Wash your spirit clean!

Keep close to nature's heart...

and break clear away,

once in a while,

and climb a mountain

or spend a week in the woods.

~ John Muir

The Golden Hour

The period of one hour before sunrise or sunset is often referred to as "the golden hour." This description is very appropriate for the Big Bear valley in the mountains of southern California. Whether there are clouds in the sky or not, there is invariably a lovely golden glow to the atmosphere.

Hiking in the forest north of Big Bear Lake,
late in the afternoon, that glow is filtered by the trees.

At Captain John's Marina in Fawnskin, the late day sunlight glitters on the water.

At 6,700+ feet above sea level the low clouds roll up the mountain and across the lake.

The tiny island of boulders for which Boulder Bay is named,
is little more than a dark shadow in the late day light.

Pink Knot Marina has a great view as the sun sets on the opposite shore.

The park at the end of Pink Knot in Big Bear village is a perfect place to watch the sun go down.

The view from the south end of Stanfield Cutoff at the east end of the lake.

Walking along the north shore trail, the setting sun faintly
illuminates the fields of tall grass and wildflowers.

Sailing Away

Photography is a strong tool, a propaganda device, and a weapon for the defense of the environment...and therefore for the fostering of a healthy human race and even very likely for its survival. -- Eliot Porter (Photographer)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

May we all have a vision now and then
Of a world where every neighbour is a friend.
--Abba

A Walk in the Park

Huntington Beach Central Park is a beautiful park where one can find the Central Library, Equistrian Center, Sports Center, the Shipley Nature Center, dog park and a lovely pond. Thanks to our never ending drought, the pond is rather low but that hasn't deterred a large number of birds from making themselves at home there. I take my dog Mickey there quite frequently for a walk and to play in the dog park. This afternoon, I decided to take along my camera and I found there are lots of photo opportunities there. It's really surprising how, when you have camera and look around wherever you go, you can see everyday things so differently, notice so much more and see so much beauty in common things and places. For example, the photo in my Thanksgiving post of the dolls was taken inside the local Walmart.