March Sunshine

The Saturday sunshine called for a spontaneous stop and stroll along the bluff and shore of Ebey's Landing.

Washing off a piece of driftwood.

Lydia empties the sand from her Crocs.

Gabe found a ball in the thicket.

Coastal Beauty

The four of us.

Us

Fertile fields to the edge of the sea.

Real Chick Flicks

Gabe's Chicks

Gabe began turning the family room into a brooder last week.  He dreamed up his perfect brood, 2 Buff Orpingtons, 1 Barred Rock, 1 Rhode Island Red, and a Sussex.  Guess what?  The local farm store ordered precisely those select breeds for Friday, the 27th February.  We got there early enough to lay our claim on some and bring ours home after going out to breakfast at Tweets and picking up some Scratch and Peck chick starter in Bow from Harley.

Gabe's chicks + 1 conceded to Lydia out of brotherly love.  Lydia claims the Speckled Sussex with the dark brown accents.  Her name is Victoria.

The Brooder

Gabe's Viewing Window

Brooder has room to expand with growing chicks with a temporary interior sectional wall.

Through the viewing window.

Barred Rock - Oreo, Buff Orpingtons - Olive Oil and Onion

Rudy is the little Rhode Island Red in background.

Spring has Sprung

Birth Flower

Bleeding Heart emerges.

Hydrangea

Volunteer Grape Hyacinth

Forsythia Yellow

Front Step

Weeping spring green.

Old and new primroses for a spot of color.

Marshal has pruned the orchard.

Valentine's Day

Mt Baker with a Romantic Glow

February Angus Calves

Marshal under the Valentine Lights

Dad sent the kids on a treasure hunt with clues at breakfast.

Brotherly Love

Favorite Valentine

Mysterious February Pox

Valentine's Pox!

For the Birds

Gabe and Lydia have been continuing to use Gabe's research, and their ingenuity to draw in the birds.  Gabe has written an alphabetical record of every species he has identified in the state of Washington.  He recorded his 62nd yesterday, a female Purple Finch.  Gabe has taken these photos in the past week, and someone might in enjoy them as I do.

Finch getting a Drink

Heart and star handmade gelatin molded bird seed forms hanging behind Red-Wing Blackbird in flight.

Chestnut-backed chickadee looks like he's bracing himself against the wind under the little suet feeder rain cap.

Free frisbee handmade feeder and grapefruit rind hanging bowls make a flock of Red-wings happy.

And then there is the vast natural landscape for the bigger birds just outside the perimeters of our yard.

Don't know what carrion this eagle has found in the closest pasture beyond our deck, but the calves are beginning to drop and there will be ensuing fights over the afterbirth in coming weeks.

The Trumpeter swans are back in large numbers in the mild February weather, feeding on the barren fields and waters that are waking up with spring.