From A Path In the Woods

There are reasons why I live in this wet, cloudy part of the world. The sun is shy, the ground is muddy, the rain is frequent. A walk through the woods in spring is a good reminder of the positive side of those things.

It feels like a journey to a primeval wood, with the huge ferns hulking under moss-covered trees. Ground covers sprout and bloom.

Other ferns are sporting new growth, reaching for the sun, making wonderful patterns.

A small stream winds its way around plants and logs. Jesse samples the cold, fresh water.

The ground is covered with a plethora of plants - mosses, small flowering plants, grasses, all reaching for the light. The Northwest rainforests are jungles without the heat, steam and scary creatures. A gentler, quieter space for plants to stretch their leaves and grow, grow, grow.

Frogs To Be

A large mud puddle on the road up the hill has been home to a multitude of tadpoles for several weeks. I keep an eye on them, originally I was concerned that the puddle would dry up. The rain this past week has made that unlikely.

If these all transition into frogs it's going to be mighty noisy here nights.

Native Plants -Bleeding Heart

Indoor Flowers

I love growing things, and I love cheerful flowers in the house. I can't resist sharing some of my favorites. These beauties bloom and bloom, spreading warmth and sun and light throughout the house.

Native Plants - Elderberries

Since I moved here I've wanted to plant flowering shrubs alongside my 1/4 mile lane. Lilacs, butterfly bush, that sort of thing. I have tried, but so far my plantings have not been very successful. Nature, however, has.

Red elderberries grow plentifully in disturbed areas, like roadsides. In spring they provide a profusions of blooms.

These beautiful shrubs line a substantial portion of my little lane, providing a thousand points of light on cloudy days.

The sheep and goats help keep nature's explosion of growth off the lane itself.

One has established itself in my chicken yard.

Another grows in front of the red currant, another native, that planted itself against the house. Thank you, beautiful plants, for gracing my way.

Successful Geese

Ravens are wonderful and intelligent creatures. I love watching them fly and play and solve problems. My geese don't have such a high view of them.

Geese don't sit on their nests until they have the required amount of eggs. They lay an egg every couple days, hide the nest well with brush, and go about their daily business.

This tactic works well most of the time. But not with ravens. The ravens watch the geese, see where they nest, watch them carefully hide the eggs and leave. Breakfast.

I moved one pair of geese to my fenced chicken area and put a couple of dog crates inside the kennel the chickens roost in. This seems to be a defensible area.

The goose chose one of the crates and is happily sitting on a bunch of eggs.

The gander provides the protection. Unless you are a chicken you are not allowed in or near the kennel entrance. The ravens come by regularly, perching on a chair just out of goose neck reach, peering in at the yummy eggs. Fortunately they haven't yet found a way past the sentry.

Folding Clouds

These clouds looked so soft I wanted to touch them, to rest into them, to feel the folds.

Spiders!

But - this is just a pile of horse droppings! Look closer. The white stuff? That's spider webs.

Photo by Veryl Ann Grace

Spiders. Searching out flies where they live.

Lazin' In the Sun

Hatched Today

Photo by Veryl Ann Grace

Sprouting Horns!

My ram lambs are all growing substantial horns - they look so cute. I think one of the ewes has a pair emerging too. All are healthy and growing fast, jumping and running and generally enjoying life.

Trey

Doing what he loves best - snuggling into the down comforters

"What - you don't want me OFF, do you?"

Deciding to look photogenic

Shy Hannah

She isn't really shy, she's very outgoing - but wasn't cooperating for pictures.

Charlie and Friends

Charlie doesn't mind that his shelter is no longer on it's legs, it still stops the rain. It seems several of his friends feel the same. There are 4 peahens and 2 roosters sharing the shelter.

Berna!

Berna's been feeling left out. Charlie and Jesse get their pictures in here regularly, but she doesn't.

Waiting for Breakfast

"You AREN'T using THAT picture!

And WHEN will you feed me?"

After eating, a different attitude

My beautiful girl

Awakening Maples

Reminders of Past Glory

More April Storms

New snow in the mountains. The latest storm hasn't arrived there yet.

The storm billowing in.

Dark clouds set off by the new leaves.

The leading edge of the latest storm. Shortly after this picture was taken the wind came up and it started to rain.

More clouds on their way from the east.