Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It's off to LA I go!

I just started a new home business, H2O at Home, that sells non-toxic, eco-friendly, biodegradable house cleaning and body care products.  These products are safe for you, your family, your pets, and not the least, the environment.  The basis for cleaning is water (thus the H2O) and these very high-quality microfiber cloths.  They have done studies and the H2O at Home products will cut down your house cleaning time by 40% ... that's right, 40%!  And, you can get rid of 90% of the toxic chemicals that are lurking under both your kitchen and bathroom sinks throughout your house.  Unfortunately, the U.S. has very little standards for cleaning supplies while Europe has some very good standards.  The majority of our products are made in France and meet the European cert standards.

So, now on to my trip to L.A.  I decided to spend a week in L.A. because that's where I had friends who I knew would host some parties for me.  I really don't know many people in the Carson Valley because we haven't been here all that long. So, I sent out a "plea" and three people graciously agreed to host parties for me.  That's why I decided to make the eight hour drive!

I got up early Friday morning so I could get on the road early and arrive by 4:00 p.m. in L.A.  I was greeted with this stunning sunset.  I'm imagining they have these sunsets all the time, but I never see them because now that I'm retired I am committed to sleeping in until 8:00 a.m.!  Doesn't it look like the sky is on fire?

 

It was an 8-hour drive I was undertaking, but I also wanted to take photos on the way so I could show you how beautiful this part of the world is.  Most of the photos were taken in California, because where we are in Nevada is only a short distance to the border.  My first photo opportunity was just before the border at Topaz Lake.  I caught it with the clouds and early morning light.  So beautiful!

 

Driving on from there you get to see more of the beautiful eastern Sierras along Highway 395, which basically follows the Sierras.  Here are a few shots randomly taken from the car along the highway.



 

Not far from there is the overlook to Mono Lake, one very interesting place!  Here are a few shots from the overlook before you start heading down the mountain.



Mono Lake (MOH-noh) is a large, shallow saline soda lake in Mono County, CA. This desert lake has an unusually productive ecosystem based on brine shrimp that thrive in its waters, and provides critical nesting habitat for two million annual migratory birds that feed on the shrimp.

The human history of Mono Lake is associated with its productive ecosystem. The native Kutzadika'a people derived nutrition from the larvae of the alkali flies that live in the lake. When the city of Los Angeles diverted water from the lake, it lowered the lake level, which imperiled the migratory birds. The Mono Lake Committee formed in response, winning a legal battle that forced Los Angeles to partially restore the lake level.

Mono Lake formed because it lies in the Mono Basin, an endorheic basin that has no outlet to the ocean. Dissolved salts in the runoff thus remain in the lake and raise the water's pH levels and salt concentration. 

Mono Lake is believed to have formed dating back to the Long Valley eruption. Sediments located below the ash layer hint that Mono Lake could be a remnant of a larger and older lake that once covered a large part of Nevada and Utah, which would put it among the oldest lakes in North America. At its height during the most recent ice age, the lake may have been 900 feet (270 m) deep. Prominent old shore lines, called strandlines by geologists, can be seen above Lee Vining and along volcanic hills northeast of the current lake.

Further down the road heading towards June and Mammoth Lakes, the Sierras are simply stunning.  Snow-covered peaks line the azure sky, making the monotonous drive a sight for sore eyes.  Don't tell anyone, but I actually took some of these photos while driving, setting my phone on top of the steering wheel.  I did make sure there were no cars around me, though, so if something did happen, it would only happen to me and no one else.  Now doesn't that give you some comfort?

Here are photos of one of my favorite parts of the drive, Red Rock Canyon.  Around this area you have a multitude of off-roading areas that get high usage from RVers and off-roaders.  That's why there's such a thing as Toy Haulers -- RVs that will accommodate your off road vehicle inside when on the road.

Well, I arrived in LA and was greeted with a usual LA sight ... lots of traffic.  No wonder I have no desire to live in California anymore!

Not only was there lots of traffic, but I had firsthand witness to two ridiculous driving incidents.  One, a person willfully and knowingly ran a full-on red arrow light.  I mean, there was no room for interpretation on this one.  It was full-on red.  I have not seen one person in the Carson Valley even get close to running a red light.  Second, I was driving northbound on Crenshaw between the refinery when someone decides they really want to be heading south, so they drive right over the center median and head south!  I mean, when have you seen that one before?  I've never seen anyone do that before.  Really, he couldn't wait until he could make a legal U-turn?  That's LA driving for ya'.

And, of course, the reason I was in LA was to bring H2O at Home to LA people who could make a choice to be toxic-free in their homes and really be eco-friendly ... not just pretend.  Here's the product display I set up at my sister, Kitti's, home for her party.

As I mentioned, all three parties were an amazing success ... thank you to my three hosts, Kitti, Paula and Robyn, who did an amazing job of getting people there.  Because once they are there, they will see from my demonstrations how awesome the products are and will surely buy, which all but one person out of about 30 did, in fact, buy.  THANK YOU EVERYONE!!

So, it was time to head on home, back to the safe and sane Carson Valley.  Here's a picture showing the long road home through the desert.  It stretches forever!

And then more pictures of the Sierras, this time heading north, homeward bound.

This is a beautiful stretch just past Mammoth through a thick forested area.  I also really love this part of the journey because of all the evergreens that line the highway.

And then, near the town of Walker is the lovely Walker River.  This area was devastated by the 1997 flood.  Numerous trees were mowed down by the powerful river waters that rose to highway level.  The flood destroyed 10 miles of Highway 395 and really demolished a truly beautiful, scenic area as well.  If you click on this link you can find more information on this flood that also hit the Carson Valley as well.  https://www.google.com/#q=walker+river+flood+1997+video

Here's a shot of Topaz Lake on my way back home.  This is about 3:00 p.m. while the other photo I took on my way to LA was taken around 9:00 a.m.

And how about this cool sign letting me know I've now arrived safely back into the state of Nevada, my home state!

And, finally, the Carson Valley ... the beautiful Carson Valley!  This picture was taken at the top of the last hill before you start heading down into the valley.

It was so great to see so many good friends and family and to spend time with them, but I have to confess, it was also very, very good to get back home again.

If you want more information about H2O at Home, please email me.  I'd love to explain more about these truly amazing products to you and get you on the road to removing all the toxic products from your home so it is safe for you, your family, your pets AND the environment!

Psalms 36:5-9

Your lovingkindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.  Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are like a great deep.
O LORD, You preserve man and beast.  How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.  They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; and You give them to drink of the river of Your delights.  For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.