Category Archives: Nature

How Can I Share…

what an incredible experience this was with only photographs…

 

Bear with me because this post is going to have lots of photos! We found out that Snow Geese like to congregate at Snowgoose Produce in Conway, Washington. We were in La Conner and Conway was on our way back home. We decided to try to find this spot. As we drove on Fir Island Road I spotted a sea of white to our right. Dear turned down the country lane and stopped in front of these Snow Geese grazing in this field.

 

I watched them hoping maybe some would get tired of sitting and would fly. I had been told it’s amazing to see large groups of them in flight.

 

A few of them got excited and started to fly…

 

Then I heard a loud indistinct noise coming from the distance. I looked to my right and exclaimed “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, Dear here they come, they’re coming” He jumped out of the car to stand with me as we observed this amazing sight!

 

Geese that at first appeared like locusts were swarming to this little spot where we were standing.

 

We started to hear the distinct honking fill the air. Very loud coming from the thousands of birds approaching.

 

Our excitement mounted as they got closer and closer.

 

 

 

 

They were flying over our heads and I was praising the Lord for this special birthday gift to me! Thank you Lord!

 

I wish I could share the audio of what this sounded like. It was so much more amazing in person.

 

This truly was one of the coolest outdoor experiences I’ve had!

 

Snow geese are harbingers of the changing seasons. They fly south for the winter in huge, honking flocks that may appear as a “U” formation or simply as a large “snowstorm” of white birds. They spend the colder seasons in southern coastal marshes, bays, wet grasslands, and fields. Their diet is entirely vegetarian, consisting of grasses and grains, grazed from damp soils or even shallow water

You can hear what we heard here http://vimeo.com/3856735

I’ll be linking up with Outdoor Wednesday. So visit Susan at A Southern Daydreamer on Wednesday to join in…

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

The Night Before…

the Blue Moon I took these shots. I wanted to be able to photograph the Blue Moon event on the 31st but we were clouded over and rainy all night long…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today is my last full day in Washington State. We fly back to Southern California tomorrow. Back to reality! I’m putting Christmas back up into the attic and doing a little dusting and washing some linens. Then I get to decide what to pack to take back to the condo. Katie’s car is all fixed from her accident. Dear is one handy guy. He pounded out, replaced the bumper and the tail light and primed and painted and it looks like new! Yesterday and today we’ve gotten some good gusts of wind and lots of rain. We just might have to take the patio cover off today.

So I think I’ve decided I’ll be calling 2010…twenty ten. How about you?  My brother has been writing it MMX.

That’s it for my Saturday ramblings….enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Sky Watch ~

 

Clear skies again in Southern California without a cloud anywhere to be seen. This was taken on Wednesday of this week at the Gardens of the World in Thousand Oaks, California. If you scroll down past this post you’ll see a photo tour of these lovely grounds.

For more Sky Watch photos head over to Wiggers World.

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!

Gardens of The World in Thousand Oaks, California ~

On Tuesday morning I stopped by Gardens of the World in Thousand Oaks, California. The Gardens of the World are privately owned and operated by the Hogan Family Foundation. There’s a Japanese Garden, French Garden, English Perennial & Rose Garden, and Italian Garden.

 

I walked in and was pleasantly surprised at what I saw. First of all I was treated to Wisteria growing on their entry gates! I had a quick stroll through the free garden. On Wednesday I returned to the Garden with Willow after we had Tea together at a great new Tea Room in Thousand Oaks (post to follow soon) and it is really hard to choose what photos to show from this wonderful place.

 

After the Wisteria we were treated to these pink beauties.

 

The walkways through the different themed sections of the garden were inviting.

 

The water features were dramatic.

 

This was the majestic bamboo in the Japanese Garden Section.

 

You walked through a Olive tree lined path to the Mission courtyard with the outer walls filled with Bougainvillea

 

The Mission Courtyard is an authentic Mission Courtyard. This courtyard features murals of the 21 remaining missions painted by local artists.

This is an example of one of the murals.

The fragrance in this courtyard was amazing from the 4 orange trees whose blossoms were in full bloom. Oh so lovely.

 

The rose garden was blooming and I got some close-ups

 

These were just a few of the beauties.

 

 

 

 

There were other beauties besides roses.

It was well worth the trip here and I think we probably picked the best time of the year to visit.

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.
e. e. cummings

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!

April Flowers

Praise God from whom all blessings flow, I woke up this morning and my spasms are gone. All I have now is a stiff, weak back that I will carefully and slowly exercise back. Taking a step at a time. Thank you so much for all your prayers for me. Your phone calls and your emails were an encouragement, too. Have a wonderful day!

Psalm 30:2 “O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you have healed me.”

 

April is a rainbow month,
Of sudden springtime showers.
Bright with golden daffodils
and lots of pretty flowers.

Sycamore Hike ~ Walking Club Totals

 

When we got to the Sycamore Canyon Campground Parking at 7:15 the gate was still locked. Hmmm see the sign that says gate open 7am – 10pm? The attendant finally arrived at 7:30 to open the gate…

 

We stayed on the main trail today and saw a few joggers and several groups of cyclists.

 

The trees are really interesting in this canyon.

 

The shrubs were blooming nicely. It was gloomy with a thick high marine layer.

 

These purple wildflowers deserved a photograph.

 

Spring is a great time to do this hike because of all the pretty blooms.

 

We even happened on some California Poppies.

 

Some of our old and new favorites. The wild fennel is an old favorite of ours. We love using fennel in cooking and the smell when we rub it between our hands is licorice wonderful. The coreopsis is such a interesting plant the way it grows on that stalk. In the Spring it’s all over the hillsides. The one downside to our hike today were the mosquitos! They were out in droves. Anyone know of an Avon distributor so I can order some Skin-so-soft?

 

This looks like a parrot to me.

 

At the end of the hike we strolled over to see the high surf.

My walking total steps for the week averaged out to 10,152.

I’m going to keep on walking. How about you?

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!

Sky Watch

 

You can glimpse the clouds and the Puget Sound through my friends trellis in her garden. This was taken on Easter Day in Edmonds, Washington.

For more Sky Watch Photos head across the pond to Wiggers World.

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!

Who Am I ~ Casting Crowns

 

Casting Crowns – Who Am I Lyrics

Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wondering heart.

Not because of who I am.
But because of what you’ve done.
Not because of what I’ve done.
But because of who you are.

Chorus:
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I’m calling,
Lord you catch me when I’m falling,
And you told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.

Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again
Who am I?
That the voice that calm the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.

Not because of who I am.
But because what of youve done.
Not because of what I’ve done.
But because of who you are.

Chorus:

Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
‘Cuz I am yours.
I am yours.