January 17, 2024 - El Nino means less snow and more rain

 Ths Christmas was one of our family events.  We were lucky enough to have 30 up here for Christmas Day.  Most of our nieces and nephews stayed for several days.  But there was no snow.  This is the first year that we have seen absolutely no snow at Christmas.  There were not even any "remnants" that we could shovel into a sled run.  So, for the first time we were able to drive back to North Fork of the North Fork campgrounds and take our niece and nephew from Georgia to see the falls in Winter.  We also purchased a permit and cut a beautiful Silver Tip in the national forest for our tree (no Charlie Brown Christmas Tree this year).  

Though the kids were bummed that there was no sledding, Sugar Bowl was open so they managed to get in some skiing and snowboarding.  Also, a group went up to Northstar and went ice skating at the rink there.  And another group went to Reno to check out the fun adventures there and do some gambling.  

For the first time, we managed to get the family to do a recorded since along of "everything's gone missing but the mistletoe".  We posted our great performance up on Facebook as our  one and only Christmas card to everyone.  Our nephew, Noah played cameraman and our nephew Brandon, held the "mistletoe" from a fishing pole above our newly engaged couple's heads for that part of the song that required kissing.   We even got the adults to sing along and use props!1 It was so much fun that it might become a tradition.

Another new addition was playing silly Christmas game/competitions.  Blindfolding shoveling bows into a bowl, picking up marshmallows with a straw, etc.  Another great idea that will become a tradition.  

We decided to keep the meals simple and focus on fun and family - which was a great idea.  The kids were able to spend time at the game room (usually a snowy hike to get there).  And we added a new basketball game for them to use.  

For work on the lodge, prior to and after Christmas, Jim has been busy converting 3 giant plywood shipping crates into storage shedsto hold some of our firewood and store our outdoor tables and benches.  No more lugging that stuff down to the basement once our summer events had ended.  I even plan to store the portable garage frames in one of these sheds in the future making set up and tear down of the Reunion banquet halls a bit easier.  

Last weekend our nephew came up with a few friends for his winter visit.  Finally we got a storm so we had 3 feet of snow.  So sledding one day, a trip to Virginia City another day and a drive down highway 40 on the 3rd day.  Good food and gaming in the game room.  Got to meet two of the dads and kids from my nephew's son's water pollo team.  I am still adjusting to most all of the great nieces and nephews beginning to reach their teens. 

Next up - a visit from our nephew and his kids in 2 weeks and then President's Day weekend with my niece and her family.  We are hoping the snow improves.  It has been raining off and on since Sunday (not typical January weather). 

I wonder if the big snow of the 1950s and 1890s was followed by a light rainy winter.  I may need to look that up.  As usual, California uses the Sierra as it's biggest water storage and without the snow, that means that we will have drought in the summer.  We are seeing less and less cedars surviving the beetle blight and hotter temperatures in the summer.   Alas - most of this is part of climate change. 

Yesterday a car stopped in front of the lodge while I was out walking and the guy in it told me (through Taylor's barking) that he lived at the lodge and went to school next store in 1992. His foster parents were running a B&B here with the top floor rooms rented out and the lower floor their residence.  He did not get to tell me much else, but I referred him to the blog - so I am hoping he can share a bit of his history here.  

Taylor and I have been managing to walk 5 miles per day (even in the snow and ice).  Shorter and more frequent walks.  Currently gray outside with intermittent rain.  Taylor is napping and I am updating our blog (which seems to only be updated once every 3 - 4 months now). 

With the world as troubled as it is, we are so very thankful that we have found this sanctuary in the mountains.