Cold autumn Morning

I am going to my Mother's today. Another trip to whidbey Island.It is cold this morning--33degrees--cold in the house, too. but no heat on because everybody will be at work or school and I will be gone--so there ya go.

I love my pond

My pond is my place I go for peace. I have a bench there and a couple of chairs there. It is very restful. If I whistle the fish will come up to visit. In the summer when the water is lower I see different tracks in the mud.In the spring and summer the swallows and dragonflys swoop down and skim the water after any type of bugs, and of course in the spring the frogs have a chorus going everynight and sometimes all day long.

Oops I forgot the Mountains Part 2 before pt. 1

The Mountains of the North Cascade Highway

Sunday Road Trip

Another one day roadtrip. This time we stayed in Western Wa. and went up the North Cascades Highway. It is beautiful up in the mountains and I took so many pictures I know I can't show them all.
First we are going up river (Skagit River),(The Skagit River starts up in Canada and travels down our state and empties out in Skagit Bay down by where I live), we will hike around large trees,(I love hiking) we will go through a tunnel, see a waterfall, we will look down on Lake Diablo and we will look up at the Mountains just beginning to be snowcovered.

New Baby

This is the newest addition to the family. She won't stay in the barn, she thinks she belongs to the house. Kylee brought her home from a horse show. Her name is Niblet. You can see a little frost left on the ground. Beautiful days--cold and clear--which makes the nights cold and frosty morns. The sky at night is beautiful. At least a mega trillion+ stars. there are no lights up here so the sky is extra beautiful

Sunny Saturday

Beautiful day today. Shannon and Kylee are in Monroe Team Penning and I am doing Saturday chores.

Fall evenings and mornings

Wednesday it rained like a gully washer and then Thursday was Beautiful but chilly so the sky was a wonder. Woke up this morning to pretty white frost. 3 pics.
1. Sunset
2. Moonrise
3. Early this morning
Supposedly the biggest full moon this year. Do you believe everything you read in the paper?
The paper might be crazy but I meant brightest and fullest. Is that better? OK??

Kitchen spot

My road-tripping friend Deena has this beautiful corner in her house. I hadn't been to her house in just ages so when I opened the door and in her entry, on the way to the kitchen is this little corner wall and it is decorated just so fine. Deena and her Mother do a lot of canning, etc. and some things are displayed here. I think it is great.

More stuff

On My Yakima Canyon Rd. trip I saw this interesting object in the hillside. Wondering what it was I parked the car and climbed up the hill and saw this monument. Now I have find out who Angus McPherson is.
Yesterday I worked outside picking up branches and other debris from our last week windstorm and blowing leaves off the front porch, walkway and driveway. Of course it is just the beginning of 'Falling Leaf Season'.
Also a pic of last nights sunset--6-ish PM.
Off to see my Mother today and see what new project she has going. MB

Some stuff

I have so much to write about my little road trip---I just don't know where. Washington is cut in half (almost) by the Cascade Mountains. The western side is Closer to the ocean and is wetter and more tree covered. Tthe eastern side is drier, not as populated, bigger ranches and farms. A beautiful area . I did go over the mountains to Ellensburg. The mountains already are piling up the winter snow, Ate lunch in Ellensburg and decided to go down the Yakima Canyon Rd, which is beautiful.
The Canyon Rd. has terrific scenery and lots of wildlife. We (my friend Deena) saw Big Horn Sheep and some Elk. There were lots of fisherman out and we saw an Osprey catch a fish.The southern end of the canyon is framed by huge basalt faces that tower hundred of feet above the river. There are many roadside parks and this time of year it is beautiful there. The golden fall leaves glow next to the brown hills.
So here are just a few pictures---more later.
Deena and I laughed ourselves silly over just about anything.

Food for the birds

The lovely red berries will be beautiful and also nutritious for the birds this winter. It is a Washington Hawthorn

Road tripping

I haven't been able to get away---I mean way away---for ever so long---so now I am. I was hoping to go to the Fiber Festival in Ellensburg yesterday but plans fell through but I still am going over Ellensburg way anyhow. I may look up an old neighbor who moved over that way--oe not. I am just going to be free.
I spotted the first Snow Geese back to the valley to spend the winter. This is just a few the the 100,000 that will winter here.
Also a picture of the nursery I like to go to in the valley and a little schoolhouse (1888) they care for in their gardens.

In the Pine needles

My hardy Cyclamen (C. hederifolium) is just coming up now. First the flowers push up and then later the beautiful leaves. This is not to be confused with the Cyclamen you find in the Grocery stores or the florists. That is C.persicum and is not hardy. The hardy type is very reliable in cold weather climates and will also naturalize. Usually pink but there is a white variety. They grow well in lots of humus which is why they do well under pines and native oaks--I guess under trees in general.

Storms over

Yesterday a huge windstorm roared through. It brought lots of rain and power outages.Our power was out 6 hrs. Not too bad.This morning the rains came pouring down but right now it is quiet. Almost 9am here. I went outside to see if any flowers were left and these soggy babies were standing proud. Leaves everywhere--they are pretty too. I must take a picture.

Daddy and Mother

As I've been going through pictures lately I found this one of my Father that i always liked. As you all know my father died when I was young so pictures are part of my memories. My mother is still going strong at 91. she is amazing.
This picture was always called 'Guarding Mother's Pansys'. My father must be 12 or so. The next picture is my father and a brother, he is the little one the youngest of 8 and then his sister. And the next two are my mother when she was 16, being silly---which is always best.

Aunt Sally

Quite a few years ago my Mother made me a life sized doll I called aunt Sally. I don't know what happened to her. I think she was out on the front porch and the dogs tore her up. So My Mother made me another awhile back. the new Aunt Sally.

Betty

I found this cute little photo recently. It is my second daughter, the one with my two little grandboys. She looks about 4+(the daughter) Isn't she sweet. She is riding her pony Betty and Spot the dog always went with her. All the kids even gamed on her. We got Betty, the pony, when our oldest was 4 and all the kids learned to ride on her. She was the very best of all shetlands. Not a mean bone in her body. We had her until she was pushing up daisies.

Stilly Valley

Usually I talk about the Skagit Valley but the other day I headed south and west of stanwood into the Stillaguamish Valley. The stillaguamish River runs through the valley and Stanwood. Here are some fall pictures. The stilly river itself---a farm with new cut corn field and colorful hills behind and a leaf strewn driveway.

Road tripping

A friend I haven't seen in just forever came up today and we had to head for the hills. That's Mt. Baker peeking up to the left of The Sisters Mts. We headed that way. The hills were pretty and the creek was cold.

Punkin' Patch

Today we all decided the sun was shining so it was time to go to the Pumpkin Farm. I buy lots of stuff at Schuh Farms through-out the spring and summer to fall. So Kylee and I, two of my daughters and their kids piled in the cars and off we went. Schuh farms is in the skagit Valley and has been around for a few generations. They put on a fine display. For the little kids they have a train pulled by a tractor and also for everyone a hay ride. The have chickens and baby pigs and lots of fun stuff. Free samples of all goodies too. Mattea got measured and Just Jake put on his farmer boy costume and was the hit of the party.

Fridays with children

Today is a no school day. Teachers work day they say. So I get the darlings. We went to see Papa and the there is a park by the nursing home. Then of course we have lunch. See the idea we took from Nancy Jo.....we pressed leaves and added sparkle. they are so pretty.