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Over the River and Through the Woods

In Search of the Perfect Christmas Tree

Our good friends and their enormous newfoundland dog joined us for the day. After much organizing and loading we all squeezed into our truck and headed for the forest with our US Forest Service Christmas Tree Permits in hand. It was a perfect winter day with lots of sunshine and some fresh snow. Not too much snow. Last year there was so much we could not get to our favorite spot. We were in luck this time. This is our fifth year here and Ken and I have gone out on Thanksgiving weekend each year to search for our own Christmas tree together. We have gone from taking four dogs with us to just one. Sam is no longer limber enough to traipse through the woods and is content to stay cozy and warm at home.

 

But first, their was a downed tree across the road blocking our way

 

Steve and Ken made short work of it

 

Dogs romped and played before the unfortunate dog incident where 120 pound Micah pounced on 60 pound Luna.

 

This is the place.

 

Em is ready to help with his own saw as his mom looks on

 

That’s our tree! Thank you tree. And thank you Steve and Kim for finding it!

 

Luna is no longer comfortable with Micah.

 

There’s the happy family with their perfect tree!

 

And through the woods we go.

 

It was a parade

 

Ken likes this

 

The tree is just the right size for our house.

Such a pretty day.

 

Here comes Kim with their small tree.

 

And the guys brought in a big one for them

 

Em got to ski while the trees were loaded on the truck

 

First time this year. I think he likes it.

 

Short days

 

Headed home

 

Trees by the River

Yesterday I went to Wenatchee for a variety of errands and one of them took me to Hydro/Billingsly Park on the Columbia River. It is a place where my mom and her dog Kelly, walked every single day, rain or shine. My mom’s been gone now for more than six years now and her dog, Kelly who went to live with Ken before we all moved up here together, died in February. I needed to spread a few of Kelly’s ashes near the shore where she used to run with great abandon along the edge of the big river. I like to think of her and my mom together again – healthy and enjoying the crisp air of fall.

 

The park is a combination of manicured lawns and ball fields coupled with a sometimes tangled shoreline of the river.

Lots of beautiful fall colors among the non-native trees.

Why is one branch bright red while others are yellow?

Mom loved seeing the birds and learned many of them during the years she frequented the park. I saw this fairly tame group of Mallards and a Common Loon in winter plumage.

I was pretty obsessed with this leaf.

This photo of it, from my cell phone was my favorite

 

Leaves, like tears fallen from the trees

Off and Running

Luna and I are at Loon Lake to attend a canine agility trial. We are total novices at this. Yesterday we had a pleasant drive across eastern Washington birding in various spots.

Through the fog across the plateau

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Are we there yet?

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Lots of fuzzy caterpillars at reardan ponds

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The historic Davenport cemetary can be a birding hotspot. Not yesterday

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Historic Loom Lake school

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Tired after playing ball

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Loon Lake

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Budhas hand? New to me in the produce aisle at Deer Park

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Life Goes On

Despite the smoke.

Today the smoke has cleared out of much of the valley leaving blue skies in its wake! It’s forecast to return but for now, what a relief. Here are a few images I’ve made the last few days when I ventured out into the gloom.

This hibiscus is a recent gift from a friend. The flower’s colors are amazing.

It will soon have to find a room in our house as it is not hardy in our winter.

Shaggy mane mushrooms have popped up around our backyard.

Some people eat them. They don’t appeal to me.

This moth was on the outside of the window while I was inside

French pumpkins.

Our growing season isn’t always long enough or warm enough for them.

A sunflower gazes into the murky sky

Spring Rolls with Nasturiams

Ok, we like to eat. And we eat pretty well. So we eat a lot. But we do enjoy what we eat. Today I made spring rolls with nasturiams. Dogs surrounded me even though they didn’t get any spring rolls. Just the idea of it. Ken smiled. He likes spring rolls. So do I.

All the fresh stuff came from our garden.

 

The nasturtiams

 

The mess

 

Serve these up with peanut sauce and a savory sauce and what else do you need? A cold beer or a glass of white wine!

Life is good. Maybe we should make a t shirt! Oh wait, that’s been done…………