Marshmallow Sky

Love it when we get the huge puffy rain clouds, and the sun hitting these was icing on the cake. There was so much shading dimension in these; it was amazing.

Sightings

This is Lewisia--it's a really cool succulent plant that grows in rock gardens. The name comes from Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark expedition, who discovered it.

Couldn't resist the center of this tulip playing peek-a-boo through the drooping petals. It's a little blown-out, but such is life...

And--this is just a snapshot, but what a shot! An outdoor sighting of R, dressed in outdoor clothes, ready for a walk with Roma the Amazing. He is doing so much better. It makes my heart happy to see him back in his jeans--for a while there he was too thin to keep them on.

Spring Showers

Lauren (michym) might have had glorious spring yesterday, but 35 miles from her, up against the mountains, we had rain. Light rain, heavy rain, sprinkles, mist, downpours...you name it, it fell. Just about suppertime it dried up enough for me to go out and do some drops--the upside to all that rain!!
I love the way the new leaf is encased in the water droplet! Plus, a little reflected color on the bottom of the drop...

Motion

R and I stopped by a park yesterday to enjoy the sun, and I caught this little girl through the car windshield. She was doing her little I'm-so-glad-the-sun-is-out dance. I couldn't resist. She was so much fun to watch. Quality isn't the best--using my P&S, and through the windshield (glare)--those are my excuses/rationalizations... ;-)

layers

A couple more ranunculi...

I loved this vivid red-orange against the slate blue pots in the background. Such a nice contrast!

Crazy day...

Yesterday was a crazy day with the weather. I woke up to this.....

By suppertime, a lot of the snow had melted, and we had deep fog. I love the way the forest looks with the fog lying in amongst the trees.

A shift in position, a shift in the light, and things get murkier and more mysterious.

And then, the most GORGEOUS sunset! Because we live in a mountain valley, we miss most of the great sunsets, unless conditions are just right. Last night they were. The fog intensified the colors and made everything glow. This is really the color it was; I wish the pearl-like quality of the light came across. So, even though the day began with a whammy, Mother Nature had a pleasant surprise at the end of the day.

You MUST be kidding!!!

It's the middle of April, right? Why was THIS outside my window this morning??? I mean, come on, I've enjoyed our snowy winter, but you have to draw a line somewhere, and the calendar says it's April. April in the Pacific NW means rain, rain, and more rain (well, ok, we got 2" at our house on Sunday...) I am SO over the snow!! COME ON SPRING!!!! Actually, the snow should be gone by tomorrow...just one of those nasty surprises this morning.

Ruffles

I stopped by our little local nursery (one of my favorite photo trolling spots) the other day to see what was in stock and if anything was blooming. As I went into the main greenhouse, one of the guys who works there saw me and said, "Oh! It must be photography season!" (blush) He then proceeded to show me what was in bloom and tell me what was coming...I love a small town for just that reason; there's just that personal connection.

The ranunculi (would that be the plural of ranunculus?) were pretty much past their prime. But, I really like this blowsy, full open stage. They look like heavily ruffled skirts and petticoats. This red/yellow variety was really gorgeous.

And this is a Star magnolia--I just love the delicate shredded petals. It blooms earlier than the standard magnolias around here.

Mmmm--can't you just smell Spring??

Go ahead--take a deep breath---ahhhhh. The scent of Spring!!

Easter houses

This row of Easter-egg colored homes stood out on a grey cloudy day. Certainly made for a springtime looking street!!

Spring trees

A little closer on the ornamental cherry and plum trees that are blooming now.

On the tip

Our rain is returning; this morning everything was coated with a nice light layer of moisture.
This isn't grass--it's one of my daylilies.

Illuminated Bark

The bark on our birch trees is peeling, and I noticed the sun shining through this section. It looks like stained glass.

Spring is popping

It was 72 today!!! The ornamental cherry trees by the old depot are making the most of this spell of unseasonably warm weather; you can almost hear them popping open as you stand by the trees. The city painted the depot last year and changed it from white to this deep red/burgundy, which I think works much better with the blooms.

But the blossoms will have to make the most of this weather. The long range forecast is talking about rain and s**w above 500' (that would be our place) on Monday. I am hoping that the forecast is wrong! I have had enough of winter. It would be too cruel to give us 3-4 days of 70 degrees and sun and then send s**w again.

Garden weather!

Yes, it's true--the bluest skies you've ever seen are in Seattle...we have had two consecutive days of sun!! And another one tomorrow, followed by days of rain. But now it is almost 68 degrees and the sky is blue, the birds are singing, and I have been out in the yard clearing the winter coat of moss off my gardens and doing some clean-up. I have to make haste, because once the rain starts and the temps drop back into the 40s who wants to be out in the yard??? This is my neighbor's corkscrew weeping willow. I love the yellow willow-green in the early spring, and seeing against that blue sky makes my heart sing. Haven't touched the color, other than sharpening for the web.
I love these little treasures. This is a hydrangea petal skeleton. Imagine this a lovely shade of hydrangea blue; now you know what underlies all that color!

I usually find several of these as I clean up around my hydrangeas, but I have to be careful because they are really delicate. They really remind me of some sea fan coral.

A penny saved....

Years (and years) ago I started the habit of taking any spare change in R's pockets at the end of the day, and putting it aside. Once a year, just before Christmas, I cash in the coins. It is amazing what pennies and nickels and dimes add up to, and we all know about quarters. I usually end up with a couple hundred dollars for Christmas shopping, money that would've been frittered away. It has been a great way to save money!

Warms the Heart

It.is.raining. It.is.snowing. I.want.spring. I.want.color. ...So, a nice bouquet of tulips, and I can pretend.

Frosted

Spring may be on the way, but winter refuses to go out quietly. A little frost the other morning...