THE DAY BEFORE IT SNOWED WE WERE UP AT BIG BEAR LAKE

 Standfield Marsh is a wildlife and waterfowl preserve and if the area gets enough snow and rain it will be filled with water in the winter, spring and summer months.  Usually by fall the water has evaporated and just a  small amount around this little island in the middle still remains.   It's weird to think that just a few months ago in summer helicopters were coming by to scoop water out of the marsh to fight a fire somewhere in Big Bear Valley.

So before we got there the other day I said I wanted to walk out to the island and Mike said, there will probably be some water  left  and your shoes will get wet. Sure enough there was.   

I had Mike take photos of me so I could prove I almost walked on to the island.  (as if it's some far off island, lol)   The bottom two photos  are when it was almost full - when it's full it goes on both sides of the footbridge.  

So I'm in blue and I am standing at the edge of the water.  He zoomed up some because he couldn't see me at all if he hadn't.  

All of this to say I always feel so good as soon as we drive in to Big Bear.  Maybe I'm meant to live here for awhile.   There are a lot more options to hike and walk around here that aren't all up and down hills. 

BIG BEAR LAKE

A TRIP TO BIG BEAR LOOKING FOR SPRING COLORS

Our mountains here always seem to be behind in blooming so when it starts I'm always out looking for color.

We went up to Big Bear the other day and the weather was perfect for walking and just enjoying being outside.  It felt so strange that on such a beautiful day there were very few people  out and about.   Our county has now made it voluntary that we wear masks but stores have the right to require them.

THE OTHER DAY AT BIG BEAR LAKE - A FEW THINGS i saw

First off the Solar Observatory in Big Bear Lake.  I've written on it before but here is a clip from Wikipedia

Big Bear Solar Observatory is the premier university-based solar observatory in the United States. It is operated by New Jersey Institute of Technology

addendum:  I thought to go see if there was any recent news on the observatory and saw this at the link  (It's dated 11/18/19 and this is 17th so not sure where the article is from.  Link if you are interested.  LINK HERE

".....Scientists at Big Bear have also captured the first high-resolution images, for example, of magnetic fields and plasma flows originating deep below the Sun's surface, tracing the evolution of sunspots and magnetic flux ropes through the chromosphere before their dramatic appearance in the corona as flaring loops..."

 Walking along I saw smoke and at first thought a fire was starting in this area of houses along the lake but thankfull someone was burning logs in their fireplace.

It was a gorgeous day and I was happy to see that this white house whose windows hard been boarded up - the big windows - have now been replaced with new ones.  It was boarded up for months - maybe a year or two so this was nice to see.

THE VILLAGE OF BIG BEAR

It was so colorful it felt like it was over saturated - in person and in my photos.

Beautiful day - around 70 and the slightest of breezes - felt good walking around in the village and then over by the lake.

BEAUTIFUL DAY AT BIG BEAR LAKE

Perfect weather and beauty combined.  People were enjoying the day.

SOME BIG BEAR PHOTOS

This area I feel when I'm there is more of a mix of mountain and high desert.  I love the way the hills are behind the houses.  If ever I wanted a ranch and horses, I would choose this area, at least right now anyway.

First week of August is turning out to be really pretty around here.  No humidity to speak of - warm temps but nice when sitting out in the evening.  

Hope u all have a great week.