The Meaning of Frigid!

It's Cold!  Very, very, cold!  As I write this, the temperature is 3 degrees with the wind gusting to over 10 mph. Making it feel like -15.    I went out in it - to put plastic bags over the trees from Washington.  I don't know that it will be enough...  We've already had one night with -10.  My face was going numb by the time I came in.

Lights~

Butch put in these outdoor lights at the edge of the timber. It gives just a bit of warmth to what would otherwise be a very frigid scene. The prints you see in the snow are from the bunnies that come & go.

Waubonsie Overlook~

 Sunday, after a late breakfast with friends, we took a drive out into the country.  Once we were on the gravel, Butch had to put the truck into 4-wheel drive.  We ended up at the Waubonsie overlook.  I got out of the truck to hike in - at least until I sunk higher than the top of my insulated boots!

A winter view~

 Even from the edge of the road, it's an impressive view.  The wind was whistling by - bitter at 21 degrees.   I was in a hurry to get back to my heated seat in the truck!

Windmill~

 If  you look closely, you can just see the sun through the cloud cover.  The snow has been on the ground since before I got home.  Monday the 21st, Nika & I had to get out for a walk.  We both broke through the frozen layer of crust covering the snow.

Lots of snow~

It felt cold at 32 degrees, especially after the relative warmth of Washington!  Nika loves her walks so much - she gets excited when she see's the leash.  The ice & cold don't seem to bother her. 

Nika~

 People with Buhunds in Sweden, Norway etc., say the dogs play out in sub-freezing temperatures  without any fuss at all. 

Timber on the 21st.

 The snow highlights the work we've done on this hillside.  The areas of downed limbs, branches & thickets of greenbriar are all cut away.  I've found a nice spot for another sitting area too.  The crust on the snow has thickened as the temperatures have dropped.  Even with blazing sunshine during the days, it's not enough to melt the snow or warm the air.

Snow shadows~

The Omaha area is right on the edge of where the frigid temperatures meet the more moderate ones. Our forecast is warning of wind chills down to -35 by early morning. All the schools here & in surrounding states are closed tomorrow. Activities are cancelled too. It takes some brutal weather to accomplish that. I'm just hoping that the power stays on!

34th Annual Saint Cecilia Flower Festival~

As the Glenwood Garden Club's first event of the year, we all look forward to attending the late January, flower show.  It's our taste of spring!  It was a slightly overcast, bitter cold morning with a light dusting of snow overnight.  Seven of us met to carpool to Omaha.  I have the honor of being the clubs President this year - I feel a bit overwhelmed by the commitment - but have so many wonderful women to help me learn the ropes!

The kiss of the sun for pardon

The song of the birds for mirth

One is nearer God's heart in a garden

Than anywhere else on earth

- Dorothy Frances Gurney

Stunning display of Tulips~

This was my third visit & a trip I look forward to each year.  All along the sides of the nave - were breathtaking displays by local florists & artisans.

Autumn Colors~

The one below, almost looked like a decorated cake!

Roses & Carnations~

The Orchid Society did not disappoint, with some orchids that looked too beautiful to be real.

Gorgeous varieties of Orchids~

We took our time, the smell from all the flowers so sweet, to those of us in the middle of a somewhat harsh mid-west winter!

White Tulip~

The white tulip in the display above was totally perfect! I would love to try planting them, but am told that the best way is in pots. There are too many ground dwelling rodents that love to eat them!

Very spring like~

 The wide variety of flowers is just so impressive when you think of the effort it must take to get them to this destination.

My favorite display~

This display was so artfully done, with mirrors that reflected in the decorative lighting like water.

St. Cecilia's~

We were looking forward to the lunch catered by Wheatfields! A small group of musicians entertained in the lunch room. The chicken & dumpling soup was perfect on a cold day! Butch gave me directions to not leave without pecan rolls for Sunday breakfast!

By the time we walked back out into the cold, the sun was shining & it was a beautiful afternoon!

A Glimpse of Spring!

Washington State style!  I used to meet my friend Petra every January at Molback's for lunch.  It gave us time to catch up on our holidays & enjoy the spring like environment. Coming from Iowa, where I search to find anything green, it was a visual feast!

Inside Molbacks~

It was girls night.  Courtney, Cassidy & I were going to a movie, Molback's happened to be across the way.  Cassidy limited our time there - she knows us well - but we still managed to walk through our favorite areas.

Lighting too~

Always full of fresh ideas with a plethora of unique items for either the garden or home.

African Violets~

The displays were simple, yet eye catching.  The violets on the old whitewashed spool looked so old fashioned.

Lemon Cypress

These were one of my favorite little trees for pots of color in Washington.  The lime green color is so refreshing & the smaller ones were the perfect size to center in large flower pots.  I would surround them with bulbs, or small flowers.

Cassidy looking at the air ferns~

I've tried air ferns a few times over the years, but never successfully for very long.  I envy those who have mastered the trick.  We finished up our shopping with a few new items.  I asked about a plant that I'd admired in Courtney's kitchen window.  They had one & only one!  Now, the question would be whether I would be allowed to take it on the plane.

On the 16th, we spent a day at the hospital.  Mason had several tests & the spacing between them would take the day.  We had enough time in the afternoon to go for Pizza & across the way was Ravenna Gardens.  Courtney & I had visited once, years ago.  Their incredible displays & outdoor fountain drew us in.

Rock creations~

Leave it to the greater Seattle area to bring in some of the most unique items in garden design.  The Hellebore's below were so beautiful!  I had a bed of them in our woods, my favorite was the hard to find - yellow variety.  I had to wonder if they were blooming yet...

Hellebore/Christmas Rose

We went back inside to see the last few displays.

Pottery & candles~

The green glass lamp shades were so pretty & perfect for an outdoor seating area.  I love clay pots & saw several that I wished I could bring home with me.

Another display of the Lemon Cypress~

We always get so many ideas from these unique shops!  We both were ready to go home & do some planting - yet had to remind ourselves that it is - after all - still January...

"Henry"

My little plant had quite an trip!  I met two flight attendants on the escalator, both introduced themselves & admired my little plant!  One asked where I was going & when I said;  "Omaha" she laughed & said I would be on her plane!  After the long lines at TSA, I honestly didn't think I would make the flight, but she assured me I would. 

I was one of the last to load & was stopped at the door of the plane.  (My first thought was;  "Oh NO!  They're going to confiscate my plant!")  The crew had just answered the phone as I walked up.  I overheard;  "Yes, she's just boarding now."  I was instructed to find my seat - that a safe spot would be found for my plant!  Relief!  Soon, one of the attendants was at my row, asking the gentleman in the center seat if he would mind moving to the isle seat?  The plane was only half full & he was happy to oblige.  She then looked at me & said;  "Your little plant can have it's own seat!"

By now, half the plane was laughing & it became the topic of the flight.  When we were offered water, even "Henry" got a small drink.  We had him safely in his seat belt!  As I departed, the crew reminded me to cover my little plant - as temperatures were sub-freezing.  :-)

Now, I have to wonder...  Will Henry accrue air miles?

With Our Five Grand-kids!

Daughter Jentry, son-in-law Joe & the girls drove up from Astoria on Fri. evening.  Joe went to visit his grandmother.  Jentry & the girls were looking forward to seeing Cousin Mason!  Excited doesn't half describe how happy I was to have all five Grandkids together in one place!  (We all missed having Papa with us though.)

Ben, Grammy, Cassidy, Mason, Skyla & Josie

It was another bright, warm, beautiful day.  Perfect for a walk to one of the neighborhood parks!  I took the camera & made the rounds as the kids played.

Josie the acrobat!

Someone left a wiggle board at the park & it only took Ben once to figure out how to use it!

Ben~

Skyla, the fastest girl at her school, is now outrunning the boys!

Skyla on the bars~

Cassidy was designated as our guide & leader - Luna came along too! As with any Beagle, the last thing she wanted to do was go down the slide :-)

Cassidy & Luna~

Josie was willing to try anything, anyway that worked :-)

Josie on the wiggle board~

Skyla about to have a tree fall on her :-)

I could never get enough of this bunch... When I think of how fast the years have gone since Ben was born. Then - Mason & Cassidy in the next three-years following.  Eleven-years after Ben; Skyla, the following year, Josie, blessed us with their arrival!  Almost a second generation of Grandkids!   It was difficult for us all - when the Wright family moved to OR.  Now, we all keep in touch through real-time media.

Josie, Skyla, brother Ben, Luna & cousin Cassidy~

We missed having Mason with us too, but the kids had played video games earlier.  I'd made another double batch of cookies, they were consumed! Josie drew two works of art that now hang on our refrigerator.  I'm looking forward to my visit with them all again next month!  Mason has just started his third chemo session - staying strong & brave throughout.  We're all so proud of him!  I'll be there in time for the fourth & final round - to see him Finish!  He's inviting everyone to the party he's planning!

On the Whitehorse Trail ~

Three Fingers Peak~

Grandson Ben rode the train up from Astoria, OR to Duvall.  Arriving Wed. night - to visit his cousin's Mason & Cassidy.  Of course Uncle Dave, Aunt Courtney & me too!  This day, we borrowed the Highlander & with Ben driving, he & I took a cruise to Arlington.  The last time I'd ridden with Ben, he'd just received his drivers license! 

It felt like dejavu when we turned onto Hwy 92 & the Cascades came into view. Covered in snow, they looked as though cut from ice. Ben pulled off to the side of the narrow road several times to let me get photos. Though not the view from the Homestead, the one above was as close to it as I could get.

Mt. Pilchuck~

I've always loved this barn, with the view of Mt. Pilchuck behind it.  We continued on to Arlington.  Several changes there, a new pharmacy off Hwy 9 & more houses under construction.

Great Food!

 Ben & I had a plan though!  A stop at Nutty's for lunch!  We spent most of the drive trying to decide what we'd have & then changed our minds once we were there!  With lunch to work off, Haller Park was next.  Parking for the Centennial & Whitehorse Trails.

Grandson Ben on the Haller Trestle Bridge~

 We'd decided to hike out to the arch & walk the Whitehorse trail to Tin Bridge - always Farah & my favorite.  I thought of her often on our walk & told Ben stories of how she would step on the metal transition plates to make her steel shoes ring.

Grammy~

This bridge is at the convergence of the north & south forks of the Stillaquamish River.  A favorite place for locals to come & cool off in the hot summer months.

North fork coming down from Darrington~

It's supposed to be winter, but you wouldn't have know it by the temperature, in the mid-40's.  The warmest first two-weeks of January on record.

New signage~

I was really dismayed by the new signage by the Resilience Arch.  It asked;

Are You Ready?

I thought it a real shame to put signage so close to the beautiful & artful arch...  I doubt the artist would be too pleased either...  If I were still the chairman of the CTCSC, I would have disagreed with this addition to the trail.  It's not as if most everyone who lives in the state is not aware of the hazards associated with living near volcano's...

Commemorative Bricks~

We visited our bricks :-)  I have the originals that were taken out - on our back deck.  (They hadn't been etched deeply enough.)  It seemed sad not to have Farah with us.

Ominous signage~

The Whitehorse was closed.  I had heard about this from friends - I'm not sure how long ago.  As usual, Ben & I wanted to see what we could see & started out on the incredibly deep gravel.  It makes walking, biking or horse riding difficult.  Eventually it was to be resurfaced with rock that could be compacted.

On our Way~

 So familiar, yet different, since I'm no longer ten-feet tall.  It was Ben who spotted the beautiful doe looking out at us from the brush.  She was so well camouflaged that I needed Ben's help to see her.

Doe~

I hadn't brought my  Garmin :-(  But I knew the distance to Tin Bridge was 2-miles.  We'd gone about 1.5 when  we saw the second sign & the beginning of the slide.  It was right where a slide occurred in 2015.  This time, I'm told there's no effort underway to remove it.

Slide area ahead~

Ben points the way, while standing where a large portion of the trail has slid into the river.  Less than half the width had slid down.  It seemed to have been eroded from below - possibly undermined by water coming off the hillside above.

Ben on the trail~

Looking down at the river~

Smaller Slide~

What amazed us both - was the Huge boulder that had come out of the hillside! The size of the Bronco at least, it was smooth, black & unmarked.

Ben on the boulder~

Ben climbed up for a photo, so I had to do it too! Luckily there was an uprooted stump that was jammed into the dirt behind the rock & gave us a handhold.

Grammy on the rock~

From that viewpoint & could see almost over the top of the large slide ahead. Almost half the hillside was now either on, or below the trail.

Slide & uprooted trees~

I climbed up to the top of the pile of debris. It had settled & I doubt it will move further without heavy equipment to push it off the edge & into the river.

Climbing over~

I always dislike seeing Cedar trees go down... But at least the one above had been uprooted.

The trail continues~

At this point there was a deep hole in the trail surface, where another tree had fallen in.  It was also getting late in the afternoon.  We were so close to Tin Bridge, Ben had never been there.  It was hard to turn back, until we though about how long it would take us to reach the car.

Ben waiting~

This is such a beautiful stretch of the river, one of my very favorites.  Farah & I would stop here often for our break.  It was also a great trail to ride in the winter, when you were in no hurry.  Ben & I spotted an Eagle on our way back.

Haller Park~

There was a lot of construction going on at the park.  My old parking place for the horse trailer was now under piles of dirt.  A new splash pad is planned!  The park has been under an ongoing improvement plan for years, it looks rough right now.

We drove past the Homestead on our way back to Duvall.  No, it didn't look anything like home to me anymore...  We both would have liked to walk the woods & could see where the top had been blown off one of the Cedars.  A large vine maple was down too.  I doubt we could have made it through.

Traffic!  It was 4 p.m.  as we got to the corner of 163rd & 84th.  Just to get out from our corner into the steady stream of traffic took several minutes.  Lucky for us, we were traveling against the flow & made the 35-miles back to Duvall in time for dinner!