Author: Joy Hurt

Such a beautiful city call home! Last Wednesday evening, we had the rare opportunity to watch The Mayor in action. Like many cities and states in our great country, our leader gives an annual address to the local citizens. Ours was The State of the City Address — 2024.

Dead tired after a full day of yard and house work, HHH and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. After early burgers at the local Denny’s, we took a detour around the ongoing underpass construction to arrive in time.

There are several things you should know about our city. Our population is growing. When HHH and his brothers arrived so many years ago, there were about 700 people that called this town home. Without anything more than a couple markets and a few bars, life was quiet and sweet.

In 2024, things are a little different. With a population of 25,669 (and growing), HHH and I have made an interesting observation. There are three places in town that handle U-Haul trucks. The number of trucks on these lots keeps increasing. Each week, trucks arrive, but they don’t leave. More and more people are discovering the beauty of small town life, and deciding to move here.

Upon arriving at the meeting, we found the parking lot at the Senior Citizen Center was, once again, overflowing. Parking on one of the last asphalt spaces, we hurried inside to find two seats of honor reserved for us at the Mayor’s table. Sharing this table with his newest little great-granddaughter was a treat. Not often you get to observe a little person that’s only two weeks old.

If only we’d been a little earlier, we could have munched on the most beautiful array of fruit, bread, and cheese. As soon as we sat down, it was time. The Mayor was ON.

Our little town requires a budget of $48 million to keep things rolling. Over the last year, the water department, alone, delivered 1,379,524,900 gallons of treated water from the Truckee River to residents all over the city. On the other end of things, the waste water department treats about that much. Pretty amazing for such a little town.

Our city has a brand new street sweeper. Ground is breaking on a new Community Response and Resource Center which will be a place for residents to meet, work, and play.

After 45 minutes of exciting news about all departments in our city, The Mayor encouraged everyone to become involved with something that interests them. In our small town there’s a job for everyone, from July 4th committee members to 4-H Leaders. Advisory committees. Citizen Volunteers. From the annual rodeo to the sheriff department, the ways to help are endless.

During the meeting, (standing room only), there wasn’t one heckler. Not one environmental whacko. Not one disruptive person throwing paint or yelling obscenities. Just a respectful group of people very interested in the state of our beloved city. It showed how much we all care about the place we call home.

Watching Our Mayor in action, his lifelong love for our town was obvious. There’s no better person to guide the growth of our little town. As my desert roots grow deeper, this little oasis is becoming the gem she was always meant to be. HHH and I are blessed to live on the high desert plains of Northwestern Nevada.

Whatever you do today, discover some facts about your town that you didn’t already know. Check into committees that need members. Find upcoming events that might need volunteers. In some little way, get involved. For, we can all make the world a better place if we become the change we wish to see in the world.

More tomorrow.

At this writing, these are damages of which we know.

Seven missing greenhouse panels at Winterpast.

16′ of downed fence at Brother’s house.

One light fixture blown off garage wall at rental.

Two missing greenhouse panels at Ninja Neighbor’s house.

Downed fence across the street at neighbors.

Roof again blown off neighbor’s shed.

Huge waves at Lake Tahoe.

I’ll return on Monday to give you updates on the storm. It’s just getting started now, with 12′ of snow expected in the high Sierra’s, along with blizzard conditions. As for us, we have our Snow Joe batteries charging. We’re expecting quite a bit of snow.

Whatever you do this weekend, if you are not in the eye of a major storm, be grateful. That’s enough!!!

More on Monday.

Due to the extreme winds we are experiencing this very moment, I intend to make this short. I need to move away from the windows and watch the greenhouse from the safety of the house. But, let me begin from the beginning.

Growing up in the Central Valley of California, I never experienced extreme weather. No yearly tornadoes or snow storms that left towns paralyzed. The schools DID call Foggy days, when the Tule fog was so thick you couldn’t see the end of your shoe. That’s about it.

Along with no weather, we also missed out on cool clouds and one of my favorite forces of nature… The Wind. I must be crazy, but since my beginnings, I have loved wind. Slow breezes that kiss your cheek on a summer morning. And June winds that blow the mortar board right off a graduates head. I just love wind.

Until about 1:00 pm yesterday.

I had gone to the Pretty Beautiful Nail Salon to get pretty toes and catch up on neighborhood news. One nice thing about small towns is that everyone knows everyone. You can find out the time for the latest funeral or which fruits and vegetables will be on sale in the upcoming days. If you need something, just let your nail gal know. She probably knows a guy that knows a guy.

When returning home, I’d planned to plant the new seeds Hubba-Hubba-Hubby and I purchased early in the morning. Passion Flowers. Chamomile. Blue Tansy. Sunflowers. Siberian Wall Flowers. Jalapeno Peppers. The first five were for the bees and the last for HHH.

I was enjoying a spoonful of THE BEST HONEY I’ve ever eaten in my life from the Naked Bee Honey Company in Fallon, Nevada. Honey, but so much better. This product is a unique and fulfilling candy bar in a spoonful. Just the right consistency, it’s flavors remind me that summer will soon be here to provide everything remembered in this wonderful food.

Well, I was enjoying this honey and getting out the soil and pots when I happened to look up. Our Manly Marine, across the street, was atop his storage shed. With the winds now howling (gusts to 30 mph), his roof shingles were blowing past him. HHH flew out the door to help, but some men just want to handle things alone and HHH’s offer was declined.

HHH returned to find our greenhouse was again coming apart at the seams. The winds were now in the 30-40 MPH range. With two short whistles, he caught my attention and I flew to his side.

“Here, Hold this panel. I need to get some painter’s tape.”

For what seemed like hours, I star-fished onto the side of the greenhouse, while listening to the door bang. I unlatched it and the door flew open, breaking a hinge. Great, now I did a sideways hug to hold the doors and the side, while the entire greenhouse felt like it would surely take flight. Thank goodness the foundation bolts held it down, or the neighbor across the street might have received a new greenhouse, airmail.

Painters tape and a prayer. We’ll see how we fare. Somehow this darn greenhouse is beginning to seem like a very bad, “Californific” idea. It would have been a great thing to have at the ranch. On the high desert plains of Northwestern Nevada, maybe not so much. We are not about to give in, we just need to get through the storm, which has now been extended to early next week.

Thank goodness the bees haven’t arrived yet. They’re weathering their own storms in California.

Through the rest of the afternoon, with dinner in the crockpot, the internet kept going in and out. The winds hit the house with such force, we checked on our own roof several times. Everything seems to have held. I promise I will try to write something tomorrow. If you don’t hear from HHH and I, please look under the greenhouse. By the way, please don’t forget to water the seedlings!

It’s true.

Of course, the winter will end, just not quite yet. Today, the biggest storm of the year is arriving. Twelve feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada’s! Who knows? We might get another 17″ here in our little dessert town. Nevada Energy and Spectrum are warning us that services may be interrupted.

The beginning months of winter hold anticipation of real fun. Thanksgiving. Black Friday. Hot chocolate. Presents under the tree. Candlelight Service. New Year’s Eve. The Super Bowl. Even in mid-February, Valentines bring us smiles. These events distract us from the bitter cold and dangerous driving conditions. This late in the game, it’s time for winter to pack up and leave the party. We won’t mind a bit. March 19th is just around the corner and can’t get here soon enough.

The only thing I miss about being a California native is that, for flat landers at least, winters weren’t severe. In the Central Valley of California, the weather went from extreme fog to extreme heat (100+ from May to October). Just two weather patterns over the 60 years I lived there. Consistently boring.

With the lack of four distinct seasons, there were somethings we missed out on. Puffy white spring clouds. Winds. Summer thunderstorms. A real show of fall colors. Crisp apples signaling the arrival of fall. Nope. We had none of these things.

We had two seasons.

Dense, Tule Fog.

113 degree heat.

Repeat.

Well, once in 1962 it snowed enough to cancel school which was a once-in-my-lifetime event. But, on a normal year, weather was pretty boring.

Here in the desert, we’re blessed with four true seasons. Although not equal in the number of days, they’re all recognizable as the seasons they are. At this point, I’m sick of winter. Enough already.

My little desert town has an immediate advantage when considering weather in the area. According to yearly averages, very little annual snowfall is the norm (5″ of precipitation). I don’t know if there are weather norms anymore. Last year, I realized snow shoveling isn’t on my list of favorite things to do. The new snow blower makes it just a little more enjoyable when 17″ of wet snow fall in five hours.

We’re stocking up this morning, as the store shelves may be a little bare this weekend. The storms have been so mild, the pass hasn’t closed this winter. The next few days will tell the tale. Desolate desert life takes patience and preparation. I’m lucky my little town is right off the interstate. For Hooterville residents (a real town to the northwest of here), winters can be brutal, making it necessary to prepare for days of isolation.

As the the greenhouse seedlings, the story is grim. Monday was the perfect day for them to soak up warmth and sunshine outside. I carefully closed the doors that night, hoping the greenhouse would keep them warm enough. Yesterday, scurrying out through the frigid cold to check on them, I found that eight of my beautiful lovelies froze during the night. There’s always another seed and another day. As for the rest of the seedlings, they’ll continue to grow within the walls of Winterpast.

Whatever you do today, check on someone that might be snow bound or struggling with seasonal depression. If you’re expecting high winds like us, be sure to secure items in your yard that might blow away. When the storms arrive, shovel some snow. It’s be good for what ails you! At least, that’s what we can tell ourselves.

More tomorrow.

The best thing about having a great group of friends is that SOMEONE is always up for a movie. With one little text, our plans started with four and ended up with two. Just to the east, there is an adorable little movie theater hidden on the high desert plains of Northwestern Nevada. It was there a Harvest Sister and I spent the afternoon.

After seeing the trailer for the movie “Ordinary Angels”, several things attracted me to the movie. It was from the same producer of “Jesus Revolution” and it starred Hilary Swank. Not really one of my favorite actresses, the woman that has aged gracefully and played her character well. Add story line about a little girl that needed a liver and a woman that just needed to help someone, and it seemed a winning combination.

In the morning before showtime, there were plenty of gardening chores that needed attention. One of the biggest time consumers these days is the replanting of the tiniest little seedlings into 4″ pots. It’s amazing how the different seeds sprout. The Zucchini and 4-O’Clocks produce a large root ball before they are two inches tall, while the oregano seeds produce tiny little plants that take forever to grow.

All of this repotting is taking place in our kitchen during the morning news. These seedlings grow throughout the night and each morning, there are at least 12 more plants that need more space for their roots.

Yesterday was the first day plants were moved to tables in the greenhouse. Although they love being there, it will be necessary to move them back to the warmth of the house. By week’s end, a significant snow storm is coming. But, for a few days this week, the seedlings can enjoy life as a real vegetable plant.

After I tidied up, it was time to drive to the little town to the east to see our movie. One of the best things about being a senior citizen is that you get away with acting childish at times. Ordering a “Child’s Snack Pack” with popcorn, a little bag of fruit snacks and a small drink, we went into Theater 4 to watch our movie.

The main message of the movie was this. No matter how insignificant you THINK you are, there are plenty of things you can do to help move mountains. Although normal humans can’t heal, humans can band together in a community to support those in need. The movie was about the true life story of Michelle Schmitt Cobble and her unlikely earthly angel in the form of a Kentucky hairdresser named Sharon Steven Evans.

There are so many ways we can all give to those in need. With prayer, time, insight, and money, the efforts of many can help those in true need. Nothing brings people together quicker than a sick child, and this little community was no different. Everyone knows someone that knows someone that can fix a problem. When a community pulls together to make connections, there’s no stopping the miracles that can be done. Even those involving helicopters and jet planes in a blizzard.

Our movie date was a huge success. Returning to a theater after so many years felt normal and wonderful. If you haven’t gone for awhile, try it. Pssst…… Don’t forget the popcorn and snacks.

More tomorrow.

In April, 2020, I was one lost soul. Having moved to a new town only seventeen days after becoming a new widow, my life was unrepair-ably broken. At least, that’s what I believed at the time. The thought of taking care of a home sitting on 1/2 acre of intricate gardens was overwhelming. I almost cancelled the deal, but something inside promised I’d have the strength to go on.

Almost four years later, I’ve been blessed in ways that seemed improbable, if not impossible. My yard didn’t die. The house didn’t fall down around me. I found God, made new friends, fell in love, and married. To think it’s all happened to me brings me to my knees in gratitude.

My world came alive on December 12, 2022, my baptism day. Before then, God was busy directing my life from behind the scenes. Missing a move to the best little wide spot off the interstate on the high plains of Northwestern Nevada would have been the ultimate tragedy. If things hadn’t gone the way they did, I wouldn’t have traveled the path God intended for me.

Just days before the complicated real estate deal was to close, I was at my wits’ end. I was selling the Dun Movin House in Virginia City and buying Winterpast. The little restaurant in VC kept me alive Wednesday through Sunday. I’d order enough food to have some leftovers on Monday and Tuesday. With tearful trips off the mountain to deliver boxes to storage (350 in all), the devil had time to work on my brain.

“You can’t really handle 1/2 acre.”

“the new house is too expensive.”

“Living alone will be too much for you.”

“Your real estate deals are going to fall apart.”

The negatives kept rolling around in my brain, fueled with things EVERYONE knows.

“A widow shouldn’t move during the first year after her spouse dies.”

“A woman can’t possibly take care of husband-ly things.”

“A widow is weak and incapable of anything but a mass a tears.”

On a windy afternoon, I called my realtor and asked to see a smaller house on a local golf course. I was dangerously close to making a huge mistake. Walking through the tiny house with a tinier yard, I really considered the alternate home. Again, something inside told me to stay the course. Escrow had opened before my late husband’s cancer diagnosis. In the end, I’d stay with the original plan.

I’ve learned so many important truths in the last four years. I’ve discovered that I’m capable for caring for my own needs and have been all along. More importantly, I’ve learned to slow down and listen for an inner voice offering life’s advice. Even when the answer isn’t exactly what I want to hear, it’s probably what I need to do.

When the journey of widowhood is just too much to bear, turn to God for some help. During those lonely years, I prayed that angels would spread their wings over Winterpast and kept Oliver and I safe. When I asked for deep sleep, it came. When I asked for ultimate safety in my new home, HE delivered. When I prayed, through tears, for new friends he took the wheel and drove me to them. Slowly I learned HE was only a prayer away. Through long conversations, I now know HE is always there. Through those conversations, I know myself much better.

Whatever you do today, quietly listen while in a mindful state. God will hear whatever you need to say. With patience and faith, answers will come.

More tomorrow.

The weekend flew by, as weekends often do. While reviewing receipts for the 2023 tax year, I’m reminded that our greenhouse is not yet a year old. Standing so proudly in the garden area, we can’t wait to fill her with all the seedlings sprouting in the house. Everything takes time.

The next step to make the little house plant-ready is to cover it with shade cloth. That might seem counter productive, but the intensity of the desert sun through the polycarbonate walls makes it necessary. After researching this subject, the consensus is that 70% sun blockage is good. Covering the greenhouse on the top and back is no small job, as it measures 10′ X 14′ x 7′.

Bright and sunny, yesterday was perfect weather for planting. In beautiful redwood planter boxes designed and constructed from scratch by HHH himself, we planted 50 yellow onions, 50 red onions, and 50 garlic cloves. Visually, the garlic purchased at Walmart Garden Center was exactly like the garlic I buy from Raley’s for spaghetti sauce. Just divide up the cloves and plant with the flat side down.

In two oak half-barrels, we planted gold and red potatoes. Within the walls of Winterpast, we’re pampering our russets, harvested from baker potatoes that began sprouting in the pantry.

Closer to the warmth of the house, the patio garden box is now home to lettuce and spinach plants. Everything received a dose of water with a little prayer for good measure.

If this weather holds, things should just take off and grow, along with our water bill. Although the water should cost less than it did for TWO gardening households, it could be as high as a small car payment. In the desert, water is liquid gold. Still too early to turn the sprinklers back on, we’ll be watering by hand and hose for a little longer.

Everywhere we look, buds are swelling. From the crab apple tree to the plum and pear, spring is ready to sprout while the weeds are rev up for another year. One small thing is different. After hiring a company from the little town to the east to spray a pre-emergent weed killer, the number of weeds seems less. Let’s hope the stuff works.

As for the house sprouts, they continue to do their thing. It’s fascinating to see little plants unfold from the tiniest little packages. So far, the seeds that are growing the best on the dining room table are the tomatoes and sunflowers.

Spring is such a beautiful time of year, it just makes one happy to be alive. As clouds drift through the bluest skies, the neighborhood walkers are out. Even the dogs are more energetic, with lots to bark about. It’s just a great time to be alive.

As things do happen in the spring, Wookie will be heavy with Wooklets again. And so, the circle of life spins around, and another growing season begins.

Whatever you do today, start thinking about spring cleaning. Now, just avoiding that thought should make you want to get outside. Check your yard for plants that are starting to stir. Be sure to check the upcoming weather before you turn the water back on. Enjoy!!

The 2024 plan for Winterpast is vast and ambitious. At this writing, there are approximately 400 seedlings sprouting inside our home. There are peat-potted seedlings getting stronger on the east facing window sills. Seeds are sprouting under grow lights on the dining room table. Packages of seeds await vacant peat pots. Spring seems to be coming early here on the high desert plains of Northwestern Nevada.

Jiffy’s seed starting Green House Kit is awesome. Available through Amazon or your local Walmart, this has been so easy. After soaking the peat pods for a few hours, you just place a seed in each and wait. Before transplanting, the thin membrane can be carefully removed. Replacement pods (36mm) are available through Amazon allowing for multiple uses of the little greenhouse. So far, I have three trays growing strong. (72 x 3 = a heck of a lot of canning this summer).

Over the last two years, Hubba-Hubba-Hubby has produced the most amazing potatoes. Sprouted from seed potatoes, over the course of the summer he grew pounds and pounds of the best potatoes imaginable. Far superior to those grow in Idaho.

A few days ago, I visited our local Grocery Outlet, a lovely little store. You never know what you can find there. From great produce to wonderful prices on meat and cheese, many of their products are from smaller producers. In front of the store, I found what we’d been looking for. Red and Yellow Onion Sets (100). Yukon Gold seed potatoes (10). Asparagus starts. All in the front of this cute little store. We’re planting the 100 onions today!

So far, I’ve been focused on growing plants that will feed our bees. In less than two months, we’ll return from a relaxing ocean cruise to receive our new family of 10,000 bees and their queen. They’ll need a variety of trees, bushes, and plants to support their colony. In doing some research, I’ve found Winterpast already has many existing trees and bushes that are bee friendly.

Cottonwood trees line my driveway. When I first moved in, some neighbors (since moved away) informed me that I’d need to remove these twenty year old giants. One private thought for them.

NO.

CAN.

DO.

These giant trees are home to many varieties of birds and insects. In early spring, our bees will use sap from these trees. When bees combine sap from trees with their own discharges and beeswax, they create a sticky, greenish-brown product used as a coating to build their hives called propolis, or “bee glue.” With many medicinal uses, the bees coat their hives with this material, gluing everything together. Our cottonwood trees will provide the necessary sap and pollen.

Last year, we almost lost our 50′ Russian Olive tree. I’ve had some tree people laugh and tell me it’s the biggest junk tree they’ve ever seen. In the eyes of little bees, it’s a dream come true. With rich and abundant pollen and late spring nectar, the bees will thrive within the branches of this amazing tree. Now, my neighbor will have a little more to complain about, not being a fan of this amazing tree.

Once upon a time, there was a very sad widow here at Winterpast. Writing her heart out in the living room next to the snow-covered gardens of Winterpast, she looked up. To her amazement, she discovered this dormant tree had transformed. With the help of some early morning sunshine, her beautiful tree had turned golden, like a burning bush of hope. God sent a message of hope to that lonely widow on that early winter morning. Winter passed.

Nope. This beautiful tree deserves saving. The bees deserve this beautiful tree.

With plum, apricot, apple, and pear trees, the bees will think they have been placed in heaven. Our crab apple tree, which has always been a messy pain, now has a new purpose. Food for busy bees. The only trees missing might be some magnolia’s, which will help provide nectar.

As far as bushes go, there are blueberry and lilac. We plan to add honeysuckle plants which will drape over the chain link fences installed to keep Wookie and Oliver out of the garden and bee area. Over the entire back yard, we’re thinking of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Of course, we have the resident doves. robins, and crows that will enjoy the peace and quiet of Winterpast’s gardens.

HHH has been doing his part to bring our paradise to life this year. Yesterday, he brought home a pickup load of super-duper triple mix soil. Some women like diamonds, while I personally love a good pick-up truck of great soil. Topped with six bags of manure, the custom garden boxes will sit outside the greenhouse. becoming home to a wide variety of tomato plants. From cherries to beefsteaks, we’ll have tomatoes for every use.

The iris’s and tulips are moving to the little “riverbed”, designed to carry away neighborhood flood waters in heavy rains. This year, the weather’s been so strange, we just never know when the “riverbed” will run again. We’ll be ready.

As for the greenhouse, it’s almost ready for Spring 2024. After deciding to remove the roof vents, we’re ready to place the 70% sunshade over the top. Once in place, all the seedlings will enjoy a little time outside before they’re planted in our beds.

All of this activity must be finished before HHH and I sail away on the Love Boat in early spring. If you would’ve painted this picture of happiness for me in 2022, I’d have called you looney. Life can change with the wink of an eye. My life has changed in the most beautiful ways imaginable.

Whatever you do this weekend, think about going outside. Wash something off. Clean some windows. Do a little bird watching. Consider planting some bulbs. Spring is a great time for renewing faith in something bigger than ourselves. Please remember to smile with a grateful heart. Life is beautiful.

More on Monday.

My what a week its been. Just eight days ago, HHH and I watched as the seagulls played in the ocean breezes. Tourists were enjoying their time fishing on a lonely little pier on the edge of paradise. Visiting with our favorite peeps, we never imagined that on the high desert plains we call home, things were changing forever. Sometimes, it’s a blessing not to know.

Let’s start with the pier.

Just one week prior to our vacation, storms ravaged the Central Coast. Having precious friends and relatives living in the area, I follow their local news. It’d been reported that the pier suffered some “minor damage”. Just a few little problems that could be fixed over time. After closing the pier for a few hours, it was opened once again. The pier is the gathering place of the little town shown above. In 2013,  the 150 year old structure received major repairs that cost about $3.5 million.

This pier is covered with memorial plaques bearing the names of people from my home town. One of the most interesting benches belongs to “Norman Liddell”. I must have met “Norman” many times during my toddler years. He served on the school board with my father and remained a lifelong friends. His wife, “Iola (eye’-ola)”, taught Auntie TJ in grade school. With his name affixed to the bench, I always felt I could sit and rest awhile. Norman and Iola would make sure things were safe.

The pier holds memories for many. One year, I sat and watched as very young “Life Guard” trainees did their first jump off the pier. Opening a gate, one by one the littles (10-11 year-olds) would hold their breath and jump 20 feet to the ocean below. One after the other, they faced the rite of passage through which they needed to jump.

For one little boy, the task was just too much. He cried on the long walk to the end of the pier while true friends on either side urged him on. With amazing courage, he faced his fear and jumped. We all held our collective breath, waiting for the small head to come to the surface. Sure enough, he came up waving! Victorious!! With confident strokes, he swam all the way back to the beach in record time.

Young lovers hold hand while walking on the pier. New parents carefully stroll their babies while they sleep, nestled in expensive buggies. Tourists converse in the languages of the world. Everyone understands one thing. This is one of the most beautiful places in the world.

HHH and I enjoyed our time on the pier as we watched for marine wildlife and surfers trying to catch the perfect waves. We love our pier as much as everyone else. It does feel it belongs to us when we’re there.

That is why yesterday’s news was a bit devastating.

We stood for more than a few minutes on several occasions on the very end of that pier. Quite a few pilings washed away. In the eye of the storm and in the blink of an eye, the main part of a little coastal town is now closed indefinitely.

At the very time we were enjoying our Valentine’s Day Tradition, things at home were going south.

A good friend lost his battle to cancer. A very young senior citizen, he leaves a family legacy of streets named after his family. He also leaves heartbroken sons, family, and friends. We’ll soon celebrate his life with HHH’s old friends. People known to him since childhood. It will be such a large gathering, we’ll again meet in the firehouse. And, so, in the blink of an eye, our town has changed.

You might remember a very sweet friend of mine owns our town’s flower shop. She’s well into her second year as the shop owner and doing quite well. One problem she faces on holidays is the need for dependable delivery people. Valentine’s Day is one of her biggest days of the year, and she’s always looking for help.

My dearest Harvest Sisters are always up for a challenge. We band together to help those in need and our florist was really in need. If in town, HHH and I would’ve helped, too. On only their second run, the car must’ve smelled of the lovely bouquets in the back. The Angel of the Aluminum Cloud held the directions, while our Faithful Leader drove. Turning off the highway as they had a thousand times before, they were hit by a young boy of 16 who pulled out from a stop sign into them.

He hit their little car squarely on the driver’s side with his huge truck. Airbags went off, burning the young mans forearms and saving the life of our Fearless Leader. Although no one went to the hospital that day, they’re all visiting doctor’s now. The verdict is out on damages other than the obvious. One very totaled little car. Two very experienced drivers left shaken. One unexperienced driver left traumatized. Lives changed in the blink of an eye.

Whatever you do today, take time to look both ways when driving. When walking out on a pier, do a little research to find out when it might have last been checked for faulty pilings. Hug your loved ones. For, in the blink of an eye, everything can change. After that, nothing will ever be quite the same.

More tomorrow.

After a beautiful trip to the coast, it’s good to be back in the desert with our peeps. Every great vacation must come to an end including one to the Central Coast of California. This trip has become a Valentine’s Day Tradition, staying at a private bungalow called “Bella Vista By The Sea”. With breathtaking ocean views from every window in the place, we felt like royalty. That was before visiting Hearst Castle to see the way REAL American royalty lived in days gone by.

Hearst Castle is one of the few places in the United States deserving the title “CASTLE”. In the middle of a vast cattle ranch still owned by the Hearst Corporation today, the castle sits on atop the highest mountain.

“Hearst Castle’s history begins in 1865, when George Hearst purchased 40,000 acres of ranchland. After his mother’s death in 1919, William Randolph Hearst inherited thousands of acres around San Simeon, and over time, he purchased more. The spread eventually encompassed about 250,000 acres.” _{hearstcastle.org}

With a dream in his head and a pocket full of millions, he wanted a something better than a little campsite atop the “hill”. Indeed, he accomplished his mission.

Our drive to the Visitor’s Center filled us with wonder. To the East side of Highway 1, amidst acres and acres of lush green hills grazed a large herd of zebras. Once belonging to the zoo Mr. Hearst kept, they are mascots to this coastal area. Because of governmental protection, no one will ever build on this land. It’s one of the few places along the California Coast that remains natural and wild.

Beginning our tour at the Visitor’s center in San Simeon, we caught a bus to the top of the hill. Through twists and turns on the steep road, a recorded monologue told of days gone by as we climbed higher and higher. We passed by a mile long pergola that shaded horseback on hot days. There were the empty animal compounds that once held four types of bears, including Polar bears.

We’d decided to take the tour of Casa Del Monte and Casa Del Sol, along with the kitchen, wine cellar, and pools. The smallest of the little houses was only 2550 square feet without benefit of a kitchen. The largest was the castle, at 68,500 sq. ft. In between the two was a mass of beauty and wonder.

From the dungeon that served as home to 10,000 bottles of wine and spirits, to the beauty of golden-tiled pools, the castle is a thing of beauty and wonder. If you ever have a chance to visit, do it.

After 28 years, Mr. Hearst and Julia managed to spend $10million on structures and antiquities. The beauty of all Hearst’s possessions combined couldn’t match God’s handiwork. Our sunny and warm beach vacation was enjoyed after wintering on the high desert plains of Northwestern Nevada.

The week before we arrived, waves crashed over cliffside homes. The pier at our tiny getaway town was closed due to minor damage from historical waves. Rivers flooded. Tornadoes touched down and hurricane force winds ripped.

From the day we arrived until the day we left, the weather calmed and the sun shone. A few days later, the torrential rains returned and the pier closed again. We enjoyed a window of calm in which to enjoy our time away. Honeymooning. There’s nothing quite so special. I think we’ll be extending this time in our lives for many years to come.

Whatever you do today, you might want to step back in time. If you’ve been to the castle, pictures and videos can transport you back to a magical time.