April 10, 2013 - Wind, Wind, Wind!

At least I got outside to look at the sunset...

We had a very windy day today.  I had expected to spend some time in the garden, but that didn't happen, as the wind kicked up fairly early in the morning.  By the time I joined a friend for coffee, it was pushing my car all over the road, and was strong enough the shove me around a bit, too.  So...no great photos...but no shortage of beauty.  My friend has a lovely ornamental almond tree in flower, and her tulips look absolutely stunning!  Some of her gound covers are in bloom, as well...and lots and lots of phlox, which has long been a favorite of mine.

 

I was greatly disappointed not to get a ticket for the trips to Rattlesnake Mountain that were being given out this a.m.  That said, my disappointment was enough to get my husband on the phone, and to discover some alternative places to see beautiful wildflowers..,.more or less locally.  I shall settle for that, and look forward to the day when I can see the contours of the land from the crest of Rattlesnake Mountain.

April 9, 2013 - Pretty in Pink

Bergenia

Phlox

Bleeding heart

Sunset from deck

The photos above were all taken at home.  Today, however, I'm writing about something other than the photos.

 

I flew to Seattle early this morning.  It was beginning to get light as we boarded the airplane, and soon there was a vivid orange sunrise, visible on the right side of the plane.  (I was on the left side...but it was impossible to miss, even across four seats.)  Out my window, to the left, were Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens, and a bit later, Mt. Rainier.  The glow hadn't reached them, yet.  As we began to pass Mt. Rainier, the top of the mountain, covered with a lenticular cloud, began to glow pink.  Soon the entire mountain was bathed in pink, which gradually faded to a lovely, light gold.  It was the most stupendous sunrise I've ever seen over "The Mountain", as we call it here.

 

I wasn't camera-prepared, so all I can do is remember the incredible beauty of that sight, and remember it in my mind's eye.  The photographs help keep me aware...but the beauty surrounds me, whether I take a picture, or not.

April 8, 2013 - Sandhill Cranes and Wildflowers

Sandhill cranes near Ringold

And catching the thermals...

Balsamroot along Wahluke Slope

How many cranes were there?  A lot...

Fiddlehead

Crazyweed

Today I spent several hours out with a friend, looking for sandhill cranes.  Obviously, our search was quite successful!  We found not only the ones pictured, but saw another large flock on the way back home.

 

We also stopped to scout for wildflowers along the Wahluke Slope.  Much of what we saw couldn't be seen from the road.  Desert wildflowers are discreet, for the most part, and not obviously seen until you begin to walk around in their territory.  We saw the ones pictured above, plus several kinds of biscuitroot, larkspur, phlox, and winterfat.  The yellow bells had already bloomed out, and the purple sage wasn't yet in bloom.  The promise of more vibrant color yet to come...for anyone who chooses to get out on foot, and look a little closer.

April 6, 2013 - An Afternoon in the Garden

Magnolia

Puppy sniffing the blossoms

Double daffodils

Late bloomers

Bleeding heart

I had a late, but lovely afternoon in the garden.  As you can tell, the granddog wants to help, no matter what the chore.  Unfortunately, his definition of helping and mine do not coincide.  That said, he was extremely helpful by eating the heads off most of the dandelions today.  Hooray!

 

More of the garden comes into bloom every day.  The phlox is in full bloom, the late daffodils are just beginning, the magnolia is beautiful, and the tree peony has several buds on it.  The deer have browsed the tops of the hostas...but it looks like they'll be fine.  I do wish they'd browse the tops of a few more weeds!  But then, I got rid of a good many of those today.

 

And, the lawn got mowed for the first time.  Things are not only colorful and lovely...they also look neat and tidy, now.  (With the exception of the front gardens...I always leave the portion everyone else can see for last, for whatever peculiar reason.)  I am looking forward to many more days, simply enjoying the beauty in my own back yard...and the front yard, too!

April 4, 2013 - The First Thunderstorm of the Season

Storm coming in

Still raining...

With lovely results

Sunset after the storm

A beaver!

This evening my husband and I took the granddog on a walk to the river.  A storm blew in, about the time we got there...but not before we saw the beaver, pictured above, and two of her kits.  We walked home fairly rapidly, trying to beat the storm, which we mostly did.

 

Then we watched.  A bit of lightening, the pup got to hear thunder for the first time, lots of rain, and a brief, high wind.  Then, rain, a rainbow, and finally, another beautiful sunset.  The birds were all quite talkative after the squall passed.  And as we watched and listened, five deer ran by, right in front of the house.  One, an apparent youngster, turned back and ran toward the road into the refuge, just in time to meet a truck.  No collision, but it actually looked like it was running toward the truck, intentionally.  Youngsters!

 

A beautiful day...and a beautiful end to the day.  Praise God for rainbows, sunsets, and all created beauty!

April 3, 2013 - Sprinklers and a Hike in the Refuge

Oh, the joy of sprinklers!

Red-winged blackbird

Osprey

Pair of shoveler ducks

A log full of turtles!

Today began sunny and warm, and ended up cloudy (and still warm).  The granddog and I had a great time playing in the sprinklers.  By the time I got done with my work-out inside, he was already soaked.  When I went out, he continued to run in and out of the sprinklers, occasionally going for a mouthful of water.

 

Later in the day the two of us and a good friend went to the Burbank Slough area of the McNary Wildlife Refuge and...wait for it...hiked for two miles!  Okay, it took me almost two hours to do that, but I stopped for lots of photos, and the dog had plenty of exploring to do, as well.  The osprey and shovelers were the big finds of the day...though the turtles were pretty special, too. 

 

In the evening, we had dinner on the deck, including lots of asparagus from the garden.  We listened to a meadowlark that sings every evening, and rotates slowly around on the pole he stands on as he makes each call.  He never seems to get any calls back - probably because he's out singing later than everyone else.  But you can't fault him for trying!  We enjoy his company, and the music, at the very least!

April 2, 2013 - River Run

Back in the Columbia!

And home in the garden

Our granddog was a bit of a pill today.  That said, he had a wonderful time at the river, and on the way back home he spotted what I imagine may be his first butterfly.  It reminded me of a child, seeing a butterfly for the first time.  He stopped in his tracks, followed it intently, with wide eyes...then tried to catch it, quite unsuccessfully.

 

While working in the garden this evening, he discovered he could crawl through one of my lavender plants, and did so, repeatedly.  He also took to leaping over the daffodils (when he wasn't running through them) and to sampling a little bit of most everything in the garden.  Alas, he has lost his taste for dandelions.  He sniffed at them, and then left them alone.  Not so with the daffodils.  Fortunately, he only eats one piece of a flower, then quits.  And he's leaving the roses alone, this time around.

 

Tomorrow - a hike at McNary Wildlife Refuge!  It should be fun for all concerned!