I WISH I HAD MY BETTER CAMERA WITH ME

We were up in Big Bear the other day and walked the opposite way of the little village up Pine Knot Avenue where there are cute and not so cute houses and cabins.  This beauty caught my eye and I would totally live here if I could.  They even have a bed in the front yard - which I highly doubt I would use but might if it was on a private road somewhere otherwise I would scrap that idea. I wonder if they are looking for a housekeeper - i might apply  or better yet, a gardener.

And....this is just the front yard - ...I need to somehow get a peek of the back yard - I never thought at the time to look and see if their is an alleyway behind the house.  I couldn't tell if anyone was home but if they saw me they didn't say anything.

Next time I go up I'm getting more pics - close up of some of the pots of plants, etc.

MY GRANDSON WITH HIS CAT AT THE LAKE FOUR YEARS AGO

(Picture taken in Feb 2014 at the lake when he lived with us)

This young guy who now lives in Montana, graduated from high school at 16 - turns 17 tomorrow.  I'm so proud of him and love the conversations we have been having lately.  He sounds so grown up now and his dream is moving to Amsterdam to attend school.  I hope it comes true for him. 

He looks so young here - he was in 7th grade.

ONE REASON ...MY VERY FAVORITE REASON (BESIDES FAMILY) ... THAT I LOVE THE CENTRAL COAST OF CALIFORNIA

Without a doubt it is because of the ocean but a runner up of favorites are orchards and vineyards.

I took this photo through the window of the car as we sped along at about 70 miles an hour to get up to my sister's place to start the first part of our road trip.  There are areas further up where the land is filled with vineyards - sadly though they are mostly corporate owned anymore... (if I have the correct knowledge about that).  ..

BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS

Everywhere I walk I take flower photos, whether it's at Lake Arrowhead along the walking trails, or other nearby lakes.  I have accumulated so many flower photos because I hoard them for sketching later.  This one though, I thought was so pretty I wanted to share it on my blog.

Every time we go to the grocery store I always stop outside to see what flowers they are adding to their stock for the summer.  This flower was at Stater Brothers.

A WEEK LATER - ANOTHER SUNDAY IN BIG BEAR

We went back to Big Bear lake yesterday and found some different areas to walk - but we still eventually ended up at the footbridge.  I was surprised how quickly the water is drying up and can only hope that in winter there will be enough snow  and rain in the spring to fill Stanfield Marsh up again. 

The pelicans were still there and I had fun (from very far away) photographing these two guys who were out enjoying the pelicans. 

The white structure on the shoreline is Big Bear Solar Observatory. 

Here is what is written about it.

Big Bear Solar Observatory is the premier university-based solar observatory in the United States. It is operated by New Jersey Institute of Technology. BBSO features the most powerful solar telescope in the world – the 1.6 m clear aperture Goode Solar Telescope, which has no obscuration in the optical train

We also found a different part of the lake to enjoy the views and we hadn't walked this area before.  Next time we go up which will be soon - I'll have some other areas mapped out in my mind to go see. 

The observatory and below some different views of the lake from a different marina area.

YESTERDAY'S WALK AROUND OUR LOCAL LAKE

What a beautiful walk yesterday - perfect breeze to make it not so hot. 

Today we walked there again but early around 10:00 to 11:00 and I realized I prefer late afternoon walks because the breezes start up.

After our walk we went over to our local nursery as I needed to get a few small pots for succulants.  My mother's day gift from one of my son's and his wife was a bowl with three or four different succulants in it.  They are now needing their own pot, each different succulant plant.  I always enjoy shopping in nurseries and usually take a few photos while there.

The purple aster at the lake is still blooming but a lot of it is dying out now so got a few pics of the ones that are left.

This last week the fountains and the water slide have been worked on and the fountains are now on every day.  People like to kayak or ride the huge water tricycles under the fountains which is a great way to stay cool.  Nobody was doing that when I took the photos.

 I spotted a few ducks on the shore - there haven't really been that many ducks in the lake this year and no coots.  This is the first year the lake has been full in several years so I think the ducks go to the other lakes which seem to have an abundance of mallards and coots this year and baby ducks.

I cannot pass up a garden shed  without taking photos.  There's something about the diffuse soft light that comes through the windows that appeals to me.

THE BEGINNING OF THE ROAD TRIP - LAURA - FIRST GOING BY SILVERWOOD LAKE

We ended up taking the 2 to the 14 or whatever route that is through the country somewhere by Simi Valley - Thought I would show these because I probably never did.  They aren't great photos because I love to photograph whatever is outside the windows of the car as we are traveling at fast speeds through the desert/country side.