Where is winter?

Well, for the second year in a row, it looks like we're not going to have a winter.  I could actually bring us good luck by stating this prediction. As I look out my window, it's the end of February and we've had one tiny little snow so far this season.  But we're suppose to get snow tonight and tomorrow so who knows....maybe winter is just late this year. I hope so.

Our mountain has fantastic water because it's OUR WATER! No Colorado River water. Not from some aqueduct or holding pond. Straight off our mountain. Where else in California can you get a delicious glass of water straight out of the tap? THAT's the reason we need it to snow.

Unlike some global warming alarmists, I choose to believe that the earth goes through regular cycles of dry years and wet years. I do believe we can be good stewards of our earth, but even if you go back to the bible, you hear things like... there were 7 years of drought followed by 7 years of plenty. Or stuff like that. So I'm a believer that this too shall pass; the dry winters that is. The east coast is getting all the weather this year, and maybe next year it'll be our turn.

So don't fear my friends. We may be having another winterless year, but just like our own bodies, the earth is designed to heal & balance itself, and I for one believe it will tilt the other direction soon and we'll be wishing for a mild winter.

Winter In Idyllwild

Winter seems to be here early this year. We had our first snowfall on November 21st and over Thanksgiving, temperatures dropped into the teens. Very unusual. According to the acorns on the trees, it's going to be a harsh winter. All the locals will tell you they've never seen so many acorns on the Oaks. Nature's way of telling the squirrels to "Stock Up".

According to the Farmer's Almanac, December is suppose to be wetter than normal. That MAY mean snowier than normal for us, or it could just mean rainier than normal. January and February will be the coldest months, but below average for snowfall (yeah.....I'll believe THAT when I see it).

The bottom line is, the weather has been wacky EVERYWHERE, we are in the mountains, so be prepared for extreme weather in either direction (unseasonably warm AND unseasonably COLD). If you are in doubt, don''t come. I don't want anyone to have a bad visit because they are too cold, and most all our units are heated with wall heaters. None of our houses have "forced air heating" so that means that in the coldest months, some rooms may be colder than others.

If you think of yourself as a "Pioneer Type" then you should be fine. If you think of yourself as a "Marriott Type" you may want to wait until Spring when the weather is more predictable. I'm just being VERY honest with you! Give us a call. We can usually predict up to 10 days in advance what kind of weather you may be in for.

If you are looking for snow, sign up on our "Snow Alert" list on our website. We'll send out an email when it snows or snow is eminent.

Fall is in the Air.

Fall is definitely in the air. The acorns are dropping like crazy, and the squirrels are gnawing on pine cones & acorns, making messes EVERYWHERE! In addition, they are NOT watching out for oncoming cars in their haste to store away their Winter meals. So now is the time to drive carefully & give a little honk to help the squirrels make up their minds and possibly save their lives.

Even though we got down to 42 degrees last week (just one morning), the warm weather is still here, and soon we will be getting those pesky Santa Ana winds that make us all nervous about fires. Early September is a great time to catch a 1-nighter at your favorite Lodge or Inn. There is a natural "lull" right after Labor Day when people tend to get back to school, back to work, back to whatever it is they've spent the summer NOT doing. So it is extra quiet up here in Idyllwild the first few weeks following Labor Day.

If you haven't made plans for Thanksgiving, now is the time to secure your cabin in the mountains, if that is what your family likes to do. www.IdyLodging.com has Thanksgiving listed including all Inns, Lodges, B&B's & Property Mgmt Co.'s that have availability for the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend.

Looking for fire starters? The Forest Service Fire Roads are full of pine cones big and small that make GREAT winter fire starters. Bring up an empty trash can and collect the small dry "Prickley" Ponderosa pine cones or the "Gentle" Jeffrey pine cones. For real impact, you can find those awesome "Killer" Coulter pine cones. They ARE the biggest pine cones in the world, and they are usually covered in sap that makes for great fire starters. If you want to bake one in your oven (don't forget to line your cookie sheet with foil first) you can make your home smell like a pine forest. Those fold-able canvas trash containers they sell at Home Depot make great light-weight collection containers for your winter pine cone cache.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at Silver Pines Lodge or Creekstone Inn. We will be happy to help you in whatever Fall endeavor you're attempting. We're here to help you have a good time in Idyllwild.

Silver Pines Lodge 951-659-4335
Creekstone Inn 951-659-3342

Back To Basics Vacationing!

It's been a hard year for most everyone. Many have lost their jobs, others are struggling to keep their doors open. In this economy, nobody is taking BIG expensive vacations. You can still get away and get "Back To Basics" the way people used to vacation 100 years ago.

Idyllwild has been a beautiful Off-The Beaten-Path getaway for 100 years or more. You can still find lodging for under $100 a night, BBQ hamburgers or steaks, feed the squirrels, walk your dog, play cards, jump rocks along the creek, and watch a movie in the coziness of your own little cabin.

If you can, come mid-week and get a discounted rate. It's quieter too! You can go out to eat for "Taco Night" where $1 tacos are affordable. No stop lights, no Starbucks, no city lights, no loud noises, just peacefull mountain nights.

Summer Time!

Many visitors to the hill are surprised that the majority of residents DON'T have Air Conditioning. They can't imagine surviving without Air Conditioning, and often don't want to even come and visit. Locals know that even when we DO have a HOT SPELL, the most intense time is only for a few hours a day, maybe 1-3 PM. After that, it's back to tolerable, and most of the time spectacular temperatures. Still, most of us live in homes with second stories, and sometimes the heat can make you grumpy.

Share some of your ideas on how to BEAT THE HEAT.

Welcome to 'tis the season...in Idyllwild

This is my first attempt at a blog. It was inspired by my natural curiosity & my knowledge that ALL OF US ARE SMARTER THAN SOME OF US. I often have questions about things that pertain to the season, such as why are the frogs in my pond croaking like crazy for only a few weeks a year? I'm also surprised, after living in Idyllwild for 16 years, I'm always learning of new ways to make my life on the hill easier or more interesting. So I thought I would start this blog so everyone could share their ideas, knowledge, & tips with each other. Know-It-Alls are NOT welcome. We encourage you to be open-minded, humble, & have a spirit of sharing, your knowledge. And we also encourage patience and kindness in responding to other bloggers. If you disagree or know something is inaccurate, please try your hardest to make that known in the gentlest way possible.

If you have questions you would like input on, or are experiencing some difficulty with something, please feel free to post it and get ready for some varied suggestions.