A Country Drive

Hello, Dear Friends. 

I hope that spring's silver sunshine is 

shining down and giving you pretty blooms 

to brighten your day. 

Here in Washington state, near the foothills of 

the Cascade mountains, flowers are blooming, 

birds are singing, and the trees are leafing out.

And every few days, we actually see the sun! 

We do live near Seattle, after all, and everyone

knows that Seattle is known for its prodigious rainfall. 

We get on average, about 40 inches of rain per year. 

Most of that falls between December and June. 

The glacial creek that runs below our little mountain 

is running high, and late at night, when the sounds carry 

far, we can hear it rushing and gurgling on its way to 

Puget Sound. 

Sometimes it sounds like lonely voices lost in time....

All the rain fills up the wetlands and helps the 

skunk cabbage (lysichiton americanus) bloom. 

This plant is a delicacy of the American black bear

as they forage for food after a long hibernation. 

Ramblin' Man has just washed and filled the gas tank 

of my trusty 2005 Ford Ranger, so we can take a drive. 

The countryside is so green and lush and punctuated 

by the prettiest flowering trees this time of year. 

This little apple tree grew all on its own from 

apples we used to feed my children's ponies, 

when they stayed in the little pasture that 

belonged to our neighbor on long summer days.  

The ponies are gone, (they lived with us the rest of their lives)

 the pasture is now unused and overgrown, 

and the dear, elderly neighbor has long since departed this world, 

but this little tree stands in remembrance of those

sweet, childhood days.  

After driving down from our little mountain, 

the road levels out here, surrounded by pasture, 

before snaking down and around sharp curves 

and landing on a broad plateau that hosts 

the tiny, historic logging town we call our own. 

It is full of the most charming little cottages. 

A fairly new library.....

Vintage shops.....

Beautiful churches.....

And tree-lined lanes. 

There's a narrow roadside park that runs the length 

of the town where people love to walk and picnic. 

This time of year it is especially pretty 

with cherry trees all in bloom. 

This lovely park can be seen by all who travel 

the busy two-lane highway that runs 

all the way to Mt. Rainier. 

In summer the highway is full of campers, 

outdoors-enthusiasts and tourists, 

and in winter; skiers, snow-shoe'rs and snow boarders

on their way to the local ski resort 45 miles away.

Between 1 and 2 million visitors from all over the world

visit 14,411 ft. Mt. Rainier every year.  

I try to avoid this highway when I can :)

So, I drive the back-roads, which might take longer, 

but are so much prettier. 

Right now the dogwood trees are blooming in 

the most gorgeous shades of cream and rose. 

And colorful rhododendron and azalea bloom in every shade. 

This time of year is so lovely and so full of promise......

Beauty is everywhere. 

But all roads lead to home! 

Thank you for coming along with me, Dear Friends! 

xoxo

"Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took 

the one less traveled by, 

and that has made all the difference"

- Robert Frost -

xoxo

Today I am linking with:

Floral Passions - Floral Bliss

It's a Small Town Life - Thankful Thursday

xoxo

Won't you join the fun?