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The town has swelled in numbers as is usual for Memorial Day weekend. I had a good chuckle yesterday. You would have thought it was Friday on a holiday weekend. I could hardly believe how many people were shopping at the Twain Harte Market.

Twain Harte Memorial Day Parade 2004

As I was checking out the produce section, I overheard one man telling another that it snows every month of the year here in Twain Harte. I don’t recall it actually snowing here in Twain Harte during the months of July and August but a little further up the hill and he would have it just about right.

I hope you brought your warm woolies this weekend, temperatures have been dipping down into the 40′s at night.

I’ve been talking to my mother, who still resides in Michigan. Here she is complaining about the heat and how temperatures have been in the 80′s. In fact, she finally turned her air conditioner on yesterday. It was just last week we put our portable heaters back in storage. So, with only one heater left here at the house, it’s been more than a little chilly.

The Twain Harte Lumber Store still has plenty of pellets if anyone is in need. I stopped in just yesterday and picked up a few extra bags to get us through the week. Temperatures are supposed to be down in the 40′s all week long. I can wait for the summer heat to hit.

Have a happy Memorial Day weekend. If you are looking for things to do this weekend, visit Annette’s Favorite Links.

Stellar Jay with a Peanut

What a beautiful day in Twain Harte. It’s 77° out, the birds are singing and I would be perfectly happy, if I didn’t have to be on the look-out for the census takers. 

I wouldn’t want their job for all the tea in England, especially the census workers, stuck working in these parts. Let’s face it the job has to be a nightmare. Many of the “houses” up this way are rustic cabins that have people coming and going for most of the year.

Those of us who do live here, can’t receive mail at their homes — a post office box is essential. So, all the census forms that were delivered to our homes, were all returned to sender, which means the foot soldiers have their work cut out for them.

Add to an already impossible situation, the fact that many who live in the area really do value their privacy and refuse to submit to yet another government intrusion and you’ve got an recipe for miscalculation and lots of errors.

This will be my fourth census and I don’t ever recall speaking to so many people, who are so opposed to a census as they are with the 2010 Census. Many of the individuals I spoke with, simply threw them in the trash.

Our family doesn’t mind being counted – we’ve always provided the number of people in our home, which we feel is important for redistricting purposed. As for the rest of the “required” data — it’s simply more government intrusion into our privacy.

Oh and just for the record. An individual can be fined $5,000 for refusing to participate in the census. However, if you partially complete the form and return it, the fine is only $100. I think that’s more than fair. I would rather pay a $100 fine than give up our privacy. The note left on our door assured us that the data would be kept confidential (under penalty of law). What a crock.

Historically, census data has been used for many nefarious reasons. Don’t buy the lie. Our government sells snake oil in the desert too.

So, be on the look-out for nosy little census takers. The census taker who showed up at our door, walked all the way around our house — and me without a gun. Darn! I’m not sure what he was hoping to find but we provided all the information we intend to provide.

Have you received a census form? What did you do with it?

I think most people living in the area are considerate of the beauty surrounding us. I know I’m not alone in being angry at the party animals that ascend upon us, leaving their trash littering the town from Middle Camp to Highway 108. I’ve seen some shocking behavior from weekenders.

Clean it up

Fortunately, Twain Harte has a group of very active and involved senior citzens who pitch in and lend a hand wherever it is needed. I’ve never seen a closer community, with such a wide spectrum of personalities involved in community projects.

I know when I walked the trail up over the tunnel that I was shocked at how much garbage — particularly beer cans — that I found just tossed to the ground without a thought to those that would come behind. On our next hike down the trail my son and I brought along a garbage bag and picked up as we walked. It felt good to pitch in and lend a hand to keep our community clean and safe for the animals.

We love our little piece of heaven and invited visitors to come and take in the wondrous beauty that surrounds us. We especially love visitors who come and don’t leave evidence that they were here. 

It breaks my heart to find litter tossed around without care or concern. I’ve had the opportunity to visit many other mountain communities and many are simply dumping grounds for old cars, tires and trash galore. Why would anyone want to spoil things for everyone by spreading litter?

One thing you will notice right away about Twain Harte, we don’t hide trash cans. There are many conveniently located around town. Please use them. Help keep Twain Harte beautiful.