Celebrate Summer~~~~~~~~July 1st Theme Day for CDP

 Celebrate Summer by motor boat

 Or Sailboat

 Build a hide-a-way with drift wood--can you find the hands

 Running on the beach

 The best beach---ever!

 Cruisin' the dream

That's all folks----so enjoy the Summer however you want or imagine.
All these images are from Whidbey Island not too far from us.

Linked to CDP~~HERE

Eastern Washington Church~~~~~~~~~~~~~InSPIREd Sunday

Catholic Church in Eastern Wa.

St. Joseph's.

I am linking this to inSPIREd Sunday 
ENJOY! 

Dennis Twopaws

 Dennis Twopaw is a very unique cat.  He loves being around people.

 When my daughter walks in the woods (we live on a tree farm) he tags along with the dogs too

 He has 7 toes on his front feet and uses them too.

Whenever Bob is out working he is right there to help out.  Bob is fencing and D hands him tools---Ready for a hammer?

I am linking this with Saturday Critters with Eileen Here 

And Camera Critters Here

Good Fences

These neat fences on the Ranch are made from rail road tracks and livestock wire.  Really good sturdy fences and gates too.

 Whitey on the wood fence saying 
Welcome to the Ranch.

She also says Nice Sunset too.

Linking to Good Fences HERE

And Sky Watch HERE 

Meadowbrook Farm~~~~~~~Signs, Signs Too

Meadowbrook Farm is 460 acres of scenic and historic public open space on the Snoqualmie Valley floor, located within the cities of Snoqualmie and North Bend. By oral tradition the birthplace of the Snoqualmie Tribe, "Hyas Kloshe Ilahee" (the Great Good Land) was maintained for thousands of years by the Snoqualmies as a hunting and food gathering prairie.

To read a history of the area go HERE

To see more Signs click HERE 

Northern Shoveler~~~~~~~~~~~WBW~~~~~~~~

Addendum to yesterdays post:
I forgot to add that while watching the Rodeo two fighter jets (they looked like Growlers from NAS Whidbey) swooped low over the arena saluting the memory of the brave souls lost in the tragic Oso Slide.  It was so awesome that we all forgot to get a shot---I suppose someone did. They came in so low that the "Sound of Freedom"  was earth shattering. Also on Sunday was a memorial for Brandy Ward a lady I knew lost in the slide.

 And now on to Wild Bird Wednesday.

Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) they are diggers and by swishing their oversize beak through the mud and water they filter feed and trap food particles.   They use their bill like a sieve.  This is a male.  The female is browner and does not have the green head.

Paddle on over to Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday :  HERE   and enjoy!

A Perfect Summer Day~~~~~~~~~~~Oso Memorial

Saturday was the first day of summer and we planned an outing.
So many things happening:
Kylee was riding in the Darrington Rodeo (40 miles from home) and to get there we drove on the newly opened Hwy 530 between Arlington and Darrington.  Closed because of the tragic Oso Slide since March.

 The new road.  Just imagine the area thick with trees and houses and cabins tucked in among them and a river flowing through.

 Gone--buried forever

 The slide area is not going away---stark!

 The rodeo grounds  The rodeo was also a Memorial to all that was lost in the Oso slide.

 Crowning the new Rodeo Queen and Junior Princess

 This young lady and child are riding a horse and leading another in memory of the Father and Grandfather lost in the slide.

 Canadians were one of the first that said "We will be there we want to help"  Thank all who did!

 Kylee and Macaronie

 K&M

 K&M

 The ride home along the Sauk River with Mt. Baker in the background

OSO STRONG----and that they are

A Visitor

This little Douglas Squirrel has been visiting us---well mostly curious about the bird feeders and my new potting bench.

 Well Hello!

 Whatcha doing?

 I was at my potting bench when he peeked in so curious.  I was right there--no zoom--almost nose to nose.

 Douglas Squirrels (Tamiasciurus douglasii) are small about 13in long and 4-5 in tall.  Very sweet and affable.  Native to the West coast from Western British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and Northern California--on the coast and Coniferous Forests.

 They are also called a Chickaree or a Pine Squirrel

 You'd better go home or I will pot you up.

I am linking up with Eileen at Saturday's critters HERE

And Country Critters HERE

Kwel Hoy' "We Draw the line"

Wednesday My friend Deena from South Dakota and I took a little road trip up to the Lummi Nation Reservation

The sky image is looking across Lummi Bay to Lummi Island.  There is a ferry that can take one across the bay to the island.
It was great watching the canoes also.

.  They were having a 'coal protest' march along with 'Let's Protect Mother earth walk'.
Now it is not only the Lummi’s sacred site at Cherry Point that needs hope and protection, but also tribal lands and communities across the nation, from the Powder River Basin to the coast. If built, the Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point would be the largest coal export facility in North America. Coal from the mines in the Powder River Basin would be sent by rail through Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, along the Columbia River Gorge, and up the coast of the Puget Sound. Bulk cargo carriers would ship the coal through the Salish Sea to China.



I am linking this to Sky Watch HERE

Signs, Signs and Good Fences

 This sign is on the fence of a neighboring acreage.  I think the fellow is a logger.

 He has a very nice rustic type fence.

 This is a fairly new part.

I like the look at this angle.

I am linking this to Signs,signs HERE 

And Good Fences HERE 

ENJOY!!

FeedingTime

A couple of babies learning how to feed themselves.  Evening Grosbeak Mom and Pop stick close to their young one while he tries to figure out how to feed himself.  He makes a mess but he does prevail.

 Mama Hairy Woodpecker stuffing suet into Juniors gullet--he tries to feed himself but then he cries for his Mama.

Swing on over to Stewart's place HERE  for Wild Bird Wednesday and enjoy.

Pop of Red~~~~~~Ruby Tuesday

 Sunday was a beautiful day so all the bikers were all out enjoying the open highway.  Always stopping at The Pub in Conway. 

The Fire Department also in Conway.  Neat small town.  It's near where we live too.

I am linking this to Ruby Tuesday too HERE

Mosaic Monday~~~~Early Summer Flowers

Top left is a frilly begonia-next clockwise is our Sage then Petunias Dutch Iris and my black Petunias (Black Magic)

Linking this to Little Red House Mosaic Monday HERE