OUTSIDE MY WINDOW

This is what it looks like outside my window today. 

See that?  Yes, that would be SUNSHINE folks.  We have had only six days of sun since November 1st.

That haze you see is the fog finally lifting. 

This is taken out my front door.  See that at the bottom of the picture?  That would be shade because the sun is actually shining and casting shadows.

It doesn't take much for me to be amused. 

Sunshine and Shade will do it.

For those of you experiencing lots of winter weather and snow, I feel for you. 

{Mingled with a little jealousy}



Here is a picture taken about 2 weeks ago. This is about the extent of snow we have seen this year.

It started snowing about 5:00 p.m. and was gone by morning.  Boo Hoo!

Not enough
 to even cover the grass...grrrrr

Wet Spring Makes For Beautiful Gardens

Boy have we had a wet spring, especially the month of May. If there is any bright spot in it all it is that the garden beds are doing wonderfully.

My hosta bed is doing well.

A pretty pink dianthus.
I love the chartreuse color of the blossoms on this Lady's Mantle.

The deep purple of this iris stands out against the green foilage from the other plants


I am not sure what this is called but it has the prettiest magenta flowers on it.




Below is a perennial geranium. It is so huge that it takes over this portion of the flower bed.
My photographic skills lack the ability to really show how beautiful the flowers are on this bush.
I am joining the linky part at A Southern Daydream for Outdoor Wednesday

A Sailor's Delight

Have your ever heard the saying:

RED SKY AT NIGHT,

A SAILOR'S DELIGHT

RED SKY AT MORNING

SAILORS TAKE WARNING?

This is what the sky looked like at 9 pm. at my house last night. Natures art, you just can't beat it.


Amazing

SPRING TIME SIMPLE PLEASURE

I couldn't resist, the sun is shinning, the breeze is blowing gently, the temperature is 62 degrees outside. Don't you just love to see clothes hung on a line gently fluttering in the breeze...oh yes, such a simple pleasure. And then when you put the sheets back on the bed and you crawl into bed, HEAVENLY. The flower beds are beckoning me, the day lilies are aggressively putting forth their leaves and the weeds are awakening too. I better get a jump on them.
The crocuses are welcoming the warmer weather.
These little princesses seem to be dancing in the nice warm weather.
I hope that if spring hasn't arrived where you live that you can somehow find hope in the pictures I have posted.
Have a wonderful day, I know I am.

GLOBAL WARMING...WHERE?????????????

I hear that there is a conference on global warming going on. I would personally like to invite all of the world leaders to my home this morning for my input on this matter. The temperature on the left is all the heat my heaters inside could muster up while the "warming" temperature is on the right. What do you think??? By the way, I live in western Washington where our temperatures are usaully a little more mild during the winter so these temps are not very well tolerated, I feel it in my bones.

PHEWEEEEEE! IT'S HOT

It is just plain blisterin' outside. The temperature doesn't lie. The temperature on the right is the temperature in my house (80 degrees F.) as of 5:00 p.m. and the temperature on the left is the outside temperature. Yes, don't rub your eyes, it is 111 degrees F. outside. (that is the temp in the shade by the way). Now I know you folks in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas etc. are probably not so shocked but here in the Pacific Northwest we just don't get that hot that often.

January 2009 Flooding

This was taken at the south end of Caslte Rock, just south of the Rock.

This is a shot of the Caslte Rock fairgrounds. The river is off in the distance past the little blue building. The water you see in the forefront is supposed to be a road.




This is taken from Four Corners intersection on West Side Highway, looking north. In the distance you can see a county dump truck (double click on picture for a closer view) that was washed over into the ditch. These dump truck are not small by any means so you can see how dangerous water over roadway can be.

Pictures taken around Castle Rock

This picture is take at the north end of Caslte Rock looking across the river to where we used to live. We went and checked on some old neighbors and they are still ok but were told to evacuate last night about midnight. They chose to stay all night but were not flooded this time.

Wet, Wet, Wet!

Oh my goodness, we here in Washington are about to drown. The rivers, streams, creeks, ruts, mud puddles etc. are so full and overflowing right now. Right here in my hometown we have had over 6 inches of rain since last night. Our ground is so saturated with water that you need rubber boots to walk across it. I know there is at least 4-5 inches of water standing under our house. Thankfully it isn't up into the wood.
We had a similar storm about 13 years ago here when we lived in an area that was flooded. Some of the homes around us actually got water in them but luckily our home was spared with water only up to the foundation. We could actually hear it lapping under the house. Our neighbor, just 20 feet to the north of us, had 14" of water in her house. Let me tell you I was bound and determined not to have to live through that again. Within 4 years we sold out (long enough for people to forget how bad the flooding was) and moved up on a hill. I must say that I have not regretted one moment making that move. My husband has to agree with me now but he sure wasn't too keen on moving anywhere to begin with. He is sleeping peacefully right now even though it is pouring cats and dogs out side and I will soon join him and have some sweet peaceful dreams myself. I do feel bad for people who are having to deal with the flooding of their homes because I know the stress it causes (let alone taking years off your life).

Winter Time

Winter hit here in our neck of the woods this morning. Schools were closed for the day and Matthew and Spencer came over to play. We got out the sled that Great Aunt Sharon gave us and they have had a wonderful time playing on it.

Wintry conditions are being called for for at least another 4-5 days. I kind of hope it lasts at least until Christmas. A white Christmas would be a real treat, it makes it so much more authentic especially when you get festive Christmas cards with just that perfect Christmas scene on them.