Snow covered

Celine's post last night with her snow-covered picnic table reminded me of this, that I took a few days ago before the rain began and the snow started melting. They are patiently waiting for the season to turn.
We even had icicles! I don't ever remember having icicles here, so this was a big treat. I absolutely LOVED these snowflakes clinging to the side of the icicle. What a treat!!

Pre-Meltdown

It's raining. All our beautiful snow is turning to slush, and has already disappeared in the lower elevations. These are from Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, when we still had snow...

Note to self--next time, no matter how cold or how deep the snow, use a tripod! This is a little shaky, but I loved the way the light backlit the branches.

Ornaments

When I was a kid, every Christmas my mom put up a sleigh pulled by reindeer like this one. I managed to save 2 of them, and they have been on my tree every year. My kids think they are the UGLIEST things they have ever seen, and would gag every year over them...except the one year I didn't put them up because I was tired of the kvetching. THEN they complained that the reindeer WEREN'T on the tree! A few years ago I managed to find one on e-Bay and Santa left it for my DD in her stocking. The Ugly Reindeer Tradition now moves down another generation.

A couple of my other favorites--I love the Swarovski snowflakes...

and this is a new one--I thought it was such a CLEVER design. The use of the old typewriter keys and symbols just make me smile.

And the Blurry Tree Light shot. Our tree is near the window, and I took this during the day. I LOVE the blue background that shows up.

Merry Christmas, everyone!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Don't you love it when everything gets on its holiday best? (Of course, these were really cool doors anyway!)

let it snow...

I'm sure if someone hears me saying that, I will be stoned. We have had more snow here this month than I've seen in the 22 years that we've lived here. I LOVE it! Of course, with compacted snow and ice on the roads, and little or no plowing on the secondary roads, it is hard to get around, but oh! It is a winter wonderland out there, and everything, even bare tree branches, are transformed by layers of snow.
Don't you just want to follow those footsteps under that archway (and hope the wind doesn't come up and throw all that snow down your neck?)
Just think how boring this reflection could be if not for the snow...

On the other hand, it is cold, and I don't do cold well. (Too many years in the Midwest, especially Minnesota...) We did lose power the other night, for only (only!) 14 hours. Let's hear it for gas fireplaces, gas stoves, and a generator, and a neighbor kind enough to come over and start the generator for me, since R isn't able to do so right now.

A few volunteer Doug firs lining the road to my house. They look so pretty with all the fresh snow on them! Even caught a stray beam of sunlight shining down.

Tonight we are hunkered down, waiting for more snow and a big windstorm. They are predicting winds of 60 mph, with gusts up to 90 mph. I am praying that the house doesn't get hit, and that the power stays on--or, if it goes out, it is only for a short while, not days and days.

Sled Dogs and Snow

Our neighbor had a pretty creative idea for exercising his Scotties today! Grabbed this as we drove by. I would've loved to have gotten a shot of him coming towards us. The dogs were loving it!
The top of our mountain is covered with snow--even all the rock formations are covered with white, and the trees look like a forest of flocked firs (just a little alliteration there)

Drove up to get a view across the valley late afternoon today. I haven't done anything to this, other than sizing for the web and a little contrast. The haze, clouds and late afternoon sun made this look so impressionistic. The layer of clouds at the bottom looks downright freezing (and it is!)

Winter!

We got about 6" of snow last night, and it is snowing even now. More is expected on the weekend. This is quite unusual for here; usually we get a little snow and it melts off within a day or two. It is so exciting to have a significant amount, and to have it stay! It looks like we are going to have a white Christmas this year--I think the last one was at least 18 years ago. Because it snows so infrequently, and for such a short period of time, every snow fall feels like the first one of the year. It never gets old, it never is taken for granted; it is always magical.

This is the gate to my neighbor's back yard. I just love the way she decorates it with a wreath, and then the snow is the perfect finishing touch.
And this is a pathway in our neighborhood. I was the first one out this morning, so I was able to get it with pristine snowfall.

Winter at the Falls

Early morning sun, streaming over the lip of the falls and shining through the mist...it almost looks like an otherworldly glow.

I really like the contrast here--the warm ethereal colors and light in the upper left, and the cool dark pool at the base of the falls.

The rock wall at the base of the falls, on the far side, was covered with sheets of icicles. They remind me of elaborate Victorian fringes. Not color tweaked at all--down at the base, in the shadows, it was this blue and chilly-looking!

Frosted

This morning it was 20 degrees (unheard of for Seattle!) so I bundled up and went over to the Falls, hoping for some ice. Nope. No luck. BUT---near the head of the falls the water vapor was thick enough to coat things in a lovely thick layer of hoar frost. Tomorrow I'll post some shots of the falls. The sun was just coming over the edge, and shining through the mist...

Flocked by Mother Nature....

It even beautifies Scotch Broom, a nasty ugly weed.

Winter, of sorts

The big snow storm bypassed us. It went north, it went south, it went west, and it went higher, but down at ground level in the valley there is just a trace here and there. What we do have is sub-freezing temps, which hardly ever happens around here--at least, not for consecutive days. I celebrated by finding a leaf in an ice puddle (although, if it is frozen, can you really call it a puddle?) I love the abstract designs that form in the ice. I will have to bundle up tomorrow and go hunting.

Winter in the valley

We had a winter storm roll through last night, and it brought some snow and (for here) bitterly cold weather. The wind is very strong and we are hoping we don't lose power. This is a view of our valley from a high point--and boy, was it windy up there!!

Ho ho ho!

I love this time of year, when I can bring out my collection of hand-carved santas. I have been gathering them for years, and my mantle is full. These three are some of my favorites; I like Santas dressed in non-traditional colors. Unfortunately, this carver is no longer selling his carvings; he has opted to have them reproduced and sold to larger markets. But aren't these little Santas just the friendliest little guys? In "The Night Before Christmas" Santa is called a "right jolly old elf" and yes, these guys look like they are definitely elvish!!

Not exactly a winter color, is it?

Our winters are mild enough that a lot of the public plantings include kale (ornamental cabbages). They come in purples and creams and greens, with solid leaves and lacy leaves and wavy leaves. I like them because raindrops cling to the leaf edges so nicely. This one was at the gas station, and I snapped a couple while my car was filling up with $1.89 gas!!

One of the wonderful variegated varieties. Love the combination of colors, and the way that the leaves are edged in green.

Circles on Circles

It has been too wet, damp, cold, grey and dreary to get outside and take photos. I saw this when I was at the nursery last week and couldn't resist the circles on circles, as well as the luscious color of the plate this was setting on. It looked to be floating in an aquamarine sea.

Now explain that to me...

hmmmmm....does this mean it is ok to trespass BEFORE dusk??? I've never seen a daylight-specific no trespassing sign before.

Freesia

Aren't these something to warm you up on a grey rainy day? They smell as good as they look!!

holiday trappings

Looks like someone had a little too much eggnog at the Christmas party. Saw this at the nursery and just couldn't resist. Someone there has a great sense of humor.

Funky Fronds

I love this fern--nothing borning, solid green about it. Each individual leaf on the frond is a wonderful ivory color, with a green overlay. These things glow in the shade under the trees.
And then! BONUS! When you look at the individual leaflets up close, each little one has a miniature frond in green on it. How cool is that???? Man, I just LOVE nature!

Just the two of us...

ML was nice enough to take a couple of quick shots of us the other day. This one hardly even shows our faces (which could be why I like it so much!) but I love the way it caught us--THIS is our relationship, laughing, having fun, enjoying each other. We've known each for 41 years, and it just keeps getting better. Thanks, ML, for getting one that my kids think look like "us"!