A Hint of Spring in L.A. Today

Today was a spectacularly sunny day in Southern California for this date in January. The weather was in the mid-70s in the South Bay and I basked in the sun for a while and took huge gasps of air and let the warmth sink into my lungs. When I drove through Redondo Beach to attend an afternoon event in Palos Verdes, the beaches were crowded with people swimming, surfing, paddle boarding, bike riding, running and skateboarding. Emotionally I don't operate in full-mode in winter, even in a place as mild as Southern California tends to be, and I am fully aware of this when a day like this comes along.

I know that many of you who visit here are in parts of the U.S. experiencing very tough weather and some of you are from countries who are also experiencing winter. All I can say is I wish you could have been with me when I stopped at the coast and took a few photos this afternoon.

This photo shows the beach cities of Redondo, Hermosa and Manhattan with the mountains behind. 

This photo shows Santa Monica/Malibu on the right and the mountains go all the way to Pt. Mugu in Ventura County.

Tomorrow is supposed to be an even warmer day and between doctor and vet appointments, I will be working in my yard in the sun while it is still around. It's very nippy at night, however. I am filled with anticipation for spring time. How grateful I am to live in such a beautiful part of the world.

And I'm also grateful that for the past few days Cookie has been her old self--eating well, loving walks, and even happily gnawing on a pig's hoof. I'm canceling a vet appointment tomorrow afternoon if she wakes up perky and hungry. Maybe she does better in the warmer weather, too.