Mini trip for Halloween

I'm going down to my son's for a few days. Get to see the bambinos "in costume" and maybe hand out candy...., and ' of course, TAKE PICTURES..., and spoil the "bams". See you'all Sunday.

"... and with love they survived."

Yesterday the Prospector and I took a drive to Folsom. We went down there to get some information and maps about the mining claims in our area. The BLM people were very helpful.
Afterwards we went to Zittels Pumpkin farm across the American River from Old Town Folsom. It used to be my favorite place to buy gourds but the family retired and now they just sell pumpkins. It was a beautiful day and we had just missed a couple of bus loads of students that came to see the farm, so the place was almost empty and a perfect time for taking pictures.

On our way back home we stopped at The Grace Foundation in El Dorado Hills. This is a horse rescue and safe haven for many other animals too. The foundation began with 16 horses that were rescued from an abusive owner. Now they work with Sacramento County to help save as many abuse and neglected animals as possible.
We were greeted by some very nice folks ( and a couple of friendly dogs ), who gave us a tour of the facility and explained what they do and how they do it. They are compassionate and dedicated people that rescue and rehabilitate horses and other animals on a very tight budget. This is a LABOR OF LOVE for them and most of the hard work is done by volunteers. They have youth programs for "special" children, where the child and the animal can interact and have a positive effect on each other. They invite inner-city kids to come out and experence the farm and offer riding lessons for all of the children. They are also working on a wonderful place called PONY TOWN. This is an interactive old town , sponsored by The Rotary Club of Historic Folsom, that will provide hands-on learning about history and life skills.

We were so impressed with the concern and love that these people have for the animals and the vision of where they are going and how they plan to do it, that we not only made a donation but we also will be volunteering our time on "work days" to help their cause.

Please take a look at their website at: www.thegracefoundationofnocal.org. It's a wonderful thing that these people are doing. I think that animals are teachers and we are their stewards. How we treat the animals in this world is a large part of taking care of the earth. Even the smallest effort is an example of man's humanity.

"We can do no great things, only small things with great love." ~Mother Teresa~

A Sherlock Holmes Mystery

Look at these beautiful apples. They have been doing so well in our orchard and I was just about to pick them. I took these photos a few days ago. There weren't that many of them this year. I don't know why, but there were enough to make a couple of big apple pies. We were looking forward to one yesterday. I walked up to the orchard in the morning, opened the gate and as I walked toward the tree I stopped dead in my tracks. All the apples were GONE...., everyone of them.

None of the apples were on the ground and there were no half eaten ones left on the branches. Every apple had disappeared. The gate was latched and I saw no breaches through the fence. I don't think that the deer have ever gotton over the fence or any other critter for that matter. We have never had a problem except, of course, for birds. This year the birds didn't seem to be around much and I hadn't even though about using netting, as in other years. I'm at a loss for an answer.
I can't imagine that a person would have done this because we live so far out and away from everyone. It is deer season here in California though and we do have a lot of hunting going on around us. I guess it's possible that a hunter saw the tree and decided to help himself. But every last apple? The orchard is way up the hill near our well and we can't see it from the house. Maybe some hungry hunter forgot his(or her) lunch. But why every apple on the tree? I don't know what to think. There are no footprints to follow and no tell-tale pieces of apple on the ground. This is definitely a mystery for Sherlock Holmes. What do you think?