Category: Potpourri

With a bit of time on my hands and the desire to take Addie and Sheila on a mini-road trip, along with wanting to do some training hikes and enjoying caravanning with Nanine, I explored the Indio area for about four days last week.  During the trip, Nanine and I camped in our rigs at the Indio Elks so we could play cribbage, drink Manhattans, chat with locals, and hike some local trails.

The Cove Trail (La Quinta)

This trail, though, had many sub-trails blocked from dogs so the canines wouldn’t annoy the wildlife.

The “City” of Indio

An older city, comprised of just a few streets, decorated with murals.

Desert Living Zoo and Gardens (Palm Desert)

Although Sheila and Nanine’s pooch, Bossa, got along fine while Nanine and I played cribbage in her rig, we decided it was best to allow Bossa to have his own space and Sheila hers while we explored the Desert Living Zoo.  Thank you, Uber!

Wilderness Loop (a five mile hike with the trailhead inside the Desert Living Zoo)

Miss Sheila Beila carefully watching our cribbage game

Indio Canyon Badlands

One of my favorite hikes!  Various desert terrain with gorgeous views and some bouldering challenges.  Sheila, who joined us, loved jumping up on the granite rocks – and didn’t enjoy the sand between her toes.

View of the snowcapped mountains from the trail.

My camera and me:  reunited!  Today, I climbed Islay Hill and wandered around my neighborhood, capturing images that surprised or delighted me.  Sometimes, I snapped the same photo with my phone for comparison purposes.  For that hike, I left the doggies at home. 

Afterward, I walked Sheila and Arthur (grandkids’ dog), using only my cellphone camera to snap photos.

What did I learn?  Although my phone takes excellent photographs, the ones from my camera surpass the quality of those from my phone.

This is not to say that my phone takes poor images, just that my camera takes better pics. 

On adventures that I don’t want to lug around my camera, laptop, etc., my phone will be more than adequate.  When I want to be more of a photographer than a traveler, I will take my camera.  🙂

I didn’t realize how my 366 Day Photo Challenge from last year would affect me.  Once I returned home from my cruise, I set aside my camera and didn’t feel any desire to pick it up.  In addition to getting a new iPhone with a terrific camera function in preparation for my next BIG ADVENTURE, I was burned out on photography.  Ugh!  Picking up my camera.  Uploading photos to Lightroom.  Processing them.  Downloading them to my computer.  Writing my blog.  Yech!

Until now.  I took my camera on my training hike up Sydney and LOVED snapping photos again!  My enjoyment of photography has RETURNED!

A running joke is that I’m NOT a dog person.

Exactly a year ago, though, that changed. 

Let me start from the beginning.  When I was a kid, around six years old, my sister, my brother, and I found a kitten hiding behind the washing machine in our garage.  We begged our parents to let us keep it.  My dad asked, “Wouldn’t you rather have a dog?”  We declined and adopted this sweet little cat, whose whiskers were later pecked off by our pet parakeet.  When I was about sixteen, our cat died, and we did not get another one during the rest of my time in high school.  Returning home for winter break during my collegiate freshman year, I found my family had two new cats – and I discovered I was allergic to them.

As my life unfolded, I knew I could not have cats (achoo!), although I missed petting their soft fur.  While my kids were home, we were too busy and uninterested in getting a dog.  A part of me was pleased since dogs scared me.  I didn’t like them jumping up on me, and I thought they smelled bad and would bite me.

After my divorce, I began hiking a lot with friends who all have dogs.  My fear began to dissipate, and my interest in having a dog grew.  I became close to Astrid and Dennis’ dog Callie and Joel’s dog Viza, along with many other sweet pups.  I realized that dogs can be trained not to jump on people, proper hygiene reduces the smell, and dogs don’t bite unless provoked (for the most part!).  I also realized by watching Nanine, who has a big fabulous pooch and travels even more than I do, that with a circle of friends and many dogsitting possibilities, I could continue to live my lifestyle while having a dog.

So, a little over a year ago, I decided it was time.  I knew I wanted to rescue a dog who:  weighed about 25-30 pounds, was good with children and other dogs, and enjoyed hiking and traveling.  With Kait, I went to Woods Humane Society to “take a look.”  After explaining what qualities interested me in a pet, the receptionist recommended one specific dog.  We went into the meeting room, sat on the floor, and the handler Matt brought in this sweet three-year old pup.  She was scared and timid!  And, oh so sweet!  My heart was won when Matt picked her up to carry her out, and she nestled right into his neck.  I knew then that what this doggie needed was love – exactly what I had to give.

That doggie, of course, is my energetic, affectionate, playful, and totally sweet Sheila!

Yesterday, I realized that this was my tenth Live Oak Music Festival.  I will forever be grateful to the McCanns for introducing me to this wonderful event.

For the third year, I volunteered on Construction Crew, working to both construct and destruct the site and allowing me to enjoy the festival itself between work shifts.  I love my crew!  We work hard – and play even harder.

Although I continued to take photos for my photo challenge, I took only a few additional pics.  Instead, I spent most of my time talking, listening, dancing, ENJOYING!

Sheila and I decided to take a mini-trip in Addie to Santa Barbara.  We arrived on Monday at the Santa Barbara Elks (located in Goleta 🙂 ) and enjoyed exploring Santa Barbara yesterday with my cousins Stephanie and Leslie.  So fun to catch up and chat about our families, our mothers, and family lore.

Today, Sheila and I hiked the San Roque Creek trail (thank you for the suggestion, AllTrails!).  I’m a bit out of practice!  I had the map, so I could have noticed there were creek crossings and, therefore, brought my poles.  My poles, though, remained ensconced in Addie…  Once, I took my shoes off; another time, I stepped in the creek in my waterproof boots; and finally, I found a branch to use as a pole!  🤣

Regardless, it was a beautiful hike.  Until I got to the first creek crossing, I was thinking PERFECT!  My favorite – tree covered hike with the sound of water and some “waterfalls.”  Okay, because I forgot my poles, I’ll give it a 100% and me a 99%!