LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF SPRING

 Where I live in the mountains I see no signs that spring is coming - we are even expecting a light dusting of snow which was suppose to start around 11 a.m. but so far nothing.  

The other day we went over to Oak Glen.  This area experienced a big forest fire twice in one month (or two months, not sure)  in two different areas of their mountains.  It's still a nice place to visit but in the fall  the area is filled with tourists as the apples will be harvested, which is the main tourist attraction in Oak Glen.   Who doesn't want to stop at Oak Glen for apple pie?  Me.  I would never go there on a weekend in any season up there.   When we visit there it is always during the week.

Nothing much was blooming in the Montane Nature Preserve but it was still a nice day and we enjoyed going there.  

 

THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT - GREEN VALLEY LAKE

 So yesterday I got in the car and drove to three different lakes to walk around.  This lake is where we use to own a cabin back in 2002 for a few years.  Green Valley Lake - a little town of about 7 or so buildings, altitude about 7000 feet and the most beautiful little lake around as far as small lakes go.  It's about a half hour or so from where I live now.  

There were only a few people around and about 10 cars in town.  It was quiet, tranquil and a beautiful walk.    That house to the right of the car, last time we were here the neighbors called out to us and we visited with them for a bit.  Really nice older couple.  Today, since it was just me and I'm kind of antisocial I scooted by this area really quick but for some reason the car interested me.  

THIS FIRST PIC IS A SCREEN CAPTURE OF ANOTHER'S VIDEO

 This man from a fB forum for the mountains I go to... flew a drone over the part of town where the lake is.  I quickly screen captured a scene.   

The parking lot in the foreground is for our local Grocery Store, Goodwins.  it's always beautiful to walk out of the store after shopping and see the lake.

 The other few are just photos i took  on the roads by the house while it was snowing.   I got back home quickly right as the snow began freezing on the roads.  I wasn't in the jeep so I didn't want to be stuck at the bottom of our road because of the ice.  It was a quick snow and melted mostly overnight once the temps got over 32 degrees.  

AND THIS IS HOW SOMEONE MAKES IT THROUGH IN A POWER OUTAGE AND ICE S TORM THAT GOES FOR DAYS

 I want to place the link HERE so if you live anywhere that might experience what this family did you will be more prepared if you see what they found out worked and what they learned will be also important in the event of an ice storm.  

I don't know why I didn't know what parts of Oregon were going through because all the news I've seen was about Texas.   I don't watch a lot of news so maybe I just missed the Oregon ice storm. 

Living in the mountains where we have lost power for up to a week (which I only experienced three days of)... i find this info really helpful.

The LInk above  takes you to HotflashHomestead which is in Oregon.

ONE OF THE PLACES I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING TO AGAIN

 This restaurant is over in Cedar Glen - a little part of Lake Arrowhead that has some really nice areas to drive through but also a restaurant with the best chicken tenders i've had (and their beer is pretty good too).  

The lower part of the building is a bar and the upper art is a fine dining restaurant.  We have only ever been in the lower part but I did walk up the stairs one time to see what it looked like up top (you know it's fine dining in the mountains when the tables have tablecloths, lol)

Near the restaurant to the left is one of my favorite thrift stores and consignment shops.  Again, in that building the consignment shop is on the first floor and the thrift store is second floor.  Some of my favorite houses I have photographed have been in the Cedar Glen area.  

They are still closed for inside eating because of Covid but I'm wondering if they have outside dining.  I will check that out soon.

And that's the news for today from So Cal mountains.