Hi there, faithful readers! It’s nice to be back with you. Last week, I spent a few lovely days in California. The weather there is so different, making me appreciate desert life all the more. Dry cold days don’t seem as severe on the desert. Yes, the wind howls, but it’s a dry wind. The chill is present but without humidity. A 60 degree day on the Northwestern desert plains of Nevada feel much warmer than a 60 degree day in Northern California. With the unsettled weather everything was damp making it still to cold for shorts and a t-shirt.
Everything reaches for the sky in California. Bright fields of green, sprinkled with fresh California Poppies. A glorious sight to behold. As a young girl growing up in the Central Valley of California, there were days when both the Coastal range and the Sierra Nevada were visible from our ranch. When the mountains called to us, we would take a drive just to look at all the wildflowers blooming in the high country. Such fragile beauty, all boasting sweet little names I have long since forgotten. Each week, spring blooms once again at a higher elevation, until the last of the wildflowers die and fall is near. So go the seasons of the Sierra’s.
Last week, Donner Pass was clear of snow. Just two weeks before, T and K were stuck in Truckee for three hours in an early spring blizzard. Interstate 80 isn’t forgiving. When you decide to cross the Sierra’s, it’s important to carry water, blankets, and snacks, because you just never know. The Sierra’s aren’t a place one should try out an unknown short-cut or new GPS route. Just ask the Donner Party. We should all show great respect for those that lost their lives in the winter of 1846-47.
The little town I visited is one of the oldest in California. Even though the population is much smaller than my little town, the amenities were dazzling. It’s been awhile since I’ve stayed in a town enjoying every kind of store one would like to visit. Here at home, I have the luxury of my hometown Walmart or the Walmart’s to the East or West.
Restaurants were found on every corner. Too bad the prices were so outrageous. Eating at home is something I’m really loving now. Cooking for one is becoming a new hobby. Last week, I made fresh French Onion Soup that cooked all day long. My town has six casinos, four Mexican restaurants, two diners, and several fast food establishments. It’s poor planning for a town that is now pushing 25,000. With the housing market booming, there will be many changes in the next five years. Hard to know whether they will fit one old lady and her little dog. Only time will tell.
Walking through the produce section of a California grocery store, I remember eating fruit off the trees at the ranch. What I would give for a REAL peach or nectarine (not the cardboard variety you find for sale today). Here in the desert I haven’t found many road side fruit stands. Produce for our Farmer’s Markets are trucked in from California often leaving it bruised and tired after the extra days on the road. Nothing compares to California fruits and vegetables when purchased next to the field in which they were grown. Absolutely nothing.
Why, some people actually go through quite a process to get their hands on freshly grown ear corn from California State University, Fresno. One such Goddess involved several service industries and even law enforcement to have a box of fresh corn delivered 150 miles to her door. You know, Goddesses have all the luck. Especially those that drive the Highway 1 topless with tresses flowing (of course, topless refers to the status of the convertible — I think).
Eating at home is something I’m really loving now. Cooking for one is becoming a new hobby. Last week, I made fresh French Onion Soup that cooked all day long. Out of “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”, it simmered all day long on very low heat. I didn’t know some yellow onions and broth could make something that tasted so heavenly. No need to waste money on restaurants when I can cook great things in the kitchen here at Winterpast.
Oliver had a wonderful time at Puppy Camp. His little friend, Clara, popped in for a few days of Doggie Day Care. Upon his return, I can finally recognize a well-trained, almost-5-year-old, gentleman dog. He has much more interest in sleeping at my feet, wherever that may be. Snoozing more, he chews on things less. Finally. It’s been harrowing raising such an intelligent little guy.
Once back home, it was time to get out the hoe, rake, hose, and weed spray. I need to get busy before the weeds win. A little of me misses the green hills of California. Just a wee bit. But, more of me loves the quiet desert rainfall that came last night after a day of high winds. It’s time to explore Nevada to discover all the secrets she holds. I can always pop back over the hill for a little visit the next time I need a city fix.
Get out there and enjoy the first week of May. It’s a glorious time to do something new!
More tomorrow.