http://youtu.be/TYWcY85dxtQ

Not – as in not prepared for this hike!

Not – as in having an idea of what I was doing.

Not – as in sorry I tried.

On Super Bowl Sunday, February 5, 2012, I set out to hike Iron Mountain with a friend who is an experienced hiker. The week before I’d hiked the flat and leisurely Penasquitos Canyon Trail, which was six miles, as you may know if you are a reader of this blog. My friend mentioned that he thought I was ready for Iron Mountain. I had a spontaneous change in my “social calendar” and we agreed to take the hike in a spur of the moment decision.

Iron Mountain, at a little over 2700 feet above sea level, is one of the highest peaks near the Ramona/Poway area. The hike to the peak and back is a little over six miles with a 900-foot climb. The trailhead is at Poway Road and Highway 67. We started walking at about 8 a.m., greeted by the most inviting shaded lane. The trees are neatly planted and grow together overhead to create a lovely symmetrical shaded haven. Shortly after that wonderful shade, we were in the backcountry of San Diego, with sunshine and chaparral, rocks, and at this time of year, very little color other than green and brown. But I love the backcountry at any time of the year.

Soon after the one-mile marker, I knew I was in over my head. My legs started to wobble and I became light-headed. My friend made it clear I could stop any time I wanted; and rest when needed. I did just that. I had to look down and walk carefully because of the rocks. I used two hiking poles, which kept me from falling several times. When we did stop for a breather, I lost my breath again, this time from the view. We hiked in Santa Ana conditions: dry air with almost limitless visibility. The ocean view was awesome! (Iron Mountain is about 30 miles inland.)

Looking northwest about 1 mile into the hike. Ocean easily seen.

Wild lilac in bloom, anyhow that is what we always called it as kids.

Walking up

Rocky trail

Little creek on the way up

That is the summet, the peak in the middle of the photo.

Switchbacks on the way up

I probably stopped five or six times to rest before reaching the summit. I felt such a sense of accomplishment when I reached the peak. It wasn’t fun making this hike. It was hard work, but I wanted to make it to the top. It was one foot at a time, looking down, trying not to land on my face and break my nose or my wrists.

The 360-degree view at the summit is spectacular. We could see far out into the ocean,  past downtown San Diego and Pt. Loma to the west, Palomar Mountain to the north, the town of Ramona to the northeast, Cuyamaca to the east, Lake San Vincent to the southeast and Mexico to the south. The Coronado Islands were clearly visible off the Mexican coast and Santa Catalina Island was faintly visible to the northwest.

I made it to the top, still standing!

City of Ramona from the peak

Looking east at the mountains near Barona Indian Reservation.

San Vincente Lake from the peak

Time to stop and smell the lilacs.

Two strangers enjoying a rest overlooking San Vincente Lake at the peak

Looking northwest at Black Mountain and Penasquitos.

Mt. Woodson from the summit.

Looking northwest from the summit

I found a little bit of color

We rested at a picnic table at the top, eating our snacks and sharing our excitement with fellow hikers. There were no strangers on the top of the mountain. There were many children and dogs. Everyone thought it was an easy hike but me.

On the way back down, I still had to be careful because of the rocks and slippery steep dirt patches. One time my legs flew out from under me and I slid down on my backside like I was sledding in snow. I have a “shiner” on my elbow from the slide, but I was able to keep walking. Later on the trail I twisted my left ankle between two rocks. This is my ankle that has no cartilage and doesn’t bend. Well, it bent. I saw stars for a moment; the pain was excruciating. I sat down, caught my breath and wondered if I would be going home in a helicopter. Instead, in about two minutes it was okay, as if nothing had happened; and I started walking again.

Found these rare little jewels on the way down

A little more color at the end of the trail.

Shaded lane awaits us soon.

I was glad to be finished, but more glad that I had kept walking and reached that summit. I hope the pictures fill in the story:

End of the trail

War wound from the slide.

Time to clean up the shoes for the next hike.

Enjoy the slide showClick to view slideshow.

Penasquitos is Spanish for “little cliffs.” Look around and you will see the rugged palisades that rim the canyon. The Rancho sits on property that is a portion of San Diego’s earliest land grant.

In 1823, the first Mexican Governor of California, Luis Antonio Arguello, awarded 4,243 acres of the Rancho Santa Maria de los Penasquitos to Captain Francisco Ruiz, as a reward for his military service. Captain Ruiz built a small adobe home in 1824 on the current location. Captain Ruiz bequeathed Rancho Penasquitos to his great-nephew, Francisco Alvarado, who was active in politics before and after the American occupation. In 1859 Franciso Alvarado’s daughter, Estefana, married Capt. George Alonzo Johnson and they expanded the modest adobe house into a larger rancho for their growing family. In 1880, the Johnson’s lost the ranch and it went through many owners until 1962 when Penasquitos, Inc bought the ranch and 14,000 acres. In 1974 the County of San Diego acquired the land around the rancho and began to develop the Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve. The rancho stands today an authentic interpretation of early Californian history.

On Saturday, January 29^th, when I went to the rancho, it was a warm lovely January day. The temperature was about 80 degrees and the sky was blue with high wispy clouds. The trees around the rancho swayed gently from the ocean breeze.

Other than some archeology students outside and the ranger, I had the Rancho to myself.

Bedroom:

The furniture was lovely.

A family room?

A look out the window toward the west. Imagine fields of cattle.

Delicate needlework:

Another room:

Another window view of the west:

View from the front veranda:

Fountain in front:

The original adobe wall:

Walking around, this is the west side of the rancho.

Bees were buzzing around this plant:

View from the west veranda:

Eastern view of the Rancho:

This was a wonderful trip back in time. I hope anyone in the area who has not seen this piece of history, will take the time to visit.  Enjoy the slide show:

I explored a new part of San Diego to me, the Penasquitos Canyon. For those of those that are not familiar with it, you can get a good map and read about it on their website:   http://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/penasq.shtml

How lucky I was to have a January hike in 80-degree weather with a slight breeze. Ideal conditions to me. This hike was longer than I am used to, but it is one of the easiest hikes I have taken. The trail is shared with horses, cyclists and hikers and is more like a jeep trail than a hiker’s trail. It’s an easy stroll, other than a few rocks and mud from the recent rains. The canyon runs east to west between Interstate 5 and Interstate 15. The main trail is a six-mile hike. Halfway into the hike, there is a waterfall. Again, I was lucky to be able to see this waterfall while it was rushing from the recent rains.

I walked from east to west, south of the creek. This is the beginning of the trail.

It wasn’t long before I saw water in the creek.

The path continued with lots of sun and open spaces mixed with beautiful California live oak trees. These are a personal favorite of mine; happy memories from Kimball Valley days.

Another view of the creek:

You soon hear the waterfall, and a little exit off the main trail will lead you to it.

Because we were on the south side of the creek, I could not actually see the water falling (without climbing on a high rock – NOT), but next time I will cross over to the north to check out that view.

Rushing water:

Looking down:

Looking west, this was the last two miles of the hike.

Bird sanctuary on the west end of the trail.

One of the  last creek crossings where I stopped to watch some dogs splash around in the water.

The last walk “down” to the trailhead. This is the end of  my hike, but the beginning if you start from the west.

After the hike, I drove back to the eastern entrance where I enjoyed a tour of Rancho Penasquitos. I’ll share that part of the adventure with you next time.

If you live in the San Diego area and haven’t been to this canyon, I encourage you to check it out. I know I will be back, if not before, at least in the spring to see the wildflowers.

Enjoy the slide show:

Twelve happy moments make a calendar. It is not too late to make your 2012 calendar. Just look over your photos of the past year. This is easy for those of us with large hard drives that have stored our photos during the year. I saved all my photo files last year in a folder called “camera2011.” Every time I downloaded photos from my camera, I put them in a new folder within the camera2011 folder. I conveniently named the folder the date of the download. So all my photos are in chronological order in one place on my hard drive, making them easy to locate.

When I became a grandmother, I started making family calendars. I’d go through my photos and pick out twelve photos of the family, mostly of the grandchildren. I’d put a photo into the date on the calendar grid for everyone’s birthday. I used clip art or my own photos to illustrate the various holidays. It was fun and creative and easy for many years. I used Print Shop for the calendar grid, but for the photo of that month, I chose to print an 8 ½ by 11 borderless photo on my Epson Photo Printer. These photos take five to seven minutes each to print with a photo ink jet printer – time consuming but beautiful, worthy of framing when the year was over. It took days to print out all the calendars for the various family members. After all the printing and assembly, I would take them to Kinko’s to have them bound. As the children got older and wanted a say in their photos, it got complicated. It became a calendar designed by committee. This year, everything changed. My oldest granddaughter got a Mac and she and her father took over the calendar- making. I was astonished as I watched the process. Photo editing that I would painstakingly do in PhotoShop, she could do with two or three clicks, combining photos at various angles and compositions. Everyone had an opinion about which photos to use, but it was done so easily as the “committee” worked together and my granddaughter did the editing. When she was finished, she sent it to the Apple Store with a couple of clicks. About a week later, family members received their calendars in the mail. The laser printing from the Apple Store cannot compete with the quality of high- density ink-jet printing, but the calendar on my wall this year is beautiful and clear and “someone else did the work.” Apple, I am impressed!

The baton has been passed for the family calendar.

I’ve noticed various opportunities to order on-line calendars and have shrugged them off with snug superiority. My print job is better, more individualized, colors more vibrant, etc. No more! I can’t see I will never again spend the time and the money to print a calendar myself. Look anywhere and you’ll see an opportunity to make your own calendar, recapturing wonderful moments of 2011. You can use family photos, vacation photos, project photos. The year my father died, I made a calendar for my siblings with twelve photos of my father, beginning in childhood through his senior years. One year, I gave all my friends calendars made with photos from a trip to Paris.

You can upload your photos to various vendors; there are many choices:  Kinkos, Walgreens, Walmart, Shutterfly, Kodak to name a few. If their work is anything like the Apple Store, you will be pleased with the result of the laser printing. Let’s have some fun!

Here is my personal calendar for 2012, looking back at 2011 (very similar to a slide show I did for my e-Christmas card for my friends, this one excluding family photos)

January

Sunset over the Pacific at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery. San Diego County.

February

Cuyamaca mountains from Santee after a winter storm-San Diego County.

March

Rainbow over Hwy 52 at the crest of the hill between Santee and Tierra Santa - March the month of Irish good luck.

April

Spring is blooming in my friend's garden.

May

Wild flower among the chapparral in Mission Trails Regional Park - southern California ala naturale.

June

Wildflowers in Laguna Meadows- San Diego County.

July

Cuyamaca Lake - lazy summer afternoon - San Diego County.

August

No dog days of summer here - summer color, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

September

A trip to the Reagan Presidential Library - Simi Valley, California.

October

Sunflower against the setting sun. I Took this on the way home from work one evening. Hillcrest, San Diego.

November

Laguna Mountains after a dusting of snow - caught between the seasons. San Diego County.

December

Christmas tree in Union Square, San Francisco, California

Send me your 12 bright spots. Send them to me at cardsbygeri@yahoo.com!

This was taken from my driveway; you can see all the telephone and utility lines, so I decided to take another shot, this one with Photoshop, and beauty-up my driveway a bit. I had the time to just sit and play. Digital editing “is” part of photography.

How fun! Welcome 2012! I wonder what I will need to edit in my life this year. Thanks for joining me in this blog; I’m looking forward to sharing pictures with you in this adventure called life.

I am seeing red wherever I go these days.

Enjoy the reds my camera has captured, 49 “reds.”

No, I’m not angry, seeing red. I am enjoying the colors of the season, along with the red candles and red wrapping paper and red ribbons. How about you? How is your holiday season going? Are you seeing red? Is it a color of joy for you this year? The Christmas season isn’t a season of joy for everyone. What about you? I would like to hear your story.

In 1971 when I first heard Rod Stewart sing “Maggie May,” the lyrics “The morning sun when it’s in your face really shows your age,” had no impact on me. I was 24 years old then. However, the other day, I was sweeping around my newly resurfaced swimming pool, listening to Rod Stewart singing “Maggie May” on my mp3 player and now those words do mean something. I am almost insulted for Maggie May, but that “is” the truth of the morning sun on a woman’s face.

My face in the morning sun

I have chosen not to do anything surgically about my aging face. I could, I know, but I just haven’t been very motivated. Would softer, smoother, tighter skin make me a better person? Would it make my relationships more enriching? Would it make me richer? For some, the answer may be yes to the above; helping to secure a better job maybe, or feeling more attractive. It’s not to negate those that have chosen facelifts; it’s just not for me.

I continued sweeping the chalk and the fine dust created by the pool resurfacing and thinking about Maggie May. I looked at the fresh new plaster and  thought how much younger it looks with its new facelift! Cleaner and more energetic and ready for fun when summer arrives.

Humm . . . maybe I will reconsider that facelift. Never say never, but I still am feeling bad about Maggie May.

Before:

Steps "before"

During:

Steps "during"

After: – the water is so still you can see the reflection of my palm tree.

Steps "after."

Enjoy the slide show of the process of my swimming pool’s “facelift” and listen to Rod Stewart singing “Maggie May” (lyrics below).

http://youtu.be/aQvUPFWEl6w

Click to view slideshow.

Wake up Maggie, I think I got something to say to you
It’s late September and I really should be back at school
I know I keep you amused but I feel I’m being used
Oh Maggie, I couldn’t have tried any more
You led me away from home just to save you from being alone
You stole my heart and that’s what really hurt

The morning sun when it’s in your face really shows your age
But that don’t worry me none in my eyes you’re everything
I laughed at all of your jokes my love you didn’t need to coax
Oh Maggie, I couldn’t have tried any more
You led me away from home, just to save you from being alone
You stole my soul and that’s a pain I can do without

All I needed was a friend to lend a guiding hand
But you turned into a lover and
mother what a lover, you wore me out
All you did was wreck my bed
and in the morning kick me in the head
Oh Maggie, I couldn’t have tried anymore
You led me away from home ’cause you didn’t want to be alone
You stole my heart, I couldn’t leave you if I tried

I suppose I could collect my books and get on back to school
Or steal my daddy’s cue and make a living out of playing pool
Or find myself a rock and roll band that needs a helpin’ hand
Oh Maggie, I wish that I’d never seen your face
You made a first-class fool out of me
But I’m as blind as a fool can be
You stole my heart but I love you anyway

Maggie, I wish I’d never seen your face
I’ll get on back home one of these days

I don’t know who originally started the month of giving thanks on Facebook, but I noticed one of my Facebook friends a couple of years ago joining in this project. Every day you post something you are grateful for. This year I got involved on November 4th. I have decided to share my posts here on my blog, as a review of the month of my giving thanks.

It was a good exercise to be “grateful.” Some days I had to reach deep within myself to find a new reason. It is one thing to say, “Oh I feel good, I am grateful today!” It is another thing to have to actually articulate it.  For those of you that are my Facebook friends, you have already read these posts. For those of you that are not on Facebook, I share with you my month of giving thanks, copied and pasted from my Facebook wall.

Nov 4 ~ I am Thankful today that I woke up-that I am alive, every day is a gift, and today I am thankful for life. (Join with me on the month of thanks project by posting something you are thankful for every day during the month of  Nov.) Sorry I missed the first couple of days.

 Nov 5 ~ I am Thankful today for the rain that So. Calif. received yesterday, so needed.

Nov 6 ~ I am Thankful today for wonderful laughter I shared with my friend Jan yesterday. Friendship is such a treasure.

Nov 7 ~ I am Thankful today for my jobs. Double thanks for both jobs and the people I work with that allow me to live my wonderful life.

Nov 8 ~ I am Thankful today for my daughter. From the minute she was born she has enriched my life. What a gift!

Nov 9 ~ I am Thankful today that I was born in America. For all our faults, I still think America is “a shining city upon a hill.” I am so thankful to be living here.

Nov 10 ~ I am Thankful today for my good health. It was just the luck of the draw that I was born with good genes.

 Nov 11 ~ I am Thankful today for all the veterans. All the men and women from every generation that risk their lives to protect America and allow us to keep our way of life. I am so thankful for all of you. Happy Veterans Day.

 Nov 12 ~ I am Thankful today for Eleanor, Dietrich and Eva, my three grandchildren. They make me happy to wake up every day and want to live a good and long life so I can watch them grow into adulthood. I look forward because of them.

Nov 13 ~ I am Thankful today that my roof doesn’t leak – when it rains, I can come in out of the rain, into a safe dry home. I am thankful for my house.

Nov 14 ~ I am Thankful today for my big sister Dana. I may not have been so thankful when we were kids; when I was the little sister, always in the way, never able to keep up, but trying. But today I am so thankful for her friendship, wisdom, encouragement and optimism.

Nov 15 ~ I am Thankful today for second chances.

Nov 16 ~ I am Thankful today for my boss of almost 30 years, Dr. Gary Prodanovich, a man of honor, a real man of integrity.

Nov 17 ~ I am Thankful today for hair. I may not have much hair, but I am glad I have hair.

 Nov 18 ~ I am Thankful today for Friday. I couldn’t resist it; it has been one of those weeks. It’s been eight days of sheer . . . well NOT delight. TGIF everyone, let’s celebrate the weekend coming!

Nov 19 ~ I am Thankful today for S. E. the improvements she is making with her young life. Bad news travels quickly, good news travels slowly. I am thankful for good, happy news, knowing someone is struggling and yet able to change and improve, is another reason to be thankful in this month of giving thanks. S.E., you honor the hours R. B. poured into you; you honor the good memories.

Nov 20 ~ I am Thankful today for a simple uncomplicated day off.

Nov 21 ~ I am Thankful today for Penny Whitcomb, who invited me to church in the fifth grade. It was the beginning my walk with Jesus. (Though I have often strayed off the straight and narrow path)

Nov 22 ~ I am Thankful today for my co-worker Lee Fullbright who inspires me every day. We have worked together for 28 plus years and every day is a treat when she walks through the door.

Nov 23 ~ I am Thankful today Dale Wilson, my dead “X”, who broke my heart and gave me the opportunity to really learn that a broken heart can heal. Now I am left only with the good memories, the laughter. On his last shift before any holiday he would say, “now it’s time for Holiday Rootie Tootie.” That is now a part of my work language; his legacy to me. I am thankful for “the good times.” And yes, it is now “Holiday Rootie Tootie!” Have a thankful day everyone.

Nov 24 ~ Thanksgiving Day. I am Thankful today for UCSD Medical Center. I started working there in 1988 as a part-time job to help out with my daughter’s college expenses. I didn’t need the money, it was just a fluke job; I was married, financially secure, just a little extra money for the college fund. But when my world turned upside down and my marriage ended, UCSD, that little fluke of an extra job, saved me. It kept me from poverty, which is what happens to a lot of divorced women. It saved my home. When I lost my health benefits, it gave me good and affordable health care. Thank you UCSD Medical Center, where I will spend my day today working a holiday shift. I am so grateful!

Nov 25 ~ I am Thankful today for postal services in this country. With the United States Postal Service I can click and ship from my home – I sent four packages today, did everything in my pj’s. UPS, Fed Ex, all of them, we are so lucky that we have postal services that will deliver anywhere, with tracking systems if something goes wrong. In the last week I have dealt with the US Post Office, UPS and FedEx – all have given good service and I am thankful for the people working there.

Nov 26 ~ I am Thankful today for my friend Brian who is coming over today to help me put up my outside Christmas lights. Every single woman needs a tall male friend and Brian is exceptional; so helpful, knows just about everything about anything that is technical, and did I mention that he is tall (but isn’t everyone to me?). I am so thankful for my friend.

Nov 27 ~ I am Thankful today for the beautiful red sunrise and my magnolia tree silhouetted by the magenta sky; and that I had nowhere to be in a hurry and could just sit and watch the red turn to golden sunshine against the pale baby blue morning sky.

Nov 28 ~ I am Thankful today for cousins. I have lots of cousins, and you know who you are. Blevins cousins and Walter cousins. I am so glad you are in my life. Some of you, I grew up with playing and conniving against our parents; some of you I met as an adult and we became friends. Some, I actually have never met, but we e-mail and talk on FB and you are a part of my family. I count all cousins the same, first cousins, first cousins once removed, twice removed; you are all special to me, connected by nurture or nature to our grandparents. I share your pain when you lose a loved one and celebrate when a new cousin is born. I am so thankful for all of you. Thank you for being connected to me.

Nov 29 ~ I am Thankful today for my mother. I was born in Hot Springs Arkansas. At the time we were temporarily living with my grandmother. When I was two weeks old, my parents poured us in a car and left for So. Dakota for a singing gig. They were professional musicians then. I got very sick (whooping-cough) and spent the first months of my life in a hospital. So infant Geri did not bond to her mother. Later I wondered if she was even my mom. She was so talented, a musician (played many string instruments), a comedian (audiences loved her), singer (perfect pitch), practical mechanical skills (grew up on a farm and could figure anything out); I was in awe of her. I was none of those things. But, she gave me such a gift, not of her music, but of her strength. She taught me not to be anyone’s victim, to be a designer of my own destiny, and just “do it” and don’t whine. RIP Ethel Ruth Blevins aka Texas Lil, and thank you!

Nov 30 ~ I am Thankful today for my eyesight. I woke up this morning like every other morning with the ability to “see.” I work for an ophthalmologist and every day I see people, for no fault of their own with diminishing eyesight. Sometimes it is caused by a systemic disease; sometimes it is just a freak accident. So I don’t take my eyesight for granted; I am so thankful that “today” that I can see.

November is over, and now it is full steam ahead into the Christmas holiday season. I hope I will continue in the spirit of thankfulness.

I have often accused myself of taking the path of least resistance.  Maybe it is my birth order, in the middle of the family, not wanting to make waves, following, watching and observing as the older ones paved the way. Maybe it how the gravity in the universe, the stars and the moon and the planets, lined up at my conception to arrange my chromosomes in such a way to design this “me,” this who I am.

But I think it is even more complicated than the path of least resistance. I think I have a hard time making up my mind. It is while I am trying to decide what to do, that it appears I am taking a path of least resistance. My problem is clarity. I see the other side; two sides to every story. You know, “on the other hand.”  Maybe if my life had taken a different path, I could have been a lawyer, arguing either side, defense attorney or prosecutor, arguing for the sake of the law, not for what is “right.”

What is right? What is wise? That is my problem. What is the right thing to do? Once I have that clarity and know, then I have the emotional fortitude to carry forth, but I have a hard time getting to that point. That is why it “appears” as if I am taking the path of least resistance. I know what is right when it comes to the “basics,” like the Ten Commandments; it is all those gray areas of personal relationships, financial planning and the intricacies of living life that stump me.

I have someone in my life now that I have to manage differently. I am trying to decide “how” to do that; until then I wait, observe, and mull it over.

My swimming pool plaster was beginning to chip off and hurt my grandchildren’s feet as we swam last summer. What to do? When to do it? I did the research; I took several quotes. I talked to other pool owners. I could not take the path of least resistance, this had to be done. I managed the funds. I made a decision; the work has started. Yesterday the pool was emptied, down the drain.

Down the drain, so easy . . . now for another decision . . . .