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Wasn’t today perfect?  Yes, it was chilly, you really needed a jacket but the air was fresh and clean.  It’s been trying to rain all day.  I hear rumblings in the distance (probably up the mountain) which means we are really going to get some wet weather.

A female deer (doe) and three babies (fawns)

There are calls for 1 – 2 inches of snow but no one really knows.  It feels like rain but we could end up with some of the Sierra Cement we love so much up here.  Hopefully it will melt by morning – no shoveling.

There is so much color this year.  I don’t know whether I’m just going different places now, or what but there seems to be more oranges, reds and lots of yellow this year.  It is so beautiful.  There are leaves and pine needles everywhere and it looks just like a fairy tale.

I had breakfast at the Sportsman the other morning, I had forgotten it could be so good.  The hash browns were perfect, the eggs (over-medium) excellent, biscuits and gravy – the biscuits were tender and flaky, they gravy had more pepper than I like but it was good just the same.

The guys had went paint-balling at Heavenly Hills Christian Camp and they had a blast, so I had the morning to myself. You can find more information here about Heavenly Hills’ rates.  Just be forewarned, the paintball field is on the side of a mountain — you will get a workout. But it’s a whole lot of fun, not to mention the exercise you’ll get.  I didn’t even know it was here!

The pass is open one minute and closed the next.  It could be closed for the season by now.  Currently all three passes are closed.  You can still get pre-season passes to Dodge Ridge for a really good price ($279) until Nov. 12.  If I were a betting person, I’d bet they have a really good 2012-2013 season. Only time will tell.

The deer are plentiful and they don’t care where they walk, so please be on the lookout for deer. Some days it seems like they are everywhere.  I have a dozen that come through here nearly every day, though I haven’t seen “Bucky” lately.  Bucky is a little forky, still in his velvet and he is just as sweet as he can be.  He trails a herd of three does and two fawns.  I think the female is his mom and he doesn’t quite know where to go or what to do with himself.

He’s a cute little thing. I’ll keep a look out for him. I hope some hunter doesn’t have him for dinner one night but that’s the circle of life.  I see it working so plainly up here.  Everything – no every one – has their place in life: we live a little then we die.  It’s so natural and so comforting to know where you fit in the grand scheme of things.  Maybe I’m I see things differently but to me it’s comforting to know I have a place.

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When you live in the mountains you try to plan your trips. We try not to drive down the hill everyday, not only does it make good sense economically, it also make good ecological sense too.  I like to shop local and I like to save, we’ll just call it frugal to be nice.

Have you been in our local stores lately?  You might be surprised at how much money you save. Just this week the Twain Harte Market had apples for 89 cents.  I was shocked to find organic green grapes actually cheaper than the GMO ones. I find savings like this all the time.  I love this store. On those items which are more expensive I consider my time, the gas to drive to another store, and the amount on the item; most of the time, it just makes sense to go ahead and purchase the item.

I love that they buy local and their always improving. I don’t always like change, in fact I’m usually the first to complain about it, but just this week they added a refrigerated dog section. I was very surprised — I might even check it out some day. These are the kinds of things they do,  keeping up with the times.

I stopped in to the Twain Harte Kitchen Store today. I bought an apple peeler that will core, and slice the apples, if I want.  It was the same price as the one on Amazon that didn’t give you that option.  I was very pleased.  The prices were fair, I think I might have found one item cheaper someplace else but it was only $1 and they gave me a 15% discount on my order. (Hint: If your a regular customer, and the owners get to know you, they may give you a discount too. They are very nice people.)

I found good quality items, not like that discount stuff at Wal-mart, it was close to home and I didn’t pay more for it. It’s a win – win – win situation.  I have I mentioned that I love shopping local?

The pharmacy, don’t you just love to wander around that store. I could spent two or three hours in there easily.  It always amazes me what a variety of items can be found. They have everything. Even if you don’t buy, dreaming is nice.  I like to stop in once or twice a week just to see whats on sale, it’s the odd days when I don’t find something that I needed either real or imagined.

My point is as you think about doing your holiday shopping, don’t forget places like Ace Lumber (Twain Harte Lumber), even 7-11 has seasonal merchandise and it often priced to sell.

I know it seems like everything is made in China, but it’s not. You can find stuff Made In The USA, but you’ll have to look for it. Our local merchants know we want quality items at a fair price. Isn’t that what America is all about?  So remember, shop local and whenever possible, buy local.

Here’s a Directory for Twain Harte & Vicinity

I’m so sad Prop 37 did not win, but maybe now we can come together and get laws passed that actually protect our families.  I think this in an important issue and I will continue to fight to make sure our food supply is safe.  Eat Organic!

Prop 37 and GMO Foods: Yea or Nay?

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It’s been eerily quiet here today. If I wasn’t sure that I saw a mountain lion before, I’m even more convinced now.  There hasn’t been a single deer in my yard all day.  Since we are on the path to wherever they go, we normally see them coming and going at least a few every hour.  I haven’t seen one deer all day long.

Cougar cub

I went out back and scoped out the area. Other than finding a bunch of trash (darn flat-landers!), I couldn’t find any evidence of a mountain lion, but the ground is pretty firm, so there wouldn’t necessarily be any.  I just know I’m sticking pretty close to home and I’m very alert when I go outside.

You can find out more information on Living and Vacationing in Mountain Lion Country.  Knowing what do and how to act around mountain lions could save your life.

Over Columbus Day weekend, our cat Lily Mae (lovingly known as Crazy Flower) disappeared without a trace.  I’m trying to accept it as part of the risks that come with living in the mountains, but it’s hard.  She could have been lunch for an owl or mountain lion, a tourist could have taken her or worse.  I try not to think about it.  She will be greatly missed.

Remember to keep pets inside just prior to dawn and dusk, when mountain lions like to feed. We have come to accept the risks with our cats, because it’s impossible to keep them in.

We have two dogs as well and we keep them inside during those hours and keep a close eye on them when we take them out. They only weight 11 pounds, so they would easily be carted off.

The animals are getting ready for winter. Mountain lions are on the hunt and squirrels are storing their nuts (gee, that doesn’t sound right.), they all know winter is just around the corner. The time change is this weekend – we “fall back” on Saturday night.

Are you ready for the cold, snow and extended darkness?

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