Experience country living on this 11.73-acre horse property in Northern California, near Sacramento. The entire property is fully fenced and cross-fenced, with an electric gate at the entrance and paved roads leading directly to the home. Ideal for horse and animal lovers, it features a riding arena, round pen, hay and equipment barn, and animal shelter.
The home includes a four-car tandem pull-through garage/shop with extended height, ample storage, and a fully wired large air compressor. There’s also an unfinished space above the garage, perfect for expanding the home or creating an ADU. Enjoy stunning sunset views of the foothills from both decks and large windows.
Recent updates include a new roof with a warranty from 2023, two independent HVAC systems installed in 2017 and 2022, and fresh exterior paint in 2022. Inside, the home boasts granite countertops, custom tile flooring, updated bathrooms, and a beautiful, cozy fireplace. All bedrooms feature walk-in closets.
Located just 15 minutes from town, the property offers an easy 45-minute commute to downtown Sacramento. It’s also close to a State Wildlife Area and just five minutes from a large recreational lake, perfect for hiking, horse riding, fishing, watercraft, kayaking, and enjoying nature. This property provides both privacy and convenience. An easy hour-and-a-half drive will take you to Donner Summit in the Sierra for even more adventure.
Whether you’re looking for a horse property or a place to enjoy country living, this home has it all. Listed at $849,999.
In 2012, autonomous vehicle testing in California officially began. This was before I retired in 2014 as a media spokesperson for the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The Department was overseeing this entire thing in California! It was a fascinating time. Tech enthusiasts and skeptical onlookers alike were wondering if self-driving cars would ever become a reality. I didn’t realize those days at the DMV would come full circle in 2024. In 2024, I found myself riding in a Waymo through the bustling streets of San Francisco. I was very skeptical back then, but here we are!
Here’s the thing… Self Driving cars, Waymo have 29 cameras and 360 degree view. No blind spots like us humans who sit inside of our cars, having to crane our necks to see things. Humans are distracted, emotional, angry, tired, and sometimes under the influence while operating cars. Are self driving cars perfect? NO. They’ve had their issues, but as I see it, like all technology, they will get better with time and innovation. Moving from horse and buggy to automobiles wasn’t perfect either, but look at cars now! I think in 50 (maybe sooner?), these cars will be the norm.
Buckle your seat belt because self-driving big trucks are next!
2017 Reunited after not seeing each other for 32 years! College Roommates 1978
Where are all my Friends? Hey there honorary members of the “Been There, Done That” club! I’ve been thinking a lot about all the people that I’ve met through the years as I turn 65 this year. Some were tight friends that I have lost contact with for various reason and some friends I’ve had since my teen years and am still in contact with. My photo albums are filled with people I’ve known over the years, dead and alive. Strap on your hiking boots and grab a cup of herbal tea.. or….., because we’re about to embark on a journey through the highs and heartbreaking lows of social circles at in our “Golden Years”.
The Lowdown on Friends vs. Acquaintances Acquaintances are like the neighbors you wave to while picking up the morning paper, or the cashier at the local grocery store who knows your name but you for, but of the love of God, can’t remember theirs. Acquaintances are the salt to your pepper—nice to have around, but they don’t exactly spice up your life.
Friends are the crème de la crème of companionship. They’re the ones who’ve seen you through thick and thin, from bad hair to bad divorces and break ups. Friends are like fine wine—they only get better with age, and they’re always there to toast to your triumphs and console you through life’s drama. Do you hear a song and immediately think of a certain person in your life? I sure do, and some people have a string of songs that remind me of them! You reading this Lauren and Patti?
Friendships are Fleeting Our 20s and 30s The Great Migration: Ah, the glory days of our twenties, when the world was our oyster and our social circles were tighter than grandma’s knitting needles. But alas, life had other plans, and before we knew it, we were spread across the country like butter on toast, chasing dreams and trying to find our place in the world. With each move to a new city or state, we left behind a trail of memories and a Rolodex of friends scattered to the winds.
Remember the Christmas Newsletter? With all of my good friends scattered between two continents, I used to relish the Christmas season and the cards and newsletters I would get from my missed friends. Then friends would move and my Christmas card would come back undelivered-no forwarding address. There was no internet to just “Google” to get current address. Decades would go by before I had the internet and could possibly find some long lost friends. I have found many, but some I have never found to this day. They are only fond memories of good times and faces in my faded photo albums.
Friends Die Yep, the older we get, the better the odds our friends will move on to the afterlife. I’ve lost a few friends in the past few years. They were much too young to die in my book, but they are gone none the less. I do have a few regrets of not making that one last phone call, but I can’t dwell on that. I must go on and remember the friendship and the good times we had. My dad lived to be 101 and he outlived pretty much all of his long time friends! It was kind of sad for him. The price of living to be over 100. Not many get to.
Pick up the Phone and Use your Vocal Chords! Social media has helped reunite friends, but I find that my friends are now 2 dimensional photos and video on my computer screen. Picking up the phone every now and then is like hearing a favorite song when they say “Hello”. That familiar voice you belly laugh with when you reminisce about that cringeworthy “thing” you did back in the day! You know.. that thing where you may or may not be able to run for public office?
So, my fellow Medicare age posse, cherish your friends like prized possessions, because in a world filled with acquaintanceship and fleeting friendships, true companionship is as rare and precious as a winning lottery ticket. Whether you’re reminiscing about the good old days with old pals or forging new friendships in the twilight years of life, one thing’s for sure: life’s a lot more fun when you’ve got someone to share it with. So grab your aging buddies, raise a glass and toast to the friends who’ve stood the test of time, no matter how far the winds of change may blow us. Cheers to friendship, laughter, and the sweet symphony of shared memories!
We had a grass fire just two streets away from our ranch on June 8th 2021. As of this writing, the cause is unknown. However, it did start at a house on Kapaka Lane, jumped Intanko Lane, raced up the hill and burned a large 3 story home to the ground, continued on to Beale AFB housing and into the brush in the Spenceville Wildlife Area. The temps were only in the 70s that day, however, the south winds were very strong and it pushed the fire at a rapid pace. Don’t underestimate the power and destruction of a fast-moving grass fire. If the wind was blowing from the North, we would have been in the direct path.
I know… that was kind of harsh.. right? Let’s talk about the current state of our Forests, Mountains, Water Falls, Trails and other nature areas during this time of Pandemic. Simply put, they are being mobbed by bored humans! Is it because venues such as movie theaters, concert venues, etc are closed? Maybe. Is it because we had to spend two months in our homes? Maybe. Will this wave of crazed humans that suddenly want to explore the outdoors fade when this pandemic is over? Hopefully!
Now don’t get me wrong. I’ve been encouraging people to get outside and explore our fabulous wonders of the Earth for a long time! This current situation has put me in a quandary! And, I know some of you longtime outdoor people feel the same! What I’ve been seeing on social media, with the mountains of trash that has been left in the wake of all of these humans, sickens me! The mile long line of cars at trail heads where emergency crews can’t get through. Big Foot is getting pissed and I don’t blame him! I just have to tell myself that these people are temporary tourists and they will soon be back going to the movies, bars, concerts and other stuff that typically keeps urban dwellers busy.
If the pandemic got you out for the first time, and you decide that this hiking lifestyle is for you, then WELCOME! But know this… romping around in the woods comes with responsibility for yourself and others. THE WILDERNESS IS NO JOKE AND SHOWS YOU NO MERCY.
Forest Service personnel are working harder than ever to put out illegal campfires, pick up trash, and RESCUE lost and injured hikers.
Do your part and be smart. Like that rhyme? Here’s another one for ya.. Stay safe and leave no trace!
Let’s go hiking! But, let’s go hiking the responsible way! Don’t Piss off Sasquatch!
Here is the link to what I carry in my Day Hiking pack and other useful information to help in your quest for the outdoors.
On June 6, 2020 we had an awesome adventure ride with the California Quad and SideXSide Meetup Group out of the Sacramento Area. We did a loop of approximately 93 miles into the Lassen National Forest starting from Butte Meadows. We visited some very cool geological sites along the way ! Spoiler alert, and I get hit in the face with freezing hail as our windshield froze over! Yeah….roll-up windows and windshield wipers would have been nice!
So, early this morning I was awakened by a series of flashes coming through my window. Flash, flash flash flash flash. In most parts of the US, lighting storms are common and happen frequently from spring to fall. However, in the Sacramento Valley of California, lightning storms like this are an oddity. We will get the occasional thunder storms in the spring that will produce a couple of flashes and a few rumbles, but we hardly EVER get an event like this! As a matter of fact, we don’t get any rain in the Valley for 6 months! So, in my jammies, I scramble for my GoPro and head for the back porch to binge watch this epic event. The show went on for about two hours. Here are some of the highlights!
When my fashion designer sister got the call to make masks, she immediately went to work to produce thousands! She is currently shipping hundreds of masks to the Navajo Nation. Here is her story (filmed me)
twylaworld.com 
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