Added a new link to vegetable garden blogger Bill Bird’s excellent Sacramento Vegetable Gardening blog.
Although not exactly a Redding resource, I imagine Sacramento vegetable gardeners face many of the same challenges as we do. His posts are written in an entertaining and informative personal style you will enjoy. Click on over for a good read, and to catch up with Bill and The Wife That Is Venus.
Some Victorian and other interesting homes in Yreka California
Below are a few photos I recently captured in Yreka California. Lovely buildings remain from Yreka’s golden era, including Victorian, Neo Classical, Edwardian, and Craftsman styles of architecture. Yreka is a small town located about an hour and a half north of Redding on Interstate 5. It’s currently the county seat for Siskiyou County. It’s sort of a sleepy village, alongside a busy interstate. But in the early part of the last century, it was evidently a bustling gold mining center. Click on any to slightly enlarge.
Yreka is worth a visit from Redding. The drive is one of the most beautiful 90 minutes in the Northstate. And Yreka’s gilded glimpse into our mining past is worth a look. Redding never achieved that sort of style, even in our timber and mining boom years of the last century.
Mt Shasta so real it looks fake
One of those images of northstate beauty that almost looks faked. Too gorgeous to be real.
Click to slightly enlarge. Shastina and Mt Shasta from Siskiyou County, not quite an hour from Redding.
She could sure use some more snow this year. This dry season. But the powdered sugar dusting simply adds contrast to her craggy majesty. Snowfall as wispy as that cloud overhead. Shot taken yesterday from a moving vehicle, no less. You have to grab the image when it grabs you. Hopefully, we’ll see her in a few days sporting a more substantial white cloak.
Crazy Lady Ranch
A bit of Fall color
I took these images in Trinity County yesterday, on a work related journey into the mountains northwest of Redding.
Above, the Stuart Fork of the Trinity River. You can usually find some spots of riotous color in the Northstate. But for the most part, the forests around us are accented in Autumn with muted orange, golds, and browns. And this year is particularly dry, too.
Meanwhile back in Redding, we are still getting ripe tomatoes in early November. This may be last few for this year however. Another blessing of our mild Winters.
Greenish bird with red topknot comes knocking
I don’t know what kind of bird this is, but it really seems to want to come inside the house.
The red topknot folds down into a red spot when not in use.
Persistent bird has been tapping on the window for most of 2 days now. Click to enlarge.
Not getting much work done with bird tapping away. Maybe that’s okay.
Butch the cat votes for letting persistent bird in. I’m afraid his vote doesn’t count.
Persistent red topknot bird. It’s ReallyRedding.
Record Searchlight goes retro to celebrate anniversary
If you haven’t seen it, today’s local newspaper looks pleasingly retro. The Redding Record Searchlight is formatted to look like an older version of itself in celebration of their 75th year of publication.
Click to enlarge slightly. What they really needed to do to get authentic was put some kids on the street waving the issue around in morning traffic.
Our community needs a strong daily. Our civilization requires an informed citizenry. Happy 75th, Record Searchlight. Carry on.
A celebration of life at Redding Dragstrip
The words across from the Really Redding header says “Life and all in Redding California.” So, “all” includes end of life as well. This is a cross-post from the Redding Dragstrip website. I wrote of a memorial service for my friend Bob Lidell.
It was a picture perfect Fall day yesterday at the Redding Dragstrip, as friends and family came together to celebrate and reflect on the life of track President Bob Lidell, who passed away unexpectedly last Monday. And although I don’t usually take photos at this kind of gathering, I felt this was an exception. Bob was a community figure, as evidenced by the large turnout.
Click on these to enlarge a bit, if you like. Bob’s race car served as a metaphor, and Paul Warner spoke eloquently that none of us knows where or when the finish line to our race will come.
Bob was a Vietnam Veteran, and received all due respect.
It was a time for somber reflection. Bob’s immediate family offers a toast.
But it was a celebration too, and there were a few light moments. Somebody played Bob’s cell phone message over the P.A. It was good to hear his voice again.
But then the disembodied phone company message finished by telling us that Bob’s voicemailbox was full, and would be accepting no more messages. That sounded like Bob, alright. He was a perpetually busy guy. Going full blast, right up to the finish line.
I posted a bit of the ceremony so you can get the essence of it.R.I.P. Bob Lidell. You will be greatly missed. You were ReallyRedding.
Troxell’s Big Red Orchard – apples in abundance
Head out Highway 299 east from Redding for about 34 miles. Just past the Montgomery Creek School on the right, you’ll find Troxell’s Big Red Orchard. That’s the place to go to buy fresh apples. (530) 337-6699
Gerald Troxell will help you figure out which apple will work best for your particular appetite, or for what cooking plans you have in mind. They’ve got all the popular varieties. The Round Mountain/Montgomery Creek microclimate has always been well suited to apple orchards.
“A is for apple, shiny and round.”
Bag them yourself, a dollar fifty a pound.
(Edit) OMG You just have to try the King David variety!
Call for details (530) 337-6699
Get your Fall produce from the source. It’s Really Redding.
Redding style train song from Still Married
We are a train town in Redding. But if you want to ride out of town, the only passenger train leaves just after closing time at 2:20 am. That’s either pretty late, or awfully early, depending on your perspective. Cheer up. You can listen to a song about it by talented local music duo Still Married at this link:
http://www.stillmarried.net/whiskeytown
“2:20 is a lonely time for leaving
Plenty of regrets onboard this train
I know to every time there is a season
2:20 is the time to ride away”
2:20 may be the time to ride away, but 420 works for some too, evidently.
Redding bound train on a mural in nearby Cottonwood California. It’s Really Redding.