A Country Drive with 'Good Fences'

Today I am linking with Good Fences @ The Run*A*Round Ranch Report
Thank you Theresa for hosting!


We've had a lovely stretch of sunny weather this week
(after a very stormy week of last),
so I thought you might like to come along
on a little country drive!

The sweet peas are blooming!
 These grow wild along the fence lines
this time of year. These are perennial sweet peas
and bloom in mostly purple, with variations in hues.

The fields are sporting tall grass now,
highlighted by dark evergreens.

We stop to pick a bouquet of daisies
but find them full of thrips.

We decide to leave them be!

It's so nice to see 'The Mountain' as we call Mt. Rainier here.

It can stay hidden by clouds for days at a time.

A close-up view.

You can find out more about this 14,411 ft. volcano,
Here

We are about 5 miles away from home now,
on our way to the market.

These rambling roses bloom with apparently
 little care along a hidden wire fence.

I love to think of who might have planted
them along the edge of the field
and if they knew how much pleasure
 they would bring passersby.

I just love this little farm.
It has been the same since we moved here
over 30 years ago, to start a new life.

We used to see an elderly man and woman
sitting together on their front porch.

Now it is just the elderly gentleman,
seen walking his little dog along the roadside.

It tugs at your heartstrings.

We stop at the market for fresh fruit and a few staples.

As we leave the market, we take another way home, passing this
 well-grazed pasture with a view of the Cascade range.

Eagles soar overhead.

Ancient fence posts along the same farm.

The cow barn sits below the rise.

My little mountain can be seen on the
far right just above the tree line,
with an elevation of 1200 ft.

This farm was the site of a surprise tornado
 a few summers ago that knocked down an old barn.
No life was lost, thank heavens.

Tornadoes are rare here, but not unheard of.
They are generally very small and short lived,
but can do a bit of damage and snap
off roofs and trees in a small area.

 We pass a cooperative farm
where members share in the organic
produce, flowers and herbs.

A closer look at some of the gardens.

The fireweed glows in the afternoon sunlight.

This tall plant grows in abundance here,
particularly favoring burned over areas at the site of forest fires,
hence the name. . .

It is known as Great Willow-herb in Canada
and Rosebay Willow-herb in Britain.

Fireweed honey has a distinctive spiced flavor
 and is very popular here.

The first cutting of hay.

We're almost home...

This pretty farm marks the beginning of my mountain road.

We pass this recently renovated little farm
with beautiful fencing
as we round a sharp bend and start to climb.

We enter thick forest...

as we travel up another steep hill.

We must have 4 wheel drive and studded tires
to climb this hill during winter storms.

We reach the driveway - almost home!
Can you see my faithful companions,
Whitey and Champ, escorting us home?

We arrive just as the hills turn gold with the setting sun.

This hill was logged a few years ago
 and for so long we were deprived of this beautiful phenomena...
until the newly planted trees grew large once more,
capturing the light.

It is always a delight,
as it only happens at certain times of the year
 when the sun moves past a little hill
blocking the late afternoon rays.

Fading light over the wilderness valley that lies beyond us.


Thank you for coming along on this country drive with me.
Let's go inside and have some tea.
We'll leave the darkening hills to the wild things for the night
while we stay nice and cozy inside,


xoxo