we discovered the sheep nursery again this year...and so enjoyed watching the babies....one little one kept crying for his mother....looking worried when he heard her cry from across the field....he took off running as fast as he could but as he got closer, got confused and went to another ewe who quickly set him straight...shaking his head you could see his confusion when his mother called again...lickedy split..he was off and running toward her.....and she greeted him with some licking..really sweet.....
Alan took a video of the sheep and posted it on his blog..you can find it here...


I watch alot of Ceasar Milan's Dog Whisperer series on the National Geographic channel..one thing that has really impressed me was when he says that dogs live in the now...they don't worry about yesterday or what's going to happen tomorrow.....isn't that what Jesus has taught too? I am learning to trust the Lord more and more..and live in the now...
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" Matthew 6:34
Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!" Luke 12:22-24

Its been amazing lately....for example...we went to visit some dear friends in the evening and they had wanted some keys made but Alan couldn't do it as it wasn't light enough for him to use the key machine in the van...we talked on the way home about getting a better flashlight ..the next day, he was at another house and saw that the customer had some LED lights that clipped on his cap...Alan mentioned he needed to get something like that...the customer said just a minute, went into his truck and gave Alan a set of them....
We got all our bills paid but no money for gas or food.....we prayed yesterday and two people called..we got enough to get groceries and fill the tanks up.....I don't understand those who say
there is no evidence of God..He is all around if they had eyes to see and ears to hear....

Canyon Lake Home

Here are a few photos of the house I spoke of in a previous post......I don't exactly know what style it is built in...I think it's a custom built home and it has alot of very nice features...it even has a laundry shoot from the upper floor to the laundry room!....

Lovely glass double entry doors...

This front room has so many windows and is very light...

This is the upstairs game room..very large with oak flooring...has a bar, half bath and

a brick fire place... set up for a large screen TV also..it does need the carpets cleaned or replaced

Master bath..jacuzzi tub..separate sinks on each side and it did have separate walk in closets too.

kitchen was very nice....good cabinets and a walk in pantry...
not too large with plenty of storage

The back yard is mainly tiled all the bedrooms look out onto it....lots of French doors..the master is down stairs through the open set of french doors...the other 3 bedrooms are upstairs..
we were sorry the previous owners lost their home..they obviously loved and took good care of it. We wish them well and pray that God will open a new horizon for them....

We couldn't really understand the President's State of the Union address...so many (at least around here) are losing their homes...we've done over 50 this month alone with many more slated for next month....

Valentine Crafts

I just recently received the Toymaker news letter......what fun! She has quite a few darling Valentine paper crafts for your amusement...I made one of these little heart baskets...very easy to do and plan on making several for some special people..hang on their door..as a surprise. Here is the link in case you'd like to do something similar. I thought about tucking a handkerchief inside and some sweets..the above photo is from the website..below is the one I made..

She also had a video of an infinity card..

If you have a child at home or are a child at heart..you'll love the papercrafts and newsletter....I know I do...

I've been having trouble with my monitor..mine died (RIP) this last weekend...and I'm using a old one that only lets me work for about 5 minutes before starting to flicker like crazy..I then have to turn it off, wait 10 minutes and then go from there...over and over again...rather frustrating..hopefully we'll be able to get a new one soon....I can't go on some sites either as the same thing happens immediately.....
The above photo is of our new rug! We re keyed a wonderful home yesterday and in one corner was this rug, rolled up..we couldn't believe when we unrolled it as it is perfect...no stains or wear..clean..all I did was vacuum when we brought it home..( anything left over 18 days is abandoned.) It is lovely big home with a lake view..I wanted to show you but Alan took the memory card to send photos to the realtor....
The home was large but very cozy...it had been built back in the 70s..the garage had as much square feet as our entire house..(1500) and had a bathroom. nice oak floors throughout...lots of french doors..we re keyed the bottom floor and there were 8 locks...I really liked the kitchen as it had a walk in pantry, island, but wasn't really big like some of them are...I like a smaller kitchen as I don't want to have to walk 20 ft. to get an ingredient.

I wanted to share something from another blog that is something I've been thinking of alot. We've been turning on to a local LA TV station, mostly to hear the weather report (we usually just watch FOX) since I've haven't watched regular TV much..it just struck me how much time they devote to gossip...at least 40% if not more is just plain gossip....I think we need to get back to more wholesome pursuits...and Sugar Pie Farmhouse says it much better than I could...if you like what she has to say..she does have a free newsletter too. Ruthie used to live here in California.

Big Bear is open again..they opened the next day....as someone wondered about the town and lake...I've posted a link. My uncle used to live up there and had a A frame cabin..it was fun visiting him...he had a little monkey at the time which was a kick and fed squirrels outside his kitchen..

Monday

Friday afternoon, I looked out our front window and this is what I saw..very foreboding

A few minutes later, hail and rain..

We are expecting another storm sometime this evening and into tomorrow...clear the rest of the week and then more rain next week...

Saturday, the weather starting clearing up..Alan and I took a walk along the Salt Creek..it usually is just a trickle but with all the rain we've had..it was full...there is a nice walk way for about a mile.......we saw some Snowy Egrets enjoying the water
We also spied a Blue Huron..I didn't get a photo of him but Alan did so if you go to his blog..you will find alot more photos.....the Egrets didn't like the Huron very well..chased him away...
Our mountains are full of snow....look so beautiful...
This is Big Bear...the town up there is closed to outside traffic and the school is closed..snowed in...they are running out of supplies and food but its only temporary so don't worry....

La Cresta, Murrieta, Road Trip

Yesterday afternoon..Alan got called to re key this fabulous foreclosed property in La Cresta outside of Murrieta....as you probably know, I just had to tag along and always like to share exceptional properties......this is the type of home a celebrity or movie star might purchase...in an exclusive area of horse ranches, winegrowers, and acres of orange groves....on a private driveway at the top of a hill with great views.....I've always been curious what these homes look like inside so felt blest to be able to wander in and get paid for it too! I took off and re installed 5 locks and Alan did 5 also..lots of doors...anyway..here are a few photos of the inside..above is the entry...

This basically what you see when you enter...there is a foyer which steps down into this..and then halls on either side....there are fireplaces in just about every room....including the master bedroom....beautiful tile and hardwood floors..and high grade carpeting in the bedrooms..there are 4 bedrooms..each one with its own bath...


I'd call this the media room...fire place and a place for the big screen TV...the little room at the center there is round...a turret room...


Had to show you the tub in the master bath...to the right are the toilet and bidet (!) and to the left a large tiled shower...


This would be the library room....beautiful cabinets on either side of the fireplace



Here is the kitchen...granite countertops..top of the line appliances and a walk in pantry..

Here is the pool and jacuzzi....its right on the edge of the property and seems to hang in space..very cool..
we really enjoyed re keying it...there was surround sound on and we listened to some nice jazz while we were working....even the garages were carpeted and hard wood floors...can you believe it? There were 4 large garages....
It got very cold though up in the hills and I got a little chilled......was good to get home..it was a nice house but not home, if you know what I mean.......we both agreed we liked our little house and don't envy those who live in such luxury..fun to visit though...

Rain!

This is a photo of flooding in Long Beach, Ca yesterday....its not that bad here in the Inland...this is along the coast....we do have some road closures as I mentioned yesterday.....Salt Creek went over the streets..these Arizona bridges are built for that......

Don (DS) came home early this morning and said he had a accident last night.....he was driving and the rain came down so hard, his visibility wasn't very good....he saw two flooded yellow signs on either side of the road (this was out in the country, no street lights) so he carefully drove down the middle of the street when he hit a white street closed sign that he couldn't see..fortunately, he was able to get through to the other side alright.....but his van has a crumbled hood......yellow is easier to see in the pouring rain than white..the city should have had lights on the closed sign or used yellow instead..he asked Matt to help him at the dog rescue today as there is alot of work to do..sand bagging, etc.
The weather people are predicting another big storm this afternoon.... and then one perhaps next Tuesday....

Wednesday Dog of the Week...Chiquita

She is a pure bred Chihuahua.........the rescue has quite a few Chihuahua's and Chihuahua mixes in right now....probably because of the popularity of the movies that have come out in the last few years......they are lively little dogs that need strong leadership....without that, there can be problems....they are also not too good around young children...but for someone who has good pack leader skills..they can be very good intelligent companions..loyal and loving....one thing about Chihuhua's..you can take them about anywhere.!..tucked into a tote..Chiquita weighs about 4 lbs......she's very small.....you can find Chiquita at Sun City K9 Rescue


We've been swamped with rain....today another storm is coming in..this is the 4th in 4 days......great for the drought situation here....no damage so far. Our lawn, garden and flowers sure appreciate the rain..everything looks good with the exception of leaves everywhere..the high winds have blown most of the dead leaves off our big trees in the front.....our patio is covered with soggy ones..some clean up to be done but no use doing anything yet until the storms have passed......we were glad to have cleaned out our gutters and downspouts over the last weekend....do you believe most homes here don't have them? We added ours on when we moved in......
Our little river, Lazy Creek is getting full...we figure soon the road will be closed that runs across it....its one of those Arizona bridges that floods out on a regular basis.....
we've been busy re keying foreclosures all week too......trying to get most everything done in the mornings as the storms come in the afternoons....Alan is at one now....


We've been following the Massachusetts election with interest.....Yeah, Scott Brown!

Road Trip...Redlands

We got an email this morning for a re key job in Redlands.....we have been there once before and were very impressed with the town...many darling cute cottages, orange groves and mountain views........here are a few photos I snapped.....










We stumbled upon the University of Redlands...a beautiful campus...Alan wants to put the photos he took of the campus on his blog so check there in a day or two....
We are sure glad we went today as this evening the first of the storms came in and its raining...tomorrow its supposed to pour so just as well, The Big Guy doesn't have to drive that far in the storm.......
The house we re keyed was fairly easy...I actually took off the all the locks, and then re installed them when Alan had changed the pins.....felt proud of myself as I often have trouble putting knobs back on....dead bolts are easy but knobs are more of a challenge....I'm not very mechanical minded...and its a struggle at times...

We've been hearing about the conditions in Haiti and praying for the residents, and rescuers......so many have been killed..last count over 40,000...just terrible.........so much aid is flowing into the area which is good and I think with the military there now, things will settle down some...sure hope and pray so.....
I was wondering why there was so much destruction and wondered if we had an earthquake of the same magnitude, if there would be something similar....I don't think so as our construction is better suited to handle earthquakes..but we do live along the San Andreas fault so if it were really bad, who knows?
I remember being told what to do in an earthquake, and also to fill your bathtubs with water if you can..may not be good for drinking but will be good for other uses......we always have some bottled water here for drinking........but truly are not prepared as well as we should be........makes one think, doesn't it?

We are getting ready for up to 5 big storms that will start on Sunday evening.....thank the Lord as we sure need the rain.......both the boys are working at the rescue today and getting everything ready out there.
I was out there yesterday and they have a rescued ginger cat that I am seriously thinking of bringing home...she is very affectionate and sweet.......she's in the office and ready for her new family...gotten her shots, feline leukmia test and also microchipped......
.

She's prettier than her photo.......she's kinda on the small side and might fit in with our other two furballs......I am thinking about asking if we could foster her for a week or so before adopting to see if the other cats will accept her......

Wednesday Dog of the Week...Jacomo

Here is one of the newest arrivals...this little guy is Jacomo..a 3 year old Bichon Frise/Mix....he is a little shy but a nice dog....just needs someone to love him and give him a chance.......Bichon Frise are happy little dogs that love human company..intelligent, lively and love children..they are not yappers...and are happiest with their human family/pack...they do need to know what their limits are and have a human pack leader...or otherwise like many little breeds can develop
small dog syndrome where he would feel he has to be the pack leader. You can find Jacomo and other rescue dogs...at the Sun City K9 Rescue
Little Kingston is ok..just stiff and sore from his ordeal yesterday......

I started reading a good book.....The Pilgrim Church by E.H. Broadbent...its a tracing of the forgotten saints from Pentecost through the Twentieth Century....heavy reading but very informative...will take some time to get through......It was published over 60 years ago....and is now back in print.....the first chapter is called "Beginnings" and reports about the very early church after Pentecost...how they lived and what the church was like..... and in later centuries, unknown heros of the faith..who stood strong for Gods Word.

We've been watching this little guy on the weekends...his name is Kingston.....this morning, Don opened the garage where he was...he got out of his kennel and ran down the street toward the large field where we take him on walks........Don tried to call him but he wouldn't come....he woke us up early and we all 3 went looking for him.....walked all over the large 10 acre field...no Kingston....called his name..but no dog.....Alan went back first and there the dog was sitting in front of the garage, a little worse for wear...his hind legs were scraped up and he was in some pain... we were relieved but couldn't figure out what had happened........Don took him to work and the vet...there are alot of rocks and steep banks in the field..so he may have fallen running after a rabbit....
I am sure he will be ok...he could walk and acted fairly normally other than hurting a little from the scrapes. I will let you know.....



I started a Inspiration shop page on Facebook...if you are on FB...would you like to be a fan? just getting started, of course...but think we will have some fun....

Sunday Funnies

A Great Sale

Nancy is having a sale for her blogger friends.....she makes the nicest things....aren't these the sweetest little pincushions? Made from little vintage child's shoes.....with Valentines and Mothers day coming up, a nice pincushion would be a great gift.....especially something so unique.....she has over 40 listed plus handmade soaps, market bags, accent pillows and more.....you can find these at Huggins Haven . 15% off, This sale will end on the 17th and the code for the discount is 0110.



You might be wondering about the banner photo..I like to change it often and usually like to feature photos of our pretty valley..this was taken from a hill outside of town.