Outdoor Wednesday...Up to Big Bear again..

Joseph and I drove up to Big Bear again today for a day of snow boarding...it was a nice day...about 42 degrees for the high and sunny. The road we would normally take is closed...probably for the rest of the year anyways, as half of the road is gone due to a slide from all the rain we have been having. The drive up there was nice...this way the road is a bit less winding ...but there was a lot of traffic once we got to town.
There was more snow up today than the last time too...

It was so pretty...all the green trees against the fresh white snow...

and the blue sky...I can't get enough of these views...

The drive back down the hill took quite a bit longer than normal...we didn't consider the holiday week in our decision...it just seemed like a good day...and the fact that a main road is closed for the season...but all in all...a great time spent with my older son...

Thanks Joey...I had a great day!!

Go over and visit Susan for other great outdoor Wednesdays...

Thank you Jan...

Here are my Christmas goodies that I received from Jan in the SSCS Christmas swap...what a burst of sunshine in this dreary weather we have been having here...I don't really think my photos do justice to the colors and wonderful embroidery ...
Here is a close up...I know exactly where I am going to place this beautiful pillow cover! As soon as the Christmas decorations come down I will post a photo...

This is a nice little mug mat that Jan made as well...Thanks so much Jan...your workmanship is wonderful and I love my gifts!!

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas...I did...we were surrounded by family and friends and it was great! My younger son, Stephen and Lola stayed last night as well with us and we had a relaxing day today as well. Tomorrow, my sister, Debbie and I will take a drive down to Country Loft for a great sale....50% off tons of fabric and seasonal items and even 50% off the antique shed out back...I had my eye on a little end table last time I was there...I hope it's still there!!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend...and thanks again to Jan and to Chookyblue for organizing the swap...you are a doll!!

Outdoor Wednesday...rainy day style...

We have been getting some rain here ...for 8 straight days!! What happened to the La Nina they predicted...and the warm dry winter? We have gotten more rain in the last 8 days than we do the whole month of December...and this comes from someone who appreciates the rain...but enough already....

I don't know how much more my yard can take...it just never stops...and I do mean that...it is a constant rain...from a sprinkle to a heavy rain...never ceasing...

No...not a pond...my back lawn...

My street runs into a dry river bed...I live 5 houses from the end...I braved the rain and went out to see how much water was down there...this is normally dry and that little island is a very large hill...

This wash is at least a 1/2 mile wide ...it is very rocky and sandy...now it looks like a river...I always wanted to live near the water...looks like I got my wish!

Stay dry, my friends and go visit Susan for some more Outdoor Wednesday posts..

Merry Christmas!!

When did this happen...

Last week was warm and in the high 70's to low 80's and then all of a sudden...as is typical in my neck of the woods...Mother Nature changed her mind and all the leaves fell off the trees and it's cold and rainy...I got these pictures on Tuesday when I went out to garden a bit....
but I ended up raking alot!! It just so happened that the guy who maintains the fertilizer on my lawn wanted to put down some granules before the rain came...so I had to get raking because the leaves were so thick that the granules would just sit on top of the leaves...oh well...it was a good work out!

Yes...these guys are who's mostly responsible...they all decided to shed their leaves in a day!

And there are six of these beauties in the back yard...plus the apple tree which is twice as big as they are! But the apple tree is trying to hold on to some of her leaves...she sheds a bit at a time! And she has lots!!

While outside, I discovered that the tangerines are ripe! Yum! There are lots too!!

And strawberries hiding under the leaves too...they are small so I'll leave them for the birds. It's not really strawberry season...this weird weather has everyone confused!

This pretty was buried by leaves too. Pansies love the cold rainy weather...but remember...cold to me is in the 50's...they like that kind of winter...

Primrose too...they enjoy the cold but I don't usually see them until late winter...

Stock flowers too...they love the winter and early spring too...if they're in the right place I see them until summer's end...I have so many of these in many colors.

Today I'm inside because it is rainy and cold...it's supposed to stay that way for the next week. I never complain about the rain...I love it...and we need it so I can keep showing you all the beauty hiding under the leaves!!

Have a great day, my friends...stop and take a peek at the beauty in your own back yard!!

Oh Christmas Tree...

The Christmas tree is a big thing in our house...we always have a real one and we always wait until the house is decorated before we get a tree...it is a tradition for us. Many years ago, at Church, our pastor, Father Bob mentioned that people rush into Christmas way too fast, not slowing down for a minute to enjoy what the season is all about...the birth of Christ. He said...slow down...take it step by step...enjoy the whole season...so the tree is one of last steps to the season...it isn't fancy...but neither are we...many of the ornaments are old and a bit tattered...but so are we...it is filled with things we love and things we have made and others have made for us...and this year....

It is tiny!! You see...one thing about waiting to find a Christmas tree is you take what you can find...Don went out...like he always does to find the perfect tree...for the right amount of money of course...he looked at so many places...there were only dried up expensive trees...or big 12 foot trees...and behold...he found this little tree just waiting for a home! They practically gave it away too! The problem with a tiny tree is decorating it...to start with...the stand was too big. Problem solved...we have an old galvanized bucket that would be fine...we put some rocks in the bottom to hold up the tree...filled it with water...and perfect...second...a short tree is cute, but too short is bad...so we put it in the wagon we have had since Joseph was a baby...another problem solved. I filled the base of the wagon with pine garland, pine cones and some red shiny balls. The next issue was lights...we just couldn't have as many as we would like but we down-sized and used just our favorite decorations...the light ones...branches were smaller too...and we think we have a great tiny Christmas tree!
Merry Christmas, my friends...take time to enjoy the Season!!

More from Big Bear...

It was a pretty day for walking while my son went snow boarding...the sky was so blue and it was in the high 50's...good for a nice brisk walk!
I found some nice quiet streets near the lodge to start...they weren't too wet...it was quiet and peaceful...

I am amazed at how many types of pines there are in the area...I don't know if you can tell, but there are three different types in this shot. The first one looked very blue, but that didn't show up so well in my photo...the middle was short needles and the last one had really long needles and not as compact. I don't know the names of all the pines, but they are so pretty against the white snow and blue sky. Oh...and the smell...I wish I could send you that...it was wonderful! That's one thing I love about our mountains...they smell heavenly!

I thought this was funny! A lot of places have carved bears in their yards for obvious reasons...but someone was using this to hold their snow board and it struck me as funny. This was in front of one of the condos near the lodge.

As I was walking, I could see how much snow had melted...like I said before...it's been very warm here. It is supposed to start getting colder...I hope so...I hate to see all the snow melt away.

I came across this abandoned cabin...it was right next to a beautiful new one...I wonder if this is their guest house...for unwanted guests...

And the transportation for the guests...

The pines trees are so tall...I stood under them amazed at the beauty of it all...

Our mountains are quite rugged...here you can see the giant rocks...they are pretty to me too!

On the way home, we stopped at a new park on the lake...it was such a pretty view. We saw a fisherman on the new dock, but he said he wasn't having much luck...a couple trout...one more and he had enough for dinner! This is one of the small islands on Big Bear Lake...and I was happy to see the lake so full of water this early in the season...

There were a ton of ducks on the lake..some of the lake was icy and they were actually walking on it. this guy kept going under for his supper...I think he is a Lesser Scaup, but I am not 100% sure...

There were quite a few of these guys and gals...and they stayed paired up. The female stayed right with her mate. They are Mallards...very common...

As we walked over to get a different view...a bunch of pairs of Mallards came up to see us...I think they were expecting a hand-out...sorry guys...we didn't bring you anything...if I had only known you were here...I would have brought a treat...next time! Instead, they got busy picking at some remaining treat from an earlier visitor.

All in all...a wonderful day spent in the mountains...

I hope you are having a great day wherever you are!!

Spending the day with Joseph...

Yesterday, my older son, Joseph and I went up the hill to Big Bear for a day of snow boarding for him and a lot of walking for me. I don't snow board, although it looks pretty fun...I think I may be a bit old to try...I wouldn't want to break anything. I used to ski...years ago...but I hung up my skis when I had my sons...it just got too pricey. Anyway, we drove up to Snow Summit...

So much snow had already melted from the last big storm because it has been quite warm. It was in the high 50's and seemed more like a Spring day than a day in December! The chair lifts were quite busy though...but it wasn't a long wait like on the week ends.
Here's one of the runs...as you can see...it wasn't too crowded.


I enjoyed watching everyone coming down the mountain and wished for a bit I was up there with them! Skiing is so much fun!

The clouds started moving in after lunch...

We left to go to town to eat lunch, and after we ate we drove back so Joseph could get in a few more runs. I went for a nice walk...I think I must have walked 5 or so miles yesterday...but I will show the pictures from my walk later on a another post. I tried so hard to get a picture of Joey as he was coming down...looking for his blue pants, but he was either too far away...

or too close and walking back...here he is...coming down to meet me..I had a great day with my son...I always do when I am with my boys...those days are priceless!

Enjoy your weekend, my friends!!

More bird watching...

Here's a couple little finches that were sitting in my apple tree waiting for breakfast this morning...they are so funny! They know when I'm coming out and wait around to get fed.

These are both males...the females are all brown. The finches in my yard range from a light orange to a deep red on their heads and chests. They are very funny birds...they prefer to eat off the ground and a couple go onto the feeder and knock all the food onto the ground...I don't know why I just don't fore go the feeder and just sprinkle it on the ground!

This is an interesting time in the yard watching birds...we get a lot of birds migrating through either going to Mexico for the winter or staying here for winter. I look forward to the wood peckers...they will start showing up soon!

Enjoy the day, my friends!!

A package from Australia...

Look what arrived from Australia yesterday afternoon...

Something special for me!! I was very careful to open the package just so...

And here's what was inside...two presents...one for now...and one for Christmas morning...so exciting!!

A pretty card too...from Jan...what fun...I can hardly wait...

Look at what was inside my ornament package...oh my...I do love birdies!! So carefully stitched...so perfect!!!

And...oh goodness...there are two ornaments!! Just look at this cute face...I have to find the perfect spot to display these ...I know they are supposed to be for the tree...

But this one is just too perfect for a little basket of pine cones...I have always left it plain...but no more...isn't he perfect on it...oh yes!

Thanks Jan...you are so sweet!! And thanks, Chookyblue for setting this up! This is my first Christmas as a blogger and I have met so many wonderful gals from all over...and I must say...you girls in Australia are extra sweet!!

Thanks again!! Merry Christmas!!!