January 31, 2013 - Whose Home Is This?

The snow geese are just passing through

The oriole nest will be used in spring - check out the materials used!

I'll bet someone will decide to live here...

and this has been recently excavated.

Today was warm - in the high 50's, and even touching 60 briefly.  It began sunny, got cloudy, rained just a bit, then the sun started returning.  A light breeze - just enough to remind us we live in the Lower Columbia Valley.  In general, it was a wonderful day for looking, for being outside, for examing what's happening in the world that surrounds us.

 

I heard redwing blackbirds this evening, calling loud and clear.  There were two adult and one juvenile eagle that flew right over me.  The juncos chattered at one another, as did the sparrows.  And I just caught a glimpse of a small wren.  The snow geese were delightful, of course.  We think they're probably just passing through, meandering their way back north. 

 

The best part of the day was a brief walk to the edge of the river.  It's about a quarter mile there, a quarter mile back, on a gravel road.  I didn't go fast - but I went.  A half mile is a beginning, and it got me into some of my favorite country.  By this spring, perhaps I'll be able to take the four mile loop.  That would be a joy!

January 30, 2013 - Looking Out the Car Window

Heading west on I-182

There are a few advantages of needing other people to drive you around.  One of them is that you get to look out the window at anything you like!  The other is that you get to spend more time with your friends.  Both are tremendous counterweights to the frustration of being mobility limited.  I am looking forward to being able to drive again - hopefully next week - but until that happens, I'm also enjoying looking out the window, spending time with friends, and paying closer attention to what's happening around me.

 

Today was an incredibly spring-like day - temperatures in the mid-50's, a good, fresh breeze in the morning, followed by blue skies.  Eagles flew along the river all morning, and I heard red-winged blackbirds singing while I was outside.  A sure sign that warmer weather will arrive!

January 29, 2013 - A 360 Degree Sunset

Late in the sunset

The clouds cast a shadow

We may have our first grand-dog!

Today began with a bit of sun, and quite a few clouds.  Then the clouds took over entirely, until the close of the day.  The sunset, which occured as a friend drove me home from a doctor's appointment, completely surrounded us.  There was 360 degrees of sunset - bright gold and orange nearest the sun, fading to a pink the covered the entire horizon.  Then, as the sunset was almost over, a shadow, cast by a cloud I couldn't see, caught my attention.  The vividness was incredible - the shading across the entire horizon unexpected, wondrous, beautiful.

 

And then there is the critter pictured above.  He is, perhaps, going to belong to my son and daughter-in-law.  He was found near the fire station at which my son works, and if no one answers the ad in the paper, there will be a new puppy in the family.  Our first grand-dog!  We have always been dog lovers, and Patton seems absolutely delightful!  He even slept through his first night at home. 

 

Good news today.  The orthopedic surgeon says I no longer need to see him, and that I am probably a bit ahead of where he would expect someone to be after the amount of damage I had done to my foot.  I can expect to continue to heal over two years or so...and a ten mile hike is not an unreasonable goal, as long as I don't plan on taking it tomorrow.  A very good news day!

January 28, 2013 - A Blustery Day

The edge of sunset, over the river

Today was indeed a blustery day!  The wind began to pick up in the morning, and at this point it is beating against my office window.  There was a peek-a-boo blue sky, from time to time, but mostly overcast and gray.  The sunset was lovely - a bright glow in the midst of what looks like could be a coming storm.  (Just looked at my wind gauge - it says it just hit 31 mph, which means the tumbleweeds are starting to move again!)

 

I used to really dislike the winds here, but I've come to enjoy them.  O.K., not so much when it's cold, like today, but in moderate weather, they're just what we have, quite often.  Working outside in the wind (when it's not too cold) is invigorating...and on the days when it really gets to howling, it can be hard to keep your footing.  Thank goodness for a good friend who decided we should enjoy a lunch together after PT today - I'm not likely to blow away any time soon.  (Actually, under any circumstances I'm not likely to blow away - but that's another story.)

 

The roses continue to open today, several of them becoming quite full.  I enjoy having them in the dining room and the kitchen, two rooms where I spend a fair amount of time, and watching the gradual unfurling of the petals.  And the colors are so rich.  Bless my husband for providing such beauty - and bless him for being a central part of the beauty in my life.  I am thankful to have found a life partner like him.  

January 27, 2013 - A Sunny Sunday

Columbia Point Marina

We have tame geese, too...

Nearing sunset

My husband's traditional anniversary gift

Today we awoke to more fog and gray...a bit disheartening.  Then, as we headed in for church, the clouds began to break and before long there was actual, real sunshine!  I was wishing for my sunglasses.  Between church and choir rehearsal we drove out to Columbia Point, and found the family of geese you see pictured above, along with widgeon and lots of coot.  We wandered a bit along the river, then headed back to church so I could attend choir rehearsal.

 

When we got home, I did a few chores, then went outside in forty-plus degree weather to finish getting the tumbleweeds out of the garden.  The weather was so lovely, I ended up cleaning up a good deal of my vegetable garden that I hadn't yet gotten to.  And I checked to see which trees the deer like the best.  So far, they're focusing on the dogwood.  They've checked the apricot, hazelnuts, gingko, linden and magnolia trees, and left them alone.  They have nibbled a bit on the walnut trees, and have lightly pruned the tips of the raspberries and the roses.  So far, their far and away favorite, are the leaves of the strawberries and the leaves of the zebrina hollyhocks.  I never get to see the deer - just the hoofprints, and the nests in the grass out back.  They have been here since last weekend for sure - there were fresh prints, and a couple of broken branches.  (They don't really seem to bother watching where they're going.)

 

Being outside is always balm for my soul.  There were juncos and white-crowned sparrows flying back and forth, doing quite a lot of chattering.  The frost was beginning to come out of the ground already - at least I was able to plant a pitchfork into it with no difficulty.  And the garden beds are looking like it's getting near time to till.  It's almost February - traditionally for me, the time of year when winter turns the corner, and will soon be gone.  A month of hope.  May it be a month of hope for you, as well.

January 26, 2013 - Our 39th Anniversary!

Cattails at Hat Rock State Park

Melanistic red-tailed hawk

Great blue heron

Fog over the desert at twilight

 

Today we celebrated 39 years of marriage - itself one of the most beautiful things in my life.  My husband and I met in high school, married young, and have had a wonderful 39 years of one another's company.  We still love spending time together.  Today was spent finishing up the details in the newly repainted bedroom, cleaning out his office so the carpets can be cleaned, going out for a leisurely cup of coffee, and enjoying a very good lunch out together. 

 

On the way home, we decided to take the long way back, through Oregon and along route 730.  We stopped at Hat Rock State Park, and got over fifty photos of the hawk you see above.  (He didn't seem to much care that we were taking pictures - a couple of times he seemed to be posing.)  I haven't seen any melanistic hawks up this close, so it was a real treat to get to enjoy this one.  Then we found the blue heron, and later two others, doing a mating dance.  There were "mixed race" ducks in the river - a combination of tame and wild races...and they all came swimming, hoping to be fed.

 

On the way home we were both enjoying watching the fog roll over the hills, then disappear, then reappear.  It was getting quite dark, but I decided to try a few photos anyway, and am pleased with the results.  The detail, the fullness of the scene, isn't as obvious in these pictures, but I hope you can see enough to enjoy the beauty, along with me.

 

 

January 24, 2013 - The Winter Garden

Ice on the ornamental grass

Texture and color of pampas grass

Arum Italicum

Today we had a wonderful pink sunrise, followed by several hours of sunshine, and a light golden sunset, through a break in the clouds.  There were about thirty swans out by the island, preening in the sunshine.  The house finches were active again - they'd been in hiding since the inversion settled in.  And there was an adult bald eagle, just in front of the house.

 

There was a bit of freezing rain last night, and some of it came down in pellets, rather than drops.  (Look at the arum leaves.)  I didn't venture too far outside until the afternoon, when most of the ice finally melted.  It's cold again now, and we may get more freezing rain and/or snow, but pretty much everyone seems happy to wave good-bye to the low clouds, fog, and unmoving temperatures that came with the high pressure system.  And...my foot feels better in lower pressure.  I thought that usually worked the other way around...

 

Thankfulness today, for friends, for family, for the ability to work out, even if it's not at the level I am accustomed to.  I had a day to feel sorry for myself - that should be more than enough.  It's time to pay attention to what is still present - always present - the beauty of creation, the love of God.  Even if I lose my eyesight, I won't lose my hearing or my sense of smell, the ability to taste and to touch.  There is so much that is good in this world.  I celebrate that, and will continue to work, in a small way, to renew those places where the beauty has been masked and marred.

January 22, 2013 - Six Months after Surgery

Mt. Moran, from the Snake River Oxbow at sunset

There actually were some beautiful sights in my day today, so let me tell you about them.  (The camera was either not available, or didn't have a powerful enough lens.)  First, my son took me to PT this morning, and on the way the sun tried, very feebly, to break through the clouds.  The attempt was loudly applauded by both of us - especially as we looked across the blue bridge into what was obviously a very localized snowstorm over the Columbia.  By the time we got there, it was gone - sun, snow, and all.

 

Upon returning home, I took some time to look through my spotting scope.  The usual assortment of ducks, geese, coot, and eagles were present.  Then, an adult eagle roosted in a tree just in front of the house.  Through the scope, I could see him clearly.  It was too far away for photography, so I grabbed my camera, my down coat, my trekking poles, and headed out hiking into the reserve.  Unfortunately, a truck came out about the time I was headed down.  One high call, and the eagle was off for quieter territory.  I walked out in the back acreage, but everything there was quiet.  Time to get the bird feeders put back up!  (They came down in a deck remodel this summer.)

 

I got a bit of bad news today - my PT says I may have close to as much movement as I'm going to get.  The good news in the bad news is that it's not the final word.  Removing some of the screws in my foot might help - and she wants to consult with another PT, as well.  So, I wait until Friday for the consult, then see my surgeon next week.  Meanwhile, I hope and pray for a better outcome.  My goal?  To be able to do a ten mile hike with a daypack, over uneven ground.  (But I'd be happy to begin with even ground!)  I had an eighteen miler I wanted to do this summer - and that's not going to happen.  But other things still are possible, and with ten miles, I could get into most of the places I'd like to go.  I'm sure glad I've already done Angel's Landing, though...I might hesitate to do something quite that challenging at this point.  Or not...we'll see what actually happens!

January 21, 2013 - Nothing New to Report

Which is to say, it's still cold, hazy, foggy, with the occasional snowflake (but not enough to really see that there's been any snow.)  Today was an interesting day - it was a bit confusing, as far as getting needed rides was concerned, but it all worked out well in the end.  My husband ended up picking me up in town, and we got much needed grocery shopping done in the evening, and had the added delight of saving $10 on groceries, thanks to the sharing of a coupon by a good friend.

Beauty seen today - let's begin with my friends.  Those who regularly pick me up and take me to appointments, to meetings, or simply come out to my house for a cup of coffee or tea.  (Truly, being driving limited has impacted me even more than the rehab on the hip and the foot!)

I also saw beauty today in the extra cold we're experiencing - just a single degree down from what it's been the past few days - but everyone was stamping feet, huffing out clouds of steam, hugging themselves for warmth.  I saw the beauty of our shared humanity - and enjoyed the shared griping!

Then there were the eagles on Foundation Island - at least eight, perhaps as many as ten.  And a procession...no, several processions of ducks.  They were going both upstream and downstream, passing each other, as if in separate traffic lanes.  Thousands and thousands of them, all gathered in the same, quite large space.  It was delightful to watch.  (Sorry, no photos - too far away for my lens!)

I'm adding a photo to this post from those I took yesterday...just for a little more feel of the refuge.  The weather is supposed to change in the next few days...I'll see what happens, and share it with you.

January 20, 2013 - An Hour of Refuge

Immature redtail or ferruginous hawk

Tundra swans

Mallards in flight

Canadian geese on the ice

Everyone's flocked up

Almost mature bald eagle

The weather hasn't changed, and I wasn't planning to go out today...until my husband suggested that we do so, after I got back from choir rehearsal and he got done painting the extra bedroom.  We'd both seen what we thought were the snow geese again, so out we went!  Only to find...that they were swans.  (Difficult to tell the difference at 60mph on the highway.)  I haven't seen the swans in front of the house for a few weeks, so assumed they had moved on.  Obviously, a few have remained in the area.  Along with countless mallards!  The sounds we heard on this trip were wonderful!  Nothing is as raucous, and as easily recognizable, as a mallard call.

 

There were lots and lots of raptors out (you see just a couple of the photos taken) and numerous geese, ducks and coot.  The pond being frozen has sent most of the birds into a single area.  Watching them navigate the ice, when walking, reminded me of myself on ice.  The geese were especially careful, looking like they were picking their way across very carefully.  And they don't even have that far to fall!  (Maybe the other geese would laugh at them.)

 

We saw four eagles on the refuge near the river - this was the only one with adult plumage.  I've seen lots of juveniles this year, easily two or three to every adult I've seen.  And this eagle is just achieving adult plumage. 

 

I am ready for some sunshine again - but this weather was perfect for what we did today.  The birds were stable, I didn't have to worry about the sun in the camera, and I can get colors some other day - today I got a wonderful variety, several question marks, and a delightful time!

 

January 19, 2013 - Everyone's at Lunch

Kestrel - with lunch

Fruit for the main course

White crowned sparrows

The weather continues cold and cloudy, with fog and haze, but today we went into the refuge to see who all could be found.  There were trees filled with robins, lots of raptors, including several hunting harriers, and several birds I couldn't identify, including a trio of warblers on a barbed wire fence.  It was great fun watching the birds - and it was even more fun coming home, putting the photos on the computer screen, and getting a better look at what I had been watching.  We thought the kestrel had lunch - but only in the photograph could we tell it was a small rodent.  We saw the sparrows, but only in the photo did the colorations come out clearly. 

 

But several things were clear.  The bunch grass is a lovely gold against all the grey we saw today.  The cattails were a rich, dark brown.  And the ponds were all frozen over, giving the entire area a different feel. 

 

After finishing the sojourn to the refuge, my husband and I worked on painting our extra bedroom - a task that is almost completed.  Friends came over for dinner - the best part of the day - and the meal and company were wonderful.  Later, we watched an animated movie, laughed, and finally decided it was time to head for bed.  So, a quick run to the computer to put up this post, and off for a good night's sleep, after the blessing of a very good day.

January 18, 2013 - And the Inversion Continues...

Kodachrome Basin S.P.

Kachemak Bay

More haze and fog today - lots and lots of gray!  But it was a good day.  I got a workout in this morning, followed by a visit with a good friend I rarely get to see any more.  He took me into town for water therapy at the pool - and another friend picked me up there.  We went out for coffee and conversation, then returned to her home for a few games of bananagrams, until my husband arrived to take me home.  I fixed dinner while he taped off areas in the guest bedroom so we could paint - and after a break for dinner, I was able to help a bit by taping all the molding around the floor.  Not so much a day for looking today, then - but very much a day of being - with friends, with family, with hopes for getting better.  (More people are telling me I'm walking better - and that's encouraging!)

I've got a couple of friends that have been much on my mind the past few days - both are facing surgery, and have had more than their share of medical difficulties.  So I keep them in prayer and in my thoughts.  I e-mail on occasion, but mostly, I just pray for them to be well, to become whole, to be in a place to enjoy health again.  Sometimes it doesn't seem like enough.  Not driving, not walking well, living fifteen miles from my friends - as much as I love the views here, there are trade-offs, and it seems that not being able to be fully there for those I care about is one of them.  And then I remind myself that I'm such an introvert, there's no guarantee I'd blast myself out of the house even if I was well and driving!  I just wish for that.  I wish to be more than I am - to be able to offer more than I do. 

So, in the spirit of who I am, really, I thought today I'd include a photo (one of my favorites) from the many I've taken over the years.  It occurs to me that this blog is one way of sharing a small piece of myself with those I most care about, with those I most love.  I know, many of them don't look at it...but at least it's there...and it's a real part of myself that I share in this way. 

January 17, 2013 - Still Cold and Hazy...

The only sun we got today - at sunrise!

Obsidian chips from Glass Butte

The full container - after cleaning

Today was another dreary day, as far as the weather was concerned.  The temperature went from 27 degrees, up to 31 degrees, and now seems headed back down to 27.  The fog never quite burned off, and the haze blurred the outlines of everything.  So...the only thing to do is to make the house sparkle!  This is only the second time I've cleaned house since my car accident, and it is a challenge.  But I do love the results - and they included noticing some things that otherwise might have escaped my attention.

 

Such as...the beauty of the vase of obsidian chips I keep on the kitchen window ledge.  Such as...the enjoyment of the pattern of color in a newly cleaned oven.

Such as...simply being aware, that though I am not anywhere near 100% yet, physically, I can do much more than I could just a few weeks ago. 

 

I didn't pay enough attention to my "fasting" today, as it really was more a fast day than not.  I will remind myself to do so tomorrow morning (the note is written) and every time I search for beauty, I will remember to find it first and foremost in the presence of God - both in Godself, and in the people I encounter, who bear God's image.

January 16, 2013 - The Inversion Has Taken Hold

which means there is no sun, little if any wind, not much temperature change, and today is the first day all winter that the thermometer hasn't topped thirty degrees.  Which isn't so bad, really.  It was just below twenty degrees this morning when I got up (a half hour early, for some reason).  The birds are mostly holding in position.  (Still lots of eagles roosting on Foundation Island - and plenty of ducks and geese in the river.)  A flock of juncos flew into and out of one of my spruce trees today - a bird I particularly enjoy watching.  And there were lots of hawks on the way to (but not on the way back from) PT.

All of which is to say - no photos today.  No light, nothing close when I could get close, and little to no incentive to go outside!  (Chilly is not my favorite temperature.)  And, quite frankly, today is the first day of this blog that I didn't see something I really wanted to capture on camera.  That's not to say there was nothing of beauty - it just wasn't close enough for me to reach.

Which is worthy of thought, in and of itself.  If I am nourished by beauty (and I am - thankfully I define it broadly), how am I fed on those days when I can't reach the table?  A friend of mine, who also blogs, wrote about fasting today.  Perhaps that's what these days are like - a fast - reminding me of the ultimate Beauty, which is God, which I can never own.  As we hear in the Chronicles of Narnia, "He's not a tame lion" - he isn't there whenever we want, for whatever we want.  But God is, above all things, good.  God is, above all things, present, even when we cannot see.  (Ask this woman who has difficulty seeing - I will tell you - still God is present!)  So, a fast from the beauty that so often surrounds me can be used to redirect my attention to the Beauty that continuously holds me, even when I cannot see.

January 15, 2013 - Still Clear and Cold - But Hazy

Stained glass in my office - "I am the vine, you are the branches."  Jesus

Oriole nest

Today seemed like a very busy day - and I'm still trying to figure out why.  There were tasks that got accomplished - cleaning out a bedroom so we can paint; getting rid of some old music and sorting what we're keeping; looking at the seed stock so I could send in a seed order; meeting with a friend to plan a conference.  Plus working out, fixing dinner - all the usual tasks.  It just seemed there should have been more time in this day!

 

That said, I did take the time to pay attention to some of the beauty inside the house, though most of it didn't photograph well.  I love the stained glass piece - it was made by a very talented pair of parishioners.  The oriole nest was made by a very naturally talented oriole!  We humans are born with many talents, but I think we, more than any other creature, get to decide which ones to nurture, which ones to bring to full flower.  I am always happy to see someone expressing themselves fully, be it in sports, art, music, writing, or in whatever manner. 

 

What internal area do you nurture?  What do you work to bring to fullest expressions?  What gives you the most joy?

January 14, 2013 - A Sunny Winter Day

Ducks at McNary Wildlife Refuge Educational Center

Tule reeds

Sunset - can you see the crescent moon?

A few minutes later - from the deck.  River of fire!

We don't normally get this many beautiful sunsets in winter.  We get some, but not like the ones we've had this year.  Almost every evening, it's been worth standing at the window, on the deck, or anywhere I can see, just to watch to changes in color.  And it isn't just focused in one area...these sunsets have colored well over half the horizon.  It's been such a wonder to be able to watch them!

 

Earlier in the day, my son drove me to the Refuge Educational Center, where we occupied the bird blind for a while, watching the ducks on the distant shore.  On the way in, we had seen the snow geese again.  And after we returned home, I saw over a dozen eagles on Foundation Island.  It's been a rich day, in very many ways.  Time with my son, beauty surrounding me...and I finally got the tumbleweeds picked up from the huge windstorm we had a month ago!  

January 13, 2013 - Baptism of Our Lord

Slate Colored Junco

A bit later

The back garden in winter

Today was another lovely, cold day - but I didn't get out too much, as yesterday's wanderings had left my foot pretty sore.  I enjoyed the trip in to church, looking at the beauty of the banners one of the very talented women there sews, enjoying the quiet of a lunch together with my husband, then off to choir for an hour of singing in a rich, four-part harmony (occasionally with divisi!) 

 

A slow day is not a bad thing on a Sunday.  I've done a bit of work around the house that I wanted to do, and hadn't yet gotten to.  That kind of work is generally fun, and today was no different.  I re-sorted our DVD's, took care of tracking down some financial pieces that are due in a couple of weeks, and gazed out the windows from time to time.  Laundry is slowly getting done, my husband is completing some work in the extra bedroom, and he just finished sharpening all the kitchen knives.  (What a treat!)  It was a good day to finish up odds and ends.

 

The celebration of the baptism of Jesus is a day I remember, more than on other days, that God also has called me, and calls me "My beloved".  It is a day to live into who I am, in God's eyes, rather than my own.  Some years that is hard work - some years, like this one, it is a blessed reminder and an impetus to caring both for others and for self.  May you be similarly blessed.

January 12, 2013 - A Day Spent Outside in the Cold!

Across the Arid Lands Ecology Reserve

Along the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River

Common Merganser, on the Yakima River

Today was another beautiful day.  My husband and I spent the afternoon driving past the Arid Lands Ecology Reserve by Hanford.  We saw a good percentage of the elk herd there - easily 200 animals, plus a couple of coyotes that seemed to be just hanging out with the elk.  Hopeful, foolish, or???

 

We then headed across Vernita bridge to a section of the Hanford Reach - the last free-flowing stretch of the Columbia River.  We found a beautiful piece of petified wood that had been washed downriver, and enjoyed checking out several places the beavers had been at work cutting down trees. 

 

Then, off to the Yakima River at Horn Rapids.  That's where the above photo was taken.  It was later in the afternoon, and all the colors were so vibrant.  There were lots of birds in the area, though most were photographer shy.  (We were out walking, at this point - no car to use as a blind.)  But the walk felt wonderful.  Cold air, sunshine, and incredible beauty, from sumac clusters to the river itself.

 

I am, perhaps, most especially blessed in having a husband who knows what I am doing with this blog, why I am doing it, and is willing to take me all over the area, just to see, to look at the light, to discover what I can capture in pixels, and then share with you.  For him I am very thankful!

January 11, 2013 - What to Do on No Photo Days?

Today was a beautiful day.  I awoke to a bit of clear sky, with quite a few clouds, and some pink around the edges.  I worked out, checked my computer, did devotionals, went back out to the kitchen and an open window to see...snow!  Followed later by lots of sun, blue skies, and a gorgeous sunset.

A friend took me to PT, where I am mercilessly made to move, then on to another friend's house where we played games and talked.  By the time my husband picked me up to join our son and daughter-in-law for a late birthday dinner and a movie, it was too late for photos outdoors, and I had so enjoyed what I watched that I wasn't inspired to take a photograph inside. 

Hmmm...maybe I need to pay more attention to the beauty around me indoors, as well as out-of-doors.  Another day, perhaps.  Today was wonderful, and tomorrow involves a trek out to the Hanford area, on what promises to be a beautiful day!

(Alright, I'll include a photo taken of the sunset yesterday...)

January 10, 2013 - Cold, clear - with snow...

Would someone tell my roses it's still winter?

Immature white-crowned sparrow

Birch trees and Wallula Gap

Another beautiful day today.  This morning there were at least six immature eagles by Foundation Island, and a couple of adults, trying to avoid the kids, it seemed.  No swans today, but lots of pintails. 

 

In the afternoon I wandered through the back yard - all two acres.  The deer have been beating down pathways through the trees, and rubbing some trees hard enough to begin knocking them over.  There were juncos and sparrows near the ground, robins in the trees, and the occasional magpie.  My crocus have begun to sprout, and the garlic, shallots and cilantro just keep growing.  I'm a bit concerned about what a real cold snap could do at this point - the roses are even beginning to show new growth already!  Usually I put off any gardening until February - but this year may not wait that long.

 

The light today was beautiful - clear, slanted to pick up color, lots of contrast.  And there were even a few snowflakes, blown in on a light breeze.  A lovely day...