March 1st--CDP Theme day topic "AGING"

City Daily Photo Theme day for the first of March is Aging.
These are pictures of my Mother who aged so gracefully. A beautiful young lady and a beautiful and gracious Woman.

 As a beautiful 8 year old

 As a saucy 16 year old

 As a charming 95--yes--95year old.  She lived life on her own terms.
I miss her!

To see more go to Theme Day HERE

Subtle Sky~~~~~~~~~Sky Watch

So night before last we decided to go down to Fir Island in the Valley.  Fir Island happened because when the Skagit River split to become the North fork and the South fork of the Skagit and then drained out to Skagit Bay .  Lots of water and where the two forks  drain into the bay you have mud flats or a tidal basin.  Marvelous area for all kinds of ducks etc.  And since we look mostly west there we hopefully will find a gorgeous sunset---or in this case--nice clouds.

 The tide was out showing more of the mud flats and not much water for reflection.  Skagit Bay is out then and it drains into Saratoga Passage and then into Puget Sound and the Salish Sea

 The long cloud looked like a fish backbone at first

 And in no time the clouds spread out

 A pretty sunset---no flaming red sky but just a calming subtle aura

And then turn to the right and see this beautiful mountain---Mt. Baker.

Linking to SKY WATCH HERE

Good Fences

 I had to take a friend to a hospital for some tests in Seattle.  Walking around town I saw this sweet fence

 And then this tiny house or cottage on Camano  Island.  Love the little fence.

Linking to Good Fences HERE

Eagles Again

This nest is really close to where we live--just around the corner  actually.  This is not the nest I pictured a week or so ago.  I have watched this nest for several years and recently remarked to Bob that I have watched this nest and have never seen any Eagles around.  I figured it was just an old abandoned nest when lo and behold as we passed it yesterday---'Look there!!!  I see a white head in the nest!!', I enthused.

 It's a Bald Eagle for sure

 I think there are two heads in there!

 I zoomed in and although it is a bit blurry---Two birds confirmed

Zoom on over to Stewart's place and see many more birds from all over the world for WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY HERE   and enjoy!

Little Red Rooster

I thought the girls were missing a Rooster around so I found this handsome guy

 Rudy Rooster decided to just stay out by the garden for now

 Those big ol' girls just scared him

 Now he is rock sitting---maybe we will call him Rocky the Rooster.

Linking to RUBY TUESDAY HERE

Sunday Stroll ~~~~~~~Blue Monday

 Nice bench at the Pub in Conway

 Eagle against a beautiful blue sky

 Primroses and Crocus starting to bloom

 Seed to plant

Patrons at the Pub in Conway

All taken at home and on a drive on Sunday

We have been having such beautiful Spring-like weather here in the West that I feel I have to apologize to those back east who haven't.     Sorry!
Linking to BLUE MONDAY HERE

Great Blue Heron~~~~~~~Saturday's Critters

Heron's are year-round residents here and they seem to be everywhere.  In the fields, near the water, even in the ditches beside the highways.
This guy was in a field right beside the road.

 When this guy first saw us he turned away

 But then decided 'oh well, I'll pose for them'.

 And so he did.   Bob took these 3 pictures.

 Later at Sunset we found this one out in the water.

Linking to SATURDAY'S CRITTERS HERE

Incredible Sky~~~~~~~Sky Watch

 Pretty intense!

Linking to SKY WATCH HERE

A Snowy Fence~~~~~~~~~~Good Fences

We don't get snow n this part of Washington.  In fact no snow so far this year but 3 years ago we got a ton of snow.

So we enjoy it and take pictures and act silly.

 In front of the house

 Going down the road

 In the pasture

 Fence along-side one pasture and my youngest grandson under the sled that flipped over.  We had fun!!!

Linking to RUN*A*ROUND RANCH HERE

Snow Geese for Wild Bird Wednesday

Each year, thousands of snow geese make the flight from Wrangel Island in Russia to winter feeding grounds along North America’s West Coast, where they stay mid-October through early May. Of about 100,000 birds that land in Western Washington, the majority congregate in Skagit Valley and Fir Island.
Last February, after hunting season and before the birds headed back to the Arctic, researchers collected nine geese at Fir Island and one near Stanwood and gave them satellite transmission tags. The tags remotely monitor each bird’s travel and log data to an online computer program.
Results have shown the birds complete their annual migration in a week or less, stopping off the coasts of Alaska and Siberia along the way.

 These Geese are good size birds and very noisy.  When you see them up close at first you think they are just standing there eating grass or whatever

 but they are constantly moving--all at once and all together--like on a conveyer belt.

 They are even noisier when they fly.  They flew right over us.

 And so beautiful.  They just soar  oh so close and then swish they are far away. 

 And they do not drop any bombs while they fly.  Not like Seagulls do.  True story!

LINKING TO  WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY HERE

Derelict boats

These boats are in the Samish River by the small town of Edison in the Skagit Valley.  They have been here just about forever.

Linking to RUBBISH tUESDAY

Blue Monday~~~~~~~~~Blue Skies

As seen on our drive through the Valley Yesterday and from home.

 This is from our yard---Red-wing Blackbirds in the Maple Tree

 And Crocus in the yard

 And the fully budded Saucer Magnolia---ready to burst

 A view of Mt. Baker from the top of the Valley

 We had to check out the Daffodil fields in the Valley---breaking color

 Fields of gold~~~~~soon

Linking to Smiling Sally Blue Monday~~HERE

The Eagles are back in the Eagle Tree

Now we can call the tree the Eagle Nest Tree.  New tree to watch.  This was last week.

 The bird all of a sudden flew off and all I got was blue sky but then

 He landed right here. 
we try to watch this tree at least twice a week .  Stay tuned!

Will you be mine???

Happy Valentine's Day to all.  
May good thing come your way
Not just tomorrow
but everyday!

Bingo is ready

 Linking to Eileen's blog theme SATURDAY'S CRITTERS

Last Years Moon

 These shots were taken in early  February of last year.  This year we are having mostly gray skies and no sun and no moon and stars---the moon popped out a few days ago and it was full but that was a rare occurrence.

The first pic was taken from the driveway looking east as the moon came up over and through the trees.
This picture of the pond was taken only 10 minutes later and by not zooming the sky looks much lighter.

Linking to SKY WATCH HERE

And no VDP  I don't need a tripod.