Palomar Mountain News

It looks like the FFA and 4H kids could be in a tough situation this year with the possibility of not having a County Fair.  Please see below with details on buying directly from a  farm in San Pasqual Valley and a Facebook group just opened for Valley Center Kids.  Let’s keep it local.

From: Frank Konyn Dairy

We are definitely in this position this year (with the plans of having the Del Mar Fair closed). The kids had invested all of their proceeds from previous projects into their animals this year. They are currently raising four steers, two Lambs, two Del Mar pigs, three Ramona fair pigs, and had bred six litters of California meat rabbits for other students this year.
If anyone is interested in one of their farm raised projects, we can help arrange harvesting and sending it to a butcher shop of your choice.

Please let me know.

Thank you.

Frank

Frank Konyn Dairy

(760) 746-6319

Palomar had a fire tonight.  We are thankful for our local Cal Fire and the many other fire trucks and law enforcement that showed up.  My guess is there may be more trucks heading this way through the night and tomorrow for the clean up.

The fire is at the end of Bailey Road.  We were there about 10 pm when I took these photos, watching with other neighbors.  The fire did not burn the Bailey House or the vintage dance hall/barn at all.  Apparently there is a new barn/workshop to the north east with some propane tanks close by that got involved and the fire got up in some trees.  We live close by and are going to bed now because we are confident the trained professionals will get everything under control just fine.

Here are a couple more pix for you taken from the left of the main Bailey House.  Glad the response was so quick tonight!

Sleep well neighbors!  We have lots to be thankful for.

Bonnie Phelps

Visited with a neighbor yesterday who said his kids have seen several rattle snakes on their property the past few days.  In spite of the Stay Home orders, those snakes are out cruising around without masks!!!  All joking aside, be on the lookout.

Click for a great article – it is from Colorado but applies to our own backyards ’round the mountain.

Watch your step,

Bonnie

Over the past few weeks most folks have had a major lifestyle change with needing to stay home.  I understand it has been very stressful for many.  Well, here on Palomar, we have been having a wonderful time.  I invite you to consider this amazing mountain as a full time adventure or a much-needed weekend getaway to look forward to.

The last seven years, I’ve been so blessed to have worked from home with the great internet. Depending on the day, my husband is still out on his horse or tractor.  Our lifestyle here on Palomar hasn’t changed much.  I have found myself pretty thankful for those Home Ec classes in high school and college as we have enjoyed fresh produce from a local farm and re-visiting healthy recipes from my mom.  After all our snow and welcomed rain the last few weeks, we are now thrilled with the promise of sunny days.  It is so amazing to live where we have the fun of the four seasons. This week I hiked on dirt roads, swapped howdys with neighbors social distancing and took in our fresh Springtime air.  When the sun goes down, we always have the option of sitting ’round a campfire.   Sometimes I say being up here is like a step back in time 100 years or so – good old-fashioned fun!

Would you like to join us or do you know someone you might share this with?   Click to see the MLS info and photos of this charming cabin on four acres.  Then let’s connect on a time for you to come up.  We each drive our own vehicles.  I go in, turn on the lights, open the doors, then step back so we can easily keep our distance.  Then, if you’d like, we can walk the enchanting property.   How does that sound?

The perfect recipe for stress-release is waiting for you.

Come on up and let’s go see!

Bonnie Phelps

Had  a fun call yesterday!  Brad and Mary had been up during the snow and walked around the outside of a cabin for sale.  He wanted to make an offer but hadn’t even been inside.  They came on the perfect sunny Spring day!  I opened the doors, turned on the lights, they toured their cabin-to-be, met the nice neighbor and I just clicked ‘Pending’!

Our local mobile notary, Kathryn Custer, is coming up in the morning for a notary with the neighbor who offered a driveway easement.  We’ll get that recorded in front of the purchase and the happy buyer should be moving in next weekend!

That charming little cabin is 99 years old and I am guessing new initials might be added with the date 2020!

Hooray for sunny days!

Bonnie Phelps

When Beezie and Laurie rented a cabin up here they knew they would like their very own.  They called to see what was for sale and even the name of ‘Mountain Music’ was so attractive to them.  When they walked into the cabin and Beezie saw the album covers framed on the wall, he said to himself “I get this”.  So, they did!

Beezie was a career guitarist playing jazz and pop styles.  His claim to fame is that he is great sight-reader.  He played for Joan Rivers first, then many national acts from Martha and the Vandellas, to Bob Hope, Leslie Gore and Clay Aiken, San Diego Symphony and La Jolla Playhouse.  He also gave lessons and had lots of students.

One day a very cute new student arrived.  Laurie’s lessons didn’t last too long because her teacher cut into her practice time.  They have been married 34 years now and during that time she worked with software translation for 25 years.  A encore career arrived as a personal chef and a restaurant line chef at the Catamaran Resort.  (It is sooooooooo wonderful to have another chef up here!!!)

They stopped by for keys today and their car was packed full with no room left for even a toothpick!  What was packed in first?  Oh, a tiny amp and an instrument so they are all set to continue making Mountain Music!

They did take off with a basket on Laurie’s lap with fresh fruit from David and Lise’s trees.  They were the former owners and selling the cabin was bitter-sweet as they loved it so much and making music was such an important part of their 14 years on the mountain. I had to take their pic yesterday with the Palomar in the background from their patio in Vista.

David and Lise have many memories sitting on their mountain patio enjoying the music of the forest, watching deer, wild turkeys and the wide variety of birds.  Now those front row seats go to Beezie and Laurie.  I do believe there will continue to be many standing ovations at Mountain Music.

We had quite a snow last week!  13 inches on Crestline but not even half of that at our place about 150 feet lower in elevation.  We have NO snow at all now so I was so surprised to see how much is still on Crestline and Birch Hill.  That wet, heavy snow re-arranged a few trees ’round the mountain.  I was pretty thankful to be on this side of this oak blocking a driveway.

Oh look, one of the locals left his tracks in the snow, too!

As busy as ever with Real Estate,

Bonnie Phelps-got-my-power-walk-in!

It was so fun to hike through Friday’s big snow storm to change out the sign at Hi Ho Cabin.  Oh, you know, that little gem that was FREE with the purchase of TP and Soap!

I’m very happy to report the seller found some old photos of his time at the cabin that goes way back to a family friendship with the former owners.  He is putting the history together and will share some fun vintage photos with us real soon.

Many of you locals know Anne and Wayne, also known as A&W.  They are just as tickled as can be.  They will be having even more mountain fun with their newest cabin next door!  Please stay tuned and check out the very snowy Sign Change:

Beautiful sunset for you Friday night from one of our lookouts on Palomar.  We’re enjoying a lovely Easter weekend and hope the same for you.

Thinking of going to church today?  So many great choices!

Our church in Valley Center will be live at 9:30 today.  It is always so nice for me to be in that church since I’m always flooded with memories of my dad being the pastor there for 17 years starting in the late 1960’s.  We met the current pastor, Dave when he was 8 years old.  Their services are also archived on their YouTube channel.

Many of you have listened in nationwide to Dr. David Jeremiah from Shadow Mountain Church.   We’ve enjoyed visiting there occasionally since it is close by in El Cajon.  Their service is live several times today on line and you might be interested in their archives.  There is a great series on dealing with Anxiety of all that is going on.

Last week President Trump mentioned that he was going to tune into Greg Laurie’s message at Harvest in Riverside, CA.  His live services are repeating many times throughout the day and archived.

Many of you knew East Graders, Rick Balzer and Lyn Burke.  They were an active part of the Palomar community for 10 years.  They restored a small cabin on their land and then built a beautiful home.  It was Lyn’s passion to feed the birds.  About every two weeks they would drive over to Julian Bird Store and get 100 pounds of sunflower seeds and 50 pounds of their wild bird seed.  All their feathered friends were waiting at the cabin for them.  Even the turkeys had a feast with traveling back and forth, grazing under the bird feeders with Lyn and Rick watching the amazing show often just a few feet away from their deck.   She always seem to have a camera with her to capture many photos of their happy memories on Palomar.

LYN BURKE (1939-2020)

Dancing eyes have silenced. We are so saddened to report the sudden passing of our dearest, Lyn Burke, of Laguna Beach. Surely she is now saying with a mischievous smile, “COVID-19 is not going to get me” as she instead suffered an unfortunate fall outside her home on March 29th.

Christine Burke, Lyn’s daughter said, “I loved my mom. Nothing will ever separate us – I truly believe that. She was a fierce woman, loving, talented, intelligent, conscious, irreverent, funny, and incredibly creative.”

Lyn Burke was born and raised in Kennewick, WA and matriculated at Upper Columbia Academy, Spangle, WA where she was in the high school class of 1957. Lyn moved to Sacramento, CA where she worked in the office of California State Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally. There she met William A. Burke whom she married. In Sacramento Lyn pursued her studies in art which became a lifelong passion. Relocating to Los Angeles, the true light of her life, Christine Burke, was born in 1967.

In 1975 Lyn relocated permanently to Laguna Beach, CA. She was a single mom, raising Christine, working at Southwest Interior Gardens, Laguna Bank, Interior Design Institute, and pursuing her growing artistic talents. Despite that serious talent Lyn eschewed commercial notoriety instead using her art for family, friends and personal satisfaction.

In 1994 two single adults – Lyn Burke and Rick Balzer – found themselves volunteering together at the Laguna Beach High School snack bar during a football game where their two daughters, Christine and Shannon, attended school. By 2004 the couple were married and soon were celebrating their kid’s successes, doting on grandkids, and pampering beloved cats.

Lyn and Rick traveled to the four corners of the West Coast, North America, Mexico and the World. They built and enjoyed a vacation home at Palomar Mountain. Rick Balzer said, “I lost my best friend, guide star, and life partner. Lyn was an avid environmentalist and a supporter of many charities that cared for birds and animals. She loved literature, was an excellent artist, had a keen intellect, and a wonderful sense of humor. I salute you, my darling – you made my life complete.”

Lyn had long expressed an aversion to memorial services but said, “if you must, I want everyone to hear Lesley Gore’s song It’s My Party and I’ll Cry If I Want To“. Lyn Burke is survived by her husband Rick Balzer, daughter Christine Burke Adams, son-in-law Brian Adams, grandson Jack Adams, stepdaughter Shannon Palmer and her husband Tad Palmer grandchildren Adele and William Palmer. Due to the COVID-19 social protocols and Lyn’s wishes, no memorial service is planned.

Lyn loved literature and supported scores of charities mostly around the themes of nature, art, fur and feathers. Lyn would love your donation in her memory to the Nature Conservancy, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA), or Laguna Art Museum (LAM).

You are invited to visit the website for Lyn:  LynBurkeMemories.com

Also, your written thoughts and memories would be appreciated by the family by simply commenting below – thank you!