The guys completed re-decking Barb's deck, and it is lovely! Blair, Jon and Russ finished up today - Janice helped them most of the time, but wasn't here today. We are all thrilled with the new deck, and it is made of composite material that doesn't require any upkeep! Yay!

 Another Photo Art Journal completed! This one is called, "Inspire the World with Words". We had to create something with a quote or other inspiring words on it, place it somewhere, and take our photo of it in place. On the back of our page, we described why we chose those words, and where we left them. It is one of the more interesting books we've done!

  I haven't been down in the woods for a little while, and everything is really burgeoning! The waters in the swamp are beginning to recede, and the greenery has taken over. Below is one of my favorite spots, a mossy hillock covered with ferns, jutting into the water at the edge of the swamp. Ever changing, always peaceful.

 Nearby, another pile of bunny fur, and this time the skull remains, carefully cleaned by the busy forest floor denizens. Judging from the size, it was probably about half-grown. The hawk is having much more success than Apollo in the bunny hunt!

Salmonberry stalks armed for any comers!

 The kitties got a new toy today - a 4-level cat tower! Whoo-hoo! Took isn't too sure about it yet, but he approves of it's location in the sun with a view.

Must be rabbit season!

 Apollo spends a lot of his time outside, so when I'm out there, he comes and hangs out with me. Today he hopped into the pot with the cut-leaf maple tree, and one of David's Peace-on-Earth pieces.

Beside the tree you can see the Iris blooming in it's indescribable color.

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012

 Place your best guess as to what is blooming in my garden?

 Quit a mish-mash of photos today - I finally spent a little time and organized my jewelry. I hung up a couple of jewelry holders, and got all the earrings and necklaces displayed, with rings and bracelets in my little boxes. I still have a few more ideas for this corner, but one step at a time.

And, late in the afternoon, a break in the clouds, followed by a quick shower with huge raindrops. Then I found out that a few miles away in Langley, they had a freak windstorm at the same time, and a friend of mine had 3 trees blow over! She said it only lasted a few minutes. Freaky weather!

 Ebey's Landing is always spectacular, and today the skies were awesome as well. Above, the view across the fields to the top of Ebey's Bluff. Below, the road to the beach, with the Olympic Mts gathering storm clouds.

You really need to click on this and view the large version - what fun! It was raining so hard that the raindrops were bouncing up off the deck railing in all directions, including the camera lens, which is what that foggy blob in the center is. Another day to stay inside and curl up and be cozy.

Cool and rainy - it's a good day to curl up!

Thanks to our Northern Harrier hawk, this is all that is left of a bunny. He sat on the lawn and worked at it for a while, and when he left I went to check it out. Below, a pile of fur and some intestines, and that pink thing is the skull. It was likely a pretty young bunny, judging from the size.

 He razored the fur right off the critter, with his sharp beak.

 The fir trees have their new growth! Each tree is on a different schedule, so this will be going on for a while yet.

Well, our sunny weather has come to an end, and the rain that produces all these beautiful greens has returned. Back to our normal spring weather!

 Penn Cove Water Festival, celebrating the local Native Americans. There were dances, canoe races, crafts and food. I spent the day with Mark, and we had a really good time, and the weather was just right, too!

Above, one of the newest dancers in the Tshimshain Haayuuk Dancers group - they start young! The dancers wear beautiful traditional button capes, cedar hats, and Ravenstail woven aprons and pouches, and fantastical masks. The singer announces each song and describes what is happening, so it is very interesting.

 The last song featured spectators from audience to come and dance along.

 The Eagle dancer.

A lovely example of a Cedar Bark hat, and beautiful abalone buttons on her cape.

There were several races with different sized canoes: 3-man, 6-man, and 11-man. Of course they also had women crews, too. Above is the 6-man men's race: 3 canoes vying for first place, and the last canoe just rounding the buoy marker. These racing canoes are wooden, with no keel.

This was a fibreglas version of a family canoe, being paddled by 4 or 5 women, again with the lovely hats.

 Here's my afternoon - crawling around underneath a house. Thank GOODNESS it was dry and pest-free. Just not very much headroom, but the homeowner was having a blast. Those are his feet. I didn't last very long, and after these shots, I climbed out while he continued to explore and document the construction. He just bought this house, which had been built without a permit. So my job is to create drawings showing what is there, and also add all the details and information needed to bring it up to the current code. Even the homeowner agreed: the job from Hell!

 The first blooms ever from this white lilac - it came as a twig that we planted, and it has taken many years to get to this point. It is lovely, with a delicate scent. There is one more branch with a bloom on it - hoping for more next year!

 Bottoms up! A pair of mallards were foraging at Earth Sanctuary in the fen. Pink blossoms are the hardhack, spiraea douglasii.

 A hole in the duckweed is all that's left of a frog leaping from shore as I approached, accompanied by a hearty croak! Might be a bullfrog - I didn't get much of a look at it.

The goose was also majestically swimming around looking for snacks - another beautiful spring day!

 The pollen covers the pond's waters each spring. Sometimes it's almost iridescent,  today not so much. The breeze is just enough to move it around on the surface, creating swirls and patterns, above. Below, the far end is cleared by the wind.

On the shore, the large carpet of False Lily of the Valley is beginning to bloom - sweetly scented, as well!

 Tookers likes to play in the tall grass - maybe he thinks he is 'Hidden Tiger!'

Happy Mother's Day to all! I had a quiet, sunny day, puttered around and had a nice long chat with my son and my mother on the phone, and a big hug from my other son. Love. 

Well, here it is - my next adventure. Cody is coming to do a two-week cross-country bike ride, and I have the crazy idea I will accompany him for a day or so. So, I pulled Barbara's bike out of the shop, and Jon and Cory lubricated and pumped air into it, and I tried it out. Pedaling around the level yard for a few minutes was enough!! I REALLY need more exercise! Yikes! Anyway, it will be fun to learn how to manage a 15-speed, and get my muscles back in shape. Ha!