LAST TUESDAY A TRIP TO BIG BEAR LAKE AND BALDWIN LAKE

 First time we were confident, as least as much as we could be, to know we wouldn't find big boulders following off the mountain side on to the hwy so off we went up the 18.  The videos and photos that were being posted on the mountain forums up here kept us informed of how many people dodged the boulders and a few cars that had boulders come down on their roofs.  Even though the snow was over the melting alone with recent rains has brought so much down on to the hwys that i was in no hurry to get up that way. 

It was a beautiful day and the lake was almost full, about 6 feet to full capacity.

Big Bear Lake and City is the main draw for tourists but we liked to drive over to Baldwin Lake about 15 miles away from Big Bear Lake and enjoy the wide open spaces.  Baldwin lake has been dry for a long time, several years but now it has water again.  What a great thing to see.  We took the jeep off road so I can visit the horses.  This day only one was out and close enough to photograph.  

These first ones are Baldwin Lake area.  Very rural mountain living up here - I could do this! I posted photos of these  areas last year in the fall and this is spring. 

Last photos are of Boulder Bay last September where the water was absent in this area.  

Even though Winter was a rough one - so much of California's lakes and reservoirs benefitted with full lakes and sadly some flooding more up in central California.

Next photos around  Big bear Lake - Boulder Bay which was absolutely empty of water the bay area, last October.

this was Boulder Bay last September with no water

SPRING IS FINALLY SHOWING UP MORE AROUND HERE

And the many days of fog have disappeared for awhile.  It's been sunny and now in the 80's.  Going for a trip up to Big Bear Lake later  and hoping to see that the lake is now even more full.   Two weeks ago it was 7 feet from being full but I've been following reports from people that say the water is still flowing in from all the snow that is melting.  This will be a first for us (in 10 years here) that we will see it almost full.

That first pic - house  -has always been a favorite when we are passing by this area in Blue Jay and now it's been painted a color that a lot of people are using now on their cabins.  Black is becoming more and more popular as a paint color.  I like the contrast between the trees and the house.  It took awhile but just as the daffodils were beginning to bloom a small snow storm came through and as of a week ago were starting to bloom more.

Trees getting their spring leaves.

Our local lake is really full now.

HOPING TO GET BACK IN THE BLOGGING MOOD

 So far, other than a few posts on Instagram and a few on FB I haven't found the motivation to post anything.  It's like I try to think of something to say and it just isn't there.   Anyway - May is here and we had a few weeks of beautiful weather from our extreme winter weather and now rain is coming and snow at higher elevation.  

There are several things coming up in the near future I'm looking forward to.  First is a special day at SkyPark, Santa's Village for residents to get in free.  This is a big deal to me because usually for adults its' $50 for admission and other than being a beautiful place there's' not a lot to do.  

Next after that there will be the county fair in our area which isn't a big deal compared to LA County Fair which I also want to go to this year.  Then Lake Arrowhead Village starts their summer concerts which is usually tribute bands of famous bands. Then in my favorite area, Redlands, they have the Redlands Bowl which is an outdoor venue, free of charge, for more tribute bands or classical music, etc. 

I'll be visiting Oak Glen where I can stop and try to interact with  the Llamas who have such a superior attitude towards people and then there is the sweet horses I can't pass by without saying hello to them.

LA county fair - how I've missed you....(we haven't been since the pandemic closed everything). 

Sweet Horses along Thompson Creek Trail.

And that's about all I can come up with to talk about except for the fact

The grosbeaks are back with their attitude.\

The squirrels are busy stealing whatever seen they can find.

I saw my first swallowtail of the season hanging around the wild lilac trees that is finally blooming.

The frog made it through winter and did fall off the tree again but I put him back.

We did get to see some wildflowers blooming about two days before the blizzard buried the mountains here and caused rock slides and areas where the sides of the hwys were in threat of falling which then entailed many road closures along with our main grocery store whose roof collapsed.  There was a state of emergency called in California in many areas both southern, central and I think Northern - record snowfall in so many places and lots of flooding with the rains.

And soon the Spanish Broom along the highway will be so pretty to look at again.

I guess I did have something to say.  Hope u all who might stop by are doing well.  I hope to get back to spending time in blog land.