On the ferry on our way to Leavenworth and the Bird Fest!! Sunny here, but the clouds are gathering over the mountains.

 And, indeed, it is cold and rainy at Steven's Pass.

 But dry at the KOA kampground in Leavenworth. The area was covered in wildflowers blooming with abandon - here, lupines, roses, balsam-root and mariposa lilies.

 Cathi up on the rock by the river.

A long-exposure of the Wenatchee River - the water was still very high and fast.

Sorry about late updating - I am going camping this weekend, so will get all caught up when I get back next week. See you then!

MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013

Lost my Dad today - he had lived 93 wonderful years. Here he is 91 when I visited a couple of years ago. Although I didn't get any photos of him last month, I was glad we had been able to have a good visit. Will surely miss him!

 Mother's Day at Toby's Tavern! Fresh Penn Cove mussels and a silly son...

Looked out in the lawn this morning, and a pair of wood ducks were just sitting in the grass. I walked out to see how close I could get,

 and Apollo decided to begin stalking. They waddled unconcernedly for a while,

then the female couldn't stand it any long and hopped a bit further. Apollo gave up, and the drake joined her, and they sat out there for a while longer.

 I had a class in the new building codes in Everett first thing in the morning, so had a nice ferry ride with the sun trying to break through the clouds. Below me, the scoters were splashing around in the calm waters.

 Once again, it's camas lily time. Sadly, every year there are fewer and fewer. Several years ago, this field would have been solid purple. Now, they're scattered sparsely, and one of the fields is being mowed! You'd think they could wait until after blooming. These are a native food plant - the bulbs are edible, and only grow in this one area in the Coupeville prairie. I don't go to Coupeville all that often, but most years I just happen to be going to Coupeville while they are in bloom. Love them!