A Very Cold And Fun Day

Well, it's been pretty cold here lately, and I didn't know if I should stay home in my warm house, or drive up the mountain to the next town.  I got in my car, and it was 16 degrees out, and with frost on the window, I stopped to get gas, and drove up the mountain.

It's only a 20 minute drive there, and it's a pretty smooth drive, except for one part that has twists and turns, but I just tell myself, "don't look down!" 😱

My brother-in-law met me there.  He was going to take the dogs, but it was too cold out.  When I first got there, in the parking lot was a barking dog.

He said, "I know of a good breakfast place right down the road about five miles."  I said, "Yes!"  I was hungry and only had coffee that morning.

Walking in the restaurant, I was greeted by an unexpected visitor.

It had a quaint atmosphere, and I noticed an old stove against a wall that they used to have back in the pioneer days.

I loved the colorful crocheted throw that was draping over the rocking chair.  I've always thought crocheted pieces were so charming....and all the time and care that goes into making them.

The waitress seated us right next to the heater, so we were comfortable having breakfast.  I ordered the Denver Omelette and hash browns, delicious.

After breakfast, he wanted to take me to the peak so I could see the views from the top.  He knows this area well.  These really are pretty landscapes if one just takes the time to notice.  When we were driving back, we saw Mt. Lassen in the distance, and there in perfect view was the majestic Mount Shasta.  It seemed so close.

When we got into town again, I noticed an antique shop, so we went inside.  I didn't find anything, as I'm pretty picky about what comes home with me, since I've recently given away things, but it was fun browsing.

I wanted to stop at the nursery to maybe buy some roses, but there were no flower pots or plants yet, it's still too cold.  So, we went to the small gift shop inside.  I didn't buy anything, but there were some cute pieces and wooden stands with funny sayings.

It was starting to warm up, in the 40's, so we drove down to the lake.  It was blue, full, and such a lovely sight.  He sometimes takes the dogs here to roam.

The other side of the lake where I usually stop to visit.  I saw a Hawk, and the ducks were merrily swimming, until they saw my big camera.

I'm not sure what these prickly flowers were, but they were unusually pretty.

My brother-in-law knows I love taking pictures, so he's patient with me when it's time to click.  He has taken some wonderful photos himself.

There is a museum nearby that I've been wanting to visit, but they are closed until May.  There is a street with a cul-de-sac that displayed farm machinery from the pioneer days, a small white school, and a house that looked like "little house on the prairie."

He wanted to show me something, so we drove to the outskirts of town, up the hill and around, and he told me this is where someone claimed to have had a Bigfoot sighting.  It was near the waterfalls in the far left area of the picture.

It was time to head on back down the mountain, but I first stopped at a cafe' and got some organic coffee beans to take home.  It was the best day, and I found a new breakfast place to go to next time.🍵

~Sheri