Barns in the Fields

In summer the fields on the farms are bursting with crops

 Corn

 Hay in the front - potatoes in the background

 Potatoes in the foreground - and a tractor plowing up old strawberry fields

 Clover - and then more corn in the background

 And hay in front of blooming potato fields.  This area grows tons of potatoes - the most delicious potatoes we've ever eaten

 When the potato fields are in blossom it is an amazing sight.  The purple blossoms mean red potatoes - white blossoms are white potatoes.

 They grow tall and lush, making mounds of potatoes below ground

The Barn Collective

Pelicans

This has been a summer of birds.  We've never seen Pelicans here before (doesn't mean they haven't been here - we just haven't seen them).  So off we went to March Point (near Anacortes) and got some photos - though the Pelicans were far far out in the bay on a tiny island.  It was a thrill anyway.

 They are out on that island - this is without any zoom - so you get an idea of how far out they were.

 This was a close as I could get them - they seem to have some seagull friends visiting

 And some Caspian Terns too

One day we were sitting on our deck in Bellingham and we saw some large birds flying over towards Lake Whatcom.  I rushed indoors to get my camera and this was all I captured of the flock of about 30.  I never thought to turn on the video - that would have been more fun - but at least I got these as they whirled around in a mass, all the time moving towards the lake.

Saturday's Critters
I'd Rather B Birdin'

Tuesday's Treasures

Before Summer is completely gone I wanted to show the china cabinet with the summer dishes, before it gets converted to Autumn and harvest

 The chicken dishes are like the ones Don bought for me when we were first marred - 53 years ago.  They are from Sears and over the years all the pieces got broken - and recently we've been recollecting them.  The egg cups (on the right) can be turned over and used for juice cups.

 Sunflowers are perfect for summer

 You've seen the big sunflower serving set before - the pieces are all separate, for easy storage and are great for serving taco toppings, dips or condiments.  Would be nice for ice cream sundae toppings too - or banana splits.  

 Suns, and sunflower soup bowls and a sunflower two tiered server.

 Sections of the china cabinet look like mosaics.

Tuesday's Treasures

Summer Dinner Party

With the nice summer weather, comes dinner parties on the deck.  Small or large - they are always fun.  Before our Autumn rains began, a special friend shared a summer dinner with us.

 A lighthouse theme - with a sunflower tablecloth.  The lighthouse dishes get a lot of use in the summer.

 Sailboat napkin holders and checked napkins

 Salad and grilled chicken - perfect summer dining

 Sunflowers to match the tablecloth - Thank you Karen

 Seasoned grilled potatoes

And grilled chicken

Barns and Such

An old barn - beginning to show its age - with unused silos behind.  I haven't seen a farm in our area that uses the old cement silos anymore.

Going - going - almost gone

Still standing - with bits of metal atop the lower posts to protect the main body of the barn from the wet field it stands in

A very old, large barn to the right, with old, topless silo and a newer barn/cow shed to the left with newer but now unused silos.  Still a working farm

Not a barn - but a clever farm stand selling flowers this time of year.

A small row of sunflowers is all that is left

The Barn Collective