"U" is for...ABC Wednesday 120909

"under". I took this photo last weekend when the mountains were under the clouds. They had just got a fresh dusting of snow, as you can see. ABC Wednesday for December 9, 2009.

Storm's Coming! That's My World 120809

It was cloudy all weekend. The first of three winter storms was heading our way and the clouds were building up. I took a drive down my favorite dirt road, on the way to see my horses and give them an extra meal, and saw these trees silhouetted against the cloudy sky. I also ran into the dad of one of our daughter's good friends, a man we haven't seen for about 7 years! He was out for his morning walk, enjoying the mountain cool, fresh air, that smelled of wet earth. Ahhhhh.....the mountains! That's My World for Tuesday, December 8, 2009.

Look, but don't touch~Cactus Monday 120709

Once again, I found these cacti at the Living Desert Reserve in Palm Desert, CA. LOOK, but don't touch! Cactus Monday for December 7, 2009.

Weekend Reflections~Bodie~ December 5, 2009

Hubby or I took all these reflection photos in Bodie, when we were there in August. Bodie is a great place for photographers! There is so much to see! We were there one afternoon and returned the next morning. It was interesting to see how the shadows and reflections changed from afternoon to morning. Weekend Reflections for Saturday, December 5, 2009.

RAIN! Finally!!!! SkyWatch Friday 120409

Last Saturday we FINALLY got some sprinkles here in our desert (near Palm Springs, CA). We've been without any significant rain since...gosh...I can't even remember! I know we've had 0 inches of rainfall this season, so maybe we got a trace last weekend. AND, rain is in the forecast for next Monday and Tuesday. So, I've thrown out my California poppies and African daisy seeds. Here are some pics of our rain last weekend. SkyWatch Friday for December 4, 2009. I took these pics down by the All-American Canal, in Indio, CA.

"T" is for...ABC Wednesday 120209

"twisted tree" and "texture". We found this twisted tree in Monument Valley. Hubby was fascinated with it and took these photos. I liked the texture of it. It was old and weathered, kinda like us! ABC Wednesday for December 2, 2009.

All American Canal~That's My World 120109

The Coachella Valley gets its water from two sources: groundwater underneath Palm Springs and the All-American Canal, which brings us Colorado River water. There is a LOT of water under the ground, but farmers get the river water for irrigation of their fields. The Coachella Valley is California's second largest agricultural region, followed by the great Central Valley. Here, we have a 365 day growing season, dependent only upon the delivery of water. When we had breakfast at our daughter's new house over the holidays, I stopped one morning to take some pictures. I didn't even know the canal ran up behind her house! Actually, it is about two blocks away. It was a stormy morning and it had snowed in our local mountains the day before. My school is only a few blocks from the local water agency and we always take a field trip down there every school year. Did you know it takes 8 years for the snow to settle into the great aquafer beneath our valley? And, the water district sometimes has to drill 1,500 feet down for their wells? And, Indian Wells, the city, is actually named after a real Indian well that white settled discovered there? See, I'm just a treasure trove of trivia! That's My World for Tuesday, December 1, 2009.