Is it really spring??

Wow, 3 amazing days in a row. It's so beautiful out, my Jenna Dog has felt the need to"escape" all 3 days, romping happily thru the neighbors woods with me running behind waiving peanut butter laden cookies, sometimes in my PJ's, trying to entice her back (she's suicidal you know. runs right in front of snow plows and fed ex trucks). I'm sure the neighbors are quite entertained. This morning I was at Anna Rees house making lemon curd (she makes the best) when I got the phone call. Phil, "YOUR dog's out." Me: "why is she MY dog when she's running amok, and YOUR dog when she's snuggled on the couch?" Phil: "Better get her. Mail lady is on the way" (Jenna will follow the mail truck for blocks trying to stop it. After all, it has the dog bones inside). So off I ran, cookies in my PJ pockets, sliding in oversized bedroom slippers, always 50 feet behind her. I finally gave up the pointless exercise, and went back to Anna's, leaving a cookie crumb trail right up to her kitchen door. BINGO. 30 seconds after I went inside, Jenna was at the door, I assume looking for the source of the cookie crumbs. It's so satisfying knowing I am at least occasionally smarter than an animal that has a brain the size of a WALNUT.
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Amazing Deer sighting

Went to Bridgeport with Sue, hiked the Buttermilk Trail, which takes you about 100 ft above the Yuba River. It was so hot we decided to take a trail down to the river to cool off and let Jasper the dog have a drink. While we were basking on boulders, we sighted a very young deer jump right into the river about 200 yds up stream. The water is COLD AND FAST, and we watched in dread as the young doe approached the rapids. I could not imagine she could survive the wicked white ice water. Low and behold, when she got to the drop off, she tucked in and rode it out, disappearing below the water for about 5 seconds, then popping up just in time to swim sideways to a beach area. She then jumped out, shook off, and leaped up the steep hillside. It was AMAZING. What a pro. I don't think she had any doubt, but we were holding our breath the whole time. When we hiked back to the main trail, a group of concerned hikers asked what happened to her, as they had seen her enter the water to avoid them on the trail, but couldn't make her out in the water. We were happy to report she made it safely back to solid ground. Whew!
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The wildflowers are just starting to show at Bridgeport. Couple of more weeks. Did you notice that the daffodils are in bloom on Hwy 49. You know, my friend Lynn Donald of Indian Hills Flower Farm started that daffodil planting program many years ago. Every year when I see them pop their sunny heads up I think of her. Thank you Lynn!

I know it's still officially winter, but

spring is literally in the air. Walked out into the yard at 7pm 2nite, and definitely smelled bloomin flowers coming from somewhere around the neighborhood. I'm off to Bridgeport tomorrow to hike the Buttermilk trail, where I am hoping at least some of the wildflowers are showing their face.
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Went to the Google rally Sunday with Dixie (her wearing the cook GOLD lady ga-ga wig, so easy to spot). Had lots of time to see who/what's new in Nevada City. Cheese shop on commercial shop gone, used kids clothing coming in. Tortilla Grill gone, Kabob's taking it's place. Fresh fish shop opening on Pine St (across from Pine St. Cafe). The owner is a guy I went thru grammer, jr, high and high school in El Cerrito with, Eric Juell. This is his 2nd store. The other is off Whispering Pines in GV.
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Still no word on when the Cascade Shores Store will re-open, but the word I got from the realtor is they will hire "local."
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Caroline and Mike Inglis are planning a trip to Israel end of month. They are taking their grandkids, Ash and Isabel to see their Dad, who is living there for the time being. Have a great trip Inglis family! Charlotte and Larry Starns survived their trip to South America. Apparently they landed on the day of the quake in one of the heavily affected areas, and had to be bussed out, as the runways were wrecked by the quake. Scary stuff.

Truffles anyone?

Went to the Firehouse at 1:30 today for a Chocolate Truffle class given by Linda Lumos. This was a Womens Club event. Paid $10 for materials, left with a dozen big fat truffles, and most importantly, the knowledge to make LOTS more! There were about 10 of us attending. Thanks CSWC! Next event is a group lunch at Diego's in Grass Valley (yum) and they are planning the kids Easter Party at Firehouse. There was also talk of volunteering as a group for election day, and donating the $ you get paid to CSWC to help with the events planned for year. Great group of ladies!
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WOKE up to 3" of fresh fluffy stuff. What a suprize. It was in the 20's at 6am. Burrrr, but sunny and beautiful by afternoon.

2:30 on Monday and it's coming down!

Whew, just in the last 10 minutes the sky opened up and some heavy mix of snow/hail/ice is coming down fast! Already saw a tow truck on the big hill, so be careful out there coming in or out of the shores!
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5pm. Still coming down and cable just went down. They're taking it slow on the hill. Looking like a black & white photo out there. March is such a fooler. One day you are basking in the sun, next day looking for the snow shovel!

New Goddess of the Lake

At the CSHA meeting last week, the outgoing members unofficially handed their duties to the soon to be confirmed members. My job as Supervisor of Lost Mine Lake (I prefer to be referred to as Goddess of the Lake) has been joyfully handed over to Pam Herrenkohl. Pam also works for County of Nevada, rescues Great Danes, has a big beautiful family and LOVES Cascade Shores. She'll do a great job. She's on facebook and has a great profile page if you want to know more. Chuck Jaffe is taking over my duties as Web content manager. Chuck is one half of Chuck and Marvina, 2 of the most fun and interesting people I have met here in the shores. He is also the film reviewer for The Union, & produces his CampChuck Reviewer annual movie newsletter. I know he'll keep the website fresh and interesting, with the assistance of Walt, our great Webmaster (Walt is invisible, kind of a wizard of Oz guy, that you never actually meet, as he lives in cyber-space, or Yuba City, same difference). Chuck has a facebook profile too if you want to check him out. Harry Wander (our roads dude) will take over the Presidency from Kent Rees. Kent's term was very successful, and he totally got our budget under control amongst other important accomplishments. I'll report more on the changes after the annual meeting.
I'm planning on continuing this blog, maintain the Firehouse book exchange, and attend Lake events and such as a visitor. I think I've been with the Board in come capacity for 8 years, so it's time to lay off and give other folks a chance to make things happen. I've had a lot of fun, it's been a lot of work, but I just love this community, and look forward to seeing what the new Board will tackle.
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Snow gone, but it's still c-o-l-d out there. 30 degrees this morning. Brian Harrison, of Harrison Construction, who did an amazing living room addition on our house a year and a half ago (that long already) is ripping out our old bathroom and making us a shiny new one now. We have a nice gaping hole to the crawl space for a few days, and that makes it even COLDER in the house. Oh well, ya gotta break eggs to make an omelete, right? Brian's the best, and big fun to work with, and I can't wait to see the end product. If you have any construction needs, he's THE MAN!

Cascade Shores General Store update

Had the luck to be walking by the store this afternoon and encountered the ERA Cornerstone Realtor Ron Nevis, who sold the place. He says escrow has closed, and progress has begun. According to Ron, the new owners have 6 other grocery stores, in Penn Valley, Grass Valley, Lake of Pines and Alta Sierra, and are very community oriented. He is confident that they will make every effort to provide exactly what the community wants, as soon as they figure out what that is exactly. If I can catch the owner, will invite him to the Cascade Shores Homeowners Assn. annual meeting, which by the way is the first Saturday in April ( 3rd). The community is always encouraged to attend. 4 new members of the Board will be installed, and hot dogs will be served to all. It would be nice to see you all there!