Palomar Mountain News

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!

Palomar Mountain is closed.  Not because of the snow.  Palomar is closed because of Coronavirus. Folks love to come up after a snow, but not this time. So sorry to be the bearer of this news.

The Observatory, Nate Harrison Grade, Mother’s Kitchen, General Store, State Park and all Campgrounds are closed.  Local traffic, residents and land owners need to be ready to show their resident visor hanger, a copy of their deed or electrical bill as everyone is to stay home.

This storm brought us about 10 inches of rain/snow/slush so far and falling heavy all morning.  The good news for us on State Park Road is that it is not accumulating at all.  When I see the plow go by, it looks like he is plowing a waterfall. Don’t think any of us are snowed in.  Even though it looks inviting out there, it is warmer, very wet and not a good snow for sledding, if that makes you feel a little better.

Also, I’ve seen Deputy Sheriffs out patrolling.  We have a lookout I see from my desk, across from our house. Yesterday, a deputy pulled in there and got out to enjoy the view.  Eventually a car I didn’t recognize, drove by, the deputy turned and looked.  The car was heated to the State Park and turned around at the Road Closed signs.  A couple minutes later the car came back, cruising along.  I’ve seen just a few cars the past week or so and guessed they were just out for some fresh air and really felt for them.  They picked a beautiful area, but the deputy was waiting, pulled out to follow them and turn on his lights because of the stay-home order.

Like to have a change of view? There are many photos waiting for you of fun snow days on MyPalomarMountain.com.  From the Snow page, here is one that might be the deepest snow on record for Palomar;  The Deep Snow of 1949.     From there, you can click through links to see many more pages of special snow days on Palomar.  Plus a video is waiting for you below…

Happy clicking through our snow today!

Have a blessed Easter Weekend,

Bonnie Phelps, Realtor

The past few years, more and more neighbors have relied on their cell phones and cancelled their old fashioned, plug into the wall ‘land line’ phones.  With CV creating all the extra use from our homes, cell phones have been in and out across Palomar Mountain.  Internet speed is taking us back to the dial-up days.  It is not uncommon to see half a dozen cars parked at a lookout up here, checking messages.

Thinking this to be awhile, you might want to consider having A&TT hook up that old fashioned phone again.  I’ve also been told that A&TT offers a package with internet up here and it works well.  A&TT: 800-310-2355  We have their ‘Message Center’ that has been wonderful.  Our VM is through their service and I roll my calls to my cell when out.  You can also roll your cell phone to your land line.  Be sure to have a phone that works even if the power goes out.  I got a new phone recently with two remotes that are convenient but don’t work, of course, during power outages.  But, there is also a phone on my desk with the cord between the handset and phone base that rings and works during outages.

All the best to you during this season in out lives,

Bonnie Phelps

(Yes, that is one of our Treasures, over a decade ago.  He has a birthday this week!  Judah will be 12 already.  Hello!  Where did the time go?!!)

Isn’t this a great sign Teresa McCarthy made and put up in their charming cabin?  (Such an artist!)  She posted it on Facebook a couple days ago.  I wasn’t surprised when she and Jim messaged me this morning asking what we could use from town. They were early birds in the city for groceries, took my order and delivered!  Wasn’t that nice?  They reported that the purple lupin is already blooming at the base of the mountain.  Can hardly wait to see it.

Jim and Teresa are living out their sign challenge:

Today

Who am I checking or connecting with?

What expectations of ‘NORMAL” am I letting go of?

How am I getting OUSIDE?

How am I moving my body?

What BEAUTY am I either creating, cultivating or inviting in?

Let’s all do our part to help one another.  Be kind.  Call your neighbor to just check in.  When we do pass each other on the road or picking up our mail, let’s key up our smiles and waves.  Smiling is contagious, too, you know.

Do you or someone you know need some encouragement or help?  Perhaps we can work together to make this stormy time a little smoother.  Just let me know.

Bonnie Phelps – appreciating so much being on our mountain!

Delivery service workers sure have my respect and deserve a huge dose of gratitude.  I was just turning out our lights and saw this van drive up.  It was 10:43 pm, way up here,  on the top of Palomar Mountain.  Royal explained that it is just like Christmas rush with such an increase in deliveries.  He is the office manager for Fed Ex and normally doesn’t do deliveries at all.  “We’re just trying to catch up and get your packages to you, but each day there are more and more…”

There were still several dozen boxes in his van.   He passed on the offer of coffee or hot soup.   Hope Royal and all the drivers out there get home safe tonight.   He does know the people of Palomar appreciate his dedication.

Thank you, thank you so much for keeping our packages coming, not just to our little mountain, but all across America and around the world!

Bonnie Phelps