The Skagit Valley just photos.

 

Connecting and re- connecting in a favorite town not far from home.

Was noticing that people seem to be relaxed this time of year and even though it’s holidays they appear to have a little time to connect. Had some nice chats, enjoyed seeing familiar faces. Pizza was good. Wish I’d brought some home. 

I’ll have to go back and take some indoor photos.   

Spent quite some time making new friends and renewing old ones. It’s a favorite part of my watery world. 

Maybe snow will be next. It’s in the mountains and mountain passes. It wouldn’t be a good year without going to the snow a few or more times. And, it’s always bright up above the monotony of the gray cloud cover that can become dismal day after day. 

Up at the pass skiers and snowboarders brighten the landscape with colorful hats, scarves and jackets set against the brilliant white snow, it’s really a sight for sore eyes  

The river otter caught a fish! It literally seemed to fly up onto the pier and I could hear it’s crunching bites. I feel sorry for the fish!!!

Swans are in the valleys pastures and it’s fun watching them land. Hearing them honk! 

Etc great fun. I will not post any because I only have videos. But they’re in and always nice to pull over and enjoy the swan show. 

On the river a kingfisher stood waiting for its meal to come along. It chatted too back and forth with another up the river a ways. 

Finally it got breakfast and after eating found another spot nearby to wait for dessert I suppose. Or seconds! 

Rose hips 

The Valley today.

Swans in many pastures too. 

Only got video though. Honk honk. 
 

Skagit Valley Daffodils are Blooming!

Drove up to see the daffodils yesterday in the Skagit Valley. There are numerous fields, clad in yellow!! Snow Goose is open. And swans and snow geese are still in abundance there.
So grateful for beauty of spring.

Been a berryin and shopping veggies in the country. LaConner, Swanson Brothers Produce.

 Menu Today:

Boiled red potatoes dipped in a sauce of half mayo and half stone ground mustard
Grilled fresh salmon with dill tarter sauce
Swiss Chard sauteed in Butter and garlic

I have enough for neighbors now, too.

And I'm wondering what to do with the beets. I used to get them for my neighbors at my old neighborhood.

 Do you eat beet greens? These are beautiful.

Picking late Chester (black) berries in LaConner tonight.

I haven't picked in a few years and I've missed it. The berries are now 2.00 a lb. I used to pay 1.00 lb.

The berries open in July with Catata berries, a sweet blackberry,  Waldo blackberries, boysenberries, raspberries of course, and strawberries...The blackberries are usually over 1.5 inches long each. And the vines are thornless. It's like picking jewels from a vine.

Swanson Brothers Farm also sells; chard, beets, kale, potatoes (of several varieties) including yukon gold, russets, and reds. Also carrots, onions, squash; zucchini and a few yellow varieties, cucumbers, both eating and pickling types, green and yellow beans, peas, and apples. One year one of the brothers gave me free rhubarb.

The LaConner turkey's hatched some new 'turklings'. Mom was cute helping her chicks cross the road.

On the way home a beautiful sun set and a full moon rose. Another lovely day.

Tomorrow blueberries in Snohomish.

Turkey's in LaConner

I've seen many wild turkey's lately. These were up in LaConner. I see them everytime I'm up there staying at The Planter Hotel across from the bakery in town. They arrive at the bakery early mornings as if waiting for some free stuff.. I think there are 9 of them now. Somewhere I have video of them too, So funny..

I think that with prices going up, they could become endangered nearer Thanksgiving..tho...

I haven't been blogging very much lately, sorry, I will try to get back here soon, and visit your blogs. I miss everyone..take good care.

Yesterday's Destination and home again... We have Sun!

Red Barn at LaConner

Mt Baker

(white snow capped volcano)

Lupins and poppy, with iris from my garden

This is my instant hanging basket.

It dies in winter; every spring, just add water..viola...instant hanging basket abloom!

 The fern, one of Washington State's large ferns gets larger every year.

I think it might win the competition with the ground cover!

  The moss is from the wilderness where I hike.

Monday's peony harvest, 2 varieties and snowball bush. 

This vase is an ancient vase from  Crete or someplace like that. 

It has no spout, and the handle is crude.

 I love the way it's marked like a melon. 

Perfect for the shape!

Another peony shot, home sweet home

(always nice to get a glimpse inside another's home, isn'it?)

The cow photo was taken in New Mexico at Lake Conscous one summer. 

She was lost and 'hiding' behind the salt cedar in the water.

I was staying on a house boat with my cousin and his family: wife,  three great kids. 

There were many house boats on this lake, large sprawling ones, each had a fishing hole in the floor to fish through. I had received a tour from a woman there and told the exotic history of the  hey days of the boat houses (parties, and families, neighbors, whoopla). I was going to write a story. 

I was entranced by the vision of it, and armed with photos, but they vanished from iphoto with all my photos one day.

Anyway, I am trying to see if I have a cd back up any where or blog references to share with Margy up on her house boat in the sunshine coast. 

( Powell River Books Blog)

Digging digging digging..

soooo many ways to garden!

This is a glimpse of Mt. Baker, one of our local Volcanoes.

I have hiked this mountain many times,  with many friends over the years. 

Actually had a blind hike once to go here, and that was an eventful story for sure..

Use your wildest imagination!

 I've backpacked into Chain Lakes,  (and other destinations) and camped, 

hopping from lake to lake like a dragonfly. 

I hope to revisit  again soon.

Ahh to climb out of a tent early in a morn, and reach for the espresso pot...

 Mt Shuksan is right up there by Mt Baker, (seen in the sidebar of my blog), which will take you to another blog with more photos if you like seeing what  

NW Washington looks like.

( got to get these weak knees in shape)

click photos to enlarge...

Mukilteo Ferry from The Light House

Ferry Dock

Sunset from My House, Ferry Dock can't be seen in this light..

Ferry Dock

Even in this overcast shot, you can see swatches of blue sky coming through if you look real hard. We do have blue sky above the gloom, and lately the sun has been shining.

Yesterday I drove to LaConner and took a few photos, ( Snow Goose Produce was out of my favorite ice cream, I couldn't believe it, this has never happened before! Swanson Brothers Produce was not open yet, I noticed their apples are small knots yet budding into fruit) but my peonies here are blooming up a storm, wow!
Sometimes one photo a day seems like it is just not possible! lol Know what I mean?

I'm chuckling, I got some photos of foxtail lily in LaConner, I admit I was drawn up there by Small City Scenes Blog up in Stanwood..>>>click on my map at right,  then click Everett or Clinton, and you'll see Stanwood,  LaConner and other nearby small towns I frequent.

Looks like this..

Just hangin out waiting for the local bakery to open

Turkeys at Bakery..6 AM



LaConner, destination, 30 minutes away (NW of Mukilteo)
I enjoy looking for these guys on every trip to Laconner.
One day I stayed at the Planters Hotel, and across the street from the hotel and there they were waiting on the sidewalk for the bakery to open at 6 AM. I managed to get some video on them later in the upper neighborhood where they hang out most of the time, thought you might enjoy some gooblin today..
Rain again today,, chilly air, my garden, still waiting for the sun to shine after being planted yesterday.
For location, see Mt Vernon on map at left, click to expand..

oops I posted this about a few minutes too early for the day..