Time to Get the Firewood Stacked   As the weather starts getting colder here in California, it is time to gather the cut oaks, split and stack the wood for the winter season. This is not the most fun task, but the rewards are received on the cold winter nights.   Are you prepared for winter?       11/07/2011

Things may be getting cooler where you are but apparently Placerville, Ca is in a heat wave today. This morning my iPhone showed a current temperature of 93 degrees at 8:00am. Just before 5:00 pm tonight I have a phone that tells me it is 109!   While it may be 109, it feels closer to 55.   11/03/2011

  My Thoughts Turn To Turkeys - November Photo Fun The month of November always conjures up thoughts of turkeys. They are abundant in the neighborhood here in Placerville, Ca. Sometimes they are in large packs; other times, mom and the little chicks. Today they are eating on the side of the road, seemingly without a care in the world. Enjoy this day! 11/01/2011

  I swear I wasn't in the dumpster! I had a great meal.     I had a great meal today at Taqueria Carnaval in Placerville, Ca. I had the shrimp burrito which is excellent. While eating dinner at the restaurant I thought it would make for a good local post. The restaurant is under new management and there were some minor changes to the place, and the menu. When the changes happened a few months ago, things seemed to have gotten just a little bit better.         I used Google Mobile Map to “find me” at this location to use the photo for this post. As I zoomed in to get a good photo, I was hoping to get the restaurant to show up on the screen. Mc Donalds and Grand China appeared but no Taqueria Carnaval. As I looked at the pin locator I discovered that it was off by a little. Here it shows ... 10/25/2011

I Had to Shoot This Turkey Before Thanksgiving.   The turkeys in the neighborhood seem pretty care free and at ease as Halloween approaches. Next month may be a different story though; Thanksgiving is rapidly sneaking up on us. The turkeys get a little nervous in November, so I thought I’d shoot one now; with a camera of course. This one was casually feeding in the driveway today.   10/23/2011

  Home Depot Innovation – It’s in the Card I have to hit the road very early tomorrow morning so I went to Home Depot to pick up some supplies tonight in Placerville. There was a rush and the lines backed up quickly. A clerk began going through the line of waiting customers and scanning the order and handing them a card. So instead of waiting in line until it was my turn to check out, my order was already scanned. I just had to hand this card to the cashier and pay. This was a very quick process, and very innovative idea.   10/19/2011

New Roof on the Clubhouse in Placerville Community   It looks like it was time for a new roof on the clubhouse in Greenstone Country, a residential community in Placerville, Ca. I’m not sure if there were leaks to the existing roof or not. What caught my eye was the steep pitch of the roof. It takes an experienced roofer to do a unique roof like this roof.     10/15/2011

The deer are out in large numbers right now. Traveling in packs herds, quietly passing through, eating my plants but generally harmless; the herd marches on. I saw a herd of them yesterday in Greenstone Country and had to stop to shoot them. This time of year, the numbers are greater; more of the bucks can be seen, probably getting ready for the colder weather.     Just for fun I thought I'd include a video of the Mating Call Championships.       09/28/2011

  If you enjoy looking to the skies, this is an opportunity to see the stars, moon, and planets. You will be able to experience seeing the heavens in a way that many never get to see it, through a high powered telescope. Here is how the Observatory explains the service that they provide:    *The Cameron Park Rotary Community Observatory is your window to the night sky!  See the stars through the 14-inch reflecting telescopes on a clear dark night.  Follow planets or the moon as they travel across the sky. Bring the whole family for an unforgettable experience in the foothills of El Dorado County. The observatory was conceived by the Rotary Club of Cameron Park as a community service project to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Rotary International.   The Rotary Club members raised al... 09/26/2011

  He just sat there with a steady stare. It was almost eerie, no blinking, no moment, nothing. I had plenty of time to go get a camera that could zoom in, he was a about a hundred yards away. I snapped off several photos before it was too late. What do you mean “Too late”? He swooped down and grabbed what looked like a field mouse. Then he was gone!   09/25/2011

Sometimes you just see something up close that is awesome. I shot this Beaty here in Placervile a little while ago. I thought it was fake! I was wrong, it was real. I really love the extra set of eyes. I'm not sure if it is a butterfly or a moth.   09/24/2011

  It’s not like I was out there on a hunting trip, I was standing in my front yard in Placerville. Looking across the street was a beautiful deer just grazing on the hillside. The deer are out and about this time of year; it’s this time of year that the big bucks are on the move in the neighborhood. Luckily, I had a means of taking the picture.     09/23/2011

It must be praying mantis season, they seem to be everywhere lately. While going about my day they just appear. Had one fly over my head and land on the laptop yesterday. I find them on the windows regularly. They are everywhere.  :) This one I shot up close just for fun. I'm told they are good hunters, maybe they eat the less desirable inspects. Enjoy your weekend!   09/23/2011

  Looking for a tree service company in Placerville, Ca? We may know a few guys who know about trees. We have had our share of large pine trees fall that past year, we were lucky the trees had fallen away from the house. Fortunately, we got in contact with some very harder working men who knew what they were doing and could get started right away. They do not work for Tromler Construction so I don't know what their schedule is like, but they have been recommended by a lot of people in Placerville area. Let me know you need to reach these guys for help.   09/18/2011

  You Like Thunderous Racetracks? Check Out Placerville Speedway     There are many local residents who have never been to Placerville Speedway but have heard of it. I mean they have HEARD of it. It is the racing season here in Placerville which means every Saturday night you can hear the thundering racers for miles away.   Located in the Placerville Fairgrounds, this season is the 44th Anniversary of the Speedway. The track is home to several different classes of the sprint car. If you are a fan of the sprint car races, this is the premiere track on the West Coast.   Placerville Speedway Home Page  Placerville Speedway Race Schedule Placerville Speedway Ticket Information   View Larger Map     09/15/2011

    Chipotle Is Coming To Placerville, Ca - The Locals Are Pleased   There has been a lack of restaurant choices here in Placerville. Recently, those that we did have, closed. So when we learned of getting a Chipotle, we are excited for the Grand Opening. I drove by tonight and the contractors were working late into the night. Chipotle is a Mexican food chain that serves large burritos that are good. They describe it this way... "It's not just a burrito. It's a foil-wrapped, hand-crafted, local farm supporting, food culture changing cylinder of deliciousness."   Sounds like just my type of food service.    Web site for Chipotle   Chipotle Location finder   Chipotle Menu   09/08/2011

  Are you going to participate in the Relay For Life in Placerville on September 10th?   Many are going to be on hand to help Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back!       Celebratethe survivors, and the accomplishments made so far. Rememberthose that have been lost Fight Back with a personal commitment to saving lives.   On September 10th Placerville, California will host a Relay for life at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds.   Event Schedule Survivor Breakfast: 8:45 am Saturday, Sept. 10th Opening Ceremony: 10 am  Saturday, Sept. 10th Survivors Lap: Immediately following Opening Ceremonies Luminaria Ceremony: 9 pm Saturday, Sept. 10th Fight Back / Closing Ceremony: 9 am Sunday, September 11             Come help with the Fight Against Cancer!     09/02/2011

  When thinking about places to go for lunch or dinner, we have many choices. We can probably find a restaurant for any ethnic food within driving distance here in California. When asked "Where do you want to go to eat?" dozens of choices quickly come to mind. There is a small restaurant that I had heard about right here in Placerville that many people recommended. Not your fansy restaurant, but a little store front down a side road. You'd probably miss it if you weren't looking for it. The restuarant is called - Z-Pies. What do they serve? Gourmet Pot Pies! Yes, hot flavorful combinations that are filling to eat. Not your everyday meal, granted. But you have to try this place if you get the chance. After going myself, I have talked to others who also enjoyed this place called Z-Pies. M... 08/31/2011

  I was trying to get a photo of some faint light rays coming through the dark trees behind my house, but the photo came out too dark. Once I got it on the computer screen, I could see two eyes that had reflected back to the camera. I have had this experience with a flashlight, the eyes were far away and low to the ground so I could not (nor did I want to) figure out what it was. This photo probably capture something in the trees at that moment. Spooky!   08/26/2011

    A few years ago we heard of a cat that was abandoned in an apartment community. I was never much of a cat lover. But his guy reason has earned my appreciation for cats. There has been a lot of talk recently about people leaving there pets when they move out of there homes and apartments. Passing this burden of stray pets onto neighbors and management is not humane. Thousands of pets are left behind. These animals are usually brought to the pound and made available for adoption. Because of the large numbers of pets being taken in, it is getting tougher to find homes for these animals. We were very fortunate to get our cat, maybe you would consider adopting one too.     Here are a few programs of adoption in the Placerville, Ca area.   View Larger Map   08/25/2011