N Is For Time In Nature

Today I went for another hike on the desert side of the San Bernardino Mountains. People have noted it does not look very foresty, and this is because it is the side of the mountain facing the high desert.

View of snow on the mountain ridge in the distance.
View of snow on the mountain ridge in the distance.

Come along with me on a hiking on the north side of the San Bernardino Mountains, which is a transitional area between the mountain forest and the high desert.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Orchard House Is For Sale

Imagine waking up to this amazing view of trees and verdant grass each morning while sipping a cup of coffee.
Imagine waking up to this amazing view of trees and verdant grass each morning while sipping a cup of coffee.

Have you ever dreamed about getting away from the city? People complain about the rat race in urban areas, but what are they doing to change things? If you truly are looking for a slower pace of life, then perhaps Orchard House is the place for you. There are affordable homes when it comes to real estate in rural areas, and these places are quite scenic as well. Aya Katz is selling Orchard House, which is located on a pristine stretch of land in Raymondville, Missouri. I wanted to share this house because it is an idyllic place, and someone who enjoys nature and photography would definitely be at home here.

Disclaimer: I am not being compensated to write this post (I have never done those kind of posts), but I just wanted to let people know my friend has a beautiful house for sale. All the photos in this post were taken by Aya Katz, and you can see more of her photography and daily life in Missouri on her blog Notes from the Pens.

Here is a home tour of Orchard House, which illustrates the rural charm of this abode surrounded by its own little forest. The asking price is $90,000 dollars, which is an exceptional deal, especially in comparison to homes for sale here in Southern California. Orchard House resides on 4.6 acres, and has 3 bedrooms and 1 1/2 bath. It would make the ideal home for a couple, a small family, or just a vacation home in the country.

Currently Orchard House is listed on airbnb where you can contact Aya Katz, but she is primarily interested in selling the place to a person who can finance this home with a traditional bank loan. Katz has experienced issues with VA Home Loans and how these devalue the price of the land, so her preference is for the new owners to obtain regular bank home loan financing. Considering the home’s price is modest, so this is not asking too much. There are many factory built homes that cost around this selling point where owners ask for the funds upfront, so perhaps this home would most appeal to someone who can afford to pay the entire price at once. It is quite a good deal, especially considering people pay more in rent over several years than what it would cost to own this home.

There is a swimming pool at Orchard House.
There is a swimming pool at Orchard House.
A view of the front yard.
A view of the front yard.

Red roses bloom in the front yard.

Orchard House has a fully functional kitchen with a stove, microwave, sink, and cabinets.
Orchard House has a fully functional kitchen with a stove, microwave, sink, and cabinets.
There is also a dining room.
There is also a dining room.
Orchard House Recreation Room
There is even a recreation room that could even be converted into a mini-gym.
The master bedroom at Orchard House has a large window.
The master bedroom at Orchard House has a large window.
The second bedroom in the house.
The second bedroom in the house.

Here is another glimpse of the tranquil grounds surrounding Orchard House.

A large tree in bloom during the spring.

 

 

L Is For Big Bear Lake

A few months back captured the amazing view driving by Big Bear Lake, which is a town located in the San Bernardino Mountains.

The view of Big Bear Lake as we drove by.
The view of Big Bear Lake as we drove by.
Big fluffy clouds were floating above Big Bear Lake.
Big fluffy clouds were floating above Big Bear Lake.
A red and yellow kayak on Big Bear Lake.
A red and yellow kayak on Big Bear Lake.
A glimpse of Big Bear Lake through the trees.
A glimpse of Big Bear Lake through the trees.

Admire the view of Big Bear Lake on a late September afternoon in this short video.

H Is For Hiking With The View of Hesperia

Today I went on another hike on the north side of the San Bernardino Mountains. One of the perks of jaunt in nature was the view of Hesperia in the valley below.

My favorite part of the hike is the view of Hesperia in the valley below
My favorite part of the hike is the view of Hesperia in the valley below.
A little creek running through the desert part of the San Bernardino Mountains.
A little creek running through the desert part of the San Bernardino Mountains.
Gneiss Granite Rock
This granite rock is an gneiss rock because it has stripes on it, which are layers created over thousands of years.
Small green yerba santa plants are growing on this trail.
Small green yerba santa plants are growing on this trail with a hairpin turn just a head.
Stripes appear through these flat granite rocks on the side of the mountain. These rocks were most likely blasted in half when the road was carved into the side of the mountain.
Stripes appear through these flat granite rocks on the side of the mountain. These rocks were most likely blasted in half when the road was carved into the side of the mountain.
Moss growing on boulders with chaparral growing in between these.
Moss growing on boulders with chaparral growing in between these.
The boulder that is shaped like a triangle.
The boulder that is shaped like a triangle with Yerba santa is growing nearby.
Boulders and chaparral dotting the hillside.
Boulders and chaparral dotting the hillside.
Another view of the chaparral and granite boulders.
Another view of the chaparral and granite boulders.
Zooming In on the boulders to see more detail.
Zooming In on the boulders to see more detail.
The dome shaped boulder on the hillside caught my attention.
The dome shaped boulder on the hillside caught my attention.
A shadow on the trail with sun shining on the hills in the distance.
A shadow on the trail with sun shining on the hills in the distance.
A bend up ahead on the trail is partially sunny.
A bend up ahead on the trail is partially sunny.
These sandy colored boulders come in many interesting shapes and sizes.
These sandy colored boulders come in an abundance of shapes and sizes.
The view of Hesperia in the valley below.
The view of Hesperia in the valley below.
The mountains above consist of the backside of The Pinnacles.
The mountains above consist of the backside of The Pinnacles.
The trail continues winding its way down towards Hesperia.
The trail continues winding its way down towards Hesperia.
One side of the mountains is completely in the shadow of the mid-afternoon sunlight.
One side of the mountains is completely in the shadow of the mid-afternoon sunlight.
Chaparral and boulders dot the landscape.
Chaparral and boulders dot the landscape.
The California buckwheat flowers are in the foreground.
The California buckwheat flowers are in the foreground.
Chaparral on the hillside with two pylons on a peak in the distance.
Chaparral on the hillside with two pylons on a peak in the distance.
The view is amazing on this hike. I love the desert side of the San Bernardino Mountains.
The view is amazing on this hike. I love the desert side of the San Bernardino Mountains.
Reaching the bend in the trail.
Reaching the bend in the trail.
A closeup up of the pylons on the mountains in the distance.
A closeup up of the pylons on the mountains in the distance.
Looking back up at the trail.
Looking back up at the trail.
Another view of looking back up at the trail.
Another view of looking back up at the trail.
Another bend in the trail.
Another bend in the trail.

 

The sun is shining behind the mountain peak.
The sun is shining behind the mountain peak.
The bright sunlight during the hike.
The bright sunlight during the hike.
Looking back up at the part of the trail I already walked on.
Looking back up at the part of the trail I already walked on.

G Is For The Green Smoothie With Strawberries On Top

Nothing is more delicious than a sweet green smoothie topped with strawberries.
Nothing is more delicious than a sweet green smoothie topped with strawberries.

I prefer a sweet green smoothie filled with fresh fruit over consuming candies and rich desserts. Yes, there used to be a time I adored chocolate, but your taste buds change the more you go without eating it. When I satisfy my sweet tooth I now try to make smoothies so I can avoid naughty things, like donuts for breakfast. For this breakfast I created this delicious green vegan smoothie.

Making A Green Smoothie
First I blended oranges, apples, almond milk and spinach with some almond milk. The next step was puréeing in the bananas. The contrast between the yellow of the bananas and the verdant green was pleasing.
After the bananas and strawberries were added to the green smoothie, part of it was added to a "to-go" container. This makes it easy to drink a green smoothie for lunch.
I poured half of the smoothie into a  “to-go” container with a screw on cap. This makes it easy to drink a green smoothie for lunch.
The rest of the green smoothie I drank before leaving the house. The red strawberries on top are the perfect way to start the morning with a pop of color.
The rest of the green smoothie I drank before leaving the house. The red strawberries on top are the perfect way to start the morning with a pop of color.

The video below illustrates the contrast been the green smoothie with the strawberries on top.

 

F Is For Walking In The Forest

The view of Mount Baldy is spotted on a walk in the forest of the San Bernardino Mountains.
The view of Mount Baldy on a walk in the forest of the San Bernardino Mountains.

Today the letter F is for taking a walk in the forest up in the San Bernardino Mountains, which is a place I love to explore.

Trees on a hillside in the forest of the San Bernardino Mountains
Trees on a hillside in the forest of the San Bernardino Mountains

Here is a little photo slideshow of my walk in the forest of the San Bernardino Mountains.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

E Is For Exercise And Hiking

Today the letter E is for exercise and hiking here in Southern California. One of my favorite areas to explore is the San Bernardino Mountains, which has many trails.

The sky was cerulean blue during the hike.
The sky was cerulean blue during the hike.
Looking down on the hillside with chaparral and boulders.
Looking down on the hillside with chaparral and boulders.
A view of Hesperia on a hike in the San Bernardino Mountains.
A view of Hesperia on a hike in the San Bernardino Mountains.
The granite rocks have stripes.
The granite rocks have stripes.

These are just a few of the images to be seen when hiking on north side of the San Bernardino Mountains. I especially enjoy looking at the stripey granite boulders.

D Is For Deer Tracks

On a recent hike in the San Bernardino Mountains I spotted deer tracks in the dirt.

With a ski pole used as a hiking stick is useful for pointing out deer tracks.
A deer has two cloven hooves, which are visible in the tracks left behind.
A deer has two cloven hooves, which are visible in by imprints on the ground.
The deer prints are headed in one direction.
The deer prints lead one direction.
The deer were headed towards a small pool of water that formed after the rainstorm.
The deer traveled towards a small pool of water that formed after a recent rainstorm.