Palomar Mountain News

Thank you for asking!

So busy with many varied Real Estate ‘adventures’! Had such a pleasant visit to the Assessor’s Office this week.  Twenty years ago when I first started my career in real estate, it wasn’t quite the same.  Things have sure changed at the county offices over the past couple decades.  My last few visits get Five Stars and always opportunities to learn even more!

The Titanic?!??  Please keep reading.  We opened escrow on the enchanting Falling Cedar Cabin.  Didn’t have a chance yet to share a bit about that history.  Apparently a little girl on the Titanic came home to eventually catch the eye and marry the very dashing Mr. Kenyon.  They discovered Palomar and built a small cabin to stay in while designing and building the “big house”.  Building 100 years ago was quite a project as we are pretty spoiled with our quick trips up and down.  To get supplies from San Diego to Palomar at that time, would mean navigating the Nate Harrison Grade since the South Grade wasn’t built until many years later. Building on Palomar was a labor of love.  The Big House is now is Glenn and Cecelia Borland’s forever home and the little cabin has some buyers very excited to be the next owners.  I do believe the Kenyons would be so pleased to know how much each owner cherishes what they also loved, almost a century ago!

Clouds on Title?  It is so interesting to deal with property with usually friendly, often long-time, uses of neighboring land.  Sometimes it is helping to cure ways to make one’s land fit your desires and have ‘deeded, legal access and easements’. Several times we take care of that corner of your cabin or maybe a porch that has been on the neighbor’s land with ‘permission’ all these years. Now that permission can become deeded and recorded on title … ah, cleaning up the clouds!   I’ve worked with these projects so many years now.  It is always interesting to get things resolved so everyone can sleep well  long after escrows are behind us or as property is passed on to future generations.  Sometimes there are situations with property owners not interested in selling but just wanting to get some known issues resolved.  I’m glad to be a sounding board and point you in the right direction for professional advice.

So many showings lately – sometimes several a day.  Crazy busy with many people wanting a cabin, home, lots and land or a ranch on Palomar.   It is always such a pleasure to share this mountain with others.  We just need a few more listings so if you are considering selling, let’s connect.  Always glad to get your questions answered.

Bonnie Phelps

Why did this fun couple want a cabin on Palomar??  “To get away from the city!!!”  Renaud and Sandra Tristan have been dreaming of a retreat with fresh air, hiking and exploring the beautiful mountain as their first retirement home.  ‘Happy Cabin’ will be much-loved escape on days off for now.

They are both trained chefs and live a very busy life owning a charming bistro in San Diego; La Bonne Table. Renaud is from France and does the dinners – such an amazing menu!  Sandra hails from Italy, loves to bake, and creates their Sunday Brunch.

When they came the first day to see property, it was apple season.  We all had a great time picking and eating the delicious apples and they went home with enough to do some baking for the restaurant.  Sandra made (are you ready for this???) Tarte Tatin. The Palomar Apples became an upside down caramel apple tarte with puff pastry.

We. Must. Go. Soon!

Visit their website

Dinners nightly from 4 to 9 with Sunday Brunch 10 to 3.  Reservations recommended.

A very warm welcome to Renaud and Sandra!

From: Tim Gray

USFS is still doing prescribed burn around Fry Creek which is off the road to the Observatory. If anyone has questions or concerns they can call me 619-209-1414.

Thanks Tim Gray

One of our weekend neighbors has Palomar roots that go back to the beginning of the last century. Barbara Waite has published two books from her grandmother’s journal that are a delight to read.  The first tells of her adventures as an Arizona School teacher in 1912 prior to coming to live on Palomar.  The apple orchard they planted you still see today on both sides of State Park Road.  In fact, the current owners gave permission for Kids Club to pick apples there.  So, if you bought those delicious apples from mountain kids at the Summit or their stand, they were from trees planted by Elsie’s husband.

When I had a chance to proof the book about a decade ago, I didn’t stop until finished in the wee hours of the morning.  If you haven’t read them yet, you can order directly from the author through her links below.  Barb posted on Facebook about her grandmother so I just had to share.

Posted by Barbara Anne Waite:

Yesterday marks 132 years ago, on January 22, 1888, that this lovely woman was born in Alexandria, Virginia. I enjoy telling groups how she lost her citizenship when she married a Welshman on Christmas day, 1916. She regained citizenship when Cable act was passed in 1922. She was a writer and my beloved Grammy Elsie. This was one of her Palomar poems:

Mountain Blessing
by Elsie Roberts
I followed mountain ways.
Wild lilacs touched my face,
The fern fronds bent in grace,
And in the fire the wind sang ancient lays.
The vales and hills reach to the sea’s blue haze.
But lo! Over all there lay,
Touched with a mystic light,
The drifted cloud banks—white,
Exquisite, visible silence, the snow of May.
The distant sea was gone;
The heights and depths were one:
Holy and boundless calm at the close of the day.
Through all Nature the vast hush stole;
And it brought to my troubled soul
The Peace of God, that nothing can take away.

I possessed zero book marketing strategy when I wrote the first “Elsie” book. I just knew I must write it. I had done public speaking for years-but very little writing beyond my notes. When my grandmother, Elsie, died and I read her diaries it began a quest to discover the secrets locked in cryptic notes and her letters. It was no secret she loved books. Whatever genes I inherited there is no doubt that Elsie passed on a love of books.

I have been contemplating selecting a ‘word’ for this year 2020. Today I received an order from Western National Parks for another 30 Elsie books. I think ‘grateful’ would certainly be a fitting word. When I first sold Elsie books to the National Parks 9 years ago I wondered if they would ever sell the 20 they ordered. Today’s order marks 1,448 Elsie books just from Western National Parks. When speaking I have sold over 3,300. No idea how many have sold on Amazon or as an e-book. No matter, I am grateful, extremely grateful for God blessing this endeavor. Yep, that is me with a book- maybe age 9.

Thanks Elsie!

Barbara Anne Waite

Click for more info and ordering links 

Our Palomar musicians are at it again with January dates for your foot-tapping, listening pleasure!

From: Denise <smithmountainboys@gmail.com>
January 2020 Music Dates & Locations

Saturday, January 18, 2020 7 pm – 10 pm
La Casa del Zorro Resort
Borrego Springs, CA
760-767-0100

Friday, January 24, 2020 5pm – 8 pm
Rams Hill Golf Club (Open to the Public)
Borrego Springs, CA
760-767-3500

Saturday, January 25, 2020 5 pm – 7:30 pm
American Legion Post 853 (Open to the Public)
AL Rider’s Famous “Cook your own Steak Night”
Borrego Springs, CA
760-767-4001

We hope you can come out and enjoy the music!!!

Like to get a dose of motivation for this new decade?  Celebrating his 90th Birthday today, double amputee, Stan Rohrer is Roaring into the 21 Century!

It was a pleasure meeting him a few years ago at the Palomar Amateur Radio Club tower on Crestline.  Thanks to Bob Gonsett for sending this to share with you:

From: Robert Gonsett
Subject: The Miraculous W9FQN

Stan Rohrer, W9FQN, past president of the Palomar Amateur Radio Club and hiking buddy for W6VR, is a downright miraculous and inspirational guy despite the loss of both of his legs. Nothing slows him down. He writes:

“…it appears as though my 90th birthday [skydiving] jump made the TV stations here in San Diego. It was covered by several Stations and then the San Diego Tribune. The “freefall” was about 120 mph but slowed down when the parachute opened. My real excitment was the evening before when I received my Driver’s license good unti 2025! Be sure to click on the video. Stan”

Be sure to click for the video!

Hooray for Stan!!!  Happy 90th Birthday from your friends on Palomar Mountain!

Bonnie Phelps

It was kind of bitter-sweet to look out from my desk and see our happy snowman is doing what frozen things do in our Palomar sun!

Sure makes for a great day to take in a hike!  See info below from the State Park.

Also, I’m available to open doors for you today – and lots of doors in 2020! Looking forward to welcoming all the new neighbors to the Mountain this year!  Who wants to come up and see cabins, homes or land a mile nearer Heaven on beautiful Palomar Mountain?  Paved roads are clear, I can get you around the snowy roads. Let’s bundle up and do it!

State Park Hike Info:

Get your hiking boots on!!! Come on out and hike the Boucher Loop on New Years Day! See note below from the State Park inviting all to meet up for a fun, first day of the new century hike!  From State Park Road, pass the Kiosk and make the next right into the Silvercrest Picnic area where you meet up for the hike:

From: Palomar Mountain State Park
January 1st marks the beginning of a new decade. Start it off with a hike in one of America’s State Parks!
We are participating in the #FirstDayHike in 2020 with a hike on Boucher Loop Road starting at 10:00 AM. Meet at the Silvercrest Picnic Area. The hike will be 1.7 miles and will also be dog friendly! Pack a coat and some binoculars to take advantage of the stellar views at the lookout.

Bonnie Phelps, Realtor for the New Decade!

Looking out from my desk a few minutes ago, I had to run over to capture this for you.  Very happy snow tourists left some charming snowmen all across the mountain.  This one is waving goodbye to 2019.

Hoping for clarity and success for all your goals and dreams in 2020.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Bonnie Phelps

If you are thinking of visiting the snow, you might want to wait a few days.  I just measured 14 inches in our driveway.  There is 7 inches out on State Park Road.  So, it was plowed during the night but hasn’t been again since early morning.

These pix came from a resident heading off the mountain (thank you Glen Heggstad).  There is so much snow at the top that the plows have a lot of extra work to open the roads for traffic.

As of about 9:30 am, it looked like South Grade Road had not been plowed down hill in a while…  Glen passed a plow coming up hill and cars were already lined up, parking in the road.  Coming up to see snow or visit friends a few days from now could avoid a lot of drama.

Sorry to be the bearer of this news.  Oh my, I love snow!  So thankful our family is all here enjoying this beautiful snow.  But I love to have friends visit, too!  Just want to wait a while!

The weather report promises 9 to 13 more inches of snow today!  So we will still have a lot on the ground for a while!

“Oh the weather outside is frightful but the fire is so delightful…”

It has been so nice to see all the Christmas greetings from so many of you.  With our grandkids next door, there is always lots of firewood fun with their stand in front of our house and help with the Real Estate business, too.

We are so blessed to have sons Nathan, Brandon and his wife Heidi, the parents of our four Treasures so close.  Saturday night we all enjoyed the Christmas Play Heidi directed and with many of the mountain kids on stage.

We sure do appreciate living on this beautiful mountain and you’re invited ’round our table anytime.

The merriest of Christmas from the Phelps family to Yours!