September 5: A Bit o' Rain

Rain in Southern California is a precious and rare commodity. I heard sprinkles on the roof around 3:00 AM, and a definitely rain shower came through later in the morning. Clouds hung heavy over our little valley all day, a blessed relief from the usual summer heat we have in the mountains during August and September.

July 13: A Cloudy Sunset

The sun sank behind deep, thick clouds, reminding us of our current spring temperatures, a welcome break from summer heat!

July 6: Summer Rains....

Summer rains may be common across the country, but here in Southern California, rain is a rare treat. The lack of rain endangers our precious oaks, many centuries old, and it has grieved me to see so many lost in the ten years we've lived in Pine Valley. So two days of summer storms are not only a blessed relief from the oppressive heat; they are also a blessing for our thirsty trees and natural foliage in this place which receives about 20 inches of precipitation per year (double what San Diego proper receives) and reaches into the 110s regularly throughout the summer. The summer storms drop the temperatures by 20 degrees within 15 minutes, bringing flashes of lightning, crashes of thunder, and the welcome patter of rain and sometimes hail, all rarities in this south-western-most corner of the country.

July 5: Beach Sunset

Sunset over the Pacific, taken from my parents' rooftop deck in Pacific Beach. The palm trees are specifically dedicated to Julie who, living in Cincy, misses her palms. Enjoy them while you're out here in Southern California this month, Julie!!

Day 59: Goodbye, Snow!

Weather in the sixties today meant that our six inches of snow is melting rapidly. So as the sun disappears in the west, we bid farewell to the patchy snow around our front yard, only our second snowfall of the winter.

Day 58: First Icicles

In our ten winters here in this small mountain town east of San Diego, we've never seen icicles...until now, the day after the storm. Icicles may be common place for you Back Easters, but this is Southern California!!! Icicles are big news!!! :)

Day 57: Out the Bathroom Window

I took this out the bathroom window while the storm raged. Snow is a rare thing in Southern California, especially in San Diego County, and receiving six inches of the white stuff makes this storm the second biggest snowfall in our ten winters here.

Day 56: Battening Down the Hatches

We have the coldest storm in twenty-thirty years bearing down on San Diego County tonight. So the boys stacked firewood all over the hearth and all over the porch so that when we receive the expected 6-12 inches overnight in our town. There's even a chance of snow flurries in the inland valleys where I grew up--that's happened only twice in my lifetime.

So we're ready for the deluge and prepared to be snowed in for a few days....

Day 54: Storm Coming....

As I walked out our gate on this frigid day (well, frigid for Southern California--it was in the high thirties and windchill in the high twenties when I took my stroll), I stopped to capture the incoming clouds while on my way to our town's little coffee shop to meet with my dear friend Judith, poet extraordinaire. :)

Day 52: Snow Play

It was cold enough on Sunday that the vast majority of the snow stayed with us through Monday. B couldn't resist making a snowman on Sunday....

...which he promptly destroyed on Monday.

Boys....

Day 51: A Snowy Drive

We had snow last night, and on our drive home from church, the surrounding mountains were white, right at the offramp to our town.

Day 50: Evening Snowfall

After dark we received our first snowfall of the season, a rather rare event in Southern California. Some years we get none; other years we can get 8-10 snowfalls, usually just a half-inch or so. Tonight we received about a half inch, and we hope for more tomorrow. I took this looking out our back door.

Day 43: February or June?

Usually February in our mountain town means snow, highs in the 30s and 40s, and lows in the low 20s. But this week has been quite unusual. I sat on the front porch to write in my journal and found myself dripping perspiration down my face and onto my writing--so I scurried back in.

After taking this photo of the temperature at 2:30 in the afternoon, that is.

After a Week of Storm and Snow...

... mayhem arrives.

The kids started off with a normal snowman, with definite plans for its annihilation. When that didn't work out, Timothy was inspired by Calvin and Hobbes' snowmen mayhem. So miniature snowmen...

... were cannon-balled...

... impaled...

...beheaded for bowling practice...

... and pursued by ravening sharks.

Yes, mayhem at its finest, as carefully built by T and photographed by Keith and me.

This is what boys do when they've been stuck inside all week.

Heat Wave! 110 Degrees in April?

The thermometer on our front porch at 4:30 this afternoon....

J setting up rather dusty fans for the first time ... no A/C in our home!

Day 52: Cloudy 'n' Cool

Clouds over Viejas Valley, on the way to church


Clouds over El Cajon, on the way home from church

An usual day of high clouds with some lower ones, too -- very unusual for San Diego County.

Day 42: Snowy Week

It's been a verrrry c-c-c-cold week. Rain. Sleet. Hail. Snow. Finally on Monday night we *really* got snow ... about an inch or so. I love seeing our mountain home covered with snow -- so cosy and wonderful. The kids loved playing in the white stuff, but I was quite chagrined to find my precious, spicy-scented stocks frozen solid.

Day 39: Snow Falling

Shortly before midnight last night I stepped out on our front porch to get my black skirt from the laundry room to wear to church this morning. And there it was: a white blanket of snow on our front lawn and across the meadow, albeit thin. Shivering on the front porch, Keith and I watched huge flakes land with the softest "whoosh" before retreating inside. While waiting for the iron to warm up before pressing said skirt, I peeped out the back door and saw huge flakes landing on the stone steps and vinca bushes. After snatching my camera from my purse in the kitchen, I came back, opened the door a crack, and snapped a couple of shots. Not until I downloaded them did I see the huge snowflake in this shot, the shadow beneath welcoming it to earth.

Day 26: Hail, Yes!

We woke to some fairly extreme weather this morning. Our front lawn and the meadow appeared to be covered in light snow at first glance, but upon further bleary-eyed examination, we determined that the white stuff was not snow but very fine hail. It melted and then later in the morning we received another hail-masquerading-as-snow deluge.

Day 25: A Stormy Sunset

On Sunday afternoon I saw the fiery sunset in my rearview mirror as I drove up the mountain. I pulled off at the ViewPoint and braved some chilling winds to take a few photos of the sun beaming beneath the low clouds. Beautiful!