DOES THIS LOOK LIKE A DOG FACE

 Back on 2/11, I was walking around our local lake and sat for a moment on a bench.  I looked down and there was a lot of different bark pieces left over from a tree that had been chopped down.   I was just letting my vision roam when looking down again I saw this and picked it up.  i think it's cool.  Kind of wish I had brought it home.   And later when looking at the photo I realized the connection - ...A dog face in bark - a dog barks...

i guess the face in the bark was just waiting for someone to notice it.

There were quite a few pieces lying around but I wasn't about to check each one and now I wish I had.

 

WESTERN BLUEBIRDS YESTERDAY

 I was taking a break from a hike and found a bench to sit on - I saw movement kind of far away but only had my sunglasses with me.  I had to trust that I could get some pics and it was only after I took them that I saw what kind of birds they were.

WHILE UP AT BIG BEAR LAKE

 We were walking through an area called STanfield Marsh when we would see these western bluebirds, fly up from the ground and perch on these very thin branched wheat looking bushes.  There were many of them - it must be the season for them up there.  The marsh has little water in it now - mostly just close to the little island out in the middle.  A few years back the whole area was beautiful with lots of water. 

The whole marsh is quite a walk if you leave from the bridge area and go across to behind the houses where there is a road that leads up to the hwy.  We finally took it and it was a good work out because some of the wheat looking plants are taller in some areas and the marsh bed is  damp from snow that melted and sunk in.  

A PHOTO OF MY GRANDSON AND THE BIRD HIS MOM BROUGHT INTO OUR LIVES WHEN HE WAS BORN

 Hunter who is now 19, had so much fun with this bird as he was growing up and a lot of that time was spent at our house where we eventually inherited the bird. I saw this photo the other day and remembered the good times he had with her and I also enjoyed her.

FOUND THESE OLD PHOTOS

 They were taken about 15 years ago while i was sitting on the front porch of my previous house when these doves flew in to eat.  I went by the property the other day and so much has been changed - even more so than the last visit several months ago.   We use to walk down a trail behind our house that led  to a canyon and on to a waterfall.  That area is totally dry and dead looking.  We got a lot of rain the other day and i'm hoping whatever rain they got down there will help it green up a bit.

LONG-HAIRED BUFFALO

 We went to Oak Glen awhile back and on the way is a long haired buffalo ranch where the fence comes close to the highway.  We pulled over and I  got out of the car to get a photo.  This guy came right up to me.  I think if I had stayed for awhile he would have also.  He seemed friendly.  I imagine a lot of people stop by on their way to Oak Glen so he is probably use to people.  

TESTING ..WHY ISN'T A PHOTO SHOWING UP.

The last two days photos aren't showing up on the front page.   

This is a photo I took the other day at our lake.  I've been out every day and really focusing on some of the wildflowers that crop up this time of year in our mountains.  Trying to learn the names of them.  There at a lot of photos this time.

This top one i will be trying to find out what it is...

GREEN WATER AT SHORELINE - EGRET

CLOUDLESS SULPHUR

 I saw this guy yesterday over at Lake Arrowhead.  We did our shopping at Stater's and then went down by the shoreline and I was taking photos of some Gallardia plants when this butterfly flew in and landed.  As far as I can tell it's a male. 

It was a beautiful cloudy/sunny day.  As we left and were out on the road going towards Blue Jay one of the  houses we pass all the time when taking this route, looked pretty with the soft lighting so of course i got a photo. I think I have well over 100 photos of this same house.  I take its' photo often.

Hoping to get back out today - weather is a bit cooler, high 80's so  until winter comes and snow falls each day will get cooler and more seasonal with fall weather up here.  (Unless we have another heat wave in store).

FLOWERS AND THISTLE BUSHES

I'm confused on the thistle bushes.  I have posted them elsewhere and someone calls them Purple nettle - ...I've look it up and there are a few photos of purple nettle that kind of look like this.  I've always called it thistle.

Anyway -i have tons of butterfly photos around the thistle and i'll eventually post them. 

Saw more flowers that i liked.  These were over near Lake Arrowhead.

Hard to believe September is basically here.  This is the time in the mountains where we will begin to see some fall colors.  At lower levels where I use to live fall didn't really start until November and went through January - always so beautiful down there in the valley when fall colors began.

I'm lucky because I can experience fall up here and when it's over and winter is settling in with snow i can go down the mountain and be in autumn again.

1.  Thistle bushes at Lake Gregory

2.  Scene over at Lake ARrowhead on a foggy day.  One of the many boat docks.  

3.  Love these flowers and spent flower balls.