Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

Terhific Recommendation on where to find snow in San Diego 

Can you believe it, but local folks here in Southern California might just get a chance to play in the snow this coming weekend? We are so lucky to live within easy drive to the local mountains with high elevations! I take advantage of this situation and head over to Cuyamaca and Laguna Mountains as soon as I hear about the possibility of snow!

I might have to ditch all the holiday party plans and start packing our winter gear into the car! There is a winter storm warning that promises two to five inches of snow accumulation from 3,000 to 5,000 feet and up to a foot of snow is expected above 5,000 feet. This means that both Cuyamaca and Laguna Mountains will provide wonderful winter fun for families.

Each year, our local mountains have a chance of getting a snow blanket a few times between November and March. The snow never stays on the ground for many days, so you should pay attention to the weather forecasts. When I plan our trips, I always check Laguna Mountain Lodge's Facebook pages and Mt.Laguna Webcam and Local Weather Info for Mt. Laguna before we leave. That way I know for sure whether there is snow in the ground. I only go as far into the mountains as I can without chains. I usually drive through the Cuyamacas. If there is not enough snow there, then I head over to the higher elevations at Laguna Mountains.

Here are our favorite spots for snow play in our local moutains:

1. Green Valley Falls Area Campground at Cuyamaca Mountains Green Valley sits at an elevation of 4,000 feet. The day use fee is $8 per vehicle. It is a great place for a snowball fight!
   
2. Paso Picacho Campground at Cuyamaca Mountains Paso Picacho Campground sits at an elevation of 5,000 feet. The day use fee is $8 per vehicle. We like to play both in the fields and in the hills. Bring your toboggans and snowshoes and have fun!
   
3. Laguna Mountain Lodge Area at Laguna Mountains Stop by the Laguna Mountain Lodge to get tips where to park and play in the snow in Laguna Mountains. You will need an Adventure Pass if you plan on playing in the fields along Sunrise Highway. The Adventure Passes are available in the Lodge.

Make sure you bring a change of clothes for everyone as the kids get cold after getting wet in the snow. The close by mountain town of Julian also looks great with a blanket of snow! Palomar Mountain is yet another place that receives snow in San Diego.

Enjoy and make sure you take pictures of your snowmen! I'd love to hear if I inspired anyone to go and play in the snow!

Faking the Season: Winter Part 3 - Wintry Scene

It's beginning to look a lot like winter even in Moomin Valley at our house!

The illusion of snow is better than no snow at all, thus the kids and I set out to make a wintry scene. Our Moomin Valley has finally received a blanket of snow, albeit made out of cotton balls, but snow nevertheless!

The beloved Moomins were created by Swedish-speaking Finnish illustrator and write Tove Jansson.  Moomins are very popular in Finland and Japan, but unfortunately not here in the United States. Moomins are white, roundish characters with large snouts and their adventures have captured the hearts of Finnish people since 1945.

You can find out more about the Moomins here: All Things Moomin BBC News Magazine also wrote an interesting article on Tove Jansson earlier this year. Tove Jansson: Love, war and the Moomins

If you would like to make your own wintry scene, you will need the following items:

• tray
• white printing paper
• double sided tape
• glue
• cotton balls
• small characters of your choice

I laid out a piece of white paper and used double sided tape to attach it to the bottom of the tray. Then the kids and I made a scene with the characters. Lastly we glued and taped cotton balls all over the scene.

What do you guys think? Would you like to make your own wintry scene? Would it help you get in the holiday mood? If so, I would love to receive a photo or a description of your scene! It would be great to be able to post one of my dear reader's creation here on my blog!

Next, I am going to make another wintry scene with my son. He is crazy about Super Heroes and Star Wars... I wonder what kind of winter I can create for them. Share your wintry scene, and I'll share our action figure scene when it is ready :-D