Lyman Landmark~~~~~~~CDP Theme Day~~~Nov. 1st

The Minkler Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The Mansion is located approximately one-half mile from the North Cascades Scenic Highway in the Town of Lyman, Skagit County, Washington State.  The Mansion is within view of the Skagit River, on a segment of the Skagit listed under the U.S. Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.  Even though the area is on the Skagit River the Minkler Mansion has never been flooded in it's 120 year existence.
Birdsey Minkler built this home for his large and still growing family.  He and his wife had 8 children.

The population of Lyman today is around 450 persons.  
The Mansion is now Lyman City Hall and certainly a Landmark in the area

Early Lyman

I am linking this to City Daily Photo Theme Day HERE

I do not know why all of a sudden I have to use '
word Verification.  I tried to take it away and it won't go. 

All Souls Day~~~~~~~~~~~Hallowe'en

Don't be scared little one~~~~~~~~~~
whoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!

Good Fences are like Good Fellas!

I spent the last two weeks taking fence pictures----between raindrops that is.  I came upon this little beauty last week just down the road from the house.    I like the wood rail fence and the gorgeous tree.

I am linking to Run*A*Round Ranch and Good Fences HERE

What??

I am uninspired today.  We have had so much rain it is just gloomy around here.  We did manage to get 7 big boxes of apples picked between showers the other day.  And there are more out there.   Apples for the taking---anyone? 
Everything is still green out and the trees are still showing great color except where the rain and wind have taken care of the leaves.
It's so nasty out the dog won't even go out for his morning run and other duties.
So last night I made Salmon Chowder.  Fresh Salmon and good to boot. 

 Just plain WET!

YUM!

Scenes from the Ranch

While I was off from the computer for awhile we were visiting my daughter and husband and then house sitting while they went to Idaho.

 View from the kitchen window

 The Ash trees are gorgeous

 Some of the cows and the great scenery

 This sign always cracks me up.  I know it is because this neighboring  ranch house and buildings are close to the curve but look at the surrounding area.

Nice sky and moon.  We have been home several days now and we have no sky----just gray and lots of rain.

Reflections in Silver Lake

On the way to Mt. Baker

 Linking to Weekend Reflections HERE...........ENJOY!

It was a Dark and Stormy night...........

.....well actually it was day.

We am home from our ramblings.  We house-sat for my daughter at the Ranch and had a great time.

We came home to rainy weather and more rainy weathe and more---well you get the picture.

Took a ride across the Valley this afternoon and was impressed by this great sky.

 This farmer is cutting a ditch across a field so the water has somewhere to go and not flood the field.

 Dramatic sky huh!

 I am linking this to Sky Watch HERE

gone!

Just to let anyone who cares know~~~~~~~We are having company and then will be gone next week so I will not be on the computer.....much!   I may be peeking in but may not be commenting.
Thanks
MB

SunDogs for Sky Watch

Sun dogs are a member of a large family of halos, created by light interacting with ice crystals in the atmosphere. Sun dogs typically appear as two subtly-colored patches of light to the left and right of the sun, approximately 22° distant and at the same elevation above the horizon as the sun. They can be seen anywhere in the world during any season, but they are not always obvious or bright. Sun dogs are best seen and are most conspicuous when the sun is low.

We went for a ride down in the Valley (Skagit Valley) where we live and this is one of the neat things we saw.  It seemed better in real life but this is what ya get.  The clouds were awesome too.
By the way today is the first day we saw the return of the Snow Geese.   They winter in our Valley.

I am linking to Sky Watch  Here

FENCES

Two difference fences around  a Christmas tree farm.

 Nice white fence around the middle size and larger trees

Alan Acres Tree Farm in Stanwood

 And here are babies behind a wire fence with maybe their Mama's in the background.

I am linking this to Good Fences HERE

Great Blue Heron~~~~~~~~~~~Wild bird Wednesday

Blue Herons (Ardea herodias)  are common to this area all year long and they are everywhere.  I have even seen one along side the freeway looking for a meal in the ditches.

 Looking for lunch in a water pool while the tide was out at Double Bluff on Whidbey Island

 It wasn't until I put the pics on the computer that I noticed a Killdeer on the pools edge.

 Striking gold  well something yummy I'll wager.

Time to go home these humans are bugging me

Maybe he;s off to visit Stewart and Wild Bird Wednesday Here

It's a twofer

 One barn for 'Barn Collective by Rose street reflections HERE

And another one for Rubbish by Roan HERE

The first barn looks like it 'could' still be in use---it does have a nice fence but the second one is a true goner.  They are both in Stanwood in the same area.
ENJOY!

Mural on the Rez~~~~~~~~Mural Monday

 Mural on a fence at the Tulalip Nations Reservation

Linking to Monday Murals Here

Apples, Apples, Apples

 We have lots of apples here--15 trees.  Akane, Gravenstein, Jonagold, Spartan and Liberty.

 The Akane and Gravenstein have already been picked and frozen for pie filling and of course given away and eaten.    The otheres are ready to pick.  We had some rain and now more warm weather and sunshine and that plumps up the apples and turns them red.  Yummy

We are thinking of renting an apple press and making apple juice or even some hard cider.

Thursday Morning Sky~~~~~~~~~~Sky Watch

 The sun is just starting to come up

 Little bit more

 Almost

 Here it comes

I see the sun.  All the clouds disappeared and we had a nice sun shiny day.

I am linking to Sky Watch HERE

Chewed Fences but still "Good Fences"

 Horses can do damage to fences and we just wire them up--But---
We did finally fix them up.  

Linking to Good Fences HERE