A FUNNY THING HAPPENED YESTERDAY.......

As I was returning to Mi Wuk after 2 weeks in the Dublin/San Jose yesterday afternoon I stopped at the Trader Joe's in Pleasanton.  (Oh do I wish we could qualify for a TJ up here!)  At check-out I commented to the checker that I had carefully purchased only what would fit into my thermal bag

because I was driving to the Sonora area and wanted to keep my cold or frozen items cold or frozen.  The gal behind me in line said, "Oh, we have a cabin in Mi Wuk Village."  WHAT???  "That's where I'm going.  I live in Mi Wuk Village", says Blythe.

So we chatted for a few minutes and, since she didn't know about this blog,  I gave her the url.   HI CHERYL!  I hope you found it!  I left Trader Joe's with a huge smile on my face---you just never know when or where you're going to run into someone who has part of their heart at 4500' along Hwy. 108.  "Come on up Cheryl.  We have snow!"

Personal on my part:
I don't quite know how to share this, but I think you all should know what's going on in our family.  My 41 year old stepson, Jeff,  is on the downhill side of his battle with ALS, aka Lou Gehrig's Disease.  So, my husband, Russ, and I are pretty much alternating weeks and days at his home in San Jose as caretakers and 'entertainers'.    Jeff did not plan for ALS or anything un-macho-like to come into his life so we've had quite a time keeping up with his medical equipment needs and other caretaking needs.  We are trying to fulfill a bucket list wish (such a tacky phrase) to go on a camping trip with his dad and the guys from UAL--a trip he's been a part of for the past 20 years.  Because it is such a logistical challenge (1) my daughter has set up an online fundraiser for him and (2) we are looking for 2 qualified skilled caretakers who would like to go camping at Antelope Creek, near Red Bluff, 15 miles off the highway, where there is no running water and they sport pit toilets.  Great fishing.  The trip is historically brought to life by ATF---Alcohol Tobacco Firearms.  Use your imagination.  :)  They do go shooting there, in a very safe location several miles from the camp site.  Yes, I have been there and yes, I'm going on this trip.  (I love it!)  It's usually only THE GUYS but this year will be an exception.  They all just want to see Jeff show up.

If you or anyone you know is a trained caretaker/paramedic, familiar with bed/wheelchair bound patients, adventurous and would like a fun, expenses paid, 5-6 days in the outdoors in early June (6-11), let me know. 

And if you'd like to check out Andrea's fundraiser, much easier than trying to orchestrate a Tri-Tip Sandwich event at the Fire Station, please check it out at http://www.giveforward.com/jeffsjourney

Thanks for reading!

FRIDAY THE 13th!

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.............IF YOU LIKE SNOW.

I went to bed last night listening to the pitter patter of rain and awoke this morning to the silence of SNOW.  It's beautiful.

Did you know that last year at this time Dodge Ridge has 54' of snow?  This year:  17'.  Boy is Mother Nature showing her hormones!

This morning at 6.30:

From MyMotherlode.com:

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for the Sierra Nevada through Friday 11 PM.

According to the National Weather Service, light snow accumulation is expected at 3000 feet. Four to twenty-four inches of snow accumulation is anticipated above 3000 feet.

Winds of five to thirty-five mph are likely with gusts reaching up to sixty mph over the higher terrain.

Drier and warmer weather is expected this weekend.

As of 6.49 a.m., Friday, 13 April 2012:

IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA & SIERRA NEVADA

Highway 108:  IS CLOSED FROM 13 MI EAST OF STRAWBERRY TO 5.3 MI WEST OF THE JCT OF US 395 /SONORA PASS/ (TUOLUMNE,MONO CO) - FOR THE WINTER - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

CHAINS OR SNOW TIRES ARE REQUIRED FROM 5 MI WEST OF LONG BARN TO 4 MI EAST OF STRAWBERRY (TUOLUMNE CO)
 
CHAINS ARE REQUIRED ON ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT 4-WHEEL-DRIVE VEHICLES WITH SNOW TIRES ON ALL 4 WHEELS FROM 4 MI EAST OF STRAWBERRY TO 13 MI EAST OF STRAWBERRY (TUOLUMNE CO) 

CHAINS OR SNOW TIRES ARE REQUIRED FROM 3.8 MI WEST OF THE JCT OF US 395 TO THE JCT OF US 395 (MONO CO)



From the National Weather Service:

2 products issued by NWS for: 4 Miles NE Twain Harte CA

---

Winter Storm Warning

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
439 AM PDT FRI APR 13 2012

...MORE SNOW AND BREEZY WIND FOR THE MOUNTAINS TODAY...

.PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CONTINUE IN THE MOUNTAINS TODAY AS ANOTHER
STORM SYSTEM MOVES THROUGH INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
SIGNIFICANT SNOW IS EXPECTED AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS WITH POSSIBLE
LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS DOWN TO AROUND 3000 FEET THIS MORNING.

GUSTY WINDS COULD COMBINE WITH SNOW TO MAKE DRIVING IN THE
MOUNTAINS HAZARDOUS. MOTORISTS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR HAZARDOUS
WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS. DRIER AND WARMER WEATHER EXPECTED THIS
WEEKEND.

CAZ068-069-140000-
/O.CON.KSTO.WS.W.0009.000000T0000Z-120414T0300Z/
WESTERN PLUMAS COUNTY/LASSEN PARK-
WEST SLOPE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CHESTER...QUINCY
439 AM PDT FRI APR 13 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT THIS
EVENING ABOVE 3000 FEET...

* ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 4 TO 8 INCHES ABOVE 3000 FEET
  WITH UP TO A FOOT OF ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL POSSIBLE ABOVE 6000
  FEET.

* ELEVATION: ABOVE 3000 FEET.

* TIMING: PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW THROUGH THIS MORNING
  BECOMING SHOWERY THIS AFTERNOON INTO EVENING.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE: CHESTER... QUINCY... GRASS
  VALLEY...POLLOCK PINES... TRANS-SIERRA ROADWAYS INCLUDING
  INTERSTATE 80 AND HIGHWAY 50.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 5 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.

* IMPACTS: REDUCED VISIBILITIES FROM HEAVY SNOW AND WIND CAUSING
  HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WIND MEANS
SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST AND COMBINED WITH STRONG WIND WILL
MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL BE PREPARED FOR
HAZARDOUS WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS.

IF YOU'RE IN THE VALLEY OR BAY AREA (or wherever), FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME WITH WEATHER RELATED QUESTIONS -- or any questions for that matter!  blythek@mac.com