It's Winter At Sweet Sienna

Four feet of snow, roads full of ice with nights and mornings down in the teens. This is winter in Big Bear!

Winter 2010 - Historic Snow Fall

The truth is, I haven't even been able to go up to the mountains since I last returned. I remember before I was leaving, I could see some very dark ominous clouds starting to form and I knew it was going to be snowing. I just had no idea how much!! Check out some screen shots from the news after announcing the closed the mountain!

A New Addition To The Interior of Sweet Sienna

I have been looking (for about a year) for a small writing desk for Sweet Sienna. I finally found one. It's solid maple, and I bought it from an old lady that used it for school homework when she was six years old. She is the only owner of the desk.

I went up to the mountain this weekend and unpacked the desk, moved it upstairs and placed it where I thought it looked best. Then I hung my cello on the wall and readjusted the painting on the wall. It makes me so happy to see the desk next to the hutch I bought last year. Very warm!!

Christmas In Big Bear

I felt kind of guilty (in a hedonistic way) for having one of the best Christmas' ever. The guilty part of the memory is that I spent it apart from my family, and most importantly my mom. However, I was able to overcome this guilty angst a bit because she and I spent the most amazing time together the week before, reading poetry and enjoying each other's company. I arrived two days before Christmas and found Sweet Sienna sprinkled with a good six inches of fresh snow. I gathered a good pile of firewood and stacked it inside next to the fireplace. I unpacked my bags and turned on some Christmas music, and settled in for the Christmas holiday. The next day, I hit the ski slopes, and was totally amazed at how beautiful and full of Christmas spirit the mountain was. The trees were dusted with snow, the skies were crystal blue with bright white clouds rose above the horizon like giant waves crashing on the beach. I even tried skiing at night one time. BEAUTIFUL.

Sweet Sienna In Marina's Sweet Memory

Improving My Soul's Estate

The essayist, poet, and philosopher Henry David Thoreau wrote "He enjoys true leisure who has time to improve his soul's estate." To me, this means that true relaxation does not necessarily mean a trip to a Hawaiian 5-star hotel or a weekend sipping umbrella-laced cocktails by the pool. No, instead true leisure is the fruit of regular and practiced acts of discipline that when demonstrated over a period of time become the source of strength, sanity, happiness, and tranquility. In short, everything for which leisure stands. I often think of playing my cello as leisure because through the work and discipline of learning to play the blasted thing, I am transported into another place.

I thought of Mr. Thoreau this weekend while working up in Big Bear. The cabin is such a place of refuge for me, and at the same time there is always something to do, something to repair, something to improve.

For example, I had long wanted to design and construct a small pathway down the eastern side of Sweet Sienna. The path as I envisioned, would have a series of stepping stones set in a lane of fresh bark. I thought the brick colored stones could tie in nicely with the rust colored trim of the house, and would also do a find job of protecting my white stocking feet from the dirt, pine needles, and coyote droppings that are inherent risks when gathering firewood in the evening.

The job itself was not complicated per se, but it did require a certain amount of engineering and of course supplies. The most expensive ingredient was bark. But I know a logging operation over in Lake Arrowhead where I can get all the bark I need for $10. I spent most of Saturday filling up the Jeep with big bags of bark. I then purchased bender board to define the path, landscape cloth when keeps the weeds from growing up between the bark, and stepping stones. All-in-all, I think I spend under $70 for the while affair.

Sunday was blistering hot as I began to dig and level the raw dirt outside the cabin. The air was filled with fire smoke from the Southern California wild fires. But I persevered and cut the path, then shaped it, lined it with cloth and finally hauled up the bark and brick steps.
In the end, I’m not really sure it looks as good as I had hoped and probably won’t add much value, but still I couldn’t help but feel the positive effects of true leisure brought about by the small improvement I had made to my soul’s estate.

"He enjoys true leisure who has time to improve his soul's estate."

Playing Cello in the Mountains

I went up to visit Sweet Sienna this weekend spent most of the weekend playing cello. I played so much that my fingers started to bleed. This is one of the most beautiful pains that exists in the world. At one point I was playing outside while gazing at the forest and mountains in front of me. I couldn't help but notice how many birds started to congregate in front of me. As I was playing I was constantly reminded how lucky I am to have this little sanctuary and oasis. When I left on Sunday afternoon I left with the promise to practice, practice, practice.

Listen To The Audio
Included in this clip entry are two audio postings that show demonstrate what I was working on while in the mountains. The first audio is an operatic version of the song "Tre Gironi Son Che Nina". The opera describes a man who is losing his love to illness. And he is standing over her sick body and tells her how much he loves her. The second audio is of me playing the same piece. See what you think.

Thinking About Big Bear

I have been thinking about Big Bear a lot this past week. I miss the smell of the pine trees and the chill in the evening air. I miss the quiet as much as I miss the sound of screaming Blue Jays and howling coyotes. I found these entries from a Big Bear blog I follow....I thought I would record them so that you could listen to the beauty.

Marina's Big Bear Video

A Day At The Beach In The Mountains

Marina and I spent our honeymoon in the mountains laying on the beach, sipping beers while we watched the water skiers dance over the lake. The breeze was blowing gently, and the air was crisp and warm. We were so happy to be alive and in the mountains.