Lake Tahoe - part Deux

We swore last time we were at Tahoe that we were going to come back more often, and so far so good.  It was 100 degrees here yesterday, so we decided to escape the heat and go back to Tahoe, where it was a fantastic sunny 73ish.  We went to a State park that has a wonderful mansion, we'd toured it a couple of years ago and vowed to come back soon with chairs, books and picnic supplies, then promptly forgot about it. This time we came fully supplied, dogs in tow, and settled in for the day.  It was so beautiful - quiet and peaceful, we could hear the water lapping softly against the beach, which was about 15 feet from us.

 

I created my first "plein air" (I assume this means painting something outside while you're looking at it) there. Not great (it turns out it's not easy doing a watercolor in a beach chair!)

, but it captures the scene and I really found myself immersed in just seeing, and being there while doing it.

 

 

 

Looking up at the mansion from the lawn.

 

 

 

The boys, VERY worried that their Father did the unfathomable, walking away from our spot without them.

 

 

Looking back at the grounds from the pier.  Not a bad spot to have had your summer home, huh?

 

 

 

A coyote strolling through the grounds, stopping to look at us.

 

Lake Tahoe

 

 

For those of you desperately trying to find a lake in this little watercolor, rest assured that I'm not under the illusion that one is there - I'm just throwing this in before we get to the good stuff.  I bought a watercolor book by John Lovett and this is the first exercise I've tried. I didn't have much hope for it along the way, but it kind of came together at the end.

 

Now, as promised, Lake Tahoe.  We bought a Groupon for a cruise of the lake - last year, half price, promptly forgot about it and almost let it expire.  We only live about an hour and a half away, but we just don't go there enough - a conclusion that we always come to on the occasions that we DO go.  It's truly a beautiful lake - the only one I've ever personally seen that can compete is Lake Como (breathtaking even if it weren't in Italy).

 

 

From the observation area overlooking Emerald Bay

 

 

 

 Mario in our hard-won spot on the top deck  

 The water is so amazingly clear

 

Someone's summer home in Emerald Bay from back in the day