Pictures

First off I should apologize to all my friends in the snowbound areas of the country. I am not trying to rub your noses in our gorgeous weather. It’s just..too pretty not to photograph some days! From the drive up to Montrose on Tuesday. Somewhere along the 15 freeway just north of Lake Elsinore, these hillsides caught our eye and I just had to stop and take some pictures with my Blackberry:

We’ve never seen orange wildflowers in such abundance. However, it is apparently quite common for the California poppies to take over a hillside like this. I found this fascinating website which chronicles the recovery of southern California flora and fauna after fires. It was a gorgeous day to be driving. The skies were blue and clear all the way into the oft smog laden skies of the Pasadena area. We are on the 210 freeway at the base of the San Gabriel mountains which were covered in snow. There are times in the summer when the smog is so think you can barely make out the outline of the same mountains which seemed close enough to touch this week. Here are some photos from our walk around the neighborhood of Montrose. I love the tree lined streets. We don’t have those in the newer suburban areas like I live in. The sidewalks end at the street curb instead which is not nearly as nice. Lower maintenance of course, but way less pretty and charming. Forgive the tilt – I was stepping off the curb to get this shot. Hard to line up with a phone!

The street was filled with houses like this:

I love that entryway and the beautiful window frames. Again, so much charm and character unlike my bland 1980s suburban house. I console myself with the knowledge that the adorable old houses probably cost an arm and a leg in upkeep. Right? Right?!