Thursday In The Sierras

Fire Season
Not everyone everywhere has a "fire season." Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall...sure, those are seasons. There's the dry season and then there's the wet season...but in California there is fire season. And we're in the thick of it out here in the Sierra Foothills. The last few days, along with 100 degree temps, the smoke from several wild fires in the region filled the valley. Some of the fires are started by lightning, some are started by people (innocent and suspicious)...but the question isn't IF there will be fires, the questions are: how many fires will there be, which direction will they move, and how large will they become...

From Google Images

Cribbage Season

No, there really isn't a Cribbage Season (that I'm aware of) but Karen and I have continued our Cribbage Tournament...and she's beaten me ten games to five. Ouch. She has also accomplished a very rare event in that she "double-skunked" me...and then hit me the next day with a standard "skunk." I can't remember ever being double-skunked...though my Dad did skunk me several times when he was teaching me how to play the game 1000 years ago...

Here are the final peg positions. 

In the photo, Karen's peg are red. Mine are blue. My front peg is 61 points behind. There are only 121 points to the game. Finishing more 60 points or more behind is a double-skunk. Finishing anywhere from 30-59 points behind is a regular skunk. Anybody want to sit in for me for a few games?

Irrigation System Maintenance and Fawn Season

I've been privileged to play the role of "Irrigation Detective" during our stay here. Irrigation is a way of life in California, especially during the summer if you want anything green in your yard. Automated, underground sprinkler systems are issued with birth certificates out in this part of the country. Our host's home incorporates most types of standard irrigation utilizing pop-ups, vertical stand, and assorted drip lines to support a wide variety of greenery, grass, bushes, plants, and shrubs. As I've monitored the system's migration from station-to-station, I've been blessed to discover several drip lines that were more like gush lines due to structural failure of their various heads (rated in gallons per hour/spray angles/drip rates, etc).

Reconnecting wiring to reactivate one of the front yard irrigation stations after making repairs.

Here's a fawn enjoying the fruits of the front yard irrigation.

Appointment Season

Our calendar is rather full as we head into our last ten days in Grass Valley. So far this week we've had seven appointments to include meetings with the Elders and the Missions Committee of our sending church, Calvary Bible, with another appointment this evening with a young couple that's supported us for several years. This Sunday we're blessed to share with the congregation of Foothill Christian Fellowship in the morning and then with First Baptist's College/Career group in the evening.

Thank you to each of you who are praying for us during this six week trip. Deputation is always a challenging mix of encouragement, stress, exhaustion, and fun as we share what God's doing in our lives with those who already know us, have just met us, or will soon meet us through God's grace.

In between appointments, I'm handling my MMS office responsibilities and fine-tuning PowerPoint presentations and video clips to share.

 We are definitely missing those Missionary Mutts!

Hot Hot Hot In The High Sierras

We're in our third consecutive day of 100+ degree weather up here (2,500 feet up in the foothills of the High Sierra Mountains in California). Hard to believe, but true, with three more days predicted to reach 99 degrees. This is rather unusual for the Sierra Foothills...Karen and I are thankful for air-conditioning and the low humidity. It may be 100+ but with a humidity level of only 14%...it's bearable to sit in the shade (of 100 foot tall Pine, Black Oak, and Cedar trees) and read a book. In Ohio...you wouldn't DARE go outside in temps like this because you'd drown.

This wraps up our fourth week of visiting with friends, supporters, prayer partners, churches, committees, Bible study groups, and sharing our ministry with prospective partners. The next two weeks are rather structured right up to our return to Sacramento Airport on the 27th--for our early AM return to Ohio on the 28th. Six weeks is a long time in one sense and yet not near enough time in another.

Our photos from the portrait session with Sue McCarley turned out fantastic! Here are some of the portraits from our time together at Empire Mine State Historic Park (about five minutes from where we're blessed to be living).

 

Click HERE to visit Sue's website to see more of her excellent work. Sue just won several ribbons for her photography at the Nevada County Fair.

Sue, (and Scarlet, Sue's photographic assistant) thanks again for making that afternoon at the mine so special!

Into August, San Francisco, Alcatraz, and Jelly Bellies

The past week has flown by. Appointments, Bible studies, church visits and even a whirlwind tour of San Francisco!

Two friends of ours in the Sacramento area offered to take us into San Francisco for an overnight look-see. We drove down to their place Thursday evening and on Friday morning, headed out to The City from the north to enter over the Golden Gate Bridge. While I'd been to San Francisco probably 40 years ago, neither Karen nor I had ever been over the Golden Gate.

When we arrived in Sacramento Thursday evening, it was 98 degrees. When we arrived in San Francisco Friday morning it was 55 degrees, cold, foggy, and windy. THAT was a contrast. Most of the folks in town were dressed as if it were December instead of August. We were glad we packed long pants and sweatshirts. The sun did come out mid-day, but it still didn't warm up much.

As we neared the approach to the Golden Gate, all traffic stopped. All the inbound lanes became a parking lot and no traffic appeared on the outbound side of the roadway. We sat there for nearly a half hour, eventually learning later (from the tour bus driver) that the authorities had closed the bridge because someone had decided to climb one of the bridge's towers and the authorities were getting the climber down. All in a days work in San Francisco, I guess.

We were also treated to tour Alcatraz Island and then, on the way home, we stopped to tour the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield. Thanks Chuck and Barbara for being such wonderful hosts!

 The Golden Gate Bridge!

 Alcatraz cruise and tour departure dock.

Alcatraz Island

 Inside "D Block" at Alcatraz

 The view of San Francisco from Alcatraz Island.

Here we are with Chuck and Barbara inside Boudin's Bakery on Pier 39. We're eating clam chowder served in bowls of Boudin's famous sourdough bread.

 California Sea Lions are a major attraction at Pier 39.

 Driving down Lombard Street in San Francisco.

 Waiting for a tour inside the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield, CA.