7 days in California makes one weak. It was great to see family and to wish Grandma Mercer a happy 90th, but the constant car traffic and busy pace made me yearn for home. I know it sounds crazy, but I constantly worry about earthquakes while I'm there. And the 90 degree temps gave me heat frustration.
This pond at Cal State Northridge was lousy with turtles, fish and a pesky duck. For 25 cents, you could buy food and cause a feeding frenzy.
Ben came home with us and we drove back the same day as flying from Burbank. The scenery was spectacular with great views of The Mountain all the way up until dark and then Northern Lights.
My only caveat on driving home was that I didn't want to drive after dark- I'd drive any time up until then (about 8:45pm). Yep- you guessed it. The guys drove first and rested when it was dark. My biggest fear was realized when a huge moose loomed up along the side of the road. Fortunately, he was eating and only looked up, casting his red eyes into the high beams. If my passenger had reached out the window, he could have touched him.
The last 4 days have been a blur of working on the apartment (digging, cleaning out away from the house, removing a fence, picking up materials, painting a door, moving stuff away from the windows, feeding the crew, etc.). Fortunately Ben was here to help and so far I haven't had to do much digging, my least favorite job ever....even worse than peeling logs. We're playing beat the clock with snow and freezing temps but we should be able to put in the new door and windows by next Wednesday and pick potatoes.
I've also been doing some $$ work, always welcome to feed the dragon. I'm looking ahead to volunteering tomorrow at the Equinox Marathon and also the Retired Teachers Book Sale. On Sunday, we'll be taking the 4-wheeler out to the land to work on the road and have a picnic. It's a shame to stay inside with the leaves so beautiful before they drop. The little maple tree in our yard is brilliant red.
Desert Fox called when I wasn't home and both of us felt the call of the trail. He finished the AT last week and invited us to come down to his home in Arizona to hike with him. We just might take him up on that- long about February. We're both jonesing to finish the Appalachian Trail next year. I hope I have the fortitude.
Happy Rosh Hoshana!
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