Pink Deliciousness

What a difference a week makes!  Last Friday I had a snowstorm with half-dollar sized flakes, and 6" of snow on the ground.  True, it was all gone by Saturday morning.  We've had a mostly dry week with temperatures continually warming....today it is a bluebird sky day and 67 degrees!!

 

Saw these beauties displaying themselves against the sky and just couldn't resist.

Wild Weather

Thursday night the rain started to turn to snow...and when I woke up Friday morning, this is what I saw.  We were getting the BIG fat flakes (at least the size of a half dollar) that drift down lazily.  It was beautiful!  We ended up getting about 6" of snow.  My friend, who lives on the other side of the mountain from me only got a dusting of snow...

 By 4:00, all this deliciousness was gone, melted away.  The only little bit of snow that is left is in the shadows on the north side of the house.  It will be gone today, but it was nice to have a little taste of winter one more time.

Spring is Busting Out

Well, not precisely busting out, but definitely peeking out!  Early bloomers are showing up and showing off.  Certainly makes the grey days happier to see some color around. (PS Not my yard...  the last time I tried growing these they were trampled by the elk.) Even the little froglets by my pond have been singing.  That's a SURE sign of spring.

 Some of the early rhodies are even getting in on the action.  Love it!!

Eagles

Out at the end of the old pilings we spotted 2 eagles.  My poor little zoom had all it could do to  bring them in, but oh!  It was such a thrill to see not one, but two eagles sitting there.

 Shame on me for posting not-sharp photos, but I was so tickled to get these that I couldn't resist.  I have decided that being a wildlife photog is probably not in the cards for me, just because I get so excited when I see something (like eagles on the moves) that I forget everything I know (or should know!), including holding still.  Oh well.  C'est la vie.

 On our way back the fog had burned off and we had clear blue skies.  The eagles had been out fishing, and were on and off the pilings.  So much fun watching them!!

Duck!

Lots of waterfowl at Juanita Bay.  This is a male green-winged teal with 2 American coots in the background.

 My Favorite!  One of the ducks I really wanted to find was a wood duck, and they were all over the place.  Fortunately this one was swimming close enough to shore that my inadequate zoom could close in on him.  I love their colorful, oriental appearance.  I don't know who was responsible for designing wood ducks, but I applaud them.  What a fabulously colorful bird.  The red eye is the icing on the cake, I think...  They almost look like something Disney would've designed.

Bumps on a Log

I never expected to see turtles out this time of year....  I want to go back in the summer and see if I can't find a raft of turtles stacked on a log.

Juanita Bay Park

We had a dry day WITH SUN!  ML and I headed up to Kirkland to visit the Juanita Bay Park on Lake Washington.  Several lovely paths and boardwalks and docks lead along the water.

When we got there it was still quite foggy--enough so that all the McMansions on the opposite side of the lake were hard to discern.  (thank you, fog).  These old pilings looked so wonderful in the still water, and the moodiness with the fog just cried out for B&W.

 One of the boardwalks that lead through the marshes out to the water.  I can't wait to go back in the summer when the willows are fully leafed out...I think this will look magical.

 Of course, I couldn't pass up a lovely abstract reflection of marsh grasses....

Pink and blue deliciousness

Oooooh.....  I found these new primrose varieties and just couldn't resist.  This one, with the multiple layers of ruffled petals, was too pretty not to get.  The bonus is that as the blooms age, they turn a lovely soft lavender, so I have several colors going on at once.  Love it!

 And this one....I can't resist blue and yellow, and the veining in the petals is wonderful!  Reminds me of the Pickwick variety of crocus--the striped ones you see about this time of year.

 The bonus with this one is that the newly-opened blooms are a much darker blue, and they fade down as they get older, so again--different shades going on at the same time.  I love two-fer plants!

Spring Beauty

Another sign of spring---the hellebores are blooming.  I love them because they thrive in dry shade (like under the cedar trees) and deer and elk leave them completely alone!  Hooray!!  This doubled one is particularly lovely.

Bubble Bubble

Flamenco Flowers

These super-ruffly pansies always remind me of flamenco dancers' skirts.  Ole!

Curvaceous Callas

Have I mentioned lately how utterly captivating I find calla lilies?  Those curves are so seductive.

Spring Colors

Inhale...deeply.  Doesn't it smell like spring?