00.000-08:00

Well, Mother Nature paid little attention to my daffodils, and listened to that ground hog - so we have had blustery, rainy weather. But don't you worry, my little yellow bloomers will be ever so bright and pretty when that sun comes back out!

This was taken at early morning sunrise - looking northwest from our back porch.

.......there's a storm a brewin'.........

.....too wet to work in the fields....

How do ya like our roads? They make for an interesting photo shoot, as we drive along.....

The rain is letting up, and the blue sky is showing through.

I call this one "rain shine".

The rain showers filled up the stream by the Old Henley Ranch barn.

2010-02-01T11:01:00.000-08:00

These little mini daffodils were peeking out of the periwinkle this morning.....and there was a pair of robins and a male bluebird in my back yard this morning. Can spring be not far behind?

2010-01-31T07:35:00.000-08:00

The weather man was predicting rain, but it was a white, puffy cloud day........ So, off we go on our "fun" day.......one of my favorite things to do are country drives.

The grass is getting greener with every rain shower....

It did threaten a little rain.......

But down the road we went......

Someone we met along the way......
Why, it's Woody!
Woody has a beautiful home!

One of the many streams running through the hills right now.

And, just because I love old barns.......
There are many types in our area.
.........and scattered through our hills.

.......ooops, we had to do a turnaround here!
And, I did find an old treasure - a very worn and much loved old dresden plate quilt! It is a 'cutter' - which means to repair or cut up to make other special treasures (this is something I can only do if there is no hope for the quilt) - another project for another day.

2010-01-29T08:37:00.000-08:00

I love to be indoors too - some of my favorite things.......

Grandma's Windmill Quilt - The first quilt I completely hand-quilted.

My Stitchin' Chair - More projects than I have time for!

My Sewing Corner....

Now.......how 'bout some brownies for all that hard work!

2010-01-24T21:38:00.000-08:00

Come along on a country drive - on a narrow, winding road - these are my views taken through the windshield and window, as we move along........enjoy the ride!

The roads are a bit crooked, but the views are spectacular!

Herd of Black Angus

Ruins of old Butte Store - Hwy 49

Old abandoned Homestead

Herd of goats on Pool Station Road

Crossing the stream on Pool Station Road

Old Barn on Henley Ranch

Black Creek - just down the hill from our home - It was a nice day - Hope you had a good time.

2010-01-22T06:43:00.000-08:00

Lots of rain and wind - which blew down 2 bird feeders, and this one crashed on the class-top table and broke!

Little birds are scrambling for food in the rain - the leftover biscuits I left on the railing are all gone! The one at the upper right is enjoying the remnants of one. :)

This one is hunting under the birches, but no cover here to stay dry....
A flock of meadowlarks and some great northern flickers feed in the field in back.

We make a trip into town and the rain and wind has let up - view taken from the window of the car, as we are moving down the road.....lots of water standing in the fields.
These are our roads..........pretty much a roller coaster ride!

a little about me........

2010-01-20T23:11:00.000-08:00

I am a wife - our 50th anniversary is this April (we married in our teens and were high school sweethearts) - Mom to 2 and Nana to 5 grands.

We live in California's Mother Lode area of the Sierra Nevada foothills. We like to call it "God's Country" – as we love it so.
It is a very historic area, and we have a lot of fun exploring it and all the little towns here.

We live on one acre, and though we don't own any animals, there are lots that hang out here…..a covey of quail in the berry bush by the back fence, lots of birds that keep my feeders busy, coyotes in the field next to the back fence, hawks and owls (who keep the gopher and mole population down, but haven't seemed to hurt our quail numbers), rabbits and squirrels, and probably a raccoon or two, as they sometimes raid our neighbor's cat food. Oh, I forgot the deer – they love to snack on our garden and fruit trees!
Someday, I would like to have chickens, and maybe some pets, but will have to wait until we quit traveling so much.

It is so nice to "meet" all of you and I welcome your comments about your lives and all about where you live.