Paving Pasquale

Lots of paving going on here in the shores. Saw new blacktop on BQ Hill by store. If you go out Pasquale about a mile it starts again. Looks like we'll have a nice clean slate for the winter! Pasquale is sure shaping up. New turnouts, treed out to let the sun in to melt ice/snow. There are still wood rounds ripe for the picking. You can slice them and make nice pavers.
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What a beautiful fall. Our reward for virtually no spring! I drove to south grass valley this am, and returned via Pasquale, which must be one of the most beautiful roads in all of Nevada County. People get so used to zooming up and down the hill, I think they forget what a treat it is to meander along that road, with the beautiful Madrona forests and glimpses of both upper and lower Scotts Flat. If you never have, you really should walk or bike that road sometime. Each turn reveals another beautiful glimpse of the forest and lake views. So I was inspired:
Virginia Creeper climbs stone walls on Boulder
Maples and Liquid Ambers framing homes in Nevada City
The abundant gold of the Oaks all around you
Madrona framing they sky, oh so pretty
The asphalt so black against rust colored leaves
winding my way to the Shores
Never meeting a soul on my wondrous drive home
taking in the lake, this is no day for my chores
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The womens club has been very busy with fun projects, classes, meetings. The other night was dinner and pizza at Sharon Hogans house. Mary Mahoney is going to teach a job workshop at the Firehouse (check website for dates). Manuela is planning sewing classes at the Firehouse on Saturdays, and if that does work, on a weekday. This is such a great community. I love the way people help people, and want to share their talent and knowledge.
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Saw a listing for a home on Artic Close for $89,900. Can you imagine? It's cute, cute, cute, and has unobstructed lake views. The drawback is a steep downhill driveway, but at that price, who cares! Maybe a great summer rental?
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Hoping burn day comes soon. Remember to call 274-7928 to see if it's OK to burn.
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Did you know Surburban Propane is moving their facility from Nev. City Highway in Brunswick Basin to Loma Rica across from the airport? I think they will be moved by Oct. 30th. So you'll be driving out there to fill those portable tanks or pay the tab. That area just has everything now! There's a recycle center, Restore to drop off your no-longer-needed but still usable household/building items, propane, a Harley mechanic, oh-yeah, and Cooler Zone who happens to have have the coffee K-cups for my Keurig Coffee Maker. They have a really good selection of them too. Gotta love all the one stop shopping areas in Nevada County. It makes doing errands soooo easy. There's even a good deli out there if errand running makes you hungry.

Amgen Tour 2011/Opossum Trial

It was announced that Lake Tahoe will host the Amgen Tour 2011. Nevada City was hoping for a repeat, but I guess they are spreading the wealth. Oh well, we did it up right in 2010!
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Don't know if you've heard of the Carter Livingston case. He is a 19 year old from LOP that hacked a opossum to death (44 chops) in front of 4 onlookers, and it was so entertaining, he posted it on youtube. I went to courthouse today to show support for Humane Treatment of Animals, to sit in on his hearing. About 50 others showed up to do the same. Carter's hearing was postponed till 10/28. We need to send a loud and clear message that animal cruelty will not be tolerated. If you agree, send a note to Deputy Dist. Attorney Katherine Francis asking a maximum penalty for this felony crime.
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Nice to see the rain cooling things off and settling the dust. So far, no burning is allowed yet. To find out if it is a burn day, call 274-7928.

Gotta Brag here

If you're not a baseball fan, this means nothing. I am, so this is cool. My friend Ron bought tickets to last Sunday's Giants game like 6 months ago when the season first went on sale. So who knew they were going to have a killer season. So, last Sunday, he and I were sitting in row 8, 3rd base when the fabulous San Francisco Giants clinched the Natl League West against the Padres in a TOUGH 3 game series. They lost the first 2 games, but he final score was 3/0 Sunday, and the Padres never got a man past 2nd base. Whew! What a nail biter. AT&T was packed, everyone waiving orange towels, the fanship was amazing and it was a beautiful San Francisco Day.
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A few years ago the Homeowners put together a CERT class at the Firehouse. If you wanted to join, you were trained to be a First Responder, and learned first aid, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, artificial respiration, and some other techniques. They also just taught us how to stay calm in the face of emergency, which is definitely easier when you know what to do. Well, on the way home from the Giants game, in an absolutely packed Bart car, the young woman standing right in front of Ron and I fainted right into Ron, then began having Grand Mal seizures in rapid succession. Thanks to that wonderful class I took, I was able to take care of her for the full 20 minutes before the para-medics arrived. It felt really good when I easily remembered exactly what to do, and all ended well. Thank you CSHA for making that possible for me, and for the woman. I actually have had 3 medical emergency's thrown at me since I took that class. Maybe they can put it together again.
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A very nice woman called me last week about the Firehouse Book exchange. She was worried about the books getting wet if it rained, so offered to throw a tarp over the case. She also said she sometimes took the junky books to her home recycle bin. I started the book exchange 5 years ago, but certainly don't need to be the one to maintain it. I totally appreciate any and all that want to do maintenance, removal of the junk, etc. It is YOUR book exchange. When the real rain comes, most of the books are moved inside the building for the winter, and I keep only the top drawer of the metal cabinet accessible (the bottom drawers can get wet when the snow piles up). Please enjoy, and any helping hand maintaining it you can offer is appreciated.
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I heard that one of the foreclosures in Cascade Shores, a cute little yellow house at the corner of Sadie D and Cascade Loop got picked up for under $100K. It was purchased directly from Fannie Mae. WOW. That's got to be a new record.

Got room for a sweet old dog?

No, I'm not trying to farm out the husband. There is a lovely blond 10-13 year old cocker spaniel at Nevada County shelter, dropped off by his owner who wanted to travel, and was hindered by her dog's simple needs. He is very scared and shaking at the activity of the shelter, and just needs a comfy place to rest his bones and mind. He is sweet, obedient and totally healthy. Can you or anyone you know help Piccolo out? Please call the shelter if you can. Thanks for passing this info on.
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Feeling the heat? It has been actually beautiful here in the shores during this heat spell. At least 10 degrees cooler than town. Love my trees. Went to LML today, and it was serene and beautiful. If only the days stayed long and light like summer. Fall is so beautiful here though, and the leaves are changing to yellow and my Chinese lantern plant is gloriously in bloom with it's beautiful orange lantern.s. Anyone want some for table decorations? Come by! I'll gladly share.
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Speaking of fostering dogs, my latest is really a pistol. I have a 10 year old Chihuahua named Rocky. He is 7 lbs of love mixed with attitude. Quite the independent soul. He had his medical problem when he arrived a month ago, but with the help of Motherlode Vet Dr. Tim, Rock Man is feeling much better, and I think he's ready for a home. He needs little space or exercise, loves cars and kids (if they are careful and don't try to pick him up) and has a lot of life left to live. So if you're looking for a senior dog, or know someone who needs a good (tiny) companion, come meet Rocky. He's on PetFinder too, and my facebook. Thanks!

Wine and Dine

2nite is a get together at Lost Mine Lake. Sponsored by CSHA, bring your favorite bottle of wine down between 4-pm-7pm, and an appetizer to share if you wish. The idea is to share wine and conversation with your neighbors. Hope to see you there! It gets dark at about 7:10, so you might bring a flashlight too!
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Have you checked out Restaurant.com yet? You key in an zip code of where you wish to dine, and it will show you lots of local restaurants offering fantastic savings when you purchase a coupon. You can save as much as 75% on some. Dixie used her's at 5 Mile House, and paid $20 for a $50 certificate. She and Robert had only good things to say about the experience
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Italian Festival this weekend

Phil (the better half) is from Melrose Park, Illinois, which is 20 minutes from Chicago. He's half Italian, half Polish (hold the jokes.) Melrose Park is a small, mostly Italian suburb of Chi Town, where you can drive down any street with a local, and they will point out a house where some mobster grew up. There's Joey Aiuppia's house, he finally got pinched for skimming from a casino. Or, Anthony Arcardo lived there, he was the "BIG BOSS." So, when we go back to see the family, we're always passed from Italian aunt and uncle to cousins, ect, "come for dinnah, we'll throw togetha a little sumpthin." Which means fabulous traditional pasta, gravy, hot and mild sausage, peppers and onions, eggplant, homemade this, homemade that, some huge selection of desserts and lots of brand x wine and coffee. Sleep it off, and do it again tomorrow at another relatives house. ANYHOO, can't wait to go to the FIRST Italian Festival at the Fairgrounds this weekend. Not only will there be GREAT Italian food from all over the county, (which I will be comparing to the "real thing") a real live Dean Martin impersonator, (I can't resist impersonators) funny chefs, a strolling accordion player, dancing and bocci ball. Too fun. It will be like a trip Chicago, without the lost luggage and storm delays! Yay!
By the way, last time I was in Melrose I found out what WOP means (a derogatory word for Italian American) In the Ellis Island immigration days, it meant With Out Papers. Tee hee.

Women's Triathalon here this weekend

You've probably seen all the women of all ages training around the Shores for the past few months. They will swim, bike and run their way to victory this Sunday. This is a much welcome event here in the shores. It is a great cause (raising money for the Breast Imaging at Sierra Memorial Hosp. so women who can't afford mammograms can get them). It brings athletes, volunteers, family and friend spectators here, to enjoy the beauty of our forest and the always impressive views at Scotts Flat Lake. The mood is always festive, and the crowd friendly and orderly. It is well organized and unobtrusive. I can't think of a better place in Nevada County to hold this event. A few weeks ago a local resident wrote an unpleasant editorial to The Union, which they published, complaining about his life being inconvenienced by the women's training here. For anyone reading this, I'd like to say that he is the one and only person I have ever in my 11 years here heard complain. The President of the CSHA, Harry Wander wrote a quick rebuttal letter to editor that was also published. Thank you Harry. And Gary, SUCK IT! Good luck ladies. I am in awe of you all!