Well, it's really me who copies the site all the time, so I deserve it. All the same, they ripped off "Sunshine on my Jarod makes me happy!"
http://mfrost.typepad.com/cute_overload/2007/08/sunshine-on-my-.html
Friday, August 24, 2007
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Heaps Peak Arboretum
On Highway 18, heading toward Lake Arrowhead from Green Valley, there's the Heaps Peak Arboretum. You can take a guided walk through a grove of trees ranging from Ponderosa Pines, Incense Cedars, Dogwoods to Black Oaks, Sequioas and Sugar Pines. This area also almost completely burned in the "old fire" of 2003. But many trees survived and thrived.
A sequoia grove was planted in the 1930s.
A grove of dead trees stands eerily in the landscape. The relationship of forests (and nature in general) and fire is obvious in this area. Living and dealing with fires is a reality for anyone living here.
The beautiful view looking toward Lake Arrowhead.
A sequoia grove was planted in the 1930s.
A grove of dead trees stands eerily in the landscape. The relationship of forests (and nature in general) and fire is obvious in this area. Living and dealing with fires is a reality for anyone living here.
The beautiful view looking toward Lake Arrowhead.
Come up and go hiking with us! We're planning to hike our butts off on all the local trails.
Keller Peak/The Children's Forest
Jarod and I went exploring the other day, taking the road by the Deerlick Firehouse up to Keller Peak and The Children's Forest trail.
There are some amazing views of the surrounding mountains.
Normally you can get into this tower and look around, but it was locked up when we were there.
The Children's Forest trail is an easy, paved walk through a part of the forest that burned in the early 70s. A group of 40 children helped to build a trail to teach people about how forests grow back after a fire. It was pretty cool, but the information was not that well maintained.
There are some amazing views of the surrounding mountains.
Normally you can get into this tower and look around, but it was locked up when we were there.
The Children's Forest trail is an easy, paved walk through a part of the forest that burned in the early 70s. A group of 40 children helped to build a trail to teach people about how forests grow back after a fire. It was pretty cool, but the information was not that well maintained.
Summer Thunderstorm
I've been anxiously awaiting some good storms. All the forecasted storms blew by us until yesterday, when we had to first rain in months.
This cloud seemed ominous, but it produced no storms for Green Valley Lake.
The view of the rainy weather outside the cabin.
This cloud seemed ominous, but it produced no storms for Green Valley Lake.
The view of the rainy weather outside the cabin.
Visit with the Stanovics
The Stanovic family came up to the mountains for a visit the first week in August. Their whole clan rented an awesome cabin in the Moonridge area of Big Bear, so Jarod and I drove over there to spend a day. I never would have suspected that we would find my Aunt Veronica playing Guitar Hero!(our favorite video game around here) She beat "Ballroom Blitz."
My Uncle Bill's brother, Jeff, likes to make movies. He got most everyone to participate in a Spaghetti Western that they spent a good part of the day filming! We got to preview what they had done before we left and it was pretty hilarious.
Here are my twin cousins, Sam and Jesse, dressed in their Western garb.
My Uncle Bill's brother, Jeff, likes to make movies. He got most everyone to participate in a Spaghetti Western that they spent a good part of the day filming! We got to preview what they had done before we left and it was pretty hilarious.
Here are my twin cousins, Sam and Jesse, dressed in their Western garb.
Big Bear Animal Park
My Grandma Loretta, my mom's mom, used to have a cabin in the Moonridge area of Big Bear, close to the Big Bear Animal Park. We went to this zoo many times when I was little, but I don't remember it.
I have to say that it's much cooler than I thought it would be. It's small, but it's one of only 2 Alpine zoos in the country, meaning that they're located over 5,000 ft. elevation. This means they can have some pretty special animals: Bald eagles, a snow leopard, grizzlies. I thought there would be a pen with a few goats in it.
The crowds were sparse so we got these grizzlies all to ourselves. The honored us by biting each other's faces for most of the time.
The largest one won the rights to the swimming hole.
This beautiful Snow Leopard named Ivan is indigenous to the Himalayas, but the climate in Big Bear suits him. He has a cancerous sore on his lip and isn't expected to survive for much longer, so it's a privilege to see him.
I wish I had more pictures! My Aunt Veronica treated Jarod and myself to this trip to the zoo and it was really fun. I want to go there and just plant myself and spend the whole day. Unlike a lot of small, horrible city zoos that lock the animals in cement enclosures, the forest surroundings and cool temps bring the animals out and about. No bear butts in the far corner.
I have to say that it's much cooler than I thought it would be. It's small, but it's one of only 2 Alpine zoos in the country, meaning that they're located over 5,000 ft. elevation. This means they can have some pretty special animals: Bald eagles, a snow leopard, grizzlies. I thought there would be a pen with a few goats in it.
The crowds were sparse so we got these grizzlies all to ourselves. The honored us by biting each other's faces for most of the time.
The largest one won the rights to the swimming hole.
This beautiful Snow Leopard named Ivan is indigenous to the Himalayas, but the climate in Big Bear suits him. He has a cancerous sore on his lip and isn't expected to survive for much longer, so it's a privilege to see him.
I wish I had more pictures! My Aunt Veronica treated Jarod and myself to this trip to the zoo and it was really fun. I want to go there and just plant myself and spend the whole day. Unlike a lot of small, horrible city zoos that lock the animals in cement enclosures, the forest surroundings and cool temps bring the animals out and about. No bear butts in the far corner.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
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