RanchoMurieta.com

01/22/2025

Rancho Murieta hummingbird, coming in for a landing.

11/11/2024

Hummingbird lunch in the rain.

10/14/2024

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS makes its appearance in the evening sky Sunday night at Stonehouse Park. If you want to see it, the comet will be good for a couple of weeks, they say, though each night it gets farther away from the sun and its magnitude diminishes. With my bad eyes, and light pollution, I could only see the comet as a hazy smudge just due west 45 to 60 minutes after sunset. But binoculars or even a cell phone will reveal its glory.

10/01/2024

Here's an obituary from the family for a resident who lived in Rancho Murieta for 39 years:

Our beloved, Emma Serna Robinson, passed away in Rancho Murieta on August 27.
She was born in Armenia, Quindio, Colombia in 1935 to Evangelista Serna and Aurora Gutierrez. She is preceded in death by her brothers and sisters, Gonzalo, Julia, Ofelia, Stela and Nijay. She is survived by her loving husband Donald Wallace Robinson, and her brothers and sister, Evangelista Serna Gutierrez “Tocayo” (Olga ), Jose Maria Serna Gutierrez “Chepe” (Gladys) and Doris Serna/Kempf, her children, Louis Mills (Stephanie), Stephen Mills (Danielle) and Jack Mills (Pennie), Johanna Mills/Shallenberger (Bob), Claudia Mills/Walker (Larry), Steve Robinson, Stacy Robinson/Kirk (John) and Cheryl Robinson/McCarthy (Bobby), and her grandchildren, Michael Richardson (Jeannette), Sarah Mills/Turner, Adam Mills (Hope), Emily Stone, Emily Rios-Kirk (Simone), Brittany Mills, Camille Jarboe/Mack (Jeff), Kenny Mills (Dina), Charlie McCarthy, Maria Kirk, David Jarboe, Andrew Jarboe, Bobby Shallenberger, Mark Shallenberger, Jessica McCarthy, and Liliana Walker, and great grandchildren, Jillian Turner, Kaylee Richardson, Jacob Turner, Emma Grace, Andrew Richardson, Matthew Furst, Zachary Furst, Ethan McSherry, Elliot McSherry, Bristal Jarboe, Isabella Walton, Blake Walton, Roland Mack and Kayden Mills.
Emma was a proud resident of Rancho Murieta with Donald for 39 years, where she worked as a real estate agent and broker for 30 years.
Emma was a native of Armenia, Quindio, Colombia, in the heart of the coffee state, cofounded by her father starting in 1964, and finalized as the last state formed in Colombia in 1966 after his death. Emma had a deep love for the Holy Mother Mary, who she prayed to for intercession throughout her childhood and life after her mother’s death when she was 9. She often said Mary was her mother. Emma moved to America permanently in 1965 and was sworn in as a citizen in 1982, a very special event in her life.
During her life Emma was an interior designer, a painter and had a deep interest in art and design. Emma had impeccable taste and had an innate sense and understanding of color and beauty. Emma’s favorite place was the condo at the Inn at Otter Crest and the Oregon coast nearby. Emma’s family and travel were her two biggest passions.
We will remember Emma for her fierce independence which gave her the strength and will to immigrate here with her then four children without any clear support from anyone but herself, her tough and loving parenting style, always challenging us to be our best, and her never-ending love for her family and her husband, Donald, her favorite person on the planet to the end.
Friends, family and others are invited to Mission Church of St. Vincent de Paul, 14673 Cantova Way, Rancho Murieta. Memorial service Friday, October 4, at 2:30 p.m., with reception to follow in Anderson Hall, to reminisce and honor the life of Emma.

07/04/2024

If you missed the July 4 Rancho Murieta parade, this is a 45-second video clip of the parade finale and one of the highlights. Here's Beavis and Butt-Head on a motorized couch, and many people want a picture! Happy Fourth!

06/10/2024

From the family of Anne Gengler:
Anne Helen (Janicek) Gengler was born on August 13, 1939, in Ontario, Canada and passed away surrounded by her children on May 27th at the age of 84 in Sacramento, California.
A mass and reception will be held on Tuesday, June 11th, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Rancho Murieta at 10:30 a.m.
Anne who was the youngest of six children, was born to Andrew and Frances Janicek, who immigrated from Slovakia to Canada, where the family established a farm.
After high school, Anne became a nurse and worked at a number of hospitals such as Charity Hospital in New Orleans, and UCSF.
While in San Francisco, Anne met her husband, William. They built a family of four children over the next six years and lived in numerous states. The family moved to Rancho Murieta in 1983.
After Anne retired from nursing, she opened Magic Carpet Travel. She and Bill enjoyed the benefits of travel and went on many trips. Anne was extremely active in her kids’ and grandkids’ lives, and spent many hours supporting their various sports and activities. She also managed a cycling team.
In her later years, Anne enjoyed gardening, and playing mah-jong and bunko. Most of all, she loved getting together with her family. During her life, she fought many battles against cancer, while somehow continuing to be a source of light, love and energy to others. She was the matriarch of our family and one of the strongest people we have ever known and she will be incredibly missed.

05/19/2024

The Classic Car Club of America has spent three nights at the Murieta Inn and Spa, and Murieta hasn't seen the likes of these cars since the Concours d'Elegance came by in the mid-1970s. Last chance: They're departing at 9 a.m. Sunday for Napa.

04/29/2024

Wildflowers are, like springtime, gone too soon. Here are some photos made in the last week in Rancho Murieta, mostly in their natural habitat, but a couple in unlikely places. (They're everywhere! Get out and see them!)

03/03/2024

The California State Fair Lifetime Achievement Award, announced Friday, honors Leon Sobon, a resident of RM for 20 years. He (and his wife, Shirley, and their six kids) started their wine business in 1977. He talked to RanchoMurieta.com in 2014.

02/24/2024

There will be a celebration of life tomorrow (2/24) for Walt Dunajski, the neighbor who had remarkable Christmas lights and trains on Anillo Way for 22 years. He died last month at 91. Walt started the holiday tradition when he was 60 and continued it until he was 82. The celebration of life is at St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church, on Cantova Way, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Here is a video from 2014 talking with Walt and showing his lights and trains.

11/10/2023

It's definitely autumn on Rio Blanco Drive.

09/29/2023

Fundraisers are usually “for a good cause,” but at Summerfest, it’s a good cause and a good time. The Rancho Murieta carnival, put on by volunteers and nearing its 25th birthday, returns Oct. 6 and 7. Here’s a video at

Rancho Murieta people, organizations and history. Established in 2000.

08/28/2023

Carts crossing the Cosumnes.

07/05/2023

What, no fireworks photos? There are two over at the website.

03/28/2023

A sign posted on an Irish road, but it would work well here.

01/08/2023

The overnight wind storm left the RMA electronic sign on Murieta Parkway damaged. It works, but the frame is crumpled by two trees that fell. Also, at the North Dog Park, a tree lost a branch and took out a section of fence in the park for little dogs.

12/19/2022

Boy Scout Troop 633 of Rancho Murieta, which has produced many an Eagle Scout, has its first female Eagle Scout, Joy Salo. (We also feature Aaron Fong, who was honored at the same ceremony. He comes from a long line of brothers who were Eagle Scouts.)

11/18/2022

Another infrared photo – bizarro Lake Chesbro.