Watery Outdoor Wednesday

Water - wonderful water - hop over to WateryWednesday and see a lot more water.  

And Outdoor Wednesday is always fun - lots to see there too.

When we lived in  Blue Lake, CA we would often go to the breakwater in Eureka - along the spit the leads into the harbor.  Waves rushed into the mouth of the bay and ships had to be run in by the harbor pilot to avoid the shifting sand bars at the entrance to the bay.

Waves pouring over the breakwater base . . .

You can walk along the breakwater on the gigantic chunks of cement . . .

   

Impressive when the waves break . . .

Be careful or you are all wet . . .

Sailboats coming into the harbor . . .

The sound is incredible . . .

Goslings at the pond

We drove past the ponds and there was this wonderful Canada Goose Family - close to the road.

Eight babies in all . . .

Someone was always watching for trouble . . .

Going for a walk . . .

Hello Mr. Mallard, nice to have neighbors nearby . . .

Something good to eat . . .

Raspberries - Raspberries - and some rhubarb

Driving along on a sunny day recently we crested a hill - and look what lay out before us!!!

One of the most amazing raspberry fields we'd ever seen . . .

Rows and rows and rows of raspberries . . .

Glorious rows . . .

Rows running up and down the small hills . . .

A raspberry dragon?

Whatcom County is the top producer of raspberries in Washington.  In 2004 Whatcom County growers produced 46 million pounds of raspberries, 85% of the state's crop. Since the state is the top  producer of raspberries in the country, with over 87.8% of the nation's raspberries in 2002, this means that Whatcom County grows almost 75% of the nation's raspberries.

We are fortunate that the farmers sell the raspberries at fruit stands through  the county - at a very reasonable price - and we always buy several flats to freeze.  They also grow crops of blueberries and strawberries, and sell those at roadside stands too.  This is a wonderful place to live - and we get fresh cherries, peaches, pears and apples at roadside stands, brought over from east of the mountains where the orchards are.

And right alongside the road - we came upon this massive filed of rhubarb . . . who knew that it was a local crop?

I'd never thought about commerial rhubarb fields - this one went on for about  mile . . .

Some of the plants were already going to seed - I wonder if they are going to pick this rhubarb?

Kind of makes you hungry for rhubarb-raspberry pie - or raspberry-rhubarb jam doesn't it?

Run over to Dippity Road to see much more beauty!!

Wisteria

Some days you come upon a yard that simply takes your breath away - well Saturday was one of those days.

We were driving along, looking for a house that has had plants for sale several times in the spring - and since neither of us remembered exactly where it was - we drove about, up and down several streets and then all of a sudden we were greeted with this sight . . .

The most amazing Wisteria, trailing all along this fence . . .

Big fragrant blooms . . .

An arched gate into the yard . . .

 

 

 With pretty beads hanging down . ..

I love the beads . . .

I want an arch with beads in my yard . . .

This is the corner of the fence, where the wisteria twists around to the other side of the yard . . .

I wish the homeowner had been out in the yard - I would have loved to talk to her  about her garden . . .

And her wonderuful wisteria . . . 

 Visit for more flowers!

A busy day

Today we had lots of errands to tend to in town.  We got our list together and off we went - in search of soil for the new raised bed that Don and I built yesterday - some plants and other gardening stuff that we've been needing.

Last night on the way home we saw a sign for a plant sale at the Unitarian Church - so that was our first stop - and what a sale it was.  They had a big fenced area with tables and bins full of plants.  All the tables were labeled so you could head right for what you wanted.  I got three lilac starts - they are tiny - but they were $1.00 each - good price.

Then I headed for the edibles tables, I was especially looking for tomato plants for the new raised bed.  And I got tomatoes.  Again- can't beat the price - small plants - but  at 2/$1.00  I couldn't resist.  I got 

 

 

Stupice Heritage - a great tasting slicing tomato . . . one that Beccy and I have wanted to grow for some time now . . .

White Currant Tomatoes - sweet juicy tiny white tomatoes . . .

And Yellow Pear - just because they taste so good . . . and are so cute .  . .

And Super Lakota - another good eating tomato . . .

They didn't have any Golden Chain trees, but one of the workers at the sale is going to give me a start of one from her yard next week.

For fun - and pretty I picked up a couple of white geraniums - one will go in the raised bed with the tomatoes and one will go on the porch in a basket that hangs from the railing.

I transplanted my chives to the raised bed also - they had been growing along the edge of the flowerbed near the porch and the poor things kept getting mowed.  At least now they will get a chance to grow before we chop them off to eat.

I should have photos of how well that plants are doing soon - the area where they are planted gets some good hot sun in the morning and early afternoon.  I hope they like it there - I can't wait for fresh tomatoes.  I think I'll plant some lettuce and radishes in oblong flower pots - salad is coming.

Mosaic Monday - Herons

On Friday Don got off work early again - he works a lot of longer days early in the week so we can have Friday afternoon together.  The sun was shining and the temperatures were fairly warm.  So we decided on a ride out on the Lummi Peninsula - one of our favorite rides.

The peninsula sits across the bay from Bellingham and the views are always spectacular.

Along the bay we spotted a heron, standing on a rock.  He was not as close as I would have liked - but with my new camera I got some excellent shots.  Then a little farther down the bay there was another heron on the beach - they are such amazing birds - and these two really posed for me. Thank you herons.

My new camera

I've had a Kodak East Share camera for a couple years.  Before that I had another Kodak - and thought the Easy Share would be a good replacement.  The first camera last over 10 years - the Easy Share - not so long.  It would shut down at odd times - just close up and say that the AA batteries needed recharged.  They didn't - and after turning it on and off a zillion times it would finally recognize the batteries and let me take photos - in the mean time, I lost a lot of chances at good shots.  I got so frustrated that I finally started looking around for another camera.  Diane and Fergie - two quilting buddies - both have the Canon Power Shot SD1200 IS - and recommended it.  I read reviews and then ordered the camera.

And I LOVE it.  It takes amazing photos - has a LI-ion battery, instead of AA batteries - and I've had it for two weeks and haven't needed to recharge the battery - and I take a LOT of pictures.  Plus Ben has taken dozens of pictures with it - and looked at the pictures over and over on the camera - and still the battery doesn't need re-charged - did I mention I LOVE this camera, 

and it is hot pink too - which is even better!!!!

I like the auto focus for up close, really up close, close photos!!  It adjusts itself, then focuses again  and takes the best shots.  I had fun the first day finding things to take super close ups of.  So here they are.

Froget-me-nots in the porch garden . . .

Flowering tree by the lake . . .

Close up of the flowers . . .

White Bleeding heart - this pot hangs on the front porch railing - safe from deer . . .

 

Look at that raindrop - didn't I tell you the close up was amazing ?

Close up of raindrops on Bleeding Heart leaf . . .

And rain drops on a Columbine plant . . .

The center of a tulip . . .

More tulips at the fairgrounds . . . it's tulip season . . .

Close up of one of the trees in our little grove in the back yard . . .

Raindrops on rose leaves - I love the outline of red on these leaves - hopefully soon we'll have flowers . . .

A close up of our door knocker - the grandsons love it . . .

 

And just a few more raindrops on leaves . . .

Thanks for stopping by - and you'll be seeing more photos from my new camera soon - I'm sure of that.  Thanks Diane and Fergie for the great recommendation.