Breakfast With The Chickens

Well, not early, with the chickens - but with the chicken dishes.  I had these dishes when we first got married, in 1964.  They were the first set of dishes we bought - at christmas time - for a breakfast table.  We had service for 4.  Over time some of the pieces got broken and chipped and finally, no more chicken dishes.

Then in the last few years we found a few pieces at Goodwill - and some on ebay - and more on ebay.  Who knew that our first set of dishes, from Sears, would become collectibles?  Certainly not me.  Now I have 8 plates, two bowls. lots of cups and last weekend Don found the salt and pepper shakers in a LaConner antique store - for about 1/4 of what they would be on ebay.

In celebration of no snow - and new salt and pepper shakers - we had breakast on the Holt Howard chicken dishes.

New kids on the block

For the berry bowls I used square, individual yellow pyrex baking cups

I've had the red handled silverware for about 20 years now

Juice glass and coffee mug

Woven Rattan napkins rings and yellow checked napkins

The juice glass can be turned up side down and used as an egg cup

American Sweetheart fruit bowl

Little fairy houses for the centerpiece

A bee skep cracker jar - the lid has a rubber ring to seal it tight and keep the crackers fresh

Juice glass or egg cup - the chicken design is inverted on the other side so it shows up correctly no matter what you are using it for

Do you have a favorite set of breakfast dishes?

Progress on my tablecloth

I've been crocheting on this tablecloth for a while now - since early last spring, I think.  I found a bad mistake and had to rip out over a foot all around - you can click the link above and see the sad report of ripping out the crocheting - and I've almost crocheted all that thread again - and here is the progress report.

It is finally a little bigger than the table - barely - and still lying flat - my main goal!!

I love this pattern 

About 12 inches more to go - each round is now taking me almost 2 hours, if I sit and crochet constantly.  Each repeat of the design is about 2 1/2 inches - so there is still a lot to go - but I'm happy with the progress.

A Little Snow

 South of us last night they got a lot of snow - and it was predicted that we would get NONE.  So - here is what we have.  Some -  -  -

As soon as the snow stopped - the sun came out.  There was just enough snow to make Don take the bus to work - there are several big hills and dips between here and town. 

Just enough snow to make pretty pictures - I haven't heard if the schools are open - but I would suppose they are 

Snow on bamboo - in the early sunlight 

And the gnomes on the deck are enjoying their "snow coats"

Oh, that's enough snow for this year - thank you.

Ducks

This is a great time of the year for migrating ducks -  Birch Bay State Park is a great place to find them.

Mallards in a tide pool 

Birch Bay and Mallards on a sunny/cloudy/beautiful/magical day

Zoom In - Zoom Out  

Rurality  

A Few Things

Now and then I take photos that are interesting but don't fit into any particular theme - so that is my theme today - No Theme.  Let's have a look.

Lego Super Bowl - made by Ben and his family - notice the Seahawks, in blue, about to score against the Broncos.

Half Time Show

Coach Pete Carroll accepting the Lombardi Trophy, while fans look on.

Seahawks Cake - with Skittles

The plate of football deviled eggs that I took to the Super Bowl Party

An Inukshuk - ready for the game

Lunch at the Farmhouse Inn - on a day of picture taking - Don had his burger and fries

I had salad and Ivar's Clam Chowder

Looks like the beaver has been busy at this tree - despite the protective wire around the trunk.

What is out in the bay?

Why, its a family and their dog - enjoying the shallow bay at Birch Bay

And a hawk taking off in Blane

Ben, concentrating on his video game

Three deer - just outside our living room window this week

The first daffodil bouquet of the year

There will be more - for certain.

Are you having a great random day too?

Better Pictures

Two weeks ago we saw a white bird sitting atop a pole - and it turned out to be Leucistic Red Tail Hawk. Not a true Albino - because if it was, it would have all white feathers, pink eyes, feet and beak. The Leucistic birds have some albino features and some regular features, with a lack of pigmentation causing some of the feathers to be white.


We were down the road and far from the hawk when I realized that my camera had been accidentally set on portrait - and not scenery, as I had intended - and the photos were not the quality I wanted them to be.  I felt bad that I had missed an important chance at a rare bird.

Later that afternoon we went to our daughter and SIL's  house to watch the Seahawks play the 49ers in a playoff game for a chance at the Super Bowl - of course when they won we claimed the victory was because we had seen this unusual bird.  

On Super Bowl Sunday we decided to take a ride, and on the way to Birch Bay we thought we'd go past the spot where we had seen the hawk - and there he was - in a small tree this time - and my camera had the proper setting. 

The coloring and feathers are much more distinct this time. 

A magnificent bird, and what luck that we were there at the exactly right time - he flew away after we'd been there only 2 minutes - just a few minutes either way and we probably would have missed him. 

And then later that afternoon we went to our daughter and SIL's for their annual Superbowl Party - and, well, you all know how the ballgame came out.  Go Hawks!  

Deer Proof Plantings

We are surrounded by woods, and have been advised to plant deer proof plants if we want to garden, like these planted at the club house.  I like having the deer around - though I would like to grow a tulip or two - but they are like candy to the deer.

The only two things that I've found that deer won't eat, are daffodils and foxgloves - we grow lots of foxgloves.  Someone said the deer won't eat anything planted by foxgloves - but they sure nibble my hydrangea - planted right in the middle of foxglove forest.

 Lunch!  Thanks!

We've had as many at 8 in our own yard - I always run for the camera when they come around - such pretty animals and very patient to pose for us.

Saturday's Critters