Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
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by Tim Hauserman
Lake Tahoe has it’s own awesome writing event right on the shore of Lake Tahoe this coming weekend, October 21-22nd. Lake Tahoe Word Wave is a shouldn’t be missed event for anyone interested in writing and reading. In addition to enjoying interesting and informative presentations, you get to hang out at the spectacular setting which is Valhalla: A classic old Tahoe retreat on the quiet, lovely grounds which once housed the Baldwin Hotel. It is located between Camp Richardson and Taylor Creek.
The festivities begin on the evening of Friday October 21st with a Tall Timber Ball at Valhalla’s Grand Hall.
On Saturday, October 22nd there is a full schedule of events including:
Galadrielle Allman, who penned the memoir, “Please be with me: A song for my father Duane Allman,” Chosen by Amazon as a Best Book for 2014. Her story, “Only Women Bleed,” is included in the forthcoming anthology Crime + Music. Galadrielle is presently working on a novel about teenage love and punk rock music.
Craft and Courage (And the twelve years it took for my first book deal): Melissa Cistaro discusses what sustained her through the long journey of writing her memoir “Pieces of my mother.” She works as a writing mentor and event coordinator at Book Passage, the esteemed independent bookstore in Northern California, where she has introduced hundreds of authors.
Writing the Healing Story: How do we put together the pieces of our past and find the courage to craft our narrative truths?
Novel writing camp for kids
Makers station with hands on activities for all ages.
Alice Anderson Poetry Workshop
The Agents Are Coming! The Agents Are Coming!
Fuse Literary Agency teaches a proposal class, and conducts a panel on current publishing trends, with the opportunity for writers to meet meet one-on-one with agents.
A staged reading of the winning WordWave one-act plays at Valhalla’s historic Boathouse Theatre.
Sunday morning, October 23 will be a “Mysterious Morning”, which is a conversation with Tahoe mystery writer Todd Borg, James Rollins, and Galadrielle Allman.
For information and a detailed schedule go to tahoewordwave.com
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THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
Share this: Lynn Richardson, Your Friend in High Places
By Tim Hauserman
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Once Highway 40 was known as the Lincoln Highway, and was the main route across the Sierra between Sacramento and Reno. Little towns such as Big Bend and Cisco Grove were places to eat, pick up some groceries, or purchase a gift before the final push over Donner Summit into Truckee. With the completion of Interstate 80, the commercial establishments along much of Highway 40 died away, but many of the original buildings and character of the communities still exist.
Cisco Grove has Gould Park, a 15 acre swath of greenery on the banks of the bustling Yuba River. From here begins the 20 Mile Museum, which includes dozens of interpretative signs along Highway 40 all the way to Donner Lake. Each sign tells the story of where you are and gives ideas for things to do nearby.
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Cisco Grove contains a host of fascinating buildings, many constructed of rock. Just another mile or so up Highway 40 lies Big Bend. On the way, be sure and marvel at the mini rapids in the Yuba River as you travel underneath Interstate 80.
Big Bend is home to a major Forest Service Fire Station, campground, the popular Loch Leven Lakes trail, and ancient cabins tucked along the Yuba River. A bit further upstream you reach The Rainbow Lodge, and then a series of fascinating cascades which splash over the smooth granite. A few lucky homes sit tucked amongst the rocks enjoying delicious natural pools in their back yards.
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While Old 40 is a leisurely drive, the best way to see Big Bend and Cisco Grove is via bicycle, in fact it is one of the most popular bike rides in the area. The road is lightly traveled, but well maintained, and the ride is pleasant and beautiful. It is also deceptively challenging. From the top of Donner Summit to Cisco Grove feels like a nice gentle descent while riding west, but feels like a long, not as gentle as you thought, ride back to the top. Especially the section between Kingvale and Soda Springs. It feels easier to start in Cisco Grove and warm up with the climb.
Whether you drive or ride, a visit to Cisco Grove and Big Bend, is a perfect way to break up the drive from the Bay Area to Truckee, and will feel like a step back in time.
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THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
Share this: Lynn Richardson, Your Friend in High Places
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By Tim Hauserman
Ah yes, there we are merrily enjoying the beauty of the waning Tahoe summer when they arrive. Swarms of them, we can hear them in the forest, we can see them all around, and if we get between them and our food they may choose us as their evening punching bag. Yellow jackets. Not Tahoe’s favorite animals. Especially when you are camping in the forest or throwing some chicken on the barbie. They do, however, consume massive quantities of other pest insects and apparently whether we like it or not, are a part of the mountain ecosystem.
Since we are stuck with them, I suppose it is a good idea to understand them. First, yellow jackets are not bees, they are wasps. Predatory wasps of the genera vespula dolichoespula to be exact. Females are capable of stinging with their lance like stingers that have small barbs on the end. Similar to bees, they are not a threat to humans, unless you have a reaction to the venom, in which case they can send you to the hospital.
Yellow jackets live in colonies in tree stumps, soil cavities or nests. The weather in the spring helps decide what sort of a yellow jacket season we will have. Cold, wet springs can wipe out the queens, giving us a respite from the little buggers. This was not a cold, wet spring, so we got em all over the place this fall. While the nests are formed in the spring, it is in the mid-summer when the adult workers emerge to forage for food. This is when they bring food back to the nest, which enables the queen to expand the nest rapidly, creating wasps like crazy. Once the wet and cold arrives in the fall, the yellow jackets die off and their nests do not make it through the winter.
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How to keep the infestation down to size?
-Yellow Jacket traps can be found at hardware stores. Don’t scrimp. Get more then one and place them in your yard, especially near garbage containers and the BBQ.
-They are attracted to sugary drinks and may fly into a can. Pour the drink into a cup so you know if a yellow jacket has decided to take a sugar swim.
-If you find a nest near your home, you can contact a pest control company to eliminate it.
-When eating outdoors in areas where yellow jackets are active. Cover all food until you are ready to eat. You can build do it yourself traps with a coffee can. Put soapy water in the bottom. Put a stick with a piece of meat on the top. Once they eat they drop into the water and can’t get out.
Treating a sting:
For most a yellow jacket sting is painful, but not threatening. Wash the area with soap and water. Apply cold water or ice to the site, perhaps with a bit of meat tenderizer. Take Benadryl to reduce swelling and deal with a reaction.
Often if there is one yellow jacket sting, their buddies get excited and don’t want to miss out on the action. This is when things can get dicey. If you are allergic, seek medical help right away. Especially if you are the victim of more then one sting.
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THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
Share this: Lynn Richardson, Your Friend in High Places
YOUR FRIEND IN HIGH PLACES 