Normandie Cottages

No, not Normandy, France...these are some cute little cottages in Redlands, California.  I took these several years ago and have been meaning to post them on my blog...better late than never.

This is the street they're on; it's a very short cul-de-sac and I understand there is a waiting list for homes to be put up for sale!  Hmmm...

This cottage had a darling little orange and white kitty in the window.

I'm linking with: Through My Lens

Alpenglow

I was down in Redlands (a small town in the San Bernardino valley) last week and caught this beautiful sunset.  This is looking west...

Looking behind me to the east, I realized one of my favorite things was happening...

Alpenglow!

I love it when the sunset colors the snow on the high peaks.  It only lasts for a couple of minutes, at best.  I
looked back to the west...

and snapped a quick (I thought) shot, but by the time I turned back to the east the mountains and the sky had faded into the blue of dusk...

I felt really lucky that I was there to not only see, but get photos of, one of my favorite natural things.

I'm linking with Our World Tuesday   and   Blue Monday  and   Through My Lens Monday

and    Life Thru the Lens     and   Pink Saturday

Waiting for Rain

A Mystery

Sunday Sunsets - A World Away

Photo taken November 10, 2010, near Redlands, CA


Well, actually this is only a 45 minute drive from the mountains that I live in, but in terms of climate, vegetation, pollution, terrain, crime and a vast difference in population numbers, it may as well be a world away! Every time I drive down from the mountains, it makes me aware of what a lovely, fragile little bubble we who are fortunate enough to live up here inhabit.

Little Gifts

I found these artfully arranged by the side of the path while walking to my studio this morning. Little gifts like this from Mother Nature always brighten my day!

It felt so good to get back into my studio. I've been driving up and down the 'hill' (mountain) to Redlands for the past several days to take my sister to various appointments. It's a lovely town, full of old Victorian houses and charming Craftsmen bungalows, but it's 45 miles (one way) from my home. I used think nothing of making the 90 mile round trip five days a week for work, and then getting a couple hours of painting done when I got home, but that was back when I was in my twenties. Several decades do make a difference in one's stamina. (And not for the better, either, darn it). That's a little 'gift' that I could do without!