Greetings,

It’s said around here that if you live above Altadena Drive, you’re in a different weather zone.

It’s often true. We may get hail or even snow while those below may get rain, or not. On Friday a crazy weather system hit Southern California and here in Altadena, we did get hail, lightning strikes (one hit a local fireman riding his bike at Lake and Loma Alta–he’s ok). And the rain came fast and heavy. Here’s a shot from my front door, the weather apparently signaling the arrival of fall. I’m ready.

The last six months for me have been as close to hell as I’d like to be, which is why I haven’t been posting. With the rain comes renewal, growth, a deep sigh of relief. I feel it to my bones.

Greetings! Here are the rest of the shots from yesterday morning. Also a few shots of the dump trucks and equipment being used to clear things out.  No rain for a while so people should have a chance to recover. With all this snow and rain the hills should be very green very soon. And the wildflowers should be gorgeous this year.

I’ll be in Tejon Pass Saturday getting serious winter shots. Ok, not as serious as what’s happening in Philly and mid-Atlantic. Our nephew is there going to school, but not these days! California boy snowed in.  More Arboretum shots starting tomorrow.

Abundantly yours…

Been a wild winter here. More pix tomorrow of today’s snow and the trucks/equipment being used to clear the storm drains and debris. Looks like the weather is warming up over the next week into an Indian Summer.

Caught these crazy birds out in the rain Saturday. Neither rain nor sleet are keeping these peacocks from roaming. You can occassionally see them near Glenrose and Loma Alta. And you can hear them for blocks.

Saturday morning on Chaney Trail

Everybody came out of their shells today to enjoy the first sunshine in nearly a week. Us SoCalifornians just aren’t equipped for such entrapment. You could feel the itchiness in the air. “Is it Spring yet?” people were hoping as they burst from their caves.  The parrots were out, the doves, the woodpeckers–all flying about at a frantic, joyful pace singing aloud, as they, too, have been quieted by the recent rain. Alas, it’s not yet spring, but flowers are beginning to bloom and today is good imitation of a spring day. Tomorrow, a dollop of sunflower.

The teasing this weather is doing is beyond words. Pal Karen Bugge at Altadena Hiker likened this relentless wet to that of a lover’s sloppiness you grow tired of after one wild night. Amen, sister. This morning there was a glimmer of sun, some hope that the drenching would cease. And then there it was again, all soggy and cold and lacking any consideration.

But for a moment when the beautiful new snow brightened the day.