New Sierra Nevada WebCams: cool website

5PM UPDATE: PROBABLY GOT 4" ALREADY. Hill just got plowed, but looks wicked. Kids were sledding on it awhile ago. We're in a winter wonderland.
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I always check Nevada City web cam or Grass Valley webcam before venturing to town on these kinds of days (snowy) but I just discovered NEW SIERRA NEVADA WEBCAMS site. They have a massive listing of webcams throughout California, so you can see for yourself the weather anywhere, anytime!
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Our storm is just beginning to arrive here at 1pm. Light snow falling, not stacking up much, yet.
Will keep you posted.
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Another website, SierraVisions is calling travel in the Sierra's this weekend "treacherous if not IMPOSSIBLE." So stay home. It can't be worth risking your life to travel Donner Pass.
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Yes, it's true, Dixie Readfearn and Robert Crabb and packing up and moving back to Orange County to be with kids and grandkids. Our loss is their gain. I have personally LOVED having them as friends, which Dixie promises will continue despite the 500 mile gap. Robert has been a longtime CSHA board member, and it will be hard to fill his shoes. Dixie is just an all around great person and friend, and has taught me much in our years of friendship. Then of course there is Jackson, the Golden Retriever. I remember the day Dixie and I raced to Lodi to snag that 3 toed sloth from Golden Rescue before Robert got home to nix the idea! Yes, it IS better to ask forgiveness than permission, right Dix? So, wishing them the best, and hoping they will return often, and bring some of that LA sunshine with them. Also hoping to visit you guys there. I know they will dive into community service and renew their friendships just as they did here. We'll miss you at the Shelter to Dix. Any one want to fill her Wed afternoon shoes?

need help removing snow?

Just talked to a PGE rep outside. They are looking for broken trees that are threatening lines so they can clear before tomorrows storm. They could use your eyes! If you know of such a tree, please call them at 1-800-743-5000 and report to them. THANKS FOR ALL OF US! Not looking forward to another power outage, though I am ready! Remember to pick up that extra gas for generator, and candles/batteries when in town. I think we will turn the hot tub into a giant freezer since it's empty. Be careful out there, and exercise patience on Pasquale. Stop and help anyone stuck or over the edge. Next time it could be you! Pay it forward people.
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Garbage and recycle trucks plan to roll early tomorrow (Thu), like 5:30 am, so put stuff out late 2nite or EARLY tomorrow. They're trying to beat the storm. They will pick up extra bags since they missed last week . . .
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Next snow is due Thur (beginning) Friday (heavy all day) and possibly into Sat. So write these numbers down for snow removal (in case the power is out and can't access your computer):
Chris at 530-264-6754 (he lives in SHores)
Ken Bilderback, 530-400-7979 (lives in Grass Valley, but comes in to help)
There's another big sign by store with a number to call also.
If you know anyone else, give me number and I will post. Brace yourself. I think it's gonna be a doozy!
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On a happy note, Kent and Anna Rees are expecting not one, but TWO lovely grandchildren in the next week or so from each of their daughters. Hopefully grandbaby #1 will come in the next 48 hours. Double congrats!
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Women's Club book club meeting tomorrow (Thu) cancelled.
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Homeowners and Womens Club have planned their 2011 calendars, and have lots of great stuff listed. Be sure you check it out on the website.
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Classic police blotter today: A man from the 15000 block of Shannon Way reported his neighbor plowed his driveway without permission and damaged the driveway. NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED.
A man from 11000 block of Alpine Ln reported his home was broken into and a 9mm gun and 2 lbs. of marijuana were taken. OK, BAGGED. NOW WOULDN'T THAT INDICATE SALES? A 9mm. Really? Expecting Opossums? Lots of them?
A woman from the 11000 block of Ball Rd reported people hiding on her roof. ON THE ROOF? WOULDN'T THAT BE HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT? REALLY, PICTURE TRYING TO HIDE ON A ROOF. LOOK, I'M INVISIBLE! ON THE ROOF!

Well, that was a doozy!

My my, the snow just kepta comin! There is about a foot on the ground, though it is the nice fluffy stuff, not the cement we got in November. The power has been iffy, and in fact was just restored at 5pm today (Sat) after going out in the wee hours last night. We woke up at 3am to fireworks here at the corner of BQH and Pasquale, when the a power wire snapped on the transformer. Fireworks and flames for about 10 minutes, looked like a lovely roman candle. Bill Carter saw the light from a block behind on Nugget St. Took out power, cable, phone. We called the fire department, and they said they were on the way, but had to wait for the plow to clear the road for them to come in from NCity. Very exciting. But lovely blue skies shined thru today (what is that bright blue stuff above, and that light?????). Plow has done a great job of keeping the big hill clear. Personally, I have been in bed since Monday with the worst flu/grunge EVER, and let the whole mess stack up inside and out. Just feeling human today.
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Met a guy clearing driveways with his fancy Kabota. HIs name is Ken Bilderback, and you can reach him at 530-400-7979 for snow removal. Very nice. Drove here from Grass Vally to help us out and make a few bucks. Keep that number handy! Angels sent him . . . . . .
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Last nights storm

Well, the news really sensationalized last nights storm, and though it was really windy in the wee hours, and we got nearly an inch of snow (now slushing up) the roads are clear and the power only out about 4 hours, coming back on at 7:30 am.
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Good news, the doxies, all 5, got homes. Thanks if you spread the word for me.
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1PM update on weather: snow coming down again, pretty heavy, and sticking. Imagine the hill is getting treacherous. Last sunday a UPS truck "lost it" and rolled on top part of hill in just such conditions. Be careful out there! Pasquale might be your best bet.

Doxies at the NC Shelter

All right ya'll. The two 2 yr old black/tan boys were abandoned in the parking lot at KMART.
The three were orphaned when their elderly "mommy" died last year.
7 year old male (blond) 2 year old male (red) 2 year old female (black/tan).
They are all waiting patiently at Sammies Friends shelter for their new family. Is it you?????

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Did you know the General Store is now serving breakfast and lunch. They even have "country benedict" and all very well priced. Let me know what you think if you get there before me. The womens club is going on 2/5/11 at 9am if you want to join them. Pam Herrenkohl said they have a wonderful coffee bar too. About time! I'll check it out and let you know (I'm also a coffee snob)
SUPPORT OUR STORE.
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I was just informed that someone saw a bear drinking out of the watering hole in front of my house at 9pm the other night, and he promptly ran across BQH into the woods. Be careful out there. It wouldn't be fun for you or the bear to collide while doing even the speed limit (which no one does) past our house.
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SUNDAY MORNING and we got 1" of the white stuff overnight. Beautiful day, and the hill is clear. Plow already cleared most of our streets. Supposed to be sunny again tomorrow.

Confessions of a Pizza Snob

Yes, my name is Denise, and I am a Pizza snob. I have to taste the pizza in every city in every country I visit. Chicago, deep dish, great fillings, but too much crust. LA, "Pizza Kitchen" type stuff, well, really, is that pizza? Save the Thai Chicken for, well, Thai Chicken dishes. Also, do not dump a salad on top of my pizza, it's disturbing. Middle of the US, say, Nebraska or Iowa, PLEASSSE, do you not own herbs? By the way Iowa, that's not crust, it's bread. What is that stuff you are calling cheese????? Mexico, guys, you just got it all wrong. San Francisco, your heart is in it, especially in little Italy section, but, still, why are you so in love with big crust? Just cause you make the best sour dough bread doesn't mean you should put it under a pizza. Jupiter Pizza in Berkeley, great, if you like that gourmet twist, like pear and gorgonzola, served with root beer flavored beer, which I do on occasion. The crust is perfect though. I even had pizza in Hoi An, a little village in central Viet Nam, could not pass up the opportunity. I must say, not bad, but I think because there are so many Euorpean's living there, and they demand good homeland food. Now, New York. Perfection. Skinny oily crust, a perfect smear of paste, properly seasoned, and a grating of really creamy cheese, perfectly melted, and pepperoni to die for. Which brings me to the reason I am writing this. I haven't had what I consider really good pizza in Nevada County in 10 years, since Cowboy Pizza on Spring St. closed their doors. I've had what other people say is good, or even great (Franks, Northridge) however it's just not to my snobby authentic pizza standards. However, went to Goomba's on Colfax Hwy. across from Memorial Park Friday night, and had a GREAT NEW YORK STYLE PEPPERONI PIZZA. While the crust could have been even a little thinner, it was still lovely. The sauce was perfect, the cheese creamy, and the pepperoni nice and salty and crunchy. THANK YOU GOOMBA'S. By the way, their beef and pepper sandwich is as good as any I've had in Chicago. Hmmm, happy.

"Baby" needs a home

There is the cutest little Chihuahua at the Nev. County Shelter. Little "baby" weight about 6 lbs, is blond and tiny and sweet. She just wants to hang out with her person and be held and loved as much as possible. She was abandoned, so not much is known, but sweet, sweet, sweet. Do you know someone looking for a little lovebug? She's in the lobby at the shelter. Thanks.
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Are we enjoying this balmy 60's weather? So beautiful. Looks like people are getting cleaned up from the aftermath of the Thanksgiving storm. I can hear the chainsaws and chippers and blowers. So nice to walk about in tee shirts again.
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Walking around, I see that alot of the "short sells" have been bought up. Still wondering when we will see bottom of this market. Just heard from a couple who tried to buy a house last fall when it was a regular sale, fell out, and now they succeeded purchasing the same house as a short sale. So, I'm guessing they got a much better deal. Kind of ironic. It doesn't make sense, but then, what about the real estate debacle did? I guess the silver lining is that lots of people that had been priced out of the market are in.
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So the B&B ordinance allowing reopenings of B&B's in Nevada City failed. Ah well, Nevada City is not known to be business friendly. I would have thought they'd have jumped at the chance to restore a few, since so many have closed. Deer Creek Inn is the latest to close. That only leaves 2 or 3 B&B's and the National Hotel. If you've ever stayed there you know is it sadly outdated and I think the beds are from the 50's. The 1850's.
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Just read in Jeff Pelines Sierra Foothill Report of the passing today of Nevada City's own, Charles Woods. Charles and his partner David Osborn were multi- talented, incredibly artistic and visionary men who arrived in Nevada City when it was a rather run down diamond in the rough. Their efforts certainly led the way for what you see today. In addition to saving the Foundry building and leading many a conservation effort, Charles created the Teddy Bear Museum that was housed on the corner of Pine and Spring (the large building currently being renovated). His accomplishments are to long to be listed here, but check out Jeff Peline's article on him. I met Charles many times, and found him sweet, shy, charming and mostly an immensely generous man. A celebration of his life will be observed in the spring. I would not want to miss that. They don't make them like Charles anymore.