Rabbits and pigs

We got back to Whisper Canyon on Tuesday PM. That night we were awoken several times by noises under the house. Sounded like pipes being chewed on, some scratching sounds, even sounded like a trap snapping shut but I had not set any traps. So in the morning I check our water heater closet and caught a baby cotton tail rabbit inside. There was a pile of fiberglass insulation that had been pulled out of the  heater. Well I did not move it far enough away.

Second time I caught this one

So today I checked again and caught the small rabbit again. This time I moved it to near the water tank. Drove by a few hours latter and he was still near where I dropped him off.
     About a week ago I mounted a game camera to a tree at the east end of Kavanaugh creek. Late afternoon Jennifer and I drove into the canyon, walked to the east end and exchanged data cards. I new I had 10 pictures taken during the week but thought it might be just deer.

We had been seeing tracks of a lone pig. You can see that he is moving briskly here. The camera is fun because you get so much information stamped on the picture. It also took 2 pictures of turkeys . I think the wind and moving branches triggered some of the pictures. Jennifer and I delight in caring for this camp.
    We had 18 men from Los Osos enjoying a men's retreat this weekend. Spent a little time with them in a short hike into the canyon. Mostly our responsibility is on the janitorial side when groups come. We see our job as preparing the camp so that the spirit can move with ease.

Hesperia Hall

After seeing the two groups off for home, that came and camped at Whisper Canyon this weekend, we went to Hesperia Hall and their annual chicken BBQ, white elephant auction fund raiser, which funds in part  local scholarships.

The chicken lunch was wonderful. We met some of our neighbors directly across from us we had not had an opportunity to meet before.  Also spent some time talking Harry Batrum one of the originators of Whisper Canyon.

Now I cannot tell you much about the cars,but I will say the variety of things to do and things you can be involved in is delightful. Caring for Whisper Canyon keeps us busy but we have tried to make the monthly  potlucks  and are involved with the local CERT group, that's community emergency response team. We received training in Santa Clara and are trying to participate in this areas planning for an emergency.

Stockade boys at Whisper Canyon

We had a small group of stockade boys join us at whisper for the weekend. Actually it was a father son outing for them. They took advantage of the trail that was cut in by PBCC high school students to a natural rock slide we have.

beginning of the trail at the dam

 

 

There were several sore bottoms because the rock is not smooth and the water level is dropping. Kavanaugh creek is a seasonal creek . During the rains of a few weeks ago we could hear the creek from the caretakers unit.

The rock even has a few fossils embedded in it. This is just a short hike from the man made water slide.

I had the boys pick up these rocks and we made 2 trips down the canyon road working on erosion control.

It is not a big load of rocks but it helps to slow the flow of water when it rains

Not sure the origins of these rocks. They are the round river washed type .Apparently the were dropped of some time ago. A little work and a little play. It was a good day

End of March rains

The week of March 20th was a very wet one. We received 6 inches of rain during the week. The camp became super saturated. We did not drive off the gravel roads, and even the roads were soggy.

Streams along the road

This also made it tough to be a gopher. The next picture shows a small culvert that goes under our driveway near the orchard. The bubbling you see is water exiting a gopher hole. You can find this happening in several places around the property.

Spring cleaning for the gophers

 

So for the time being the ground is to wet to run the tractor for cutting the grasses. Fortunately they are not to tall just yet. The next big chore will be mowing of one form or another.

Friday, 4-1

VBS has concluded. Thursday PM was circle of affirmation time. Friday was communion and breaking of camp. For Jennifer and I it was a very full week. My To Do List was decimated, which is a very sweet thing. Here are 2 pictures of how the tents were set up

Here is the Girls tent area in the RV park

We had the boys down the hill on a natural flat area. They played some ball games in the central area of their tents

Victory circle is just of the right of the boys tents

A time of music and  Communion was held just before breaking camp and heading for Cupertino

Communion and reflection

Praying for the seniors

Our next groups will also be from PBCC. We have the stockade boys and their  dads along with the Grace Notes  sharing the camp on April 16 /17. Jennifer and I will be starting on mowing the grasses