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.