SOME SCENES ON MY DRIVE YESTERDAY AROUND OUR AREA

 It was one of those beautiful days, high clouds  that form before the weather change which brings in the winds and fog and luckily some good rain during the night.  

I seem to only head toward the different lakes up here when I go out but once in awhile I remember there is more to our little town and neighborhoods than up the mountain.  Yesterday we went to a few areas I like to drive through once in awhile, an area called Valley of Enchantment and Cedar Pines Park.  VOE sometimes suffers a bad reputation from the locals up here - such as more crime.  (like everywhere else these days the crime seems to be rising).  Cedar Pines Park is beautiful but the drawback there is their high water costs compared to we who live closer to town and the lake.  The beauty up there is really nice.  I'll eventually post a few photos of it next time.  

In certain areas it feels more like you're in the country.  I love when you see a tree in the middle of a road.  That tree must feel very loved.

JUST WAVING HELLO TO ANYBODY WHO MIGHT SEE THIS

 I've been enjoying spring here in the mountains.  We have a weather change coming it - sounds like we could get a little rain.  Every time the jet stream changes we get breezy up here - sometimes very windy.   

I was remembering my road trip to Bend, Oregon during spring season.  It was beautiful and I'm hoping I can do this again with my sister some day.  My previous trip was with my sister and my niece. 

Here is my son's house in Bend.  This is where two of my grandkids live, Mac and Jake.

I love that beautiful tree in the foreground.  Actually this whole area is beautiful - it's one of those planned community type areas. A lot of homes have been built patterned after the old time bunaglows and craftsman homes - there is a park in the center of the neighborhood where 4 neighborhood streets come into the middle - it's called compass park.  What I like about it is the front yards were already designed and planted by the company who built the houses  and there are now a lot of older beautiful trees and bushes that have grown up since the beginning of this area.  I feel like written about this neighborhood before ..oh well...if I have here it is again.

  

SHE FINALLY DID IT - BEANIE IN A BOX

 We have had her for almost six years.  I have witnessed her love for boxes (like all cats love), but the other day Mike opened up a box that was delivered from Amazon and mindlessly just put it on the chair next to where he was sitting.  I walked into the room and there she was - the first time I ever saw her fit into a tiny box.  My camera was on the counter so i kept saying to her "don't move" ...over and over while getting the camera and taking her photo.

ahh, the tape on the chair shows up..oh well...these chairs will have tape on them until the day she isn't with us anymore.  She's already ruined them with her nails.

I INVITED MYSELF TO VISIT "GREEN VALLEY LAKE" THE OTHER DAY

 Mike wasn't home and i needed to get out and walk through nature.  As i walked along I saw this boat just taking a break and napping in the sun on the shoreline.  It was really difficult  not to just step in, sit down  and go for a float around the lake.  It was a beautiful day and I walked for at least two hours up and down the roads and through a few neighborhoods.  And then... today is foggy, chilly, some sprinkling and hoping tomorrow is another beautiful sunny day.

Green Valley Lake is at about 7000 feet and one of the prettiest small lakes around these mountains.

MY HOUSE OF ALMOST 30 YEARS BEFORE WE MOVED TO THE MOUNTAINS

 It's beautiful days like today that make me wish I still had my yard to work in, the trails behind the house to walk through and a house filled with family before they all moved to different states.  It's fun to look back and if I close my eyes I am right there again.  I have four sons - three of whom wanted out of California and one who when the time is right will also probably move out of state.

They live in Washington, Montana and Oregon.  It's interesting to me that they all chose the Northwest.  One lives just down the mountain from us, our youngest and his son.

We had an acre and I loved yard work.  I worked from home doing medical transcription and when I wasn't working I was out in the yard.  Our the back yard we could walk down a wash area and over to the a trail that took you to a waterfall.  We were at the foot of the mountains so it made sense that our next move would be to the mountains.  I would see those mountains every day and always loved to visit them.

We had three weddings in the yard and a couple baby showers, a hot August night party and several other get togethers, poker nights, and i loved having all my family around.