Farm Kids

Doing chores. They chopped thistles and nettles in the pasture and then drug the pasture. It all looks real good.

Harvest

Harvesting is going on in the Valley. Broccoli is almost done--The pea viners are out and the tiny Pickling Cukes are being hand picked and the bigger cukes are being harvested. How do those big machines vacuum up the peavines and separate the pods from the vines and then shell the peas and shoot them in the hopper without smushing everything? Same with the cucumber maching? The first is the pea viner and next the cucumber machine.

Short Sunday

Been gone all day. Kylee had a rodeo in Sedro-Woolley. Loooong!!! A pretty Sunday Lily

Slow Saturday

This is part of a ghost town on the ranch in Ritzville AND my front porch. We seldom use the front door, rather everyone comes in the side door on the side porch. Shannon parks her horse trailer out front. It is at a rodeo today and tomorrow.

Baby need new shoes

Ambush getting new shoes.

Working cows

My daughter Shannon (Kylee's Mother) on her horse Jewel--working cows.

No name

Here is little no name puppy. Mother was a heeler father a as kylee would say--a weenie dog. weird visual-- He could be called Wheeler. He is looong and low. but cute.

Hello Sun!

Maybe if I post a bright flower picture the sun will shine. We haven't seen the sun in over a week. Nothing but rain and gray skies.

wild blackberries

The wild blackberries are starting to ripen and the rains just won't go away. July is usually a dry month and we have had 4-5 days of rain all in a row. We even went swimming in the sprinkles yesterday. BUT the berries are getting soggy and I had better plans for them. See how wet the leaves are. Grrrrrr

Par-tay

today we had a birthday party for my grandson Brett. He is now a great big 9 years old--of course going on 37. He wanted to have it at Great-Grandmother's house so we all went To Whidbey Island and had a good time and lots of fun swimming in the pool and collecting shell down at the beach.

gone fishing

this is the North fork of the Stilly (Stilaguamish River) Good Steelheading.

Ritzville Sunset

So good-bye to Ritzville until next time.

Bluesfest

While in Ritzville we attended their 14th Annual Bluesfest. I went there 4 years ago and had fun. This time was just as good. I wish I could just let go and really enjoy--dance and stuff. Too inhibited, I guess. Here is a candid chot of cheri, Cameron and Dave. Loud blues and nice people--good times.

Glory days

This house is in Ritzville--called 'The Castle'.

Beauty

Cheri and Cam live on a ranch that has been in his family for over 150 years. There are many, many acres and they are excellent stewards of the land. It started with sheep, wheat and these days they raise beef cattle. All grown naturally. It is a land with it's own beauty and beauty added wuth gardens.

Monday

Yesterdays in Ritzville.

I came home

Just got home from Ritzville visiting my daughter and family on the ranch. Saturday night was the 14th annual Bluesfest and it was really good. It has been triple digit hot over there and everyone has been on fire standby. All the ranchers have their own fire equiptment because everyone is so spread out. When we got to their house they were out one a fire already. Actually there were 5 fires and eveybody was spread pretty thin but everything was contained. Here are some ranch pictures. The first is of some cows and then some of the ranch horses and the last one is a cow that Cheri (daughter) bottle fed four years ago as an orphan calf and she named her Nerdley and the cow remembers Cheri and will come when she is called.
They raise all-natural beef and can be certified.

Saturday

Well I came back!!! We had a great time in Ritzville. It is a great town specially since my daughter lives there. We left friday morning and our beautiful mountains and crossed over them to the east side to a whole different terrain. Also very beautiful. Here are just 2 pics. More for the real Sunday.

Friday the 13th

I will be gone for a few days. I am going to the ranch where my daughter lives. It is in Eastern Washington on about a bazillion acres. Friday the 13th should be good luck. Leave me lots of comments so I know what's going on---or not.

Sightings

A vulture in the trees. The Eagle nest at Conway by the Skagit River with 2 babies visible. Of course the 'babies' are getting very big.

More Camano beach

County beach

I had a lady come in and sit with Dave so Kylee and I had a few hours of play time. We found a little county beach on Camano Island and the tide was on the way out so we played in the sand and rocks.That is Mt. Baker as you look across the bay. we found live and dead crabs and stuff. And somehow this little crab just wanted to be on my blog over and over again. I guess, you pick up a rock and zillions go running.

Pin Keepers

My froggie pin keeper. I made him today. I think he is cute. MB

Gazania

One of my favorite annuals is Gazania and now I have a perennial Gazania. I did get it last year and it came back this year and now I cannot find any more at the nursery. It is supposed to self sow. We'll see. The perennial one is called G. linearis 'Colorado Gold'and is winter hardy in much of the cold-winter West. It gets about 4" high but with a spread of about 15in. and is a mounding type plant. It has strap-shaped leaves, different than the annuals foliage.
While the perennial is yellow the annual can be many different colors, as shown, and even striped.