T-Bird

When you are driving down the road and you see this - you just have to follow

 Fortunately the car made a stop at a little 

country market so we could catch up

It looked like there were bullet holes 

in the side of the car 

Nice ride.

Fire Fighting by Helicopter

On the day that we drove out to Deming to look for the irises we noticed smoke coming 

up from a nearby mountain

 Then we saw the fire fighting helicopter - dragging a tank behind it - heading for the Nooksack river to dip up water 

 Coming in   -  Water loaded    -    Flying back to                                                        the fire

 The buckets are dipped into the river and can hold up to 12,000 gallons - depending on the power of the helicopter to lift the loaded buckets

 Flying back for another load - we watched as the helicopter made 8 trips to the river

 The empty bucket swings out behind the helicopter on the way to the river, then the bucket is lowered into the river - the helicopter disappears behind the trees

 Lifting the load from the river, the helicopter is right in front of The Sisters Mountains

 Water spray can be seen coming 

from the loaded bucket

The fire extinguished, the helicopter lands at the nearby high school

It was amazing to watch the precision flying of the helicopter to load water for fire fighting.  

We are thankful for the work these amazing 

pilots do to protect our forest.

Iris Time

Near Deming, WA there is a small plot of irises.  A sweet lady grows them every year and takes orders for the tubers, to be delivered in the Autumn.  We decided to take a ride out to see if they were in bloom yet and we luckily hit the absolutely most perfect day possible.  The flowers were in full fresh bloom - perfect for photos.  The viewing and sale was to start the next day so we had the area all to ourselves.

 There are so many colors and styles 

 a feast of beauty

 I don't know what the large leafy plants in the foreground are - we'll have to go back 

and see if they are blooming

 While I was busy photographing the flowers, Don took a short walk around the garden patch

It is not a very big patch 

 but is loaded with beautiful color!!

Did you find your favorite?

Through My Lens

Some Birds on a Day Out

First - let me say I've missed all of your comments while I was on another little blog break and have been looking forward to seeing you again. I'm shocked and surprised at how many of 
my followers have fallen away in those few weeks.  
I hope some of you come back - I've missed you.
And now to our regularly scheduled blog post.  Enjoy

Nature brings us such happiness 

 surprises at every turn

 A Canada Goose family at a nearby pond

 Clover is so tasty

 Look way down yonder at 

that tree right in the middle

Zoom in -  a Bald Eagle - and on the top of the tree - an angry crow

 Look closely, the crow is flying at the eagle - squacking and pecking - the eagle seems to be ignoring the crow

Crow stops in mid-air and begins its return attack

Two eagles were too much for the crow 

Nearby a Red Wing Blackbird 

enjoys the sunny day 

And an Osprey flies over - scanning for lunch

Do you have a favorite bird to photograph?

Just a Stone

Every December I do a craft fair with a friend - and this year I decided to try something different.

 I decided on garden markers painted on smooth stones from the beach

 Different sizes - some for large gardens - some for smaller

 And the herb garden

 Something for the winter holidays

 Add a few critters

 And critters for the garden - all the stones are from 1 1/2" to 4 1/2"

 Lady bugs to match your favorite colors

 Some pretty night scenes - nice for fairy gardens (approx 4" high)

 And fairy houses to set in your favorite fairy garden (3 to 4" tall)

 Penguin family - mama is about 4" tall - babies about 1 1/2"

 Let's sail away

 Or maybe go glamping!

Or find a quiet place in the country, near a wonderful fairy house.

Don't you think every garden needs some pretty painted stones?