"On Patrol" up Thunder Creek

Yesterday our travel was pretty close to home, home in the North Cascades anyway. Lin had a day patrol and I got to "volunteer" and go with her. It was soggy and spectacularly green. A truly northwest spring hike! The calypso orchid, bridal veil fern, morel mushroom, and trillium were all sights I discovered while wandering very slowly with my camera. I'm sure they have been there before but this time I really slowed down enough to "see" them. Such sweet small pleasures. Steffany

Lupine in bloom finally

We have lupine all over our gravel driveway; we planted some but most have come up on their own; they have finally come into bloom and the place looks pretty lovely. Wild roses grow behind them and the combination makes a lovely fragrance. We are finally enjoying spring. Although mostly it is still cool and pretty rainy. The flowers don't seem to mind. The veggie garden is mostly planted; the slugs have been having a feast. Finally the peas and beans are up beyond their reach (i hope). We had to make a scarecrow because the birds (mostly bluejays) were pulling up and eating the poor little pea plants. Her name is "Breathe in the Garden."

Spring visit to the Methow Valley

Lin had two days off and we went over to the East side this week. We camped at Falls Creek Campground with gushing creeks and a stupendous waterfall. Yesterday we hiked three miles around Paterson Mtn. The wildflowers were fantastic! I didn't even mind the elevation gain since we meandered, took pictures and smelled the intoxicating fragrances. What a beautiful little spring getaway. The cascades on Hwy 20 are pretty fantastic too. In places they splash the road.

Lin and Erin did the Bayview Women's Run recently. It was Erin's first run (and she placed second in her age bracket). It was VERY warm and Lin said she would prefer not to run in that kind of heat ever again. Afterwards we had a lovely breakfast at The Rhodie Cafe with other women from the upper Skagit.

Lin had her head shaved recently in support of our good friend Ruth who is fighting breast cancer with chemo and losing her hair. Lin likes how it feels and I don't like how she looks. But it is growing fast and Ruth is fighting hard!

Spring Reflections in Yosemite

Spring in Yosemite

We just returned from SUNNY California, where we took a short trip to Yosemite. The waterfalls were gushing! Such an amazing sight. We had visited late last fall (December) and that's Lin above on the right in a picture from that trip with a similar view behind her (without water).

It was not nearly as quiet this time; many people were there to see the spring water falls, after several winters of low snowfall.

Back home in Washington I am beginning to slowly plant the garden but it is still very cool, and not nearly as sunny.

Stef