Now that wintertime is truly here in full force, it’s finally time to play in the snow. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to increase my outdoor skills while frolicking around this winter wonderland. One of my favorite ways to do this is building myself a snow fort. Knowing how to build a…
With the abundant snow that has fallen in Idyllwild, an appropriate topic for this month’s contribution from the James Reserve is winter. Even though we may have thought winter started a couple of months ago, in reality we are only in the first few weeks of the official winter season. Marked as starting around Dec….
Editor: My wife and I are part-timers in Fern Valley. We have owned the property for close to 21 years and enjoy our visits there, roughly 50-plus days per year. We wish we could stay more often. And to be very honest, we opt to avoid the inclement weather full-timers must endure. But, as it…
You would think that having lived at 5,000-plus elevation for nearly 40 years and Jack for more than 30, ominous warnings of a major snowfall would prompt us to prepare for the worst. Well, we spent more time dealing with the business and filling in for sick employees than thinking of ourselves. We failed to…
Great week for ARF and the lost canines in our community. Several separate incidents of lost dogs occurred in Fern Valley, and Mountain Center. Some have been reunited, others not. Hurray for Luke and Finn, two of our Star Wars kittens who have been adopted. That leaves Chewy. Chewy is about 8 weeks old and…
2016 marks the 70th anniversary of the most extraordinary year in Idyllwild’s history. 1946 saw the birth of such landmark institutions as the Town Crier, Idyllwild Mountain Inn, Town Hall, Sportland recreation center, Foster Lake, Desert Sun School, Fern Valley Corners, Community Presbyterian Church, Hidden Lodge ski resort and Idyllwild’s own telephone exchange. I’ve written…
Last week, our Dolores remained home in bed most of the week sick with a sinus infection. Several of us worked double-duty to cover the front desk, including answering many inquiries about snow from tourists. They ranged from phone calls asking if we “had snow up there” to folk landing in the Visitors Center to…
Sunday afternoon bill-paying time involved categorizing stacks into utilities, medical bills, loans and miscellaneous. I slit open the envelopes and, a little cautiously, peering inside. Sometimes I’m shocked at the amount beside the dollar sign but most of the time I know what to expect. When I unfolded the propane bill, I felt shock and…
Kaylena is a young female kitten about 12 weeks old. Her brother was adopted, and she is looking for someone to be patient with her as she is very shy. After a few consistent days, she loves to be held and played with. Introducing the Star Wars kittens Luke, Chewy and Finn. All three are…
The following is but a demonstration of the wealth there is in our being Irish. My older sister insists that the wonderful thing about the Irish is they are always fey, or a bit off the ground. While getting drunk and shooting at each other seem also to be part of our heritage, my sister…
