A Sunny Morning

We have had some beautiful mornings here in the 

foothills of the Cascade Mountains inWashington State. 

This was the temperature around 11 a.m. 

Last week we had an afternoon temperature over 70 degrees! 

I can't say this is unusual because I have noticed over 

the years that we always have a warm stretch around

the 1st of February for a week or longer. 

I have always scheduled my early spring cleanup

 in the gardens for this time.

I do have to admit that we have 

had an unusually mild winter, though,  

Our mornings have been much more subdued since

losing Champ. 

We are slowly creating a new 'normal'. 

Here you can see Weenie Baby peeking in 

through the glass door. 

(She is free to come in and out through the pet door)

She is enjoying the morning sunshine on the deck. 

I always put a dog bed out on sunny mornings

so she can sunbathe. 

My 'Glacier' pansies have started blooming in

this warm weather. 

This little 'Johnny Jump Up' self seeded among my succulents

from a hanging basket last year. 

It has truly brightened my spirits to see these sweet little faces

smiling up at me. 

Sunshine is very much appreciated, as winters 

here can be very gray and dismal. 

My 'accidental' crystal sculpture glows 

in the morning light. 

I had set them here with plans to pack them away

after the holidays, but when I saw 

how they captured the light the next morning, 

I let them stay. 

They make me smile. :)

My Ramblin' Man has been keeping me in flowers

to lift my spirits. 

And I've been keeping him in baked goods

to do the same. 

He's had a tough time the last two weeks, 

not only has he lost Champ, but his best 

friend and boss of 15 years will no longer be 

working with him side by side - 

a victim of corporate down-sizing. 

Of course his best friend will always be just that, 

but work will never be the same. 

He said that he just lost his two best friends :(

So as we move forward, we try to keep busy and stick 

to routine. 

Whitey is once again finding interest in our morning

walks, accompanied by Weenie Baby and Peanut, 

my daughter's mini-dachshunds who will be 

staying with us for a few months so my daughter

can save for a home of her own while living as a room-mate.

It was tough going for
Whitey since losing his best friend, and he wouldn't

even get up off his bed, but he is coming around

and starting to enjoy life once again. 

I have been busy in the sunshine, making piles of brambles

and weeds for Ramblin' Man to pick up on his days off! 

I like to keep him busy to take his mind off 

his troubles. *grin*

Look what I uncovered! Daffodils getting ready to bloom! 

These were planted years ago from a bargain bag

of assorted un-named varieties. 

They are always the first to bloom, planted

in the sunniest corner of the property. 

Isn't it surprising that Washington State, being so far

North, would have such mild winters?

We have a true maritime climate.  

It is not the same on the other side of the Cascade Mountains. 

Here we have a modified climate due to the warm

South Pacific jet stream that comes up from Hawaii, 

but when that stream shifts, we can get blasted

from Alaska and Canada. 

We are not done with winter yet! These daffodils have bloomed

in a foot of snow before! The snow never lasts long, though. 

We are considered a 'Temperate Rain Forest'

due to the copious amounts of rain we always get

in the spring, fall and winter, with moderate

temperatures - not too hot and not too cold.

The average temperatures range from 46 degrees
in winter, to 76 degrees in summer.

It is a wonderful climate, if you like moss! Anything that
stays stationary long enough gets a nice coating!

They joke that Seattle-ites have webbed feet!

It does give clay pots that lovely antique patina!

So while that sun is shining, I am taking full advantage
of it. I love getting a head start on my gardening chores.

I never know when Old Man Winter will strike again!

Sending loving thoughts and prayers to all of
my friends and family suffering through
 the storms on the East Coast.
I remember them well.

xoxo

Thank you, Dear Friends, once again for your sweet
condolences for the loss of our dog, Champ.

I am glad to be back among you once again,
and will be catching up with all of you in the next few days.

'When the path that you're on turns surprisingly rough...
When wherever you're going, the going gets tough...
When you're giving your all but it's just not enough...
...all you need is a friend!'

-Jan Miller Girando-

from the book 'The Blessings of Friendship'

Mary Engelbreit

xoxo