Scene Through My Eyes

Seagull landing

2012-02-13T06:17:00.000-08:00

One of my all time favorites to photograph is seagulls. Their feathers are amazing and they are so graceful. This was taken at Zuanich Park in Bellingham.

Your Sunday Best - Heron

2012-02-12T10:23:00.000-08:00

Birch Bay is very shallow, almost all the way across, and provides an excellent food source for herons. I've gotten almost all my shots of herons in this area. We were up that way at sunset one evening and the colors of the sunset reflected in the shallow waters.
We had to turn around and find a spot to park on the busy road. Fortunately there was a nice pull-out right next to the heron - and there as also a flock of ducks nearby - that's for another post.

Another car pulled in and a lady got out - just as two bald eagles were passing overhead to land in the nearby trees. She looked at the heron, looked at my and my cameras and asked if I'd seen any shorebirds. I said there were some down the road in a different bay and she rushed back to her car saying, "Herons you can see any day, but shorebirds, not that's interesting." We spent another hour there, getting shots of the ducks and herons until the sun began to fade. I hope she found her shorebirds and enjoyed them - we certainly enjoyed the heron.

As the sun began to set the colors reflected in the water gave a fabulous background for the heron in its search for food.

Stop over at A RURAL JOURNAL and see other "Your Sunday Best" posts - some amazing photos there.

Bald Eagle - Weekly Top Shot - Week# 17

2012-02-11T16:31:00.000-08:00

Bald eagles are plentiful in NW WA this time of year. They have just returned from the rivers where they winter, and are beginning to build and clean up their nests. On a ride today up towards Blaine, on the border with Canada, we saw approximately 30 eagles, some flying and many sitting in the trees. I spent over half an hour waiting to get this shot - the eagle kept turning its head away from the camera. My patience paid off.

I am linking to The View From Right Here. Stop by and see some beautiful shots this week.

Chickadees

2011-05-28T01:18:00.000-07:00

Shade

2011-05-27T04:54:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Rusty!

2011-05-26T01:47:00.000-07:00

(43)

Ride

2011-05-25T04:43:00.000-07:00

Life is like riding a bicycle: you don't fall off unless you stop pedaling

In the Good Ol' Summertime - many years ago!

2011-05-24T04:41:00.000-07:00

If you don't want to ski - then sit a while

2011-05-23T04:39:00.000-07:00

Chairs made from skis

Crow

2011-05-22T04:38:00.000-07:00

Ducks

2011-05-21T04:35:00.000-07:00

Nice Old Bird Feeder

2011-05-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

Burney Falls

2011-05-04T04:16:00.000-07:00

Burney Falls - Northeastern California

Let's Farm

2011-05-03T04:14:00.000-07:00

Vintage Crochet

2011-05-02T04:12:00.000-07:00

Vintage Crocheted Potholder

2011-05-01T04:54:00.000-07:00

Amazing

2011-04-30T04:04:00.000-07:00

See more odd shots here

Pink Azalea

2011-04-29T04:02:00.000-07:00

If flowers could smile!

Sign of the times

2011-04-28T04:01:00.000-07:00

In Eastern Washington

Cousins

2011-04-27T03:57:00.000-07:00

Ben and Jahn at the train convention

Dogwood

2011-04-26T03:55:00.000-07:00

Spring Rain

2011-04-25T03:45:00.000-07:00

Raindrops on Columbine leaves

Friday nights

2011-04-24T03:42:00.000-07:00

Great Blue Heron and Alaska Ferry in Bellingham, WA

Springtime on the porch

2011-04-23T03:38:00.000-07:00

Daisies!!!!

2011-04-22T03:34:00.000-07:00

Pure Joy - hillsides covered with Daisies!

Chairs with a view

2011-04-21T03:31:00.000-07:00

Birch Bay State Park

Whatcom Falls Park

2011-04-20T04:27:00.000-07:00

Built in 1939 - a WPA project.

Memories

2011-04-19T03:26:00.000-07:00

Spring in Wisconsin

2011-04-18T03:24:00.000-07:00

And now she is the mother of Ben!

Up, Up and Away

2011-04-17T04:21:00.000-07:00

The Welcoming Committee

2011-04-16T04:53:00.000-07:00

SPRING!

2011-04-15T04:47:00.000-07:00

A lawn full of crocus!

Chuckanut Bay

2011-04-14T04:33:00.000-07:00

The railroad runs down along the coast - that would be a great ride!

Birds of a Feather

2011-04-13T03:53:00.000-07:00

Flock together.

Just for you, my feathered friends

2011-04-12T04:51:00.000-07:00

Welcome Birds!

Oh Deer!

2011-04-11T01:42:00.000-07:00

Blue Bells

2011-04-10T03:45:00.000-07:00

Spring!

Wish

2011-04-09T18:38:00.000-07:00

Make a wish!

First Sign

2011-04-08T05:28:00.000-07:00

They're here - they're here - the first gold of spring!

Candy Store

2011-04-07T11:24:00.001-07:00

Candy Store in Sacramento, CA

Geese - teenagers

2010-06-14T04:37:00.000-07:00

Amazing the changes - some are almost full grown . . .

And some ARE full grown - won't be long until they are all grown and the ponds will certainly be full. About that time many of the families fly over to the lake . . .

One Year Ago Today

2010-06-12T21:54:00.000-07:00

June 12, 2009 - what a day. It was the day of Don's open heart surgery to repair the badly damaged mitral valve - 7 1/2 hours - the waiting - the worry - the ups - the desperate downs - always held steady by our son who suffered along with me, yet helped me through it all. Thank you Rusty - I love you! And the support from our daughters and their families - the visits to the hospital - the time spent there so I could have a break now and then over the next 9 days that Don spent in the hospital - I love you!

Now - one year later -

June12, 2010 - up early, but not as early as last year. Final preparations for the day - then off the a local park when Don was doing a 5K walk with co-workers. What a way to start the anniversary!!!

Don enjoying the view of the bay before the race started . . .

Don and some of his co-workers before the race . . .

And our grandson Jahn - who did the race with Grandpa . . .

Jahn-Zyel with a sign for grandpa before the race . . .

Don and co-worker Grant - who couldn't stay for the race - but came to cheer Don on . . .

Here come Don and Jahn - about to cross the finish line . . .

And Ben and gets into the race too . . .

And then it was time for a picnic in the park with all the co-workers and our daughters and their families . . .

A year ago we'd never have dreamed this would be where we are - what a day - what a year!!!!!

Geese - growing up

2010-06-12T04:33:00.000-07:00

Another trip to the ponds - and the geese are certainly growing fast . . .

Wisteria

2010-06-09T16:37:00.000-07:00

A while back I showed you some purple wisteria on a fence in town. Today I have the most beautiful white wisteria to share. We stopped at a farm stand to get watermelon and some salad vegetables - ended up with some cherries from California - first of the year and bags of other fresh things. Next to the parking lot was the most amazing white wisteria - and with my little pink camera in my pocket I couldn't resist.

Alphabe-Thursday

2010-05-27T07:58:00.000-07:00

Ok - just one more meme. This one is from Jenny - and it is such fun, and quite a challenge to come up with "S" things. I think it is a good way to delve into our creative minds. I came across this meme on A Garden of Daisies - both are great blogs to visit.

S is for Sunny days and a Sunny yellow kayak on the lake . . .

S is for Sleigh ride - this is the center of an amazing quilt made by my friend Diane. . .

S is for Sweet Little Boys - building with legos and a Sunday Afternoon . . .

Notice that Jahn-Zyel is wearing his grampy's watch . . .

S is for Security - protection when getting x-rays of your teeth . . .

S is for Seagulls - in all their beauty. I do love to photograph them and try to capture them with their wings out . . .this was taken at the Alaska Ferry terminal in Bellingham - and we had to wash our car the next day . . .

S is for Silly Sewing Frogs - that Buddy E., he loves to get into things whenever possible.

Outdoor Wednesday

2010-05-24T08:22:00.000-07:00

I love to take photos of seagulls - their feathers are gorgeous - and they are good actors - posing for you whenever you need a good photo.

These seagulls were sitting on a fence at the lighthouse in Newport OR, when we were visiting my cousins there. They call this Bachelor Row - they seem to be waiting for the dance to start.

I love this shot - the feathers are so beautiful . . .

Coming in for a landing . . .

Flying high . . .

Seattle - part two

2010-05-22T10:53:00.000-07:00

Here are the rest of the photos of Seattle, continued from the previous post . . . this time with the smaller and older buildings . . .

This was one of my favorites - such detail . . .

An apartment house in the middle of businesses . . .

Oh look - someone has made a little garden on top of the apartment building . . . it seems to be walled in with plastic panels - perhaps to keep the wind off the garden . . .

Did you ever wonder what the top of a gas station canopy looks like? Well, wonder no more . . .

A house, painted a soft green - in the midst of the big tall buildings . . . wonder who lives here . . .

Someone left the dormer window open - it is going to rain - they better run upstairs and close the window . . .

A church? A seminary? Church headquarters?

Another home - dwarfed by all the skyscrapers . . .

And yet another. At one time this must have been a family neighborhood . . .

A sad house - all boarded up and the windows are covered with plywood - do you think this house sits quietly and remembers the fun times and the families that lived here?

Another church - built of stone, with a very mossy steeple . . .

This wonderful building reminds me of an old high school - do you think it could be?

So many wonderful windows . . .

And so we come to the end of our tour of one little part of Seattle - it is so interesting and I'm sure these buildings hold many memories.

Seattle - part 1

2010-05-14T09:15:00.000-07:00

While Don was at UW Harborview for his eye surgery follow-up appointment I wandered around on the 7th floor - through all the waiting rooms, which encircle the whole floor. With windows to the ceiling I had fabulous views of Seattle. Only thing better would have been a sunny day.

I'll start with all the tall or modern buildings.

This is the building I've been wanting to get a picture of since we starting going to UW Harborview back in December 2009. That ball on the top of the building is lit with a green light. In the winter we would see the light still on when we arrived for Don's appointments, but in May it was much lighter out and the ball wasn't lit. I'll be back to get a photo with the ball lit sometime.

And there were tugs and barges in the bay in front of the building - they look so tiny from way up here . . .

Lots of buildings made of glass - it must be something to watch it rain from these windows . . .

And who washes all the windows?

Tall buildings and short buildings. I have no idea what these buildings are for - if you know - please let us know . . .

One little round building - peeking up over the edge of the tall buildings . . .

Lots of parking . . .

Looking down from the waiting room windows I spied these pipes on the roof of another floor of the building - they look like rockets - but I'm fairly certain they are not rockets . . .

A plane flew over and I nearly tipped over backwards trying to get a picture through the window . . .Good thing the windows were very tall . . .

And what do you suppose this interesting round building is for?

Interesting towers . . .

And a great pyramid . . .

Soon I'll have more photos of Seattle - there was so much to see up there on the 7th floor.

Don's eye check up was great - he is progressing as expected and we don't have to go back for 4 months this time - insted of every two months. Maybe in September I can get a picture of the ball lit up.

Watery Outdoor Wednesday

2010-05-11T13:32:00.000-07:00

Water - wonderful water - hop over to WateryWednesday and see a lot more water.

And Outdoor Wednesday is always fun - lots to see there too.

When we lived in Blue Lake, CA we would often go to the breakwater in Eureka - along the spit the leads into the harbor. Waves rushed into the mouth of the bay and ships had to be run in by the harbor pilot to avoid the shifting sand bars at the entrance to the bay.

Waves pouring over the breakwater base . . .

You can walk along the breakwater on the gigantic chunks of cement . . .

Impressive when the waves break . . .

Be careful or you are all wet . . .

Sailboats coming into the harbor . . .

The sound is incredible . . .

Goslings at the pond

2010-05-11T09:46:00.000-07:00

We drove past the ponds and there was this wonderful Canada Goose Family - close to the road.

Eight babies in all . . .

Someone was always watching for trouble . . .

Going for a walk . . .

Hello Mr. Mallard, nice to have neighbors nearby . . .

Something good to eat . . .

Raspberries - Raspberries - and some rhubarb

2010-05-05T18:04:00.000-07:00

Driving along on a sunny day recently we crested a hill - and look what lay out before us!!!

One of the most amazing raspberry fields we'd ever seen . . .

Rows and rows and rows of raspberries . . .

Glorious rows . . .

Rows running up and down the small hills . . .

A raspberry dragon?

Whatcom County is the top producer of raspberries in Washington. In 2004 Whatcom County growers produced 46 million pounds of raspberries, 85% of the state's crop. Since the state is the top producer of raspberries in the country, with over 87.8% of the nation's raspberries in 2002, this means that Whatcom County grows almost 75% of the nation's raspberries.

We are fortunate that the farmers sell the raspberries at fruit stands through the county - at a very reasonable price - and we always buy several flats to freeze. They also grow crops of blueberries and strawberries, and sell those at roadside stands too. This is a wonderful place to live - and we get fresh cherries, peaches, pears and apples at roadside stands, brought over from east of the mountains where the orchards are.

And right alongside the road - we came upon this massive filed of rhubarb . . . who knew that it was a local crop?

I'd never thought about commerial rhubarb fields - this one went on for about mile . . .

Some of the plants were already going to seed - I wonder if they are going to pick this rhubarb?

Kind of makes you hungry for rhubarb-raspberry pie - or raspberry-rhubarb jam doesn't it?

Run over to Dippity Road to see much more beauty!!

Wisteria

2010-05-03T07:31:00.000-07:00

Some days you come upon a yard that simply takes your breath away - well Saturday was one of those days.

We were driving along, looking for a house that has had plants for sale several times in the spring - and since neither of us remembered exactly where it was - we drove about, up and down several streets and then all of a sudden we were greeted with this sight . . .

The most amazing Wisteria, trailing all along this fence . . .

Big fragrant blooms . . .

An arched gate into the yard . . .

With pretty beads hanging down . ..

I love the beads . . .

I want an arch with beads in my yard . . .

This is the corner of the fence, where the wisteria twists around to the other side of the yard . . .

I wish the homeowner had been out in the yard - I would have loved to talk to her about her garden . . .

And her wonderuful wisteria . . .

Visit for more flowers!

A busy day

2010-05-01T19:31:00.000-07:00

Today we had lots of errands to tend to in town. We got our list together and off we went - in search of soil for the new raised bed that Don and I built yesterday - some plants and other gardening stuff that we've been needing.

Last night on the way home we saw a sign for a plant sale at the Unitarian Church - so that was our first stop - and what a sale it was. They had a big fenced area with tables and bins full of plants. All the tables were labeled so you could head right for what you wanted. I got three lilac starts - they are tiny - but they were $1.00 each - good price.

Then I headed for the edibles tables, I was especially looking for tomato plants for the new raised bed. And I got tomatoes. Again- can't beat the price - small plants - but at 2/$1.00 I couldn't resist. I got

Stupice Heritage - a great tasting slicing tomato . . . one that Beccy and I have wanted to grow for some time now . . .

White Currant Tomatoes - sweet juicy tiny white tomatoes . . .

And Yellow Pear - just because they taste so good . . . and are so cute . . .

And Super Lakota - another good eating tomato . . .

They didn't have any Golden Chain trees, but one of the workers at the sale is going to give me a start of one from her yard next week.

For fun - and pretty I picked up a couple of white geraniums - one will go in the raised bed with the tomatoes and one will go on the porch in a basket that hangs from the railing.

I transplanted my chives to the raised bed also - they had been growing along the edge of the flowerbed near the porch and the poor things kept getting mowed. At least now they will get a chance to grow before we chop them off to eat.

I should have photos of how well that plants are doing soon - the area where they are planted gets some good hot sun in the morning and early afternoon. I hope they like it there - I can't wait for fresh tomatoes. I think I'll plant some lettuce and radishes in oblong flower pots - salad is coming.

Mosaic Monday - Herons

2010-04-18T16:32:00.000-07:00

On Friday Don got off work early again - he works a lot of longer days early in the week so we can have Friday afternoon together. The sun was shining and the temperatures were fairly warm. So we decided on a ride out on the Lummi Peninsula - one of our favorite rides.

The peninsula sits across the bay from Bellingham and the views are always spectacular.

Along the bay we spotted a heron, standing on a rock. He was not as close as I would have liked - but with my new camera I got some excellent shots. Then a little farther down the bay there was another heron on the beach - they are such amazing birds - and these two really posed for me. Thank you herons.

My new camera

2010-04-16T13:36:00.000-07:00

I've had a Kodak East Share camera for a couple years. Before that I had another Kodak - and thought the Easy Share would be a good replacement. The first camera last over 10 years - the Easy Share - not so long. It would shut down at odd times - just close up and say that the AA batteries needed recharged. They didn't - and after turning it on and off a zillion times it would finally recognize the batteries and let me take photos - in the mean time, I lost a lot of chances at good shots. I got so frustrated that I finally started looking around for another camera. Diane and Fergie - two quilting buddies - both have the Canon Power Shot SD1200 IS - and recommended it. I read reviews and then ordered the camera.

And I LOVE it. It takes amazing photos - has a LI-ion battery, instead of AA batteries - and I've had it for two weeks and haven't needed to recharge the battery - and I take a LOT of pictures. Plus Ben has taken dozens of pictures with it - and looked at the pictures over and over on the camera - and still the battery doesn't need re-charged - did I mention I LOVE this camera,

and it is hot pink too - which is even better!!!!

I like the auto focus for up close, really up close, close photos!! It adjusts itself, then focuses again and takes the best shots. I had fun the first day finding things to take super close ups of. So here they are.

Froget-me-nots in the porch garden . . .

Flowering tree by the lake . . .

Close up of the flowers . . .

White Bleeding heart - this pot hangs on the front porch railing - safe from deer . . .

Look at that raindrop - didn't I tell you the close up was amazing ?

Close up of raindrops on Bleeding Heart leaf . . .

And rain drops on a Columbine plant . . .

The center of a tulip . . .

More tulips at the fairgrounds . . . it's tulip season . . .

Close up of one of the trees in our little grove in the back yard . . .

Raindrops on rose leaves - I love the outline of red on these leaves - hopefully soon we'll have flowers . . .

A close up of our door knocker - the grandsons love it . . .

And just a few more raindrops on leaves . . .

Thanks for stopping by - and you'll be seeing more photos from my new camera soon - I'm sure of that. Thanks Diane and Fergie for the great recommendation.

Tulip Festival

2010-04-10T22:18:00.000-07:00

We've been to see the tulips. There is a big Tulip Festival in Skagit County - just south of here - and we love to go and see the tulips. This year was even more spectacular than most years - the right amount of sunshine - pleasant temperatures and zillions of flowers at the peak of perfection.

All colors of tulips - the yellow were Don's favorite. . .

I love to look down the long, long rows . . .

Light purple tulips . . .

Pink Tulips . . .

Glorious fields of color . . .

Long, long rows . . .

Darker purple tulips . . .

Purple and red tulips . . .

I loved the red tulips . . .

Beside each field of tulips there was a little shed selling tulips - I bought two bunches of yellow ones . . .

I just can't get enough of the glorious tulips . . .

Tulips planted by the stores downtown - the traffic was so slow I had time to take pictures as we inched along . . .

And that's our trip to see the tulips - I hope you enjoyed the trip.

Mosaic Monday

2010-03-21T17:59:00.000-07:00

On Friday Don got off work early, the sun was shining and the temperatures were almost balmy for this time of year. We had planned to drive down on Saturday to Skagit County, about 45 minutes south of Bellingham, to see the daffodils that grow there by the zillions. We had heard that they were at peak bloom and didn't want to miss them. With such nice weather and extra time, and knowing how fickle our weather can be, we decided to take the drive on Friday afternoon.

(click photo to enlarge)

And we made the right choice. The traffic, once we left town, was less than on a weekend and the sun was glorious on the daffodils. The scent is heavenly as you drive between fields full of blooms. There were even daffodils planted at the intersections of the busy highway.

By Saturday the clouds had come in early and the weather was tending towards rain - so we were glad that we went when we did. The tulips were just beginning to show color - not enough for pictures even, but we will go back another week to see the tulips.

Mosaic Monday

2010-03-14T13:27:00.000-07:00

I've been featuring my quilts on my other blog - and thought it would be fun to make a mosiac of some of them.

And more quilts . . .

And some blocks I've made. . .

Shadow Shot Sunday

2010-03-14T07:14:00.001-07:00

Our grandson Ben, looking at his shadow. . .

A seagull dancing with her shadow . . .

Monday Mosaic - Seagulls

2010-03-07T18:52:00.000-08:00

We often go down to the bay to watch the Alaska Ferry depart from Bellingham - and this week I had a big bag of bread to feed the seagulls - so I could get some good photos. Most of these were taken with a flash and I love the way they turned out. Needless to say - our car had to go through the car wash the next day - it was red with white spots.

(click photo to enlarge)

I love the sound of their wings as they flash through the air - I love the squawking - and I love the feathers and how they seem to glow in any light. I just love seagulls.

Finding Beauty

2010-03-05T15:07:00.000-08:00

Today is about finding beauty - and I've really found some . . .

There is a yard on the other side of town that I love to drive past each spring. The whole front yard lawn is covered in flowers - and we happened to be in that neighborhood the other day and were lucky enough to have sunshine so I could get some great photos.

A fairy ring of crocuses . . .

Click photo to see more beauty. . .

Outdoor Wednesday

2010-03-03T13:43:00.000-08:00

Outdoor Wednesday is one of my favorites - and is hosted by A Southern Daydreamer. There are so many wonderful outdoor things to see - stop over and visit a while.

We live smack in the middle of a large city - yet we have a very private setting. Woods across the street, trees in our back yard, only one neighbor visible and that is to the back of the house. We have a lot of wildlife here, especially deer. Since there is no hunting in town they are quite brave.

These deer are not all from our yard - but they are all fabulous!

This fella walked up the hill from the neighbor's house - and was actually this close to me - I didn't use the zoom to get this picture.

These deer are in my cousin's yard in CA - they lived way out in the woods . . .

This is a big statue of a deer in Wisconsin that we took our oldest daughter to see. . .

On the edge of our yard, near the road . . .

We found this one in our yard when we came home one day . . . she didn't seem to mind us one bit and never moved when we walked up to the house and very near to her.

These "deer" are in front of a motel on Whidbey Island in Washington - we love to drive past here. They are not restless and never seem to move from year to year.

He is planning on cleaning the birdseed out of the feeders.

Where do you see your favorite deer?

Mosaic Monday - Lighthouses

2010-02-21T17:28:00.001-08:00

Join Mary at Little Red House to see more wonderful mosaics.

Living on the west coast we have lots of chances to see and photograph lighthouses - I love to think about the history - what has happened at the lighthouses, and who has lived there. One of my favorite things, besides taking photos of lighthouses, is to read journals of lighthouse keepers and their families.

These lighthouse, starting at the top right and going around clockwise, are 1. Yaquina Head at Newport, OR, 2. Trinidad, CA memorial lighthouse, 3. Heceta Head, OR , 4. a replica of a lighthouse at the harbor in Eureka, CA., 5. Port Wilson light, Port Townsend, WA, and 6. a small lighthouse in my cousin's yard in Oregon.

Thanks for stopping by - hope you enjoyed the lighthouses. Where is your favorite lighthouse located?

Sunday Favorites - Daffodils

2010-02-21T09:02:00.000-08:00

Be sure to visit Chari to find more Sunday Favorites - re-runs of our favorite posts. You'll enjoy all the visits.

This post is from last spring, when daffodils are dancing in the sunshine all over our area - peeking out at us - laughing in the sunshine - it is a wonderful time of year. There are so many daffodils that on a warm day, with the windows rolled down, you can smell daffodils while taking a drive.

A few weeks ago we decided it was time to get photos of the daffodils in bloom - there are so many in our town, and some of my favorites are in a big park near our house. They grow right along the street- in massive bunches. Each year the bunches get bigger and bigger. It is a busy street, and Don had to pull over to the side, almost out of traffic, and then watch for oncoming cars and wave them on around us. We got lots of smiles and waves as people noticed what we were doing.

A nice variety . . .

I love the soft yellow of the centers . . .

Nothing like a big ol' yellow daffodil . . .

Here is a good example of how big the individual bunches are . . .

Then we drove down to the bay - to a very small park. Near the park on the bay is a seafood processing plant and someone had planted daffodils in front of the sign - so of course I had to have pictures of that.

Next - a little drive in the country and some of my favorite spring flowers - Skunk Cabbage. Growing up in Southeast Alaska (Sitka) I would always smell these "flowers" in the spring time, they were a sure sign that spring was at last coming. Having no skunks in our area, I had no idea that we were supposed to dislike this scent - so I didn't dislike it - in fact I liked it - a lot. Now when we see a large patch of skunk cabbage we always have to slow down and open the windows so I can enjoy one of my favorite spring scents. I know - it isn't lilacs - which I also adore - but it smells like spring to me.

And just as we drove onto our street - there on the side of the street were Mr. and Mrs. Mallard - enjoying the muck in the little ditch beside the street.

He was keeping watch while Mrs. shovelled along, looking for something tasty. There are ponds about two blocks away - but this couple has decided to take up residence here instead. We see them every time we drive in and out - and sometimes they are just sitting quietly on a very small strip of grass beside one of the driveways. They are so well camouflaged that I worry a car will hit them. They don't seem to be bothered at all by the traffic, and we stopped and took pictures for several minutes and they didn't move from this area.

Mosaic Monday

2010-02-08T09:17:00.000-08:00

Join Mary at Little Red House to see more wonderful mosaics.

I have been busy these past few weeks, scanning old photos (35 years worth) so each person in the family will one day have a DVD with all the photos. These flower photos that I scanned are from my garden in northern California, I like to say VERY northern California, as we were over 250 miles north of San Francisco (which is where some people think California ends), but believe me - there is lots of California north of San Francisco.

We lived in a small town, Blue Lake, and the weather was gorgeous there - and I could grow just about any flower. Roses loved the coastal climate and I had over 30 rose bushes, from old roses planted when the house was built in 1888 to climbing Cecil Bruner roses that grew to 14 feet tall. I would whack them back in the middle of summer - almost to knee high - and they would grow back and bloom over and over. The bush was right outside our bedroom (which had a door to the outdoors) and the scent was heavenly on warm summer evenings.

Thanks for stopping by - hope you enjoyed the flowers.

White Wednesday - Outdoor Wednesday

2010-02-03T09:19:00.000-08:00

White Wednesday is being sponsored by Rose Colored Glasses - a wonderful place to see lots of pretty white things.

And Outdoor Wednesday is one of my favorites - and is hosted by A Southern Daydreamer. There are so many wonderful outdoor things to see - stop by these blogs and visit a while. You'll be glad you did.

I love the whites we find outdoors - in all seasons. . .

White Tundra Swans flying high against white clouds . . .

White waterfalls . . .

White puffy clouds in the summer . . .

White puffy snow in the winter . . .

A white seagull, resting a bit . . .

Flocks of geese winging their way north towards spring . . .
(click to enlarge photo to see the geese)

A spray of chestnut blossoms in the early spring . . .

And a hot air ballon over a white mountain . . .

Life is beautiful!

Thank you for visiting.

Mosaic Monday - barns

2010-01-31T20:20:00.000-08:00

Monday - time for Mosaic Monday - sponsored by Mary at the Little Red House. Click and visit more fun and beautiful mosaics.
I thought I'd try something different today - first barns in B&W - and then the same ones in color. It is interesting to see what you notice in B&W that you might not notice in color.

We love to drive around and find old barns to photograph. Don knows when I'm going to say "right here please" - and he is good at avoiding things that might spoil the picture, like telephone poles and trash cans. (Not avoid like not running into - but avoid, like not letting them get in the picture - though I do appreciate him not running into them too)

The barn in the lower left is one on the farm we rented when we first moved to WA - and those ducks on the fence are flat decoys. Click the photos to enlarge.

Glad you stopped by.

White Wednesday

2010-01-28T07:41:00.000-08:00

White Wednesday is being sponsored by Rose Colored Glasses - a wonderful place to see lots of pretty white things.

We like to take drives in the winter to see the over-wintering birds - snow geese and Tundra Swans - and last week we were thrilled to see these swans resting in a green field. We always stop and turn off the car so we can listen to them talking to each other. The Tundra Swan is the largest of the swans - and can weigh up to 20 or 30 pounds. They are magnificent!!

Outdoor Wednesday

2010-01-28T07:40:00.000-08:00

Outdoor Wednesday is one of my favorites - and is hosted by A Southern Daydreamer. There are so many wonderful outdoor things to see - stop over and visit a while.

We took a ride last week up north a little to Birch Bay State Park - looking for birds - and we found them.

The wind was blowing so hard that it almost blew these seagulls over with the gusts - they were all facing the wind . . .

Nobody flew - nobody squacked - they just stood and faced the wind . . .

One stood alone . . .

And one sat quietly in the sand - a little out of the wind.

Mosaic Monday - I wish it was spring

2010-01-24T10:18:00.000-08:00

Monday - time for Mosaic Monday - sponsored by Mary at the Little Red House. Click and visit more fun and beautiful mosaics.

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I am so ready for spring flowers, so thought I'd show you a few from past springs - and a Canada goose and her baby. They are so cute and snuggly looking, but don't try to get near them, mama goose is very protective.

Photo a day 1-22-10

2010-01-22T05:38:00.000-08:00

Waiting for spring . . .

Photo a day 1-21-10

2010-01-21T06:36:00.000-08:00

Photo a day 1-20-10

2010-01-20T06:34:00.000-08:00

Ready, set, plow!!!!

Photo a day 1-19-10

2010-01-19T04:27:00.000-08:00

Sawing man

Mosaic Monday - Birds and buildings

2010-01-18T08:03:00.000-08:00

Mary - at the Little Red House always has fun things to see on Mosaic Monday - stop by and visit the other mosaics.

Today I am showing you some birds, buildings and one very pretty moth. For a couple weeks we would have dozens of these moths on the outside of our house - and then they disappeared. I love to photograph Tundra Swans, ducks and seagulls and so I will share some of those with you today. Thanks for stopping by.

Photo a day 1-18-10

2010-01-18T03:57:00.000-08:00

Sweet little Donkey

Photo a day 1-17-10

2010-01-17T05:55:00.000-08:00

Stack of bowls

Photo a day 1-16-10

2010-01-16T09:42:00.000-08:00

Rock formation on Mt. Baker

Photo a day 1-15-10

2010-01-15T09:38:00.000-08:00

Photo a day 1-14-10

2010-01-14T04:21:00.000-08:00

Blossoming even as we gaze . . .

Photo a day 1-12-10

2010-01-12T04:14:00.000-08:00

Swiftly flow the days . . .

Photo a day 1-11-10

2010-01-11T04:10:00.000-08:00

Sunset . . .

Mosaic Monday

2010-01-10T21:09:00.000-08:00

Mary - at Little Red House - sponsors Mosaic Monday every week. Stop by and see some fabulous Mosaics.

I've been having such fun with my new photo scanner. I've started to scan over 40 years of family photos, I'm up to 1970 - and have a long, long ways to go - but it is such fun.

This collage is some of the early years photos of our three kids. The oldest girl is four years older than the youngest - with our son in the middle. What fun memories these photos bring back!! Birthday parties, new jammies on Christmas eve, bunny cakes for Easter, Christmas in front of the tree, picking flowers in the garden and a new puppy (brought as a surprise from an uncle).

Photo a day 1-10-10

2010-01-10T04:08:00.000-08:00

Sunrise . . .

2010-01-09T05:34:00.000-08:00

The sweetness of nature

2010-01-08T05:15:00.000-08:00

This way lies adventure

2010-01-07T05:10:00.000-08:00

A good friend cheers any day

Photo a day 1-6-10

2010-01-06T05:05:00.000-08:00

"Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some."
Robert Fulghum

Photo a day 1-5-10

2010-01-05T07:59:00.000-08:00

What are the possiblities of today? Where can we soar?

Photo a day 1-4-10

2010-01-04T08:26:00.000-08:00

Me - age 2 - sharing my lollipop with Patsy

Photo a day 1-3-10

2010-01-03T23:25:00.000-08:00

There is nothing so sweet as a good chocolate cake.

Photo a day 1-2-10

2010-01-03T18:28:00.000-08:00

What secrets linger here!

Daily Photo - Jan 1

2010-01-03T10:29:00.000-08:00

With the new year come new plans and new ideas. I plan to post a new photo a day - plan to - that's it - I plan to - we'll see how this goes. I'll start back with Jan 1 - and catch up, even though today is Jan 3. That will give us three photos to look at today.

There will be no theme - just photos that caught my eye - or made me happy - or made me think. I hope you enjoy this journey with me.

Sisters - Whatcom County, WA

May peace fill all the empty spaces around you
And in you, may contentment answer all your wishes.
May comfort be yours, warm and soft like a sigh.
And may the coming year
show you that every day is really a first day,
a new year.
Let abundance be your constant companion,
so that you have much to share.
May mirth be near you always,
like a lamp shining brightly
on the many paths you travel.
May your love be true.

B&W Trip to Whistler BC

2009-11-27T09:07:00.000-08:00

Over at Springtree Road you can find so many interesting B&W photos - so stop over and pay a visit. It is fun and quite a different perspective.

I'm showing some of my photos of a trip we made a couple years ago to the resort town of Whistler BC.

A stone circle - with stone chairs, for gatherings . . .

Puffball mushrooms, growing under some grasses . . .

There were metal sculptures all along one pathway near the river

that runs through town . . .

Stars and burrs - quite intersting in B&W

One of my favorites - a crow . . .

And the river - with lovely square stones lining it . . .

Birdhouses on a pole -there were lots of birdhouses along the paths . . .

And some shelf fungus - or as we called them in Alaska,
when I was a kid, Bear Bread. We used break these off and paint
scenes on the white side, and stand them up on the side that was attached
to the tree stump, they are fan shaped and stand up very well.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-11T10:19:00.000-08:00

More Wordless Wednesdays -

An old Log Cabin

2009-11-03T14:35:00.000-08:00

Maya at SpringtreeRoad is featuring black and white photos during the month of November. Stop by and see the other wonderful black and white photos.

Let's go back in time . . .

We've driven past this old log cabin so many times . . .

It is in an area of the county that we love, and the ride is peaceful.

I can just see the people who lived here. . .

working in their garden . . .

picking apples in the fall . . .

Keeping a cow or two on the hillside pasture and of course, chickens pecking about under the trees. They would pick blackberries in the fields to can for winter and watch as the geese flew overhead in their migration to the south, and warmer days.

When it rained the people in this cabin would stay indoors . .

making quilts, with the frame raised up to the ceiling
when they needed to use the room for other purposes . . .

mending harnesses by the fire and sometimes making the trip of two miles to the nearest neighbor.

They would share dinner together, perhaps bring a loaf of fresh bread

made with their bread trough . . .

And help with quilts or spinning. It was a different life, lived in this tiny cabin with two babies running about. They worked hard during their time and never could have imagined that someday, many years later, their house would appear in a blog, on the internet - speeding around the world - their heads would spin from such ideas.

A Drive Through the Country in the Autumn

2009-11-01T14:35:00.000-08:00

Autumn is in full swing - soon the rains will knock all the leaves off the trees and it will be cold and rainy - but for now - we can take rides and see wondrous things. The autumn colors here in NW WA rival those of more famous areas - yet just a few miles south of here it is not so colorful in the Autumn.

Big Leaf Maples in town - and when they say Big Leaf - they mean it - sometimes the leaves are bigger than a dinner plate - much bigger. It doesn't take many leaves to cover your yard.

Hillsides full of color . . .

Hillsides are aglow!

The horse had come to see if we had anything to eat - when we didn't, he turned and left.

Down by the river. . .

Some mushrooms growing on the side of a tree . . .

Mosaic Monday

2009-09-13T21:13:00.001-07:00

Again the mosaics are here - I love Mondays!!!

Stop over at the Little Red House and visit all the other Mosaics.

I have two mosaics this Monday - the first one is our grandsons at the
NW WA Fair - in August. My mosaics are about summer - because I don't
want fall to come - I don't care for it all that much - I would much rather have
summer, or spring, or even winter. Our summers here are simply gorgeous
and I never want them to end - so here is summer - two little boys at the fair - and their grampy riding on the merry-go-round.

Click to enlarge the photos if you like. . .

And another summertime passtime . . . .

Picking blackberries. We came across this fabulous old house and asked the neighbors if they knew if the owners would mind if we picked the berries hanging along the driveway. The neighbors assured us that it was fine - as the owners were only there to bring things to the old house and to mow the lawn
and pick the apples from the orchard.

The house was in horrible condition and probably no one has lived there in years - but there was certainly a lot of stuff in it - upstairs on the main floor and in the basement - stacked high!!! One window was broken out in the kitchen and there were poles hung from wall to wall, full of all sorts of cloths - leopard print dresses, fancy hats, lots of men's suits, feathers and lacey things. The clothes didn't look like they have spent a rainy winter there, so they much have
been brought there fairly recently.

We picked 2 gallons of blackberries and had hoped to get back to pick more. So far we haven't, but we've thought often about the shabby old house and its funny contents.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-09-02T11:33:00.000-07:00

Blue Monday

2009-08-10T10:05:00.000-07:00

Stop over at Smiling Sally's and see lots of other blue blogs. I think blue is a great summer color.

A Blue Jay sitting on a mossy old birdhouse . . .

A blue teapot - just right for cooler summer days and a pot of tea . . .

A cozy blue and white seaside quilt . . .

A nice corner of the seaside quilt - wouldn't this look great in a beach house?

A cute little boy helping fill a blue bag . . .

Oh - and a nice stack of blue dishes . . .

Ooops - this isn't summer - but a pretty blue ornament . . .

A blue quilt to comfort a friend . . .

And a tiny little blue bag for a summer treasure . . .

What do you like that is blue?