Palomar Mountain News

A few years ago I really had a wake-up call.  I was hosting a broker caravan for a nice listing in the city.  I always ask for suggestions to improve my marketing.  One of the agents attending said, “be sure to add that the home has a view”.  A view???  I looked at the group nodding in approval as I glanced out through the windows seeing other houses on the street.  They directed me to an area they thought was a ‘view’.

Guess we are just a little spoiled with our views from this mountain, aren’t we?   This one is a 360 with Lake Henshaw, a sliver of the ocean, rolling meadow, gorgeous oaks, the Observatory… all the wildflowers blooming now, and no other homes or even power poles blocking you view in any direction.

You have bragging rights being off the grid on this very beautiful 34 acres.  The well is in watering an orchard with fruit trees and berries.  Where would you build that dream home?  There is a map waiting for you and lots of photos.  Click for photos and more info.

Meanwhile, let’s go take a look around!

Bonnie Phelps, Realtor

This very beautiful, but wet, heavy snow took down a lot of trees and branches all around the mountain.  Lots of oak on the ground for firewood for the next couple winters for many folks. It was sad to see so many apple branches and entire apple trees on the ground.  Those trees are about 140 years old, I’m guessing so I think some folks will be doing some planting this year for the next generations to enjoy.

Chain saws will be humming for weeks as there is a lot of clean-up to do.  We counted seven trees down on our property so are right there with you.  There is so much clean up to deal with that some people will make burn piles. Click burn permit info.

Free chipping available, too.  See flyer with details at the top of the Fire Safe Council webpage.

Need help?  Local Resources are listed here.

Do you live off the mountain?  I am glad to pop by and check your property. Just let me know.

Bonnie Phelps

The Star Party last Saturday night was a great time.  We were invited in the newly remodeled museum for a interesting talk by Steve Flanders.  Went back to the ‘Old School House’ for more info of what we were about to see through the telescopes.  Volunteers had their telescopes set up in the parking lot pointing at planets, lots of  great homemade goodies and a good time by all.

Tonight is a board meeting for the Community Center that planned the event.  6:30 in the trailer behind the fire station.  You’re invited to help with the next ones.  Here are the details and agenda:

Read More…

From: Stacy Eriksen

The Palomar Mountain Kids Club is happy to welcome author, Barbara Anne Waite to speak on Tuesday, May 9^th.  Barbara’s grandmother lived on the mountain nearly 100 years ago!  Barb used her grandmother’s diary to publish two books about her experiences and one is called Elsie’s Mountain:  Memories of Palomar and Southern California 1897 – 1987.  Barbara will be talking to mountain kids about what it was like to live here during those times, and will encourage us to keep journals as her grandmother did.

If it’s sunny, bring items that we can make a cyanotype craft with.  That was something Elsie did a hundred years ago!  Cyanotype are a type of photograph, made on light-sensitive paper.  Possible items for the craft might include a pressed leaf, a key, a feather  – anything that would look good in silhouette.  If it’s raining as predicted, a different craft will be done.

Everyone is invited to attend. (That means YOU!)  Barb will have both her books available and some wonderful vintage photos of Palomar.

Please bring an “old timey” item for our potluck – something that could have been made a hundred years ago.  Click for ideas

Join us on Tuesday, May 9^th at 10am at the Observatory Outreach Center on Canfield Road, between the USFS Fire Station and the Observatory.

For questions, email PalomarMtnKids@gmail.com , or call 0214.

The Palomar Mountain Kids Club — come play with us!

Many of us have been watching the weather forecast on the mountain the last week or so.  We are being tempted by a chance of snow this weekend at 4000 feet.  It has been so warm the past few days, it’s hard to believe. Snow in May?  Yes, it happens! We woke up to about two inches on my husband’s truck in 2015.  I took that pic to show his Carolina cousins what Southern California could be like in the merry month of May.

These late snows the past couple years can also be blamed for no apple crop.  We drove by our apple trees seeing heavy snow and sleet knocking all our little apples to the ground.  Our trees are loaded this year…

I remember another time we’d had beautiful sunny weather for a couple weeks.  A friend lived back in on a dirt road and decided to take her car to town to have it power washed and detailed after all the winter storms.  She came home that day to a couple inches of snow on the ground – June 2nd.  A surprise snow… true story!

Well, I see Sunday’s promise at this very moment is up to 80% Time will tell!

Enjoy your weekend and hope we have a great apple crop this year!

Bonnie Phelps

Feel the earthquake this morning?  Read More…

Click for info about the latest growing grounds.

(Thank you for heading the link our way Rosemary Johnston!)

Every year the Palomar Mountain Planning Organization (PMPO) publishes a newsletter that is mailed to the property owners and residents of the mountain.   Would you like to have an ad in this year’s newsletter? Read More…

Most of you have read about a change being made in an area we still call the Stage Stop 

Read More…

What is your favorite time of year?  Sunny sky or snow on the ground?

Vintage cabin from 1950 has great Read More…