Still Waiting For The Snow To Fall

It's already almost December and the snow hasn't come...yet. We went up the day after Thanksgiving expecting to see snow, but all we saw were the mountain tops sprinkled with a very think layer of the white stuff. Mari immediately snapped a couple of photos of the mountains outside our windows and threw open the curtains as if it would help usher in a new blizzard. Alas, the snow didn't cooperate, but we did have a lovely Thanksgiving leftover feast courtesy of mom. Mari warmed the gravy, tossed the salad, and carved the turkey while I openened the wine and set the table. Together we toasted the afternoon, and thank mom for the food. THANKS MOM.

The Weather Is Getting Colder, But The Fish Are Still Biting

Mari's brother, Luis, recently visited Sweet Sienna. The Fall weather was crisp, and the lake water cold, but that didn't stop us from dropping a line and trying our luck at catching trout, bass or catfish. We had heard the day before that the trout were biting in the shallow parts of the lake. So we headed over to the Fawnskin side of the lake, just south of the dam where Mari and I had spent some fun summer afternoons. But the wind was near hurricane strength and the cold was biting, so I offered up a new strategy: to head over toward Boulder Bay, back in the coves and protected areas. When we arrived, the wind was calm, and water green, and the day absolutely beautiful. Did we catch anything? No, but it was still fun!!

Bluff Lake Hike Early One November Morning

There is a secret lake back in the forest above Bear Mountain that Mari and I discovered recently. The road to get there is long and twisty but covered with but beautiful scenery. Actually, it was a guy from the water company that turned us on to this place. Awesome tip! The lake is a small patch of blue mountain water that is surrounded by pine trees. Just off the path is a series of old cabins that were once the original stops for stage coaches coming up the mountain with supplies for the miners and mountain families. Anyway, Mari, Luis and I made a picnic breakfast and explored the beautiful oasis called Bluff Lake.

Thunder and Lighting on Labor Day 2008

This Labor Day weekend, Mari and I went to the mountains to relax. On late Sunday we had an afternoon thunder storm. We watched the golfers run off the course for fear of getting stuck by lighting. However, an hour later, the skies cleared as did the golf course. So Mari and I walked out to the golf course and played four holes under the dramatic sky. Huge white, grey and black clouds crept over the ski slopes and every once in a while the crackle of thunder would echo through the fairway. We played until the sun had settled behind the mountains, leaving only a pink, orange, and red glow on the horizon. The air was crisp, announcing that indeed Fall had arrived. When we made it back down the back side of the golf course toward Sweet Sienna, we could see the twinkling lights from our deck. There was a wisp of smoke coming from out of the chimney, and everything about that home whispered love, warmth and peace. Here are some recent photos.

Goin' Fishing

This past weekend, Mary and I hauled our kayak out to the lake and tried our hand at fishing. The weather was warm and sunny, with clear blue skies and crystal clear lake water. It was a perfect environment to try the adventure of fishing. We first launched from a small beach on the north side of the lake. From here, we paddled to a deserted cove where we tried our luck. As we sat on the shore throwing our line in the water, I was reminded of this quote..."The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of that which is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope” Indeed, we had the hope of catching our dinner for the night, but this vision was an illusion that was replaced instead by the reality of catching only very small fish that had to be thrown back. But we had a great time. We felt alone and at peace. Later on we paddled in the middle of the lake and dropped our line straight down into the black water, but we kept drifting, and so it was hard to keep our line were we wanted. So we decided to move onto a outcropping of big boulders. It was an amazing view from here. There were some old cabins that were boarded up but that looked amazingly like a scene from Tom Sawyer.

An Amazing Weekend

There have been very few places in my life where I have felt freedom. I think the first place I discovered this sense of liberty was the beach. Whether San Diego and San Luis Obispo, whenever I was able to walk along the sand or bob up and down in the rolling waves in the ocean, I felt at peace. The second place I remember discovering this sense of tranquility was when I moved to Morro Bay. This was connected to the ocean but more than that it was my first experience on my own. Still, I remember a huge pull for me to move to Morro Bay involved getting out of the city. Again, it was an expression of freedom. Now at the age of 45, I think I have discovered another example of freedom, and that is in the mountains.


When the weekend arrived, Mary and I escaped to Big Bear where we attended a jazz festival. The music was good, and actually this one guitarist was smoking hot. His name is Jay Santo and he had all the moves of Elvis but with the jazz guitar savvy of Joe Pass. Really good. But the highlight of the whole concert was the setting: an intimate amphitheater nestled among the pine trees.


Mary loved the experience and had to get her photo taken with Jay Santo. Here are a couple of photos of her with Jay and his drummer.

Exploring The Mountain

The next day, we explored the top of the ski slopes via the chairlifts. This was an amazing experience. The lifts elevate up nearly 1,000 feet and to see the tops of the forest through the bottom of your feet is quite breathtaking.


On the top of the mountain, the air is so fresh and so clean. It is filled with the sweet smell of pine and lake water.



I remember reading “For Whom The Bell Tolls” by Hemingway, and being totally aware of the surroundings he described while living in the mountains above Spain. While at the top of Big Bear, I felt the same sensations as when reading this novel. What was amazing about the mountain, was when we walked on one side, you could see the breathtaking vistas that overlook the lake. It was as beautiful as anything I had ever seen. However, when you walk to the back side of the mountain, you could see the well known San Gregorio Mountain, which reaches into the heavens at 11,000 feet. The old man that lives next door to me often describes the day he and four friends climbed San Gregorio. It took them 6 hours. Amazing. Of course we grabbed a quick bite to eat, a couple of beers, and then we headed down the mountain again.

Playing a Couple of Holes

Once in the valley, we decided to play a little golf. Mary has been practicing and was more than game to hit a few balls into the alpine air. So we shot a few shots, played a couple of practice holes, and then headed back to Los Angeles.

Recent Photos

It's Getting Closer

Here is the update of the cabin. The following has been completed:
New Electrical
New Plumbing
New Paint
New Kitchen
New Roof
New Carpet
New Stone Stairway
New Tile Floors

Big Bear Cabin

Some Early Photos

Here are some early photos of the cabin. As you can see, it needs some work, but it has some great possibilities.