Good bye 2008!

I am not sure how much longer the Lassen County Courthouse will be in use. I believe construction for the new, updated courthouse starts in 2009. Too bad this building is too small for our growing county. It really is beautiful.

Susanville Elks Lodge

There wasn't much traffic on Christmas afternoon. The Elks Lodge at the start of town looked great surrounded with snow.

Lassen County Courthouse

I used to live around the corner from the courthouse. When my kids were little, we would walk past the courthouse at least once a day during the good weather. It is a beautiful building.

18th hole

My parents live next to the golf course. We take many walks here throughout the year.

Snow Angel

We took a walk on the golf course on Christmas Day. It was a blank canvas for my kids and my nephew.

Merry Christmas!!!

This house is down the street from us. The snow from last week has melted. Last Monday the candy cane border was nearly covered in snow. Just the top tip of the those candy canes were sticking up out of the snow.

This family had their yard vandalized a few weeks ago. Luckily it seems like nothing was broken. But they had to put many things back in their spots. We love driving by, this picture does not do it justice.

Little Hearts

This photo did not turn out well at all. But when I looked closely, most of the lights look like hearts.

Thompson Peak

Thompson Peak is probably the tallest mountain in our little valley. Susanville is situated at the start of a narrow valley

Clearing the snow

Last week after the heavy snow, this person was clearing their driveway early in the morning.

The Old Mill

The old mill is being slowly torn down. It is owned by Sierra Pacific and closed down about 4 years ago. I am sure the snow we have now is slowing the demolition process.

Staying warm

It has been a cold week with lots of snow. As I am taking this photo, my little dog is trying to sit in my lap in front of the wood stove. He lays next to it with his head resting on the bricks. He doesn't understand why I keep telling him to sit next to me and not in my lap.

Snowy branches

On Monday the weather cleared up for a few hours, then dumped more snow on us. My kids were shaking the trees and laughing hysterically when all that snow from those branches fell on their heads. A little while later they were freezing to death and *needed* hot cocoa.

Snowy roads

The snow plows made a fast appearance on Monday.

Don't eat the yellow snow.....

Don't eat the yellow snow I say to my kids. "But why?" They ask. Follow the dog and you shall see. Luckily they heeded my advice.

Winters first 'real' snow

Susanville had more then just a dusting of snow today. Luckily the snow plows came by early and not a few days later. The roads are a little yucky, but I have nowhere I need to be today. If we got this much, I can only imagine how much they are getting up the hill in Westwood.

The Health Nut

The local health food store has an old sign above their back door. It is a great store, lots of yummy things there.

Masonic Temple

The Masonic Temple is next to City Hall.

Friday Sky Watch

Sunset this Thursday. Check out other blogs participating in Sky Watch Friday at: http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Old barn

This old barn is out in Litchfield/Standish area. About 15 miles outside of Susanville. Now that I know where it is, I will go back for better photos.

Pheasants

Outside of town many of the fields have been plowed under. Pheasants can be seen all over those fields. They are fast! They hear your car coming and take off. Thanks to my sister for snapping this shot.

Parking lot deer

The deer in this area wander through the neighborhoods every day. We live at the edge of the forest, so it is common to see deer everyday. My sisters apartment complex has deer that roam around and sleep in the parking lot. My nephew calls them the parking lot deer. It is really cute.

Christmas Decorations on Main Street

Every year Susanville hangs a variety of lighted decorations over Main Street. They look amazing at night after a fresh coat of snow.

Susanville Tree Lighting/Parade

Tonight was Susanville's annual Christmas Light Parade and Tree Lighting. Before the parade we walked around looking at the store displays and bought some snacks. After the parade, we walked a block uptown to see the tree lighting. After the tree was lit, there was a fireworks show. We were really close to it and the kids loved it. I think the whole town showed up this year. This is the best attendance I have ever seen. I think adding the parade and fireworks really helped.

Official kick off to Christmas!

Our Christmas tree is up and the house is decorated for the holidays. I hope all of you have a relaxing holiday season and don't over do it with the madness that is typical this time of year.

Leaves along the Susan River

River Reflection

Here is another photo from Hobo Camp. It was taken a few weeks before the photo that I posted yesterday. I really love that bike trail, it is beautiful year round.

Bizz Johnson Bike Trail

I took this photo in autumn of 2006. This is a bridge over the Susan River along the Bizz Johnson Trail. This is at the Hobo Camp picnic area. We used to live really close to this area, about 5 minutes on foot. The kids and I would come here ALOT. We don't get there as much these days, but it is still one of our favorite places to go.

Tractors

These tractors are at Wemple's Pumpkin Patch. It has been a long week, so I am using some older photos until I have time to get out and about for new ones!

Mt. Lassen

This is Mt. Lassen as seen from State Highway 36. This is still an active volcano. It hasn't erupted in nearly 100 years. It is the southern most volcano in the Cascade mountian range.

Memorial Park

Last month the trees still had all their leaves when I took this photo. Now, they are pretty bare.

Gov. Isaac Roop

Isaac Roop was once Governor of the Nevada Territory which includes North Eastern Calif. The town of Susanville was named for his daughter, Susan. The link below has an interesting account of how Susanville became settled and the disputes that took place.

http://www.cagenweb.com/lassen/his.htm

Bizz Johnson Trail is honored

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http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/1378330.html

Bizz Johnson trail honored as a former railroad route

Published: Friday, Nov. 07, 2008 Page 2B

Bizz Johnson trail honored as a former railroad route
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a national organization, has named the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail as the eighth inductee to the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame honors exemplary public trails that were converted from former rail lines and corridors.
The Bizz Johnson trail runs along the Susan River in Lassen County. The main trail head is at the old Railroad Depot in Susanville.
The trail is featured in Rails to Trails magazine and on the Web site, http://www.railstotrails.org/.
The 24.5-mile multiuse trail is the longest rail-trail in California. It follows the former Southern Pacific railroad's Fernley and Lassen branch line, which carried lumber and passengers from 1914 to 1956.
The route leads through dense high-country woodlands and Susan River Canyon. Along its route from Susanville to Westwood are trestles, tunnels and two trail museums.
– Ramon Coronado

Honoring those who have served.

2008 Susanville Veteran's Parade.

Paul Bunyan and Babe the Ox

Westwood, Ca is one town over from Susanville. It is about 16 miles away. Westwood is said to be the place where the Paul Bunyan legend began. There are several other towns across the US that have the same claim. Westwood has two large statues as a tribute to the logging legend.

The caboose on Richmond Road sits on the train tracks that took Susanville from a tiny ranching community to a milling town early in the 20th century. The mills are closed, but the caboose, a rebuilt depot, and a small section of track remain.

I think the mountain in the background is Susanville Peak. You can see many trees turning colors amongst the pines.

http://www.lassencountychamber.org/places.html

Indian Summer

The weather this fall has been amazing. The warm weather is unexpected this time of year, but certainly appreciated. Today is overcast and we may have rain tomorrow. Hopefully we can trick-or-treat with no rain!

Halloween Decorations

http://susanvilledailyphoto.blogspot.com/search/label/Lassen%20%27L%27

http://susanvilledailyphoto.blogspot.com/2008/02/lassen-l-on-hill.html

I pass this decorated yard just about anytime I go anywhere. It is on one of the main roads in this area. They also have more decorations I will post this week. You can partially see the Lassen 'L' in the background. More posts with the Lassen 'L' are above.

Prop. 8 march

Saturday some residents walked down Main Street showing their support for 'NO' on Prop. 8. Prop. 8 is a very hot topic right now.

Next week's election is going to be interesting to say the least!

I forgot to say thanks to my sister for snapping this photo when we were putting up yard sale signs!

Prop 8 resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Proposition_8_(2008)

http://www.protectmarriage.com/

http://www.noonprop8.com/about/fact-vs-fiction?source=google&gclid=CMaExLrxypYCFQ9RrgodjVrsyA

Halloween Display

This home in Susanville is ready for Halloween!

Gotta love the lawn decorations!

This is in front of a little garden shop in Chester, CA. My kids LOVED it.

Deer skinning on Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!

Deer hunting season has started in Lassen County. Idaho grocery (one of Susanville's oldest businesses) has a mobile service to dress out the deer. I have heard through the grapevine that it is a very good service. Thanks to my sister for taking the photo's while we were driving past!

The Susanville Rhino

When this building was remodeled 5+ years ago, the Rhino was added. I don't know why this was added. But, it is interesting right on Main Street. The hat does change from time to time. The building has been empty for close to a year, maybe longer. The window with the Stevens Realty sign used to have stuffed and mounted deer heads sitting in the front windows. They were not hung up, just laying on their sides in the window sill. It didn't exactly yell out "rent me" with the deer heads laying around!! Next time I am walking by, I will have to check to see if the heads are still in there.

I love Autumn

The trees at my parents house are really pretty right now. Hopefully this will last a few more weeks!