A Day Book Entry for Early March

March - that month that howls, blows, rains, snows, warms, cools, brings sunshine and flowers and covers it all with a blanket of snow now and then - but eventually spring breaks out - what a glorious month -  -  -

Outside My Window...The constant rain of a Pacific Northwest Winter - sometimes falling softly - sometimes beating on the windows and skylights. It is welcome, our mountains need the snow for our local water supply next summer, and the rain is what keeps our state so green.  And it makes our springtime full of flowers - I'm waiting.

 I am thinking...About how we can make the world better.  Sometimes it is a small thing, like a smile for someone who doesn't expect a smile, or an unexpected compliment to someone we pass in our everyday life, a thoughtful little gift - handmade or store bought, a single flower - it is the thought that counts.

 I am thankful for....for schools that are taking a new course - making sure that each child is valued, thoughtfully and carefully addressing bullying, teaching new generations to think and solve problems creatively and as a community.

 From the kitchen... the smell of home made bread - today is bread baking day - four loaves - three for the freezer and one to start enjoying today - a little slice, toasted and a cup of tea.

Just had to show you this teakettle sculpture - found in LaConner, WA

Our oldest daughter - enjoying her bread even back then (She's Ben's mother now)

Bread and Water can so easily be Toast and Tea

I am hoping...for a lovely and peaceful spring, for all people everywhere.  My heart breaks for those who suffer needlessly in senseless wars. And my heart is cheered when I hear of those that strive to make the world a better place, more peace, more cooperation.  I  believe that if each of us sat down with someone we had not met before and shared a bowl of ice cream that there would be no more wars.  One can't fight when one is enjoying ice cream with a new friend. 

“I keep my ideals because in spite of everything I still believe that people are good at heart.”
― Anne Frank

I am busy creating...     Scanned photos.  Our son-in-law inherited an album from his mother, who in turn had inherited it from her mother.  The photos are from 1905 and 1906 - of a trip up and down the West Coast.  It appears they went by steamer, as far north as Alaska.  There are a few photos of Bellingham and even a couple of Sitka, Alaska - where I grew up.

Russian Orthodox Church in Sitka - the street splits and goes around the church - it sits on a small plot of land in the middle of the street - 1905 - notice the ladder at top left. 

Bridge over Indian River 1905 

Totem Poles - Totem Park - 1905

I am scanning and labeling each photo.  The maker of the original photo album was meticulous in labeling the photos as to the location, date, people or activities. 

  I am hearing... The Chickadees and other small birds fluttering back and forth to the feeders - a line of them waiting to get to the seeds and then fly away to the trees to eat their sunflower seed.

Around the house and garden...  Gardening is not starting here yet - but soon.  The autumn crocus have sprouted their leaves, which will die back and in August beautiful lavender crocus will pop up out of the bare dirt. Soon though  the daffodils will appear.

Deer are coming through the yard - a nibble here, a nibble there and they move on.  Sometimes alone - sometimes in groups.

“Go outside, to the country, enjoy the sun and all nature has to offer. Go outside and try to recapture the happiness within yourself; think of all the beauty in yourself and in everything around you and be happy.”
― Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

March is an interesting month - full of changes - taking us towards spring.