Barns

Out for a drive - we decided to head to Snohomish County - south of where we usually go to see the Trumpeter Swans and the Snow Geese.  We weren't looking for birds - but for barns.  A completely different area with barns we'd never seen before.

 A working barn, with a new tin roof

 In need of repair - sitting on a soggy lot with seasonal ponds surrounding it.  It rained almost the entire day we were in Snohomish County.

 Excellent barn - a bit smudgy in a drive-by shot.

 This old barn and the next one were sitting just a few feet apart on the same property.

 Similarly shaped barn sits on a once profitable farm - two big barns on the same property is unusual.

 No longer usable

 Sad and sinking back into the earth

 A barn that remains in the middle of the Snohomish Small Plane Airport - probably used only for storage these days.

Along the way we came across a covered bridge.  Good shot for a drive-by,

 We took a side road off to Granite Falls and found the delightful restaurant - Buzz Inn.  There are several in the state - best food we've ever had - and at exceptionally good prices - two things we love in a restaurant.  Everything was fresh and perfectly prepared.

Now if they would just put a Buzz Inn in Bellingham.

Our table was right next to this fireplace - perfect for a cozy dinner on a rainy evening.

The Barn Collective

Fly Away

My dream picture of any bird is to catch it spreading its wings - or flying.  

 Sometimes Trumpeter Swans flap their wings as a warning to those nearby

 Sometimes to rearrange their feathers

 And often just before taking off

 Away they go

First time I've ever seen it done in unison - I was, and still am, amazed.

Saturday's Critters

Cupcake Practice

Let's make some cupcakes - let's make them extra pretty.  I got some new piping tips recently, and needed practice, so our daughters decided we would get together and have a practice session before Easter dinner.  We baked cupcakes, made frosting and readied our supplies.  A cupcake decorating party is a great idea - that way we'd be really good at it before our family dinner.

These are the new tips - they are quite large - and make a whole flower all at once.  They are called Russian Piping Tips - quite clever and lots of fun.

Our first try - the frosting has to be thicker than for other piping tips - so the bigger flowers hold their shape.  Fix the frosting - and try again.

 With  practice we improved - lots of fun - lots of silliness - lots of laughs - and lots of pretty cupcakes - large and small 

 Here's a clever trick - spread multiple colors of frosting on plastic wrap - roll it up into a tube - cut off one end of the tube, place it in the piping bag and you get a flower with three colors.

A pretty multi-colored Columbine

 More practice - getting better

 The Columbine tip also makes a pretty multi-colored pansy

 I think we are almost ready now.

Would you like a cupcake?  I'll make a pot of tea.

And more of our new tips - these are about 2 1/2 inches tall and make big swirly designs - and use LOTS of frosting.

 Lovely orange swirls with a pretty rose on top.

Some of the cupcakes were taken to friends and family - and the remaining ones went to work with Don - where his co-workers devoured them in record time.

Mosaic Monday

Tuesday's Treasures - it is always a treasure when we get together with family members

Mosaics made with picmonkey and photovisi

Trumpter Swans on Fir Island - One

The Trumpeter Swans over winter here in the the Skagit Valley and this year there a many, many more of them than usual.

Let's look and see what kinds of poses they can manage with those long, graceful necks.

Just checkin' things out.

They went that-a-way!

Looooong reach - I don't want to get up.

That's how it is done!

One side

Or the other

Snakey

Step lively now

Curves are easy

Scritch scritch

Upside down

The wind ruffles the feathers

Turn around, look at me

Tie me in a knot

Curves and straight and twist and look backwards

Back to eating - it is what we do, it is who we are.

Saturday's Critters