Scene Through My Eyes: February 2018

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Winter Tea Time

It is pine cone season at our house - pine cones for decorations and a pine cone tea set.

Wintery weather is a good time for a hot cup of tea.

All the pieces have been collected separately at yard sales, thrift shops and estate sales - yet they match very well.

One of my favorites - shimmery and bright

Stop by for a cup of tea one of these blustery Winter days.

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Different Barns

On a recent jaunt to Marysville, WA we passed this fun barn. Since it was winter we didn't investigate but I'll bet in Autumn there is a lot of fun to be had here.

The we saw this barn with something on the front of it

Well, what do you know - a school of salmon swimming upstream.

Barn Collective

Winter Birds

Juncos are stocking up on some good food at the beginning of a snowstorm yesterday

No Hummingbird in sight - we bring in the feeder at night to keep it from freezing

Even in the snow you can see the leaves sprouting on the Oso Berry bush - they are the very first plants to leaf out in the spring - maybe a bit too early this year, but they are tough - they'll survive a bit of snow.

There were dozens of Juncos flitting about

And just the day before, there appeared a Varied Thrush (relative of the American Robin) on the neighbor's roof. I've rarely seen one in the winter here.

Saturday's Critters
I'd Rather B Birdin'

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Waiting for Spring

A few weeks ago I posted about all the things that were budding out - hoping it was going to be an early spring.

With snowdrops popping up - and pretty things to see and smell.

So last weekend I bought some pretty flowers to put out in the pots on the deck - a welcome to spring - Snow drops - Hyacinth - Pansies - Grape Hyacinth.

And then look what happened last night!!!!!!

The weather had turned cold cold cold right after I bought the new flowers - so they have been living safely indoors, on the dining room table - away from the cold and snow.

It never got above freezing today - the snow blew all around in gale force winds - the little birds shivered in the snow

But the pretties are safely warm.

Highs during the coming week are expected to be near or below freezing - with the lowest low temperatures expected to be near 15 degrees.

So the flowers will stay indoors - while the weather outdoors is a deepfreeze - waiting for spring.

Mosaic Monday

Barns

Let's go look at the barns!

Mt. Baker behind a flooded old corn filed - with silos beside the field

Sad old barn

A nice old horse stable and hay barn

A reflection of Mt. Baker and a barn in a seasonal pond.

Again on of my favorites - the fields flood here in the winter when we have massive rain storms - the water is covering what is usually a pasture and hay field. The ducks flock to these seasonal ponds (or lakes, as this seems to be). This farm is on the way up the hill, heading home from the Skagit Valley - I love the views of this well kept farm from the freeway, in all seasons.

The Barn Collective

Friday, February 16, 2018

Trumpeter Swans

The Trumpeter Swans overwinter in our area - we find flocks from Birch Bay to Marysville, WA, the biggest flocks are found on Fir Island near Conway, WA. They often feed in the harvested corn fields - muddy and mucky - so when I find them in water or in a green field I always have to stop and take photos.

Flying overhead in a clear blue sky is wonderful too.

The grey/brown ones are immature Trunpeter Swans

They have a 6 foot wingspan and weigh approximately 25 pounds

Taking a running start

And away we go!

Saturday's Critters
I'd Rather B Birdin'

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Winter Scavenger Hunt

Winter Scavenger Hunt - one of my favorite types of posts. We are challenged by a list of clues for the photos we should take.

1 PEOPLE AT WORK

Preparing for the harvest - Birch Bay State Park

2 LUGGAGE

Some of my bears having a tussle over who gets to go on vacation with us

3 DOMESTIC TRIVIA

Ingredients for making oatmeal cookies

4 A WINTER'S TALE (OR TAIL)

Bald Eagle soaring high

5 PASSENGERS

Shorebirds floating by on logs at Wiley Slough, Fir Island

6 WRAPPING PAPER

7 ON THE WATER

Pintails overwintering in our area

Mallards - Birch Bay State Park

8 SILVER

A cell phone tower on top of an old silo

And more traditional - silverware, ready for a buffet lunch

9 IN THE MAKING

Spider web on a misty morning on Lopez Island

10 HAVING FUN

Dressed for Halloween (a little early for winter) and looking at a painted rock that was hidden on our deck.

11 LIBRARY/BOOK SHOP

Tiny library in a neighborhood - they even have a chair if you want to sit awhile and read

12 STATIONERY

After painting the geraniums on sheet music I am going make lighter prints and turn them into the background of stationary.

13 A LINE OF - -

Trumpeter Swans

Shorebirds - Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs

14 STONES

I painted this stone - ready for Valentine's Day

15 BOW

To the right of the arrow on the map is the small town of Bow, WA - a wonderful tiny town with a sweet cafe where we like to eat when out on bird watching expeditions

A delicious burger and salad fuels us up for more bird watching

16 A SENSE OF HISTORY

The family has painted hearts with the wedding dates and names of parents and children on the side of their barn

My own personal history - I first saw these watermelon dessert dishes in 1964 in a cookbook illustration - and I've looked for them ever since - thrift stores - yard sales - antique stores - ebay - etsy

Recently we found them on Etsy - and they were a Valentine's Day gift from Don.

This is the illustration in the cookbook that sent me searching for over 50 years.

And this is the cookbook - printed in 1959 - it was a wedding gift in 1964.

17 MANY

The flock extended far beyond the sides of this photo - it was estimated that the entire flock was 30,000 to 40,000 Snow Geese - they overwinter in our area every year.

18 SIGNPOST