OAKZANITA TT PRESERVE, CC 3/8-20/2012

 After one last lunch date with Chip and an afternoon of conversation (I don't know how we figured out what to talk about without Vicki!), we headed a little north to another Thousand Trails for a couple weeks.

About 3 miles north of Descanso, CA, up Hwy 79 is the Thousand Trails Preserve we are for 12 days.  It is cooler here than at Pio Pico, less border patrol vehicles, more oak trees, better tasting water and much better internet and cell phone reception.  It is a smaller preserve that feels more like camping than trailer parking.  It is about 3,800+ elevation, freezes at night, but with the sun out in the day it gets up to 58-75 degrees during the day, though sometimes it is a little breezy.

 Here we  hunkered down for doing taxes, more Family History Research on line, more reading and more writing in our autobiographies.  Church is 30 minutes away in the community of Alpine.  Church starts at 10:00.  Meet us there and we'll do church together!
It is so beautiful here that we go for walks often.  This was one of the cooler days. Notice Ann's jacket and Wayne's long pants?  But, look at the trees budding out!

 We have each taken time, also, to do some fun cooking trials.  Here are some whole wheat home made noodles.  We used some to make home made chicken noodle soup, some of the thinner ones to go with a new recipe we tried of bolognese sauce, and some used with a new buttery herb sauce.  We also made home made chocolate chip cookies and experimented with a new mush combination for breakfast that would have made John Ashcraft envious.

 We took a day to got north on a very narrow, windy Hwy 78 to a old western mining town, kind reminiscent of Jacksonville, Oregon.  It was a fun town with lots of shops and tourist trap stuff.  The day we were there was a day all the Ron Paul (Didn't see you there, Roy!) supporters and hundreds of bikers (The kind with beer bellies, tatoos, leather jackets, greasy Levis and beards.... and that's just the women!) came to town.  Wayne's people watching cup ran over big time.

We escaped the streets for what Julian is supposed to be known for, Mom's home made apple pies!  We had a slice of apple cherry pie.  Wayne still thinks Ann's are better, but we both enjoyed it and the little hole in the wall bakery atmosphere.  Notice the pie is already gone?!

More walking through town, going in shops, book stores and people watching. Notice the row of bikes?  I know, you've seen the same movies I have.  Was Wayne tempted?????   Went back to Mom's and had to wait in a long line for chicken pot pie, split pea soup and a turkey sandwich.  Delish!!!

We also have acquired a new friend.  Seems, a lot of places we go, a bird finds his reflection in the window and then spends the reminder of our stay there trying to chase that other bird out of his territory.  Here's our friend this time.  Each time the aggressive, territorial bird will peck at the window, call it dirty names, flap wildly at the window and sometimes fly into it.  Funny....sad....yet entertaining.

 Wayne loves nothing but warm weather.  Ann loves the four seasons.  Here at Oakzatita TT at elevation 4,000 feet, you can have both!  After walking around in shorts and tee shirts, one morning we woke up to this.  Through the day it piled up to about 8 inches!  (Remember Lassen Park 40+ years ago in August, Cliff?)  Ann went walking and frolicking taking the pictures.  Wayne hunkered down in the trailer and complained about being cold.  This is all your fault, LINDA!!!

 Ice Cycles???  Sunny, Warm, Southern California???

 It is pretty though isn't it?

 From this......

 ....to this, overnight!!!!!

 My poor little truck!!!

 We tossed out some cooked wheat and other yummies for the animals.

 Many came to surround our trailer and search for more.

 That's a rabbit back there in the bush.

Anyway, it has been a nice stay here.  Got a lot done with Fam. Hist., autobiographies, reading church history, cooking experiments and such.  Got to enjoy the variety of Southern California weather and will be heading north and out to the desert in Palm Springs come Mar. 20.  I hope it is warmer there.  Hope to wash and wax the trailer, swim and more research.  Maybe we'll run into some Gingrich supporters there, Andrew!