Mallards - this one is for you, Bert!

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard (they pronounce it mu LARD) live in our neighborhood during nesting season. They are seen walking up and down the street - flying overhead - and mucking about in the muddy sides of the street. Today it was raining as we came through and there they were - happy as ducks in a puddle.

My friend Bert mentioned that she loves the color on the wings of Mrs. Mallard (mu Lard, if you please), so I tried to capture the blue.

If you click to enlarge the photo you can see the raindrops on Mr. Mallard's back.

And Mr. Mallard's pretty curl on his duck tail . . .

This is another shot of Mrs. Mallard on a sunny day in our yard - they often come for tea time and enjoy the seeds we put out for tea.


Mr. Mallard also has a pretty blue stripe on his wing - not one to be outdone by Mrs. Mallard.

Looks like Mr. Mallard has taken up ballet - what lovely wings!

Black And White Wednesday

Not far away there is an old old house - once it was someone's dream - someone's home and the memories linger there.

Children calling to each other as they ran and played together. Mother standing at the doorway, telling the children it was time to come in for dinner. Dinner was steaming on the table and the children washed up quickly, waiting for Father to come in from the barn.

Neighbors stopping by with a hot dish on days when there were woes in the family, the mail carrier bringing letters from family far away that were read in the shade of the old apple tree. Clothes flapping on the clothesline on a warm summer day.

Picking apples in the autumn and storing them in the cellar for a long, rainy winter ahead - oh the memories - the stories our old house could tell.

It sits silent now, holding the memories close, remembering the days when it was new and happy and busy.

Please stop by Me As A Mother for more B&W photos.

A Drive Through the Country in the Autumn

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 . . .

I need some spring!!!!

I need some spring - and I need it now. It is raining with some slush in it today - though not as bad as it is south of here where they have three inches of snow. Hopefully we'll miss out on that - it is 37 degrees so I think that we are safe. The rain I can handle - though I would love a spring day like Leanne is having over in Dorset. I want violets and daffodils and birds singing everywhere. I need Tulip Trees blooming - so full of bees you can hear them from across the yard.



I need sunshine patting me on the shoulder as I dig in the earth.



I need double flowered peach blossoms - bright against the blue sky.

But I have rain rain rain rain - and I'll be glad for it - as it makes everything so beautiful when spring finally comes - for now I'll drink my hot cup of White Tea and dream of the warmer days - soon - please - soon!!