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 

A trip up to the valley, swans and plants.

Laconner. 

Thousands of swans in the fields. iPhone doesn’t capture too well. I do have video of swans landing though but can’t post them on daily photo.

No tree this year so using poinsettias instead.

I have tiny ones to plant in terrariums today. 

And a rare small escargot begonia.

 Usually they’re larger plants.  

Merry Christmas if you happen upon my blog. 

We need to remember the country’s  leaders are not our friends if they’re trying to separate us. That’s just a ploy to divide us so we fall to them. 

Meaning they take advantage of us. 

United we stand... divided, we fall! 

 

Mt Baker is steaming

Exciting to see Baker with two plumes steaming today. And what a nice
day to be out in the Skagit Valley. Snow fields, fog, swans, beauty.
I'd never seen Baker steam before. I wonder if she's up to something?

Swans at LaConner (Trumpeter Swans) Skagit Valley... And Mt Baker in view..

 Mt. Baker peaking out in this one below..

These will enlarge well..

The Skagit Valley of Washington State is one of the best wintering habitats to see Trumpeter Swans and Tundra Swans. They arrive from their summer breeding grounds in Alaska about October, and are gone by March. The map below shows some of the best areas for looking for swans in the area. Early in your outing, pay a visit to the Padilla Bay Interpretive Center in Bayview, which has wonderful exhibits and great programs. The best habitat for finding swans is: Fir Island, Northwest of Conway, where you may also see Snow Geese and more Tundras than Trumpeters, an area bound by Bayview, Edison and I-5, North of Highway 20, on Beaver Marsh and McLean Roads, West of Mt. Vernon.
Map here
more on swans in the Skagit Valley of Washington State, with day-old trumpeter swan cygnets

Shadow a swan here

TRUMPETER SWAN DIE -OFF - NOW IN 6th YEAR: Over the past 6 winters about 1,900 Trumpeter Swans have died from lead poisoning after swallowing lead shot while feeding in Whatcom County, Washington, and the adjacent Sumas Prairie area in British Columbia, Canada. To learn more about this crisis and how you can help,click here