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. 

FIRST SNOW OF THE SEASON

Started this morning - should be a lot more as it can snow until Monday.  I kind of hope it's more for the higher altitudes.  

The one tree has its' branches hanging down from the weight of the snow - but really there isn't that much snow but it does this almost every time it snows. The first ones were taken after it had snowed for an hour.

THIS HOUSE - ... I LOVE THIS HOUSE ...

 This house is just down the road a couple blocks.    I keep forgetting to get photos of it when the roof is covered in snow.  I will do it this weekend.  

TO KEEP ALL THE CRAZY PRE AND POST ELECTION STUFF OUT OF OUR MINDS

 We have been going out a lot and enjoying this beautiful fall season here in the mountains.

The other day we went to a different mountain range about an hour away from here, Mt. Baldy.  We use to go here often in the early 2000's to 2010 once our kids were older and we had grandkids.  We would take the grandkids up to play and hike when they were little.  Back then where we lived it would only take us about a half hour to get there.

Yesterday was another trip to Big Bear for more walking but for now I'll post some of Mt. Baldy.  These were mainly taken near the little village where the few neighborhoods are up there.  Higher up it is cabin dotted here and there but this is a small village near the Mt. Baldy Lodge and restaurant.

SOME FANCY CREATIVE SCARECROWS IN CAMBRIA, CA

 I was happy to be able to walk through town one time on a trip to the central coast to see these scarecrows.   Cambria has an annual scarecrow festival.  

Then after the visit to Cambria, San Simeon where Hearst Castle is located is just up the coast from there.  I only went through Hearst Castle once but what i really enjoyed is walking the pier at San Simeon State Beach.  It's a beautiful area. 

We usually go to the coast to spend Thanksgiving with my sister and her family but we didn't plan it this year because of Covid and you have to get reservations months ahead of time to get a hotel room up there.