SNOW!

On Christmas Eve we got some snow that didn't really last very long. However, a few days later we got MORE and then the temps dropped. So, this stuff is gonna stay for a bit longer. Which makes this Alaskan gal VERY happy! I took a couple of night photos after the snow stopped falling, Jon said they were not too bad, but am only sharing one. Then, I took some more pictures in the daytime before I let Jon have the camera. 

 Ice on my red rosebush near the house~

 It was around 4 pm, so I decided to turn on the Christmas lights and see how they would look in the mostly day time. It was also about this time I sent Jonathan out with my camera~

One of the lights on the fence behind the honeysuckle bush in the corner of the yard. It appears orange lights show up best during the later afternoon.

 Looking down the yard from the wishing well to the bridge/pond near the little house.

 Jon loves old metal and these always look good no matter what time of year they are photographed. I do need to straighten them up next spring since they are starting to fall over.

 This is on the right side of the garden near the alley. I had sent Jon out with a broom because this tree that is practically bent over with snow weight needed rescued. He also brushed off the satellite dish--not something I asked him to do! The tree in front is the peach tree, then the fallen tree (which I can't remember the name of right now) and the big bushy tree is our white lilac. There is a stake, that used to hold up the fallen tree, but it was felt the tree was strong enough to hold on by itself. Am pretty sure the stake will come back into use.

 Scooter looks a bit droopy under the snow! I guess dragonflies prefer sunshine.

At the edge of my 'private' garden spot is this hemlock. I wasn't sure it looked very healthy last summer, but it appears to have pulled up and eventually this will take the place of the locust tree nearby. Jon was standing near the bridge when he took this photo looking back up the yard to the wishing well~

After the Storm

The tree is more than first a seed, then a stem, then a living trunk, and then dead timber. The tree is a slow, enduring force straining to win the sky. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

We have two towering locust trees in our yard that we have never really done much maintenance on. Which is why we are often nervous about storms in this area. The first week of Dec we had hoarfrost and freezing fog, which took out part of the tree across the road. 

 The second week of December our world turned balmy with a strong warm wind. This weather took out part of one of our locust trees. You don't realise how HUGE they are til they are on the ground.

 The view from my kitchen window over the sink was a bit daunting as the giant limb swayed in the breeze about a dozen feet away. A bit like the Whomping Willow, but we didn't have Professor Sprout on hand.

 Steve, however, was able to tackle the job on Saturday. He pulled the erring branch down and cut it up for firewood. He said it is a very dense wood and is heavy.

Locust Life and Limbs

Exhalation of moss, mycelium, black mould; wafted savor of a thousand earthly growths, damp, clinging, redolent; aroma of mighty roots, of invisible spawn and seed—all the vast stirring of the earth’s desire. ~Virginia Garland

 As I looked outside at the locust in the yard, I realised how much beauty was still within it and decided to not just chronicle its demise, but capture it for later. The bark, the curling pieces of wood, and the mosses are a masterpiece of creation. I do admit, however, that some of these photos are better when seen from a different angle. However, blogspot does not always allow the blogger to tweak  photos to the right presentation. Alas, may you enjoy anyway!

For Every Season

October was a beautiful month at Green Gables, when the birches in the hollow turned as golden as sunshine and the maples behind the orchard were royal crimson and the wild cherry trees along the lane put on the loveliest shades of dark red and bronzy green, while the fields sunned themselves in the aftermaths. Anne reveled in the world of color about her.... "I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn’t it?..." ~Lucy Maud Montgomery

 I have to agree with Anne, October is a beautiful month! There are so many colors and shades and textures outside!

 I had to take a head shot of Stryker!

 This, however, was the most surprising thing. I watched a squirrel run to the poplar and was taking photos of the trunk (this poplar is a very odd kind of tree-it has never been trimmed and is several all stuck together). As I was shooting the trunk I saw something else. Can you see it???

 THIEF--although, I don't really mind. Besides, next year, we may have the only poplar in the world with sunflower blooming in it.

Hiking with Rifles--SUCCESS!

The boys started going out with Dad and Grandpa when they were small. Those weekends of deer season in Eastern Oregon still remain some of their fondest memories. Next year, we hope Tony will be home to hunt with Steve and Jon-

 The guys left near dark on Wed night to head to the ranch. There was a beautiful full moon, fresh from the eclipse that morning, welcoming them back.

 They woke to see the pale orb resting in a sea of morning blue and got themselves ready for another day of hiking with rifles.

 Which was pretty successful! The story (as I understand it) started with a discussion over hiking or driving. Jon wanted to hike, dad wanted to drive (there are a few years between them....). They drove, but  not for long. Jon saw some bucks, put together his home made shooting sticks (made from PVC pipe), and with one shot, took his deer out.

 Steve left the rig with Jon, who was working on his deer, and hiked a ways. A long ways. A very long ways. Jon watched him from where he was sitting with his scope. They called before 9 to say they had two deer and by noon they were getting ready to hang them in the shop. (it did take a while for Steve to get his deer out of the grassy canyon)

Because they have so much food (I made them a LOT of snacks!),

 they are going back up to camp for another night. And to look for the lost shooting sticks. (Steve borrowed Jon's creation to get his deer). Jon's pretty sure they are in the canyon they hiked in last weekend. Steve's not so sure. 

Hiking with Rifles-2014 Part 1, con!

More of Steve and Jon's first weekend of deer season in Eastern Or on the ranch. It was a stunning warm weekend with days full of sunshine and nights full of stars. 

 Jon took many sky photos. Clouds are always keepers~

 They did a great deal of hiking with their rifles this year. Jon said when he came home, the stairs to the craft room where Kila was hiding were hard to climb!

 He took several photos of this little owlet--thankfully one of them was a clear shot. Jon said the little guy kept moving!

 And in this photo, Jon caught an elusive mythical creature. He didn't realise it til he got home, but after I showed him, he was convinced. This is a white dragon sitting in the sky on his haunches like a cat. The dragon's head is on the right.

 After intense discussion, it was surmised this must be Mt. Adams in WA.