Well spring is here and time the snowbirds have returned back north to our ranch in British Columbia Canada. Lot of leaks and floods in the plumbing when we turned our water back on and feeling overwhelmed with trying to get everything back in order here. But before things get crazy busy with life at the ranch I thought I should get part 2 of our life at the Salton Sea this past winter. So on with my collage of photos which help tell the stories.
I spent way too much of my free time making my homemade greeting cards. But I have finished them all. I now have about 250 in stock. As a test on setting them up I went to the outside flea market near Salton City to see how it would all go. Not the right people for buying, but liked how they displayed off the back of my truck and how much wind the display could take before I had to dismantle very quickly. I did sell about 20 cards to friends. Hope to be doing some flea markets in my hometown here in Canada this summer. When these cards are gone I will only selling ready made cards online or ones I order and sell through local venues. These homemade cards just took up all my spare time this winter. But the money I make off them will be reinvested into cards I purchase ready made online. Not much money invested in homemade cards just lots or time. But the sales of this cards also will tell me which cards are more popular and what ones I will order ready made.
Baby Steps
I could not forget my passion for flowers and this spring at the Salton Sea we had beautiful blooms in our yard of desert scape plants.
The empty gravel yard when we bought this house was like a blank canvas for me and over the last 3 years I have so enjoyed creating the landscape and patio areas with mostly materials and plants with little or no costs.
I am forever moving rocks and adding a plant or two. The heat this past winter here did slow work down in the yard. There was not a drop of rain in 10 weeks and most days ranges from 85 to 100 degrees. The hottest winter I can remember in 25 years going there. But as I was inside working on my greeting cards progress was made there.
Everyday either early morning or just before the sun went down I went for a walk for about an hour with my dog Sheaba. Our neighbourhood is so varied and forever changing from one location to the next.
Found under many big trees in the the washes around the neighbourhood are makeshift shelters that were used by illegals Mexicans or even homeless.
From beautiful homes to stuffed chairs on empty lots our area has it all.
Surrounded by mountains and glimpses of the sea were always there during my walks.
Occasionally company would come and stay with us so would take them for a walk down near the Salton Sea. We still own a empty lot near the sea and went for a picnic there with friends. Then headed for the long walk down to the waters edge.
The shoreline here is lined with barnacles, but one still feels like they are walking along and ocean beach even if it is only a salt lake.
The main fish still in the Salton Sea are Tilapia, which dead ones can be found sometime along the shoreline. I am sure they were once also a source of food for Sheaba when she ran wild down here near the Salton Sea.
The constant hum of ultra lights can be heard all along the shore of the sea a favourite area for them to fly.
There is now so much activity on the shores of the sea with ATVs, jeeps and fishing. This group of vehicles parked on the shore were sitting in lawn chairs waiting for the full moon to rise.
Every March Tera Del Sol Jeep club holds a jeep rally near Salton City California near the Salton Sea. Thousands of camper and jeeps swarm the desert during this weekend.
It’s fun to just park at a view point and watch all the activity in the desert and bad lands. The dust they create is more then I want to put myself near.
Our area is not without wildlife even with all the dyeing vegetation. Coyotes are a regular seen around the neighbourhood and desert along with pelicans near the sea and hummingbirds at the flowers. I discovered a burring owl just on the edge of the neighbourhood. How it has managed to survived with ATVs driving within 20 feet of it’s burrow.
Seems the little burrowing owl had a mate in the hole, which I could have been around when the babies hatched out. So many other birds and creatures were always there to be seen when one took the time to look.
I will miss my walk I took everyday and seeing the every changing landscape and skies. The mountains with the shadows that changed with the time of the day. But the snowbird had to leave and head back north.
Good bye to the Salton Sea for another winter and see you next time at our ranch in British Columbia.
Wishing you a wonderful Easter
and have a
Good Morning… Good Afternoon… Good Night…
Whatever it is to you
Photo & Words
by
Here I Am Carrie
