Parched

We've been gone. Over the mountains and far away to visit our sons and their families. Of course the best part of this is seeing our grandchildren there. It was very hot in eastern Washington and we were re-routed on our 6 hour drive there by the complete closing down of the freeway near the Columbia River because there was a raging wild fire burning on both sides of the freeway near Vantage, WA. We saw the charred remains of many fires alongside the freeways on both sides of the mountains and watched yet again fire-fighting being waged on another very big wild fire burning near our home there. ( Just over the mountain ridge.) All is well.

We returned home to parched gardens. A parched lawn, a parched orchard, and a parched pond. In the picture above you can see our small dinghy not floating in the pond. If it were actually in the pond it would be stuck in mud. Our pond is naturally filled with water by underground springs and rain. This is only the second time in all the years we've lived here the water level has been so low, and it is much lower today than when this picture was taken a few days ago.

There is a very big plus for us with the water drying up in the pond. Within the next few days we should be able to walk on the pond bottom without sinking into mud and finally clear out the fallen branches, logs, and debris the winter and early spring storms left behind. We'll also be able to walk across the pond bottom to the island and haul the storm-fall off without needing the dinghy .

The work crew ( husband & 2 grandsons ) cut up and stacked a lot of storm-fall on the island in Cedar Pond needing to be hauled to the fire pit to be burned later on this autumn when the burn bans are lifted. I think we'll make a big deal of this and have s'mores and hot coco by the camp fire. After a spring and summer of record breaking high temps and little rainfall I am looking forward to pouring rains , wearing jackets because I NEED them , mud boots , and a pond full to overflowing.

Fairies Need Houses Too !

 I had the blessing of two granddaughters spending a few days with me while my husband took their two brothers over the mountains for a visit with cousins and some fishing. These granddaughters love to think about where the best places for fairies might be and they love even more creating little houses for fairies. Here they are rowing our little boat around Cedar Pond, I know they love to tie the boat up at the little island and explore. Maybe there are fairies there.

 Look at what she made for the fairies from a cardboard box, twigs and leaves, and bits & pieces from my craft room !

 I think a fairy is already checking out this little house in the tree.

 This granddaughter not only made a pretty pink house, but she made lawn furniture to go with it,

 and carefully arranged it for the fairies.

 Looks like a fairy is interested in this house too. I hope the fairies move in.

"A child's world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder and excitement. It is our misfortune that for most of us that clear-eyed vision , that true instinct for what is beautiful and awe-inspiring , is dimmed and lost even before we reach adulthood. " Rachel Carson

Welcome Spring!

~My new favorite work shoes! My favorite color too. They are dirty because they are WORK shoes. And easy to kick off when going indoors with armloads of stuff, like firewood, baskets of eggs, and groceries. I saw an episode of "What Not To Wear" where Clinton and Stacy were not too kind about a lady who wears these cheap clogs all the time, but I have got to tell you...they are comfortable, durable, and if your life involves a lot of animal and gardening type activities, these and rubber boots are the best foot wear ever!So, once in a while I actually wear these while shopping for groceries....but please do not tell Clinton and Stacy. I don't want these tossed out.I wore them all day today. ~Today was truly the kind of spring day poems and songs are written about! Our beloved Son (in-law) came over to fill his truck with goat manure for the family gardens and he brought 2 of our granddaughters along. Oh joy! They asked Grandpa for a boat ride around our island and he obliged...happily. Yes, the boat needs a scrubbing,and I will attend to it soon. But look at the two sisters smiling in the back seat of the boat. The boat ride around our little island was too short a trip for them and they would have loved Grandpa to spend a lot more time in the boat on the pond...maybe another day!Yes, for sure another day. ~After the granddaughters and their father left, Hubby and I gardened. I cleared more storm downfalls out of our woods for burning, and later, thoroughly exhausted- we sat together on the porch in our rockers and enjoyed watching the hummingbirds at their feeders and the sheep all peacefully sunning themselves in our surprisingly warm and sunny day! Thank-you Lord for your blessings abundant!