Palomar Mountain News

Is this the cutest bear? “Light the Way Bear” and many other wonderful things are created in a woodworking shop atop a mountain in Southern California. Justin Davis, master crafter says, “I save trees from fireplaces”.

Justin takes orders, too! Check out Palomar Mountain Woodworks and some of his other projects.

Click to meet his family and their coming-to-Palomar story!

Some wonderful gift ideas with ties to the mountain have come my way.

Most of you remember our Annual Volunteer Fire Department Barbecue. For many years, Bob and Arlene Shuster brought up their big BBQ, tending the delicious beef we all enjoyed the next day. You might have seen Shuster Oil trucks up here as they deliver gas and diesel for those with their own tanks. Wearing many hats, Arlene is also a busy author. She just published her third book! So, there are three to choose from! Details on the latest are below and you can click to order here: Grandma’s Old Trunk Living Alone, Joy for Women who are Single Again Living Alone, Choices for Women who are Single Again

From: Arlene Shuster
Subject: Grandma’s Old Trunk

My Dear Friends,

Here’s a wonderful under $10 gift idea for the little ones in your life.  The illustrations were painted by Gail Niebrugge, Alaska’s most famous and beloved artist. She’s known world wide for her pointillism technique.

I wrote the whimsical story. Robbie Adkins-Polk, award winning graphic designer, lovingly put the book in the format for Amazon publishing.

Gail, Robbie and I are first cousins and share the same grandmother.  Each of us followed our grandmother’s advice, which is what the book is about.  The book is worth Gail’s artwork alone.  I can’t afford her originals of any size!

Grandma’s Old Trunk just hit the Amazon market! 

Hope you enjoy,

Arlene Shuster

Most of you have heard about the ‘Christmas Star’ that is to appear on December 21st. I decided to check with one of our local star pros, Mike Pique for his opinion if he thought we could see it from Palomar. Yes, as long as we have clear sky!

Think we should have a good view from the look-out across from the Fire Department. Meanwhile, here is Mike’s response and a link for more info, below:

From: Michael Pique
Subject: Jupiter and Saturn – yes, for sure

Remember when we were out looking for the comet during the summer? Waiting for the comet, we first saw Jupiter, then Saturn rise in the southeast.  They were about 5 “fingers” (at arm’s length) apart then.  By September I measured three fingers.  I’m trying not to “read” articles about date of closest approach, just so I can continue in eager suspense.  One of my astrophoto friends, now in Alaska, has been building a special camera adapter to take pictures.  I do point out that  Saturn is much dimmer than Jupiter, as you can see if you look the next time we have a clear night – what a surprise to wake up this morning to overcast.  So I do not expect any dramatic brightening.  It’s mostly the predictable but not-often event that’s fun, and with a good bit of history-of-science aspects to it.  Newton famously tried to calculate the effect of Jupiter’s gravity on Saturn’s position, unsuccessfully, 300 years ago.  And these are the two largest planets we have!

If you pull up “Pocket Planetarium” or “Star Walk” on your iPad you can run the date forward (or backwards) and see the motions.  Go back to last December and run forward to see the complicated back-and-forth zig-zags that we now know are from the earth zipping past the line of sight between us and Jupiter/Saturn. Those were fun to watch from the deck these summers. Every time Jupiter got almost to Saturn, it would back up and “try again”.

Michael Pique

Here is lots more info: Rare ‘Christmas Star’ to Appear December 2020 as Planets Jupiter and Saturn Align

Sunday afternoon a few of our mountain kids will be treating us to a Drive-by Nativity. They will be setting up out in front of the Lodge about 3:30 – could be fun to watch. They plan to be all ready for drive bys about 4:00. You are welcome to cruise by, watch from your car, or get out and linger-from-a-distance if you would like.

Is this the cutest little sheep you ever did see? We have some extra brand new knit caps you can use and keep for any more wanna-be sheep. Anyone like to be a shepherd? You might just show up with a warm bathrobe or a fun casual creation to join the hosts of angels.

Sorry there won’t be any beverages or treats provided this time. It’s going to be cold outside so if you happen to bring your own coffee or hot chocolate, that could make it extra special for you.

Questions? Simply reply or email Heidi Phelps heidi@heidiphelps.com Thank you!

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

Details: Sunday, December 13th, 2020

Outside in front of the Palomar Mountain Lodge, at the end of Crestline Road, on the left.

Set up 3:30, Nativity begins at 4:00

These made-on-the-mountain Hot Chocolate Stands were fun gifts made by one of our favorite neighbors, Teresa McCarthy. She is not taking orders, they aren’t for sale, but she shared the photo as a cute idea for those who might like to do the same thing. Teresa found her finds at Hobby Lobby, Ross and the Dollar Store. I saw a cute set of trays at Valley Thrift – such a deal.

The weather outside is frightful … so you can have many options available to warm up with a big mug of hot cocoa! Super easy to create with mix-ins and add-ons for special treats.

You might even put on some fun music and sing along, sipping your cocoa. A couple of our Treasures are here and this is what we’re listening to with lyrics to make sure we know all the words! Now for that cocoa…

An Old-Fashioned Christmas Sing-Along

It won’t be long and we’ll have snow to go with it!

GramBonnie and the Kids

It was pretty exciting to see a helicopter fly along State Park Road a few minutes ago! I ran out to get a photo but they were heading over to Baileys and Crestline pretty fast. Those pilots are checking the poles to make sure everything looks safe to turn out power back on! It should soon be Happy Dance time for many folks real soon up here!

Bonnie Phelps

Who would like this beautiful home in Del Mar? Yes, this is Palomar Mountain News but I must share. Many of you know our son Nathan. Nate is also my broker, he owns Cabin Fever Vacation Rental on Crestline. He is our closest neighbor, living on the mountain to be next door to his brother Brandon, sister-in-law Heidi, and his four amazing nieces and nephews.

Well, Nathan and partners, have spent much of the past few years dreaming, designing and orchestrating this amazing new build. The home is beautifully furnished now and can be wrapped up in time to put under your tree!

Click for info and a few more pix – many more to come. Who wants to see? Glad to open the doors!

Bonnie Phelps, Realtor

Real Estate from the Stars to the Sea

For anyone who lives or owns property in a high fire area, SDG&E offers $300 assistance toward a generator. I haven’t looked into it but at first glace it might be something to check out.

Bonnie Phelps

For all your Real Estate Needs with or without power!

Palomar Properties since the beginning of the Century

Palomar is one of quite a few areas with power out until maybe Friday or Saturday night because of high winds. These strong winds have sure performed! Solar panels went flying and two gazebos took off like Dorothy’s House in the Wizard of Oz. It is estimated that power might be back on Saturday or Sunday night. Time will tell.

Several neighbors have been concerned about food in their refrigerator and freezers. Apparently it lasts only about 12 hours. One idea might be to take your frozen food to a friend’s home in an area that has room and power on. Sorry I didn’t get this idea to you earlier. Our internet was out, too but now all up and running.

I love the attitude of a couple vacation rental people, enjoying Palomar now and also on their way tomorrow. The couple here now boiled water for bathing – even though they were offered our guest shower. They planned a fun rim hike in the State Park and just enjoying the change from the city. The folks on the way are so looking forward to their ‘glamping’ experience. They’ll have smores supplies to make in the fireplace, being unplugged, playing some board games, the adventure of hiking to visit local farms and buy some of Glenn’s Organic Coffee, Cecelia’s Cheese and all the mountain has to offer.

Our generator will be humming over the next few days. You are welcome to stop by to charge your phones or computers, use our free internet hot spot, or enjoy a cup of hot coffee, tea or hot chocolate from our free beverage bar.

If you don’t know our location, please message me. Everyone is welcome.

Bonnie Phelps

Very beautiful fall colors are waiting for all enjoying the Thanksgiving holiday on Palomar this week. Crisp weather calls for bundling for up if you are heading out for a ‘turkey trot’ round the mountain.

The holidays always bring the buyers up! Seven showings in four days! We are serving up more listings real soon and welcoming new neighbors to our refreshingly wonderful lifestyle up here!

Thankful for YOU, family and friends and all this mountain has to offer. May you be able to escape what is going on in our world and savor the little things we so often take for granted.

A wonderful Thanksgiving, wherever you may be, from our family to yours,

Bonnie and Don, Brandon and Heidi and the Treasures, and their Uncle Nathan