One of "those" days

We have made 4 trips to the DMV to get CA driver's licenses. Before camp meeting we went to Napa and picked up the rules book and applications. The second time we forgot the applications and didn't want to re-do them. Today we went to Santa Rosa for a change to shop and decided to go to the DMV there. Once we made it to the counter we found out we needed our passports or a long list of other ID. Needless to say we didn't bring that. We got home early afternoon and ate lunch then headed to Napa determined to get this job done today. We waited in line forever but at last succeeded in getting them.

Al also tried to get CA registration for his truck but found out he had to get it tested for smog control and bring the title. That will mean another trip back to the DMV. It seems nothing is simple here.

We made our usual stop at Home Depot and also stopped at a furniture store because we still don't have living room furniture. We just look but don't buy yet. We got half a flat of very good strawberries on the way home. I froze half of them. Now that the day is done I guess it wasn't all that bad.

The Harry Potter Craze

I feel compelled to express my views on this topic which just happens to be in line with the Bible. Do you know how much H.P. has done to increase the number of members in Wicca (witchcraft)? Let God speak to the issue:

"When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in withchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.

"Anyone who does these things is detestaable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the Lord your God." Deut. 18:9-13

This is just one of many texts telling God's people to avoid anything close to the occult. I invite my readers who think H.P. is okay to check out the web site avoidharrypotter.com if you dare to find out why it isn't a harmless book.

The Redwoods

Pictures don't begin to describe the redwood trees. The tallest are over 360 feet. Even tho sequoias are wider in diameter, the redwood is plenty wide. They only grow along a thin line of the coast of northern CA. People grow them in their yards here but there could not be a forest of them. And, they can't grow as high because of lack of rain. Throughout the forest floor is a ground cover that looks like large 3-leaf clovers but they are really called redwood sorrel. I couldn't help wondering if there might be some with 4 leaves.

Because the foliage in the forest is so dense I had a hard time getting enough light to take pictures. I took several on night exposure but without a tripod they were all a little blurry.

Interesting quotes

I just read some comments about global warming that I just have to quote:

"Is it global warming or Gorebal warbling? Is Al Gore playing on our fears? These people should be more concerned about how God is going to incinerate this planet and not to be on it when it happens." Ron Kuivinen, Woodinville, WA

"The global warming we should really be concerned to tell the world about is that which will happen at the last judgment." Marko Kolic Berrien Springs, MI

This is the setting for the Redwoods Area Camp we were at. You can see some tents on the right next to a grassy area. The rest of the 700+ sites are in the trees. The So. Fork of the Eel River flows by. This was taken in the morning before the fog completely lifted.

Home from Redwoods Area Camp Meeting

We came home early because the battery in our camper lost it's charge for the second time on Thurs. The camp sites there don't have electricity so the first time it happened all our food in the frig got warm. We didn't know the gas frig needed battery power. Al wasn't able to fully charge it because others were waiting to do theirs too. Anyway, the meetings were very good and the scenery was great. We took two side trips to get a better look at the giant redwoods. Al was able to get a big chunk of a stump free to bring home. I have plans for it and will tell you when they materialize. In the meantime, I'll be posting pictures I took.

Rare rain

We woke up to fog and rain this morning. The weather report said we usually don't get rain from Alaska but apparently that's what we got. The sun is just starting to peek thru so we're going to hit the road now. Lots of last minute stuff to do.

One funny: Chiquita was following me around this morn as usual and I was in the bathroom trying to curl my hair and she kept trying to land on my head. She finally landed on the roll of bath tissue which started to roll. She kept walking and the paper kept rolling to the floor until I chased her away. Wish I could have videotaped it.

Time Out

Tomorrow, Wednesday, we are leaving for the Redwoods Area camp meeting near Redcrest, CA. It's just a couple miles off Hwy. 101 south of Eureka if you want to look it up. If you want to know what we're doing for 10 days you can follow this link. http://ncc.adventist.org/article.php?id=153 It promises to be a very busy time but relaxing. It's on a river where we can go swimming too and there are trails in the redwoods. I hope to take lots of photos.

In the meantime, I'll be completely out of touch.

Chiquita

This bird follows me everywhere. I hope she enjoyed reading the book too.

Misc.

Today we made our weekly trek to Napa and all the stops there. We also got permission to pick blackberries across the street. They are so good. I even froze some. The owner also let us have plums and apples. Other fruit isn't quite ripe. He has been very generous with us. He also told us another neighbor killed a rattlesnake in his yard recently so to watch out. We'll be listening for rattles.

We started packing the camper with clothes to take to camp meeting Wed. I did laundry too. Tomorrow I'll make bread and continue to load food. We're taking Chiquita with us. We'll be staying in the Dogpatch area because that's where all who have ANY pets go. Apparently there have been some noisey birds in the past. Chiquita can be very loud too, especially when she hears other birds chirping.

It's supposed to cool down here the next few days so we don't know what the weather will be like further north at a lower elevation. It's very pleasant here now though.

Busy

One of our neighbors across the street has fruit trees and berries that don't seem to get picked. He has given us permission to help ourselves. Al picked a pot full of blackberries and they are oh so delicious! I picked gravenstein apples and cooked them up into applesauce. There are pears, more apples and berries, and I think apricots. We've eaten some of his plums before and now need a ladder to pick from higher limbs. We are thankful for our neighbors that share.

This morning I was in Angwin stocking up on meat analogs and made several phone calls back to MI since we can't get good reception at our house. Unfortunately, I was only able to find one friend at home. It was good to talk to Linda K. I miss all my friends there.

The Punch Bowl

This afternoon we took a walk to find out where the "punch bowl" is. Al's nephew told us how to get to this destination. Once we left the street on a path it was all down hill. We made it to a stream with a trickle in it but not the punch bowl. We didn't take water and didn't know how much further it was so hiked back up again. On the way Al pointed out some poison oak branches that were sticking out over the path. Not knowing if I brushed any of them going down I took a shower as soon as we got home. We also passed many berry bushes with ripe berries and helped ourselves. They were soooo good.

Our renter has been bringing white peaches home from where he is working in construction and he has shared them with us. Al has planted a couple of the seeds hoping to start a tree. Right now there are plum, apple, apricot, etc. trees producing fruit in the area. On walks we pick plums from trees growing along the road. They are very small but still good. Some day we'll have our own fruit trees.

Mental challenges

Today has been one headache after another. First I dealt with the post office for holding our mail for a week without it being requested. Then I called Juno to drop our commitment to their "high speed" connection which wasn't faster than before. Then I spent an hour reading through AT&T's offer for DSL which was very technical and confusing. My mind is spent.

I did get some exercise weeding, trimming bushes and washing windows. No walk tho. I hope I can put my mind to rest and sleep tonight. I also got more info about the campgrounds where we're going for Redwoods Area camp meeting next week. More things to plan for. I think I'll enjoy the escape.

Unblievable but True

Yesterday afternoon it clouded up and as the day went on we had a few sprinkles of rain. When we woke up this morning we discovered it had actually rained during the night--not hard or long--but enough to leave the asphalt wet. Now maybe some of the dust is cleared out of the air and we won't be sneezing as much. We can hope! Today it appears will be cloudy. We would still enjoy seeing more rain.

Company
It's partly cloudy here today which is a rare event since we've been here. I keep thinking maybe it'll rain but that's impossible in the summer. We have a beautiful breeze too so it's keeping the temp down to a comfortable level.

I just finished cleaning the camper in prep for the Redwoods Area camp meeting starting next Wed. We'll be gone for a full 11 days. We hear it's a beautiful site.

Tonight we're having a surprise birthday supper here for Al's nephew who is turning 40. Al's sister is planning it and there'll be 9 people--all relatives. We've been hoping for company and we're getting it. Now I need to go do my part in getting things ready.

I had my blog ready to send and Al picked up the phone and cut my connection so now I'm starting over again.

Yesterday I drove with my sister-in-law 2 1/2 hours to a baby shower in Cupertino for her daughter-in-law. It was a long ride but enjoyable party.

When I got home after 9 p.m. Al's cousin and his wife were here. They are the first house guests to stay with us. We will enjoy our time together with them.

This morning after breakfast Al and I went to Napa for our 101 stops in a real town. We didn't get home till 2 p.m. One of these days we're going to go to Santa Rosa instead and check out that place for shopping.

Our temps have moderated and it's been in the low 50's at night. Good and cool.

The unique 07-07-07

We went to church in Calistoga today and found it to have a very friendly bunch of members. Afterward we had lunch on the patio at Al's sister and husband's house with 2 of his relatives. We spent the afternoon visiting with them. It was pleasant weather probably around 80. Last night it was 54. It's not unusual to have a 30-40 degree difference between night and day. Tonight it's cooling down again. Great for sleeping!

Inside

This is a view of Lake Tahoe from inside the Edgewood Lodge, a famous golf club.

Life Without God and Hope

I just read the following verse. It's something to ponder.

"A crust of bread and a corner to sleep in,
A minute to smile and an hour to weep in,
A pint of joy to a peck of trouble,
And never a laugh but the moans come double;
And that is life!"

By Paul Laurence Dunbar,
Lyrics of Lowly Life

Photographic evidence

Time at Tahoe

As you can imagine we had a very nice time at the lake. We didn't do much of any particular grandiose thing but lounged. We did take a short hike in the mountains and snooped around at various locations near the lake. It's just plain beautiful. It took me back to my Colorado days where I spent 6 years. I enjoyed the mountains then too.

O Happy Day

Today is our 30th anniversary. My brother and his wife are using someone's time share at Lake Tahoe and they have invited us to spend 2 nights with them. So we're headed to the Ridge Tahoe Resort which is actually over the border into NV but it has a view of the big lake. We'll be back Thurs. with hopefully many good photos.

Puzzle answer

It's an artichoke blooming! Congrats Mari.

A contest with no prize

Guess what this is: