Leap Year

Today is an ephemeral ghost... A strange amazing day that comes only once every four years. For the rest of the time it does not "exist".

It basically means we take a "leap" in time, when the calendar has to be adjusted to make up the extra seconds accumulated over the past three years - a little tune up for our calendar.

But today holds another secret - one of those rare moments of delightful transition and opportunity.

A day of unlocked potential.

Should you or shouldn't you? Could you or couldn't you? Will you or won't you?

Let's use this day to do something different, something daring, something extraordinary, maybe even unlike things you might do on 'regular' days. Take a chance - be more compassionate - love unconditionally - throw caution to the wind - make a drastic change - begin a new path. What will you do today?

Tea Party on a Tray

Sometimes it is nice to have tea for one.  A hot pot of tea, some treats and a few good books.

 This tea for one set was a gift from my friend Julee - it had belonged to her best friend and now Julee wanted me to have it.  It reminds me of friendship and happiness.

 The tray is hammered aluminum - the handles are especially pretty with dogwood flowers.

 Some lemon loaf and a few sweets left from Valentine's Day

 Or how about some oatmeal/raisin cookies - fresh out of the oven?

Shall we have tea in the drawing room? In the conservatory? In the garden?  By the fireplace? Tea on a tray can be anywhere.

No Place Like Home 

Bernideen's BTTCG
Tuesday's Treasures
Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Teacup Tuesday

Trees

I love trees - don't we all?  I'm joining in the meme NF Trees and Bushes - looks like a great place to find more fun pictures of trees.  Come along - let's go look at the trees.

 Trees with seagulls

 Trees with tulips dancing beneath

 Apple trees blooming in the spring

 Trees overlooking the ocean

 Trees in front of Mt. Baker

 My favorite tree

 Trees with houses in them

Trees surrounding our favorite picnic spot at Eagle Homestead Park

Do you have a favorite tree?

Through My Lens

The Barn Collective

Barns near Ferndale, Washington

 Still in use - but not for farming - just storage

 Almost down to the ground - its glory days are long gone.  Do you think it rests and reflects about all that went on when it was a working barn?

 Off in the distance

 A sad little shed

 About to tumble down the hill

And a glorious sunlit day with Mt. Baker in the background of a busy, thriving farm

Sunlit Sunday

The Barn Collective

The Daffodil Fields Are Blooming

A sunny day in February and the fields of Daffodils in Skagit (sounds like gadget) County are blooming.  Already!  A month early again - the color is so bright it almost blinds one

 On thousands of acres in NW WA - almost all of it in Skagit County - are grown daffodils.  They are not for cut flowers - those have to be picked while still in tight bud.  These are grown for the bulbs and sold all over the world.

 1. You will almost always find a bouquet of daffodils in our house during February and March - some from the fields of local farmers (some fields are grown for local sales of flowers) - some from the grocery stores - all wonderful.

 Friday's Hunt - something blue - the gorgeous hills and sky - with daffodils in the foreground.  (You knew I'd sneak Mt. Baker in here someplace, you know me so well)

 2. A bouquet from last year - along with some pansies from my deck.

 Week's Favorite - Daffodils, a farm and Mt. Baker - the perfect combination

 3. Ahhh the heavenly scent of Daffodils. They got their name from the scent - it was said that the scent made Victorian ladies a bit daffy.

 Starts with "I" - Immense fields of flowers

 4. Daffodil bouquets and milk glass - spring for sure!!

 5. A pitcher full of daffodils

And my favorite daffodil holder - our youngest daughter at 16 months - ready to leave Alaska on the plane for Texas to visit Don's dad and step-mother.  1967

Fun Friday Favorites 

Five On Friday 

Friday's Hunt

Vintage Charm Party

I have my Granny's Desert Rose Dishes. They were her every day dishes and I loved them the first time I ever saw them.  I received a huge box of them in the mail as a surprise about 25 years ago.  From time to time we add some extra pieces,  they are always from thrift stores, flea markets or yard sales.

I have three different sizes of cups, these little ones might have been for after-dinner coffee, or for mugs of milk for the children.

I have plates in four sizes, bowls in five sizes, platters,coffee pots, a teapot, cream and sugar, salt shakers, platters, vegetable bowls - oh so many wonderful things.

And at a thrift store I discovered some of the prettiest pale green glasses.  I thought they would be a match for the Desert Rose, and when I got home, I discovered that they were perfect.  I  am still looking to find more so I can serve more than 4 people at a time.

Vintage Charm Party                 

Snap! Some Birds in Trees

Recently we have seen a lot of birds 

in the bare trees.  

 Bald Eagles - near Bow and Edison, WA

 Doves - I had never seen a flock in a tree before.

Flickers just outside Bellingham,WA

More Doves in a different tree - both near LaConner, WA

A large flock of Starlings (we could hear them for about a block before we got to the tree) and Bald Eagles near their nest, on the road to 

Samish Island, WA

Several have asked about my camera - it is a Nikon CoolPix P600

Snap