August walk to Oak Grove

This is the oldest foot bridge on the farm that crosses over the creek. Rumor has it that a troll lives under it.
It connects the picnic area to the area where I used to have my Tipis set up. Need to clear the growth from the bridge.

Exiting the bridge you'll see native brush.

Go to your left and follow the path around.

Path is overgrown.

Large packrat nest.

After following the path to the right after seeing the packrat nest, you'll go straight for a few feet and come out in this little ox bow spit of raised land. Creek is on the downslope side. The oak tree is known as Grandfather Oak. This is where I used to teach the kids about Native American Indians. It was a lot of fun.
Another fire ring in the center of the clearing.

Looking at the only remaining tipi poles left. Looking towards North East.

Here is a view that shows more of this area, the pines, and that busy road that forms one boundary of our farm.

On the other side of that green shed, is our parking lot for PPatch, and Christmas Tree sales. There are more oak trees up there (not in this photo), and we set up our Pumpkin Patch in their shade. Nothing worse than a pumpkin that melts in the hot sun!

You notice my dog is tuckered out. I'm starting to feel that way too!

View to the west under Grandfather Oak. The creek is down on the left of photo.

A blue Jay feather! You know it came home with me. LOL!

Some birds in the brush by the creek.

That was a long walk, and I had to hustle to make it home in time to see this sunset from my backyard.
I don't know if you have to be a desert rat to appreciate where we live, especially in the summer time.
Now in the spring it's all covered with green.
I took you on the easy hike. Like I said I didn't have my stick and water pistol with me. I usually like to climb the hill that bounds one side of our farm. It's better exercise for me, and the dogs run off more energy. Too hot in the evenings, not to mention kinda dangerous after dark unless you are carrying flashlights. LOL!
Too lazy, to get up before dawn, and I do try to get most of my chores done in the early hours of the day, before the heat hits.
Hope you enjoyed the walk.
Walk In Beauty!
SingingWolf

Wonderful walk, SW. It's great to see Grandmother Oak up close, and look how Spirit has grown!

Hey girl, how's OR? A lot greener than here.
I was wondering if I should spoil everyone and do a thread about one of my spring time walks. LOL!
Was wondering who was following along. Now I know!
So glad to hear you had a safe journey, and hope that you get to enjoy every minute of the time you get to spend with your Mom and Sis.
WIB~
SW

SW, I also just enjoyed my walk with you. Those oaks are fantastic, haven't seen any that big for many years.

A spring time walk would be glorious also. Thanks for sharing your walk with us today.

Donna

I'll have to work on that. I tend to meander more in the spring. Maybe it's because all the red ants and snakes are hibernating. LOL!
Have a good night Donna, glad you enjoyed the walk.
WIB,
SW

Wonderful walk SW, yes it's different than OR but beautiful still. I love Grandmother Oak!! Guess I'm not the only one who checks out ant trails. And I always like to see the dogs, especially Spirit.

Sis and I pulled out/dug out a bush that I lost to our harsh winter. It was trying to hang on and I really liked it, but the damage was too bad. Four hands made it easier!

Loved the walk SW! Looks like you have put in a lot of work, with water and power to those areas over the years. Who wouldn't love those ancient oaks?!

Carol

loved the walk with you and spirit, but you will have to do it in the spring so I can see it all green ok

Ooooh---I felt like I was there with you. What a treat---great photos & practice with your new carmera-----and ending with that beautiful sunset was the whipped-cream with a cherry on top!

I've been watching a lot of Dog Whisperer and adding that to seeing pix of Spirit makes me wonder if it's time for a dog to find me again....it would have to be one that completely ignores my cats, though. And I don't know if they could ignore a dog. When the granddogs come to visit, one of my cats goes into a deep snit that lasts for 24 hours after they're gone.

So maybe I'll just enjoy virtual walks with virtual dogs for a while longer----thanks for sharing your beautiful corner of the world!!

Thanks for the walk, SW...I needed that.

That was a wonderful walk SW. You have a beautiful spot in our great state.

I am a native - born in SF many , many years ago but I remember sights and smells of canyon walks in SoCa. and swiming in the pacific surf.

May GM Oak live many more years.

Thank you all. I guess I'll find those photos that Weegie encouraged me to take in the spring and put together a thread on that. Will be a big task, I really do climb the hills, and you don't always get to see all the neat stuff taking the easy path.
snowtop, it is my wish that GM Oak will live long after I'm dust. She is a beautiful tree. I really enjoy the sense of calm and really do feel like I'm being given a huge hug when I walk under her branches.
ima, virtual dogs are much easier to care for. When the time is right for you to get a new dog, one will show up. Best dogs are the ones that pick you! (It was mutual with Spirit and I). Also, as soon as all your four footed family understands that they are family, they will work it out on their own. Just don't expect it to happen overnight. : )
Unfortunately, Spirit picked up some bad habits while I was in OK. He is having some remedial lessons. A friend loaned me the book by Caesar Chavez, and I've read it. With us, it's mostly a matter of spending the time with him and staying on top of his behavior every minute. DO Not want him out at the P.Patch. Want him up at the house with me! DH needs to string some fence, and repair a couple of gates.
Will work on that spring time thread. It will help us endure the rest of summer. LOL!
Pow Wow at Pala Indian Reservation tomorrow. I'm going! : )
So I'll work on the spring hike next week, and you might get it in installments, but that would be fun too.
WIB!
SW

Dance for me at the Pow Wow SW (if you can).

Hey singingwolf..................When I saw the title " A Walk at Oak Grove" my first thought was Oak Grove Institute In Murrieta were I worked as a cook for 5 years about 5 years ago. Loved your walk, nothing like the Oak Grove I worked at. I think I recoginze those tepees. I've seen some facing Bundy Rd. Are those your ones? Always wondered about them. Small world here in the I.E.
Sylvia

Even if I can't I will, Sally.
I'm not dancing Fancy Shawl, and the Gourd dancing is mostly moving your feet in place in time to the drum, on certain drum beats you move your feet as if you were following the Gourd Dancers, but you still dance in place.

We dance with our lady friends, it can be quite beautiful. All of our shawls swinging in time with one another. Sometimes we chat as we dance and catch up on the news. This is a small pow wow, not like the big one at Pechanga. There will be mostly local Indians there. I know a lot of them so it'll be nice to see them.
The mens dances and the Fancy Shawl dances are the most arduous dances. I won't go into the mens dances, but if it helps you to understand the Fancy Shawl Dancers, you should know that they are also called Butterfly dancers. They do a lot of fancy footwork, and in competition it's not just the footwork but also the way that you move your shawl. Which should be fluttering like the butterfly it represents. You also have to nail the last beat of the song, and come to a complete stop. In competition they are scored on whether or not they nail that landing. Another story for the winter time.
The Jingle Dress dancers move by taking tiny steps, and most of their movement is up and down.
Most of the intertribals I'll be dancing to are almost as stylized as walking down the aisle.
Most of the time we dance at a measured pace, slowly not frenetically. Think of how at a wedding the attendants walk slowly down the aisle. It's a bit faster than that, but an easy pace. For us, dancing is a spiritual action and can be a healing experience.
If we dance a friendship, or circle dance, I use the fancy steps that are easier on my hips and thighs. I imagine that there will be some social dances too, but since DH has two left feet and almost caused a friend of mine to almost enter cardiac arrest after the last time I tried to teach him how to do the two-step, we won't be doing that again. Poor Iron Heart, she almost died laughing at the sight.
DH never learned how to dance until after we met. To this day, when I dance with him, I insist on leading. LOL!
He does a great job of watching my chair when I'm off visiting or dancing. He sneaks in naps too. I'll take photos when I can, and if it is all right with the PW committee, I'll ask if it's okay if DH takes some photos of me dancing.
Subject for another new thread I guess, since the last time I could only paint word pictures.
I haven't forgotten the Spring hikes thread either. Just have to do one thing at a time.
Hope you all have a great weekend!
WIB!
SW

Even smaller than you think, Sylvia. We used to have kids from Oak Grove come out here for field trips. I have to admit that they were my favorite groups. I have always enjoyed working with kids who had special needs, and it was always a pleasure that I and my staff always looked forward to. I'd have to look up the name of the teacher, but he had a great heart, a truly caring guy. He cared about each and every one of his students. Believe me, it showed.
The tipis are no longer. Between the weather and random acts of violence I removed the remaining tatters. One set of lodge poles remains but doesn't have a cover. I do have photos some place, that if I ever locate, I will scan into the computer.
BTW, once you hit the stop sign (Murrieta Road) heading east Bundy turns into Scott Rd. So I'm pretty sure that you've driven by and never even noticed GMa Oak. Most people don't even realize that we are a Christmas tree farm until we put up our banners and signs. You know how fast they drive.
No excuse now you have to come by for a visit.
WIB,
SW

Thanks for the wonderful walk! Your farm is HUGE! No wonder you and the doggies got tired. Under the Grandmother's Oak it's so beautiful, seems like a park! You should put some benches so you can sit there and admire the view!
Hugs,
Adina

SingingWolf, thank you so much for the invitation. That was a really lovely walk which evoked a strong sense of place.

Thank you, Singing Wolf. What a beautiful place to be. I loved Grandmother Oak right away. Maybe I'm a desert rat because I live in the high desert now and grew up in the Sonoran Desert. Your dancing sounds like a wonderful activity and I'd love to see you and your friends dancing some day.

Thanks for sharing your walk with us. It made me wish I was a kid again and that I could go to your farm on a field trip and enjoy the wonder of it all. Fortunately, I can still appreciate beauty and serenity when I see it!

Thanks, for your kind comments.
I hope to put together a spring walk thread sometime soon. It's been real busy around here lately. I have lots of photos I took when the farm was still green. It'll probably have to be in installments too. I'm sure you'll see why we appreciate our combo winter/spring. Most of the year it looks like this, although we've had severe drought conditions for the last four years. It's starting to take a toll on even the most drought resistant plants and trees.
We get a lot of dust devils. This year we are having (so far) a cooler than average August. I wonder what will happen next.
WIB,
SW

All I can say is awesome can relate to your walk , it is like heaven on earth and peace , thanks for inviting me!!
Sister here, Walk In Peace!!
Carolyn

Ah, Carolyn, wait til I show what she looks like in the spring! Now that is heaven on earth. (Okay, not quite, but close!)
WIB,
SW

That was the best walk SW! I felt like I was right there with you. Thanks for the time and effort you put into this and sharing it with us. :)

What a wonderful post SW! Your property is fantastic, and I hope to visit sometime soon!

Erin,
I thought I lost you! Anytime kiddo. I was just thinking about you today too. Hope it's not to smoky for you, and I am so glad they got the fire at the end of Bundy Canyon/Scott Road under control.
I keep promising that spring walk, and will deliver as soon as I can find the time. What a difference this drought makes.
You'll see.
WIB!
SW

Guys, take care with those fires! So scary! I'm glad you aren't so close to them.
Adina