Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
MOUNTAIN LION TRACKS CONFIRMED AT CAMP MARANATHA
On my way home yesterday I was walking behind Douglas Fir Lodge (building #5) and I saw some strange tracks in the mud. I have been paying attention to tracks lately, because I want to collect plaster casts of various tracks for an exhibit somewhere here at the camp. I knew instantly that they were too large for coyote tracks and they didn't have the claw marks and oval shape that are characteristic of all canine tracks. They look like the Bobcat tracks I had seen in my book, and then it dawned on me- these are mountain lion tracks! It had never occurred to me that I might find Cougar tracks in the camp. I had been on the lookout for a good raccoon specimen or maybe even a coyote or bobcat, but I thought it was outside the realm of possibility that a mountain lion would come right down into the middle of camp.
Still convinced that I had mistakenly identified a dog track as that of a mountain lion I called the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and they sent over Kevin Brennan, who is a biologist who has studied mountain lions extensively in the San Jacinto Mountains. He instantly confirmed that they were mountain lion tracks, and his trained eye also found evidence of a mountain lion that was not fully grown traveling with the big tracks I found. It had been a mother with her kit!
It was an exciting discovery! Bowden took one of the plaster casts into preschool for show and tell today, and I will have plenty of casts for our display some day.
Still convinced that I had mistakenly identified a dog track as that of a mountain lion I called the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and they sent over Kevin Brennan, who is a biologist who has studied mountain lions extensively in the San Jacinto Mountains. He instantly confirmed that they were mountain lion tracks, and his trained eye also found evidence of a mountain lion that was not fully grown traveling with the big tracks I found. It had been a mother with her kit!
It was an exciting discovery! Bowden took one of the plaster casts into preschool for show and tell today, and I will have plenty of casts for our display some day.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
THE EAGLE HAS LANDED
Mom's flight got in at the scheduled time, and we picked her up without incident. We took her out for lunch in Santa Monica before making our way out of L.A. through the traffic. Mom was excited about the palm trees and the temperature in the upper 70's (it crept above 80 at times- warm enough to turn on the van's air conditioner for the first time this year.) It is sooooooo good to have her here. We got home at around 8:30 pm (11:30 EST), and my poor exhausted Mom went straight to bed. The kids are really excited to have her stay with us, and so are sarah and I. Let the party begin!!!
I've got to do something about that belly.
I've got to do something about that belly.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
PARTY AT MY HOUSE!!!
During the last weekend in March, Chad and Tricia Irving are coming to Idyllwild!
What?!?!
To Idyllwild!!!
...and so is my brother, John!
What?!?!
I said John Tate sucka!!!
I think we are all going to stay in the Big Pine Lodge.
What?!?!
The Big Pine Lodge!!!
What?!?!
To Idyllwild!!!
...and so is my brother, John!
What?!?!
I said John Tate sucka!!!
I think we are all going to stay in the Big Pine Lodge.
What?!?!
The Big Pine Lodge!!!
Friday, February 22, 2008
FUN AT THE SAN DIEGO WILD ANIMAL PARK
Yesterday, we went to the San Diego Wild Animal Park with two other couples from church. They have kids who are about the same age as ours so we thought it would be fun...and it was. The only scary thing was when that funny looking lion climbed up onto the hood of our landrover in the last picture.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
AN INTROVERT'S RESPONSE TO STRESS
When this old world starts getting me down
And people are just too much for me to face
I climb way up to the top of the stairs
And all my cares just drift right in to space
On the roof it's peaceful as can be
And there the world below can't bother me
Let me tell you now
When I come home feelin' tired and beat
I go up where the air is fresh and sweet
I get away from the hustling crowds
And all that rat race noise down in the street
On the roof's the only place I know
Where you just have to wish to make it so
Oh, let's go
up on the roof
At night the stars put on a show for free
And darling, you can share it all with me
I keep a-telling you
Right smack dab in the middle of town
I found a paradise that's trouble proof
So if this world starts getting you down
there's room enough for two up on the roof
Up on the roof
Everyhting's all right
Up on the roof
Oh, come on baby
Up on the roof
Up on the roof
And people are just too much for me to face
I climb way up to the top of the stairs
And all my cares just drift right in to space
On the roof it's peaceful as can be
And there the world below can't bother me
Let me tell you now
When I come home feelin' tired and beat
I go up where the air is fresh and sweet
I get away from the hustling crowds
And all that rat race noise down in the street
On the roof's the only place I know
Where you just have to wish to make it so
Oh, let's go
up on the roof
At night the stars put on a show for free
And darling, you can share it all with me
I keep a-telling you
Right smack dab in the middle of town
I found a paradise that's trouble proof
So if this world starts getting you down
there's room enough for two up on the roof
Up on the roof
Everyhting's all right
Up on the roof
Oh, come on baby
Up on the roof
Up on the roof
AN EXTROVERT'S RESPONSE TO STRESS
When you're alone and life is making you lonely
You can always go downtown
When you got worries, all the noise and the hurry
Seems to help, I know, downtown
Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city
Linger on the sidewalks where the neon signs are pretty
How can you lose?
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
And go downtown
Things'll be great when you're downtown
No finer place for sure, downtown
Everything's waiting for you
Don't hang around and let your problems surround you
There are movie shows, downtown
Or maybe you know some little places to go to
Where they never close, downtown
Just listen to the rhythm of the music that they're playin'
Making conversation while you're on the dance floor swayin'
Happy again
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
And go downtown
Where all the lights are bright, downtown
Waiting for you tonight, downtown
You're gonna be alright now
And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you
Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to guide them along
So maybe I'll see you there
You can forget all your troubles
Just forget all your cares
And go downtown
Things'll be great when you're downtown
Don't wait a minute more, downtown
Everything's waiting for you
Downtown, where all the lights are bright
Downtown, waiting for you tonight
Downtown, you're going to be alright now
Get on, get on, get on downtown
Fade:
Downtown, where all the lights are bright
Downtown, waiting for you tonight
Downtown, you're going to be alright now
Get on, get on, get on downtown
You can always go downtown
When you got worries, all the noise and the hurry
Seems to help, I know, downtown
Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city
Linger on the sidewalks where the neon signs are pretty
How can you lose?
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
And go downtown
Things'll be great when you're downtown
No finer place for sure, downtown
Everything's waiting for you
Don't hang around and let your problems surround you
There are movie shows, downtown
Or maybe you know some little places to go to
Where they never close, downtown
Just listen to the rhythm of the music that they're playin'
Making conversation while you're on the dance floor swayin'
Happy again
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
And go downtown
Where all the lights are bright, downtown
Waiting for you tonight, downtown
You're gonna be alright now
And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you
Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to guide them along
So maybe I'll see you there
You can forget all your troubles
Just forget all your cares
And go downtown
Things'll be great when you're downtown
Don't wait a minute more, downtown
Everything's waiting for you
Downtown, where all the lights are bright
Downtown, waiting for you tonight
Downtown, you're going to be alright now
Get on, get on, get on downtown
Fade:
Downtown, where all the lights are bright
Downtown, waiting for you tonight
Downtown, you're going to be alright now
Get on, get on, get on downtown
IT'S SNOWING HARD RIGHT NOW IN IDYLLWILD
I hope it thaws out by the time you touch down at LAX Mom. That is right around the corner. We are so excited!!!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
HAVE YOU HAD A BOWL OF MALT-O-MEAL RECENTLY?
Do yourself a flavor and buy a box today. It is so good with a little pad of butter, some brown sugar and a splash of milk.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Ice is melting
The streams are fat
Tumbling down
Kersplunk-kersplat
For the past couple of days the sun for which Southern California is famous has been melting the snow and ice and raising the mercury nearly to 70 degrees here on our mountain. Sarah returned from Hemet a couple of days ago and reported that it was uncomfortably hot down there. I have resumed riding my bike to the post office, and I even saw a man in flip-flops yesterday.
The streams are fat
Tumbling down
Kersplunk-kersplat
For the past couple of days the sun for which Southern California is famous has been melting the snow and ice and raising the mercury nearly to 70 degrees here on our mountain. Sarah returned from Hemet a couple of days ago and reported that it was uncomfortably hot down there. I have resumed riding my bike to the post office, and I even saw a man in flip-flops yesterday.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
