There will be a story behind this picture soon:

Posted by Khiori at 06:19 AM | Permalink

We've been hiking around the past few weeks. During the past week we have been going out every day. We have found some really neat spots. In particular one has been very neat. It starts off by the road, you walk along and come across several abandoned horse corrals. But they look in good shape. So maybe they aren't abandoned after all. Anyway, cross a small creek and follow a road. Then after about 3/4 mi you come to rise, a small dip and WOW! A nice big open area. Creek running through. And a big hunk of white quartz. Totally out of place. Just sitting there. You can tell lots and lots of people have been breaking that quartz down over the years. Probably looking for gold. But there isn't any. How do I know? It's broken down to probably 1/4 the original size, and it's still there haha.

We started seeing a lot of rattlesnakes the day before yesterday. It looks like they are coming out of hibernation. I did some reading about them. They have winter and summer homes. And their winter homes are with other snakes. In cold areas a winter den can have HUNDREDS of snakes. Warmer areas, DOZENS. I don't know but the mere thought of finding a snake den sends me into a panic. It's scary enough seeing one or two. Anyway, Sean and Leo almost landed on top of one while jumping on a rock. It was coming down while they were going up.

In the same area we have also seen several Horned Toads. Now those are pretty cool looking things. They run fast and it's really hard to see them. My friend said she used to keep them as pets. They're really cute.

We saw a bear at Rock Camp yesterday. It heard us and started up a hill. Sean first saw it and then I did. I don't think the dogs did although maybe Leo could smell it.

I'm pretty well spooked about hiking now due to the snakes. We'll see how the next week goes. They should have finished their migration by then. And hopefully they'll have a few meals in the meantime and not be so ornery.

Toad!

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Posted by Khiori at 07:05 AM | Permalink

I'm going to a quilting lecture this Saturday. I'm really exciting about seeing what others have done. I've never done anything like this so it will really be different. I've gotten a few friends to come along too. Maybe we'll all end up quilting together lol

On my current quilt, Grandmother's Flower Garden, I'm still stitching away. I think it will take me ten years to finish this thing HA. What was I thinking...??? Oh yeah... "Hey! This looks neat!" :\

Remind me to finish this one before starting the Hawaiian Quilt I want to do LOL

Posted by Khiori at 09:49 AM | Permalink

I was reading something about "time". More specifically, what your time is worth. It asked if your time was worth $50 an hour? $100 an hour? Maybe $5000? The more I thought about it, the more I realized, MY time is priceless. What if it's at the end of my life? Would I give $50 for an hour? $100? Maybe $5000 for an extra hour?

Now taking that same hour today - how many hours do I waste? Watching movies? Day dreaming? Whining?? Do those hours bring pleasure to me or anyone else? Now's the time to make the most of my hours. . .

Posted by Khiori at 09:40 AM | Permalink

I found this picture and I thought it was a lovely image for Mother's Day. So Happy Mother's Day!

Posted by Khiori at 03:14 PM | Permalink

Is is shorts and t-shirt weather yet??? I have worn shorts twice now and both times we ended up with hail and cold and rain the next day. I wore shorts on Wednesday lol.

I can't wait. Hurry hurry hurry hurry hurry hurry....

Posted by Khiori at 04:16 PM | Permalink

Happy Cinco de mayo everyone!

Posted by Khiori at 02:28 PM | Permalink

I forgot to mention this! On Saturday the 30th of April, the Forest Department had a big shindig for 100 years of service. It was held at the Lake Arrowhead Village. I had a blast walking around, taking pictures, meeting people and!!! Becoming officially a volunteer for the service! I am a photographer for them *giggle*. This is so cool. So now when we go out and about (like Splinter's Cabin) I will pass along my photos to be used to promote our mountains. Sean and I will also take event photos (like the 100 Years thing) when they come up. We made lots of interesting contacts. Too much to mention, really. I'm excited about this new avenue in my life.

Posted by Khiori at 02:28 PM | Permalink

Continuing with the Splinter's Cabin hike . . .

We stopped at just about 11:30 am at the cabin and had lunch. The dogs were running amok and having fun. I was having foibles about getting my feet/boots wet. (there's a creek crossing) Lunch was very nice though. And we found out bugs don't like orange oil ha.

Deep Creek. Hook Creek meets up with this creek to create a larger river.

Solo cooling his heels in Hook Creek where it crosses the road. This is where I had mini-heartattacks and refused to get my boots wet :rolleyes:

Thistles. Please. Say it out loud with me. With a lisp. Thistles! Tickles, doesn't it?

Sorry so big. But it's beautiful. *sigh* Wildflowers growing alongside 3N34.

Taking a break. It was getting warm. And I was hungry!

One last look. Again, sorry so big. But it deserved the size. Isn't it beautiful?

Posted by Khiori at 02:28 PM | Permalink

We had a lot of fun on this hike. We left the trailhead at 8am and made pretty good time. The creeks were flowing and we could hear bullfrogs. There were plants growing like crazy. We decided we'll need to come back in June when all these plants are flowering.

Some pictures:

The Creek we hiked alongside.

We found this lizard sunning itself on a burned tree.

The group who maintains this trail does a lovely job.

Yay! We made it! *The* cabin.

More tomorrow with pics of the surrounding area.

Posted by Khiori at 02:28 PM | Permalink

Rehiking this one! 3W12 from the North Shore Campground to the cabin. Then back up via 3N34, 2N25. Whee!!

~6 miles, leaving 8am. Returning 2pm.

Posted by Khiori at 06:28 AM | Permalink