Drake Park and beyond part 2

Ok so want to finish with these photos of Drake Park, didn't want to bore you too much with individual photos.
Click on photos for larger size
So i think i told you that my Princess gets car sick, so we ended up heading up towards the mountain were we saw signs that said Lava Island Falls so went on that road to check it out. Ok we have lived here for 15 yrs, been by that sign a hundred times i am sure. Never stopped so what a great find this is. Only problem is its only a day park. So camping here is not allowed .
In the background you can see the lava rocks which we have lots of around here.
I just found this tree interesting , settled in on the bank.Can't say they are much of a fall but its pretty anyways.Ok so check out the website about the falls, No wonder these didn't look like much of a fall. Geesh!
So after we left here my camera battery went dead, so we thought we might as well go home, as Princess was having a good time outside, but slubbering up a storm when she had to get back in the car.
So off we head for home. In the meantime i noticed that P was starting to regurgitate, i tell Nevada he better find a place to stop, OOOOOH NOOOOO! Too late! She went all over me. Well the rest of this trip will continue tomorrow as we will go back and finish the rest of the trip. More great photos to share. Without the dog.

Drake Park Saturdays outing. Part 1

Please click on photos for larger view as they are better

Drake Park and Mirror Pond

NW Riverside Blvd. and Brooks Street
13 acres

This popular downtown community gathering place hosts many events throughout the spring, summer and fall, including the District's Old Fashioned July 4th Celebration. Features include nearly one half mile of riverfront, acres of open lawn, an outdoor stage, restrooms and small picnic tables. A major renovation project for this park was completed in 2003. The restrooms have been upgraded, pathways throughout the park have been replaced with pavers making the walkway wider, new irrigation and lighting systems have been installed, bike racks have been installed, a seating and viewing area was added at Mirror Pond and the High Wheel has made a triumphant return to the park. Drake Park is more beautiful than ever!

So today Nevada says lets go shopping or a drive, If you knew my husband either one of those things is something he hates to do.So came with a big surprise to me...... I said why? He said I'm bored.
So we decided to do the drive, cause i said that is going to be cheaper than going shopping cause you know i have to buy something. LOL.

So we took Princess my pom, thinking that she would really enjoy going for a nice walk. So in the car we load up. Oh yeh i forgot to mention she gets car sick. So decided to do the park first and hopefully she will like it enough that she will not get sick when we head towards the mountains. Our intention for the day. So the above photo is the history of Drake Park. And some photos of all the poopy ducks. Which i had so much fun watching and taking photos of.


Here is one coming in for a landing and OOOP'S that's ice Miss Princess is looking on, which surprised us that she paid no never mind to them as far as wanting to chase them

Going for a head dive here. Arn't they amazing how they can go head first, wonder what he is after?

Now i thought he was a bit unusual in color don't you think?

The Mountain around Lake Shasta Continued

Shasta Lake is a reservoir created by the building of Shasta Dam in California, Shasta Lake is the 3rd largest lake in California, after Lake Tahoe and the Salton Sea, with a capacity of 4,552,000 acre ft (5.6 km³). Ten miles (16 km) north of the city of Redding, with the town of Lakehead its northern shores, Shasta Lake is popular for boating, water skiing, camping, house boating, and fishing. Formed by the damming of the Sacramento River, Pit River, McCloud River and several small tributaries the lake boasts 365 miles (587 km) of mostly steep mountainous shoreline covered with tall evergreen trees and mansanita Maximum depth is 517 ft. Known as the keystone of the Central Valley Project, outflow from Shasta Dam provides electricity and irrigation for widespread areas of California below the dam as well as flood control for the Sacramento River during the rainy season.

Lake Shasta California

Took this on the way home in Oct from our vacation.

ABC Wed U for Umbrella

I bought this decorative Umbrella last yr when we went to Quartzite Arizona, as i am planing on having my last theme room done in Asian theme. But have not used it yet. Not sure that i will specially if the place sells .
This is the underside , i think this was made out of some kind of wood, i was thinking it might be bamboo but not sure. Be sure to click on photos to get larger images.

The invention of umbrellas is a gift to many as it is very useful especially for both seasons of summer and rainy days. The word umbrella is another term of parasol, which means protection from the heat of the sun that could cause damage to the skin and used in most Asian countries. Umbrellas have a rich history since its use traveled from one country to another. From its typical form, umbrellas now come in a variety of physical features especially on its form, colors, and design.

Umbrellas were first invented and used in China mostly by high-ranking people though not necessarily royalties. This was been proved when servants carried about twenty-four umbrellas before the Emperor to protect him from the rain during his hunting activity. The use of umbrellas has become the country’s tradition, which existed until now. After that, umbrellas were then carried to Japan through Korea and were introduced to Persia and Western world countries. On the other side, the other name of umbrellas called parasol conquered some of the sculptures of Nineveh where it appeared frequently. Various shapes of umbrellas had been found also in Egypt and some of the carved work in Persepolis, an ancient city of Persia. The use of umbrellas became popular also in Europe, Asia and other parts of the world until now.

Umbrellas are usually made of a wire frame that serves as its bone topped with a silk or linen fabric when it was first used but now made with water resistant fabric stretched until the tips of the wires, forming a cover. Its handle usually forms a “J” shaped for easy handling though there are also umbrellas without it but is using a typical handle. There are other types of umbrellas other than the parasol and the classic umbrellas we’re using everyday. The one we usually see in outdoor markets and sidewalk cafes on every table is called market umbrellas whose primary use is to offer shade to its customers. Beach lovers are very much familiar with the use of beach umbrellas as these umbrellas are typically large to protect one or more people against the sun. These beach umbrellas have skirted valance and spiky end made perfectly for anchoring the sand.

Patio umbrellas are umbrellas commonly used in ones backyard. Patio umbrellas can be used both with a patio table and could be stand-alones. These umbrellas can be as large as the beach umbrellas and can be smaller as the hand-held umbrellas. Unlike the other types of umbrellas, certain features are available in patio umbrellas like the tilting mechanism wherein the user can adjust the coverage area whenever the sun moves. Lights are also installed in patio umbrellas that can be plugged in the evening if there’s an occasion.

The typical hand-held umbrellas we’re using these days can be sometimes folded or not. Folded umbrellas are perfect for those who don’t want to bring bulky umbrellas as they can put it inside their bags. Umbrellas now come in a variety of colors and designs, made attractively to support the consumer’s taste.

Christmas decorations

Here is my carousel, I have not taken this one out of its box in about 3 yrs or so. Last yr i didn't even decorate the house. We new we weren't going to be here, so didn't even bother. It was our first yr on the road to go to Niland Calif. to meet some friends for x-mas. And then on to Arizona.
Ok, I don't get to put a tree up, with 10 cats and a dog, I figure that I wouldn't have a tree standing, so going to forgo that. I usually have one up in the office were they couldn't get to it.

So here i am testing my camera, or should I say playing with some of the buttons on it, the darker ones are with the candle setting.Which do you like best?

Winchester Bay Part 2

So this is were we stayed with our friends Rich & Mary, It is dry camping there. I am not sure how many folks were there with the group called the RovingRods, a yahoo rver's group that get together every yr at Winchester Bay, for the crabbing season.I am guessing there must of been at least 20 to 30 rigs. Some of them are fulltime Rver's who live in there motor homes yr round. Others may be on the road 6 months out of the yr.Or like us a very short time.




Here is our rig, among the rest of them . Anyway they come here to crab, but this yr the crabbing was not very good. So there wasn't too many crabs that they could have a crab feast with, I guess they get all the crab together and have a feast. This yr it did not happen.. At least while we were there, so NO crab for us.

They do have a get together were we all bring some food , there was so much food and so many different things to eat. YUMMY!


And i got this guy watching to see what he could steal off the table, But then maybe
He was eyeballing this. Yup that was the only crab they caught and was able to keep. while we were there . Don't know if they did anything better later in the week or not. He also won the price for the biggest catch of the day and i guess the only catch.

Winchester Bay Part 1

I don't think i ever posted photos of our trip in Sept, when we went to Winchester Bay. Please click here for whats to see and do there.
So i am posting some photos of the bay with some boats here, and then continue the next posting with our friends and the one crab that was big enough to keep.
Also check out the Dune Fest in 2008

Cold, Fog & Snow

This is what we woke up too this morning. Boy it was cold

Sky Watch Friday