My Golly Gosh, how quickly 4 months go by

Do I have any friends left out there?????
I guess I abandoned by blog when a few life changes occurred.  I don't remember which came first, but there were some distinct changes.
For one, I had been feeling generally crappy since Thanksgiving.  It got better, worse, better worse, but culminated in a trip to Sierra Nevada Emergency one night in March. Turns out I had a perforated bleeding ulcer and stomach blockage, that resulted in a week in Hotel Kaiser (Rosevile) and 4 weeks hooked up to IV or feeding tube!  Even that had a silver lining, which is a total weight loss of 28 lbs, and now I feel GREAT.
The rest was just various emergencies that kept cropping up, but life has settled down now (as it has a tendency to do, and it's nice to get back to writing.  Hope I have a few friend still listening to my ramblings.
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We have been treated to a miraculously mild winter, with little snow, and it seems just the right amount of rain, at just the times we need it to settle the dust and water the garden.  I love how early my plants JUMPTED out of the ground this spring, and my garden looks as if it is in June, and it's only early May.  I actually had the unmitigated gall to plant annuals in April, and they are still alive and growing.  Usually the minute you plant annuals in Cascade Shores before Memorial Day they are promptly snowed on, and that's that.  Be brave gardeners. God hates a coward.
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I admit I have not had a meal at the store this winter/spring, but I am hearing GREAT THINGS about the wonderful ethnic food (mostly Asian) being served up. Pay attention to their facebook and grab a good, healthy (cheap!) meal there sometime and SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL STORE.
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I worked a Scooters Booth at the Home and Garden show and was talking to a business owner (shall remain nameless) and got an earful that reminded me that living in the woods is not for everyone.  The woman told me that they are selling their Lake Lane home, and have moved to Lake of Pines, because "it is cold and dark and depressing, and the kids can't play on the street in Cascade Shores."  That's certainly one person's take on things.  For me, it's cool in the summer, lovely and snowy in the winter, and you can play in the forest or the lake, so who needs the streets." I would have cherished being brought up in such an area.  I was raised in Berkeley, and lived for the weekends we visited our horses in Clayton, CA. away from the streets of Berkeley!  Sure, it's not for everyone, but for those of us who do cherish living in nature, with a beautiful lake seconds away, and this "end of road" safety and serenity, well, it's my little slice of heaven!
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If you did not attend the CHSA annual meeting, you missed out on a lot of good info about the (good) changes being planned.  NO, I will not tell you. You should have come!  But I did ask Larry Marvin if he would publish an outline of the info. supplied at that meeting.
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Had a really nice meal at the new Lefty's Grill (relocated from middle Broad St, to lower Broad St. at the old Deer Creek building.  You must go and sit outside on the lower deck.  Fabulous sitting a few feet from beautiful Deer Creek, and the food is to die for!  Great Margaritas.
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I'll check back and see how many of you are reading me.  Let me know if it's worth my time.
Thanks.

Cascade Shores General Store Facebook

HI, just got the following from Olivia Diaz, via Paris, France:
Hi,
do you know that the Cascade Shores General Store is on Facebook? They have been posting photos of the food they are featuring and it looks like something I would like to eat.  Yesterday it was a beef stew with rice and a small tomato salad today it is eggrolls.  Wow! Sure beats a hamburger on a lousy bun.

Olivia

No Olivia, I did not know. And I'm a Facebook fanatic.  Will visit and let my shores friends know!

Denise

SO, STORE UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT SINCE AUGUST.  NICE PEOPLE, GOOD FOOD, WELL STOCKED, INLCUDING ALOT OF NICE WINES.  YOU CAN'T SHOP MORE LOCAL THAN THE CORNER STORE.  EVEN IF THINGS ARE A FEW CENTS MORE, SAVE GAS AND WEAR AND TEAR, AND SUPPORT YOUR ONLY LOCAL BUSINESS.

Baby it's coooold outside

the thermometer on my back porch shows 19 degrees, but it's a balmy 21 degrees on the front porch.  Car doors frozen shut, and gate frozen shut.  The nice dusting of snow that fell 2 days ago is a nice dusting of ICE.  Be careful out there.  I wrote a poem I will share:

Opened the door to let out the mutt,
slipped on the ice and fell on my butt,
went to the car and found it froze shut
building a fire now inside my hut.

Ha.  Hope you're keeping warm.  Hill clear this am (Sat) but don't see much traffic.
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I reported that a dark haired clean cut looking guy was seen stealing stuff out of unlocked cars.  I was one of the victims. Last week in the Union they caught a guy (same description) doing exactly that in town.  Then they linked him with 2 other guys stealing metal from Hansen Bro yard.  So, they are all chillin' in Wayne Brown Facility, and hopefully we won't see them again. It is a good reminder to keep your cars and homes locked, and as they say, "keep an honest man honest."  We live in such a cocoon here, and it seems crime free, but nowhere are you completely insulated form at least petty theft.  So take the proper precautions.
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Lots of businesses moving and opening in town.  Leftys Grill moving from mid Broad ST. to the old Deer Creek Inn building.  Nothing is more beautiful than sitting on the deck of that building on a warm summer night sipping something delicious. Glad they are trying that location (though it seems to be a doomed business since Deer Creek Inn dissolved). I forget who else is moving, but I know it's good news.
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My current foster dogs are Bruce, a cream colored 1 yr old Doxie, just a wonderful little boy, would be a great family dog. Also little Chica, a small (6-7 lb) wire haired doxie/chi. Cheekie is a through and through lap dog, but cute and amusing.  Very housebroken, even in 19 degrees. She just wants a little loving and a warm bed at night.  check them on Scooterspals.org. You can come by my house to meet.
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I was shattered to hear that my neighbors dog, Rex was hit by a car on Quaker Hill by my house, and killed.  Please don't let your dogs wander here in the shores.  They are no match to a speeding car.  I would always take Rex into my yard when I saw him wandering, but his owner seemed unconcerned. Now Rex paid the price.  Sad.  If you don't love your dog enough to keep him safe, don't have a  dog.

Got that White Christmas!

Well Shorites, hope you were happy to be blessed with a White Christmas.  Yeppa, got the white stuff falling Monday all day, and even a bit more in the wee hours of Tuesday and Tuesday morn.  It is beautiful, and the hill stayed open.  Had an interesting power outage on Sunday (heard tree down on Red Dog and here in the Shores contributing), but was restored around 5pm.  I had a house full, 7 people and 11, yes ELEVEN dogs.  We are indeed a happy doggy family.  So, despite the power outage we had fun, played games and made wonderful nibbles and drinks.  At 10pm on Christmas Eve we finally sat in a circle to open all our Santa gifts at the precise moment the power went out again.  Aargh!  It was quickly restored (some kind of cosmic joke) and all was calm, all was bright!

Hope you had a wonderful Holiday and stayed warm, dry and well lit.

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Home with most Christmas cheer is John and Aurelia at the corner of Sargent Jacob and Banner Quaker Hill a block past the store on the right.  Impressive.  

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Bad news.  In the wee hours of Monday morning (like 3am) cars were broken into and stuff stolen (mine being one).  Apparently someone a few doors from me caught the guy red handed at 3am, and chased him away.  She described him as late 20's, clean cut, with dark hair.  I think he was capitalizing on unlocked cars, so be sure you lock up!  Hopefully getting caught and chased will deter him, but be aware. I make a report to sheriff, and if you got hit, you should call them and report too.  If they know what items were taken it may help if they catch him.  

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On the brighter side:

A few people have prodded me to get back to blogging, and stay away from the "dark side."  I know, reporting deaths only makes me technically an OBIT, and I need to lighten up.

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Last night I attended the Womens Club (+partners) dinner at Trolley Junction.  Great party of about 22, and had lots of fun catching up and chowing down.  Lots of thanks to Charlotte Starn who organizes so much for CSWC.  

The childrens Christmas Party was held today.  Even Santa attended.  This is just another great event that the Womens Club makes happen faithfully each year.  It is such a fun community event, with crafts, games, Santa and great snacks. Kids take home a gift bag.  It's a free event, and no one turned away, so I hope if you have a little one you brought them.

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We got our first snow of the season today, starting at about 4pm.  Just a beautiful postcard snow.  I think it will be a short but sweet storm, and with any luck will snow during Victorian Christmas downtown tomorrow.  It begins a 1:30 - 6pm, and should be just beautiful, with a chance to pick up one of those unique items from a local vendor, a real win-win.  I'll be there and hope to see you.

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I can't talk without saying that our local shelter is FULL of great dogs.  Even if adopting a dog is not right for you now, do you think you could have a canine house guest for a few weeks.  Sammie's Friends is looking for foster homes so the dogs don't have to spend this holiday in a small concrete enclosure, but instead the warmth and love a real home.  Coulild that be you?  They'll try to match you with a dog that works in your situation.  Call 471-5041 and talk to Ruth, Cheryl or Debbie.  Thanks.

I just brought home a little Shih Tzu, 7 years old, recovering from pneumonia.  Very polite, housebroken, and totally loveable.  He's supposed to lay low for 10 days, so there is not much to do but give him 1 pill, 2 meals, a couple of 3 minute walks and a hug or two.  Easy breezy.

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My buddy Dixie Redfearn called today and cheered the house with her smiling voice.  She misses us, and we miss her.  I have "lightened up" this post, and am dedicating to Dixie.  

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If your new year resolution is to start doing more for your community or get more involved or exercise, don't forget our walking group, book club, game day and various events.  The Cascade Shores women'a club is always welcoming new members and you can't find a nicer group of women.

There is a calendar of their events on cascadeshores.org.
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Last night I thought I heard my neighbors dogs barking (a beagle and a terrier) but they didn't stop, and at 3am, I finally called their house as it sounded like the dogs were desperate.  Turns out it was not his dogs (though he was awake and up cause his dogs were agitated and barking inside the house). It was actually a pack of coyotes trying to coax dogs out.  So be careful letting your dog out.  He may be drawn to the howling coyotes and they are not inviting him to a BBQ!

RIP Patricia Gagne

I got some really bad news the other day.  Do you remember Pat, the woman to tended the Scotts Flat Parking Lot/Boat Launch a few years ago?
Pat (Patricia) arrived in Nevada County about 6 years ago.  She had finished raising her kids back in Philadelphia, and set about to find a place where she "fit" in the new phase of her life (post raising kids).  Somehow she landed in Nevada County, and lucky us!  I met Pat down at the boat ramp when she took the summer job of managing/wrangling the boaters, would be campers and kids sneaking into the beach without paying, and the legit beachcombers.  Pat was honest, kind, authorative without being bossy, and just one of the most genuine people I ever met.  I liked her on sight.  She parked her "hippie VW bus" in the parking lot, and created a little garden of Eden around it.  She and her little dog Cricket lived in that parking lot in that VW bus all summer until she had enough saved to secure housing.  Cricket was a darling little rat terrier who had the knack of curling her lips back and giving you a giant smile when you said "hey Cricket." At the end of a work day, Pat and Cricket would launch their Kayak and do their daily lake tour.  It was a wonderful summer of martini's, bbq, laughs and friendship for us all.
 After summer Pat rented a cute place on East Main St. from Caroline and Mike Inglis, with whom she had formed a friendship. Pat had a great sense of style, and volunteered at the Zion Cancer Thrift.  There she scored really cute furnishings and knick-knacks and furnished her rental with that cute thrift store chic.  We all gathered for dinners there in fall and winter.  Again, I can't tell you how much we all enjoyed her and Crickets company.
Pat worked the lake concession the following summer, but then moved on to other jobs in the county.  She worked at Weiss Brothers Nursery, and as was her style, worked hard and honestly, and endeared herself to everyone there.
Pat decided to stay in Nevada County.  She often told me she found the people here interesting, fun, and real, and it was a friendly fun place to land.  She was happy.  She found a romantic relationship with a man, and as that sometimes go, we saw less of her, as he saw more of her.  Our loss, her gain.
A little over a year ago I guess I lost track of Pat, and life goes on . . . . .
When we were seeing more of each other I met her daughter from San Francisco (her name escapes me) and Pat told us about her son Julian MC Cullough, an aspiring stand up comic.  When I would catch him on TV, I would make her a CD to watch later.  He is a very funny "G" rated comic, and the spitting image of his mother.  She was very proud of him.
Last week I saw that Julian had a weekly show with another comic, Whitney Cummings.  It's called
"Love you, mean it" on E channel.  I called Caroline Inglis to say, "hey, Pat's son has a show."  Caroline said, "I still can't believe she's gone."  WHATTTT?
It seems Pat Gagne was diagnosed with cancer in November 2011.  She succumbed to cancer February 2012. I did not know.  She was young, 57, she was beautiful, she was smart, and she was gone.  I can't find any obituary, no news of her passing.
I wanted to write this because I think some of you might have known Pat (if you were lucky) and maybe wondered what happened to her.
So, CHEERS to you Pat.  Please know you were loved in Nevada County.
Your friend forever, Denise

Pete the Greek, and the end of an era

UPDATE:  Pete's services are to be held at Hooper Weaver Mortuary on Wed. 12/5/12.  There is a viewing from 10am-1pm, with a service at 2pm.  You are invited to gather at the Cascade Shores firehouse at 4pm for refreshments and memory sharing (potluck).
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Our dear friend and neighbor, Peter Athanasopoulos, aka Pete the Greek departed this earth and Cascade Shores today at 1:15pm, or thereaboust.
Pete was one of the true Pioneers of Cascade Shores.  He purchased his lot at the corner of Cascade Loop and Sadie D wayyyy back in the late 60's.  He hand build his tidy A frame a board at a time, driving up from San Mateo every weekend.  He spent many hours dredging on the Yuba and
Feather Rivers with his buddies, mostly with Herman,  and had quite a bit of the shiny gold stuff to prove it!
Without Pete and the other retiree's that settled here in the early 70's, there would be no Lost Mine Lake, no Firehouse.  They were the ones that put those deals together.  His friends Lloyd and Dorothy Honey donated the land the firehouse sits on, and somehow they put together the building.
Pete was a bit of a McGuyver, who could make a building out of a few odd boards, rubber bands and chewing gum.  On time and on budget.  He taught me how to demo and how to build, how to use a sawsall, how to pipe a water system.  And he did it all sitting in an easy chair and giving directions.  And it worked.  Pete was that good.
Pete took care of his lovely wife Anna for 10 years when she was in a coma.  He lovingly cared for her every day till her last. I saw that first hand, as I met Pete when he needed a little help with Anna when he was preparing for his own back surgery.  His kindness and tenderness with her was a site to behold.
After Anna passed away, Pete ran into some amazing luck.  Our beautiful mail carrier, Terry Grebbens befriended Pete, and a few years later, she agreed to be Mrs. A.  That was a very lucky day for Pete, as Terry is one of the kindest, sweetest and fun friends I've ever had too!  Over the past decade they've traveled and gardened, chopped wood and shared grandchildren.  It's been a good run.
So many of the "old timers" are now gone from the Shores.  Pete, having lived to 86 has seen many of his friends pass away.  That's never fun.  With age comes wisedom, and he took it in stride.  Pete was a proud Greek man till the end, and a great scrabble player.  Pete will missed by his brothers, his sisters in law, son Pete, grandchildren Eve, Jason and Melissa, and great-grandkids Amelia and Adreon.  Our hearts go out to his wonderful wife Terry and her family.
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES PETE!  Sitting at the lake and watching the sunset, we will see you in our hearts.  Memorial pending.