Saturday, December 24, 2016

GUSTING WINDS, RAIN, SUNSHINE, OVERCAST, CLEAR SKIES, MORE WIND AND RAIN AND CHRISTMAS SNOW ON THE MOUNTAIN TOPS

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WISHING EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND ALL THE HAPPY HOLIDAYS THEY CAN HAPPILY HANDLE

With clear starry skies overhead I fell asleep Friday night with sugar plums dancing in my head and thoughts of a sunny Saturday morning coming up.  Three hours later those dreams were dashed when I was jolted out of my dream sleep by gusting Borrego winds roaring up the canyon and plowing into the side of our Motorhome.  And what was that sound on the roof I could hear??  I knew it was a day too early for the lite clomping of reindeer hoofs so could only be one other thing.  Rain!!  Dammit anyway!!!!

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WE WOKE UP TO SNOW ON THE SAN YSIDRO MOUNTAINS BEHIND BORREGO SPRINGS

It was 1 a.m. and we were both up and awake debating whether to pull our slides in.   Figured we’d been in worse winds here so left the slides out despite the noise our slide toppers were making and the banshee howls from winds whipping around and through the many corners and crevices on our coach caused by aerials, roof air conditioners, awning arms, roof vents and caps, outside mirrors, and rear ladder, etc. etc.  With blowing winds catching all those things at the same time it sets up an amplified sound inside an RV giving the occupants the impression the winds are much worse than they actually are.  Kind of like being inside one of Gene Krupas drums while he’s hammering out Swing, Swing, Swing.  Sometime during the night those big winds finally subsided………..but it didn’t last.

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SEEMS ABOUT EVERY TIME WE COME TO BORREGO SPRINGS I GET MY MOUNTAINS MIXED UP….THESE MOUNTAINS TOWERING OVER BORREGO SPRINGS WEST SIDE ARE IN FACT THE SAN YSIDRO MOUNTAINS AND NOT THE SAN JACINTOS AS I HAVE STATED PREVIOUSLY

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TOOK THESE 3 PHOTOS WITH MY 300mm LENS THROUGH THE RIG’S WINDSHIELD WHILE SEATED IN MY RECLINER FIRST THING THIS MORNING

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It was 7:30 a.m. and from my recliners position I can look straight out through our big windshield.  Could see a smattering of snow on some of the peaks in the San Ysidro mountains behind Borrego Springs.  Could also see some patches of blue sky so quickly crossed my fingers, legs and eyes in hopes that clearing trend would continue.  Well it did and it didn’t.

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FRIDAY AFTERNOON CLOUDS CLEARING IN THE SANTA ROSA MOUNTAINS JUST TO THE NORTH OF US

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FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN SEEING MY POSTS WITH WORDS AND PHOTOS FROM OUR TIMES IN BORREGO SPRINGS EVERY YEAR SINCE 2008 TRY TYPING BORREGO SPRINGS IN MY BLOGS SEARCH BAR

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HERE AT THE CLARK DRY LAKE BED NESTLED BETWEEN COYOTE MOUNTAIN AND THE SANTA ROSAS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST PLACES FOR WATCHING LAZY CLOUD SHADOWS LUMBERING ACROSS THE MOUNTAIN SIDES

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CAN YOU SEE THE BASEBALL CAPPED CLOUD MONKEY WITH ARMS OUTTHRUST LEAPING ACROSS THE MOUNTAIN SIDE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND TWO CLOUD CREATURES SMOOCHING BELOW

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THE CLOUD MONKEY HAS NOW MORPHED INTO A LEAPING PANTHER

Pheebs and I started our day off wrestling over a Pumpkin Muffin from Calicos.  I was winning until Kelly stepped in and disqualified me.  She said I was hiding behind the couch hoarding the muffin.  Don’t you believe it folks, I was back there looking for my socks and just happened to have the muffin in my pajama pocket…………..

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Double walk for Pheebs this morning with Kelly taking her out first and me taking her out again an hour later when it was sunnier and not quite as cold.  It was 9 a.m. and we were once again basking in bright sunshine but the Borrego wind gusts had returned draining the sun’s warmth out of the air so it was my lined nylon winter jacket I was wearing for our walk.  We followed a wash around the southern tip of Coyote Mountain and walked about half way to Peg Leg Smith's and back.  Despite the cold wind it was nice and toasty in the rig with Old Sol beaming through the windows.

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Our Verizon internet signal has not been the best since arriving here a few days ago and an example of that is the length of time my blog takes to publish each night.  Friday night I hit the ‘Publish’ button at 8:15 California time and at 10:15 it was still publishing.  I finally fell asleep sometime after that so it published in the night but I don’t know when except judging by the date it was after midnight.

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BORREGO SPRINGS IS ALSO ONE OF THE BEST CLOUD WATCHING AND SUNSET PLACES WE HAVE EVER BEEN

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Aside from Kelly watching a few of her favorite night time TV show I’m happy to say we have not been watching our TV much.  In fact hardly at all.  Don’t know what’s going on in the world and don’t care.  Well I do care but for the time being with where we are and what we’re doing……..I really don’t care!!

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DSC_0013We had planned on heading off out into the Badlands today with the Jeep but after recent overnight rains again we figured there may be a bit of water running in some of the washes making the sand too soft.  Don’t wanna get bogged down in soft sand or mud anywhere out in the boonies.

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My Kindle is my only reading source and without it I would really be up the creek without the proverbial paddle and there I suddenly was late Friday night, paddleless up the river.  My swiping pages wouldn’t turn forward or back.  My screen was seized and no matter what I tried I just seemed to make matters worse losing not only the page I was on but the whole book itself.  Luckily it wasn’t a warm night and I was sitting here with the door open or my Kindle could very easily have become a permanent part of the desert landscape.  Kelly was already in bed but said she would have a look at it in the morning.  When Pheebs and I returned from our walk earlier today she was sitting with it in her lap calmly pecking away at he screen like a velvet fingered Woodpecker.  A short time later she handed me the Kindle and said, ‘here ya go.’  My book was not only back but she even had it on the page I had been on.  I asked her how she fixed it.  Two words came back…….’Re-started it’.  I didn’t even know it could be started in the first place.  I wonder if the home has a nice bed by the window for me.

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I think it was a combination of a poor night’s sleep and today’s cold gusting winds with driving flecks of occasional rain that kinda discouraged us from going anywhere.  Had thought about heading to Julian high up in the southern end of California’s Volcan Mountains about an hours drive out of San Diego but seeing snow in the San Ysidros this morning we knew from experience there would most likely be icy mountain roads and snow in Julian.  And a good likelihood the town would be shrouded in a cold damp fog as well.  Julian is also the final resting place of Marshall South and you can read my post about finally locating his grave on January 3rd, 2009 by clicking a link in this post …..Marshal South, Ghost Mountain, The Julian Cemetery, And Director John McDonald.  I may or may not have more to say about Marshal South’s homestead atop Ghost Mountain in Sunday night’s post:))

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One year ago today we also woke up at the Clark Dry Lake Bed right here 3 or 4 miles northeast of Borrego Springs on the west side of highway S22.  We were a short distance in on Rockhouse Road just off the highway.  We were at the ‘Solar Oven’ site which fellow Borrego boon-dockers may very well know about.  Last year we arrived in Borrego Springs on December 18th and stayed until December 24th and here’s the kicker.  The reason we left was because of the relentless Borrego winds.  We had had 2 poor sleep nights and with even stronger winds predicted for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day we hightailed it out of here fast as we could for Congress and home the day before Christmas.  No hightailing it home now anymore so we’re here until we leave.  It’s a different mindset we work with now and I like the fact we just can’t pack up and go home anymore just because the weather is not to our liking or AL stubbed his toe on rock.DSC_0007

THE CLOUD SHROUDED SAN YSIDRO MOUNTAINS

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GROANER’S CORNER:(( According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December.  Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl.  We should have known... ONLY women would be able to drag a fat man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.

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Will: Where do snowmen keep their money?
Bill: Beats me.
Will: In a snow bank.

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Sean: Knock, knock.
Fawn: Who’s there?
Sean: Murray.
Fawn: Murray who?
Sean: Murray Christmas, one and all!

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Alex was five; all his Christmas presents were always signed, 'from Father Christmas.'  A little while after Alex had opened all his presents on Christmas morning, we became aware that he was looking quite down in the mouth for no obvious reason.  'What's the matter, Al?'  I asked. 'Ummmm, 'replied Alex slowly, 'I really hoped that you and Mommy would give me something for Christmas too.'

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Lee, A seven-year-old boy, was asked to say thanks for the Christmas dinner.  The family members bowed their heads in expectation.  Lee began his prayer, thanking God for his Mommy, Daddy, brothers, sister, Grandma, and all his aunts and uncles. Then he began to thank God for the food.  He gave thanks for the turkey, the stuffing, the Christmas pudding, even the cranberry sauce. Then lee paused, and everyone waited ... and waited.  After a long silence, the young fellow looked up at his mother and asked, "If I thank God for the Brussels sprouts, won't he know that I'm lying?"

23 comments:

  1. Didn't you have the need to order something from Amazon the other day? Why not use Amazon Lockers?

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  2. Your pictures are breath taking and I sure did find your ball playing monkey.
    We got hit with that storm today. The wind was fierce and the rain was hard and fast. Wonder if we have snow on Mt. Lemon? Merry Christmas to You and Kelly and of course the Pheebe

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  3. You cracked me up with your bed by the window. I wondered if you were going to Ghost Mountain. Happy Christmas To the three of you.

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  4. Your pictures are awesome...thank you for sharing. Winds in a motor home can be alarming at times. Glad they subsided and rest of evening was enjoyed.
    www.freedom2roll.blogspot.com

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  5. Merry Christmas! Long time lurking on your blog. But want to mention your pictures are capture the moods of the desert nicely.

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  6. Love those clouds on mountain pictures, magical.

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  7. Merry Christmas Al and the Bayfield Bunch.

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  8. The weather not much better here either, but will be getting nicer soon. Enjoy the area when you can. Good tome to get some reading done.

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  9. Snowing here in Lovely Ouray...
    Merry Christmas to you, Ms Kelly, and Pheeber :)
    Box Canyon Mark

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  10. Great pictures of the mountains, skies and gusty clouds. Snow avalanched off the roof here overnight, bringing the eavestrough with it. It may just sit there til spring! Enjoy you Christmas Day!

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  11. Wonderful photos and post. You have great talents- photography, humor and landscaping. Hope you all have a Merry Christmas! Mary Lou

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  12. Beautiful photos of the clouds resting in the mountains. Love the snow capped mountains:) I've often wondered just how equal the sharing is with Pheebs!!:)
    Merry Christmas

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  13. Al, I was driving up Highway 74 from Palm Desert to Anza on Friday. Got some photos of the fog. Yes, Julian would have snow and the roads....ugh...you don't want to deal with that. Stay warm!

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  14. Oh, and my Samsung tablet freezes ALL the time. Yes, just restart it and it should be fine! I'm reading one of the Poldark novels right now...Black Moon (I think that's the name)...I also have an Amish cookbook I want to read. My maternal grandmother was German/Swiss and I'm finding a lot of her recipes in it!

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  15. Feliz Navidad from sunny and very hot Mexico.

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  16. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL !!! WISH I WAS THERE !!!

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  17. Merry Christmas to you, Kelly and Pheebs from all the way across the wash! :-)

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  18. Merry Christmas to you three. There is something special about reading a blog from friends we've actually met and spent time with at their former home in Congress, while they are in Borrego where we were last year in November. We're in the St. George area until we head toward Quartzite after the new year.

    Ed and Sharon...and Bogie

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  19. Tonight pull the slides in, put in ear plugs and dream the night away. One more week and we head to FL. Can't wait.

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  20. Beautiful clouds in the mountains, what an amazing view! My Kindle seizes occasionally and I always fuss with it for awhile before I remember to reboot - and that works every time :-) I agree there's' a certain freedom in not having a stix and brix to return to - so much fun to figure out where to head where the weather is even better :-)))

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  21. Julian and snow = 2-lane winding roads and crazy people from the city....
    Smart not to go there.

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  22. Seems it was similar weather two years ago. Love your shots of the inversion on the mountains. Not keen on high winds in the camper. Tonight I'm grateful for electric heat in Flagstaff with a low of 8F.

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