It got a little snowy...

First it was a little snowy...













Then there was a little more...















Then there was the wind (this is a mild bit) ...













This is how it looked until the warmer temperatures started today, and the rains started. This is at sunset yesterday.

Our first storm of the season, in what looks to be a tough winter.
The blizzard has gone on to the Midwest now.

Veterans' Day Salute!

... and a [huge] THANK YOU!

to all who have served and those who continue to serve

in all of the branches of the

Armed Forces of the United States.

We have had three sons serve in three branches:

Army, Navy, Marines,

and currently have a son in the Army

who sent us these ID tags for wearing for Veterans' Day.

The tags read:

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, and

WE WILL NOT FORGET POW-MIA.

We hope that all know that we are grateful for their service,

and for the sacrifice their families make, as well.

This arrangement is for you:

flags for the country you represent,

a yellow rose for remembrance,

ID tags for the servicemembers.

The vase is a branch from the forest here,

a piece of home.

River Reflections

Near Lake Ozette

For more Weekend Reflections, go to:

http://www.newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

Mobile home at F.O.A.M.

This recent visitor to the Forks Open Aire Market brought along a mobile home - for his 4 dogs. As we spied them on the street, someone commented that it looked like someone had brought his own doghouse! Then the trailer turned and we saw a dog sticking his head out the little side window. The dogs seemed to be enjoying themselves - no barking or fighting, even with the top closed while on the road. Nice friendly owner AND dogs.

I only had my phone to take a picture, but at least I had that! It took me a couple of weeks to get back on here to post this. I hope he's checking this and sees it.

ABC Wednesday: K is for...

A Kouple walking their Kite at Kalaloch Beach.

As they walked, the kite stayed in front of them like a tether.

Really rather Kool to watch.

Kalaloch Beach, south of Forks.

Rugged in places, but with hard-packed sand for fairly easy walking.

The tide was out, but when it is in, it can completely cover the beach.

When it's stormy, the waves can be blown up over the bluff.

This kite was being flown at Kalaloch by our camping neighbors

(see J is for Jack from last week).

To see more ABC Wednesday, go to:

http://abcwednesdayround3.blogspot.com .

They can be really inventive!

ABC Wednesday: J is for...

... Jack,

who was camping with his owners next to us at Kalaloch last week.

Jack and his owners coming back from playing on the beach.

Most of the people we meet camping are really nice,

like Tiffany and Dave and Jack.

We enjoyed visiting with them.
OK, Tiffany and Dave, He-e-e-re's Jack!

(a little over the top? hmmm) (grin)
Jack, playing keepaway on the beach with Tiffany and Dave.

And J is for Jumping.
This group was jumping for pictures with the sunset as background.
I'm no expert, but they sounded like they were speaking German.

We get visitors from all over the world here,

and we are happy to share the beauty of the Olympic Peninsula.
They wrote the USA 10 in the sand as part of their pictures.

The adults in the group got into the act as well.

Don't you just enjoy seeing people having fun?

For more ABC Wednesday J's, go to:
http://abcwednesdayround3.blogspot.com/

ABC Wednesday: I is for...

ICE. Very big Ice.

We had a 55 gallon trash can fill with water, then freeze the winter of 2008-9.

When we upended it, it retained its shape, for about a week.

It was really rather pretty.

This last winter was very mild, with none of the extremes of the previous one.

The detail of the giant Ice cube, with streaks of bubbles.

For more ABC Wednesday, go to:

http://abcwednesdayround3.blogspot.com .

Shamrocks for St. Paddy's Day

A fine St. Paddy's Day tomorrow to you all,

and may the luck of the Irish be yours always.

These shamrocks seem to really like our rainy weather - they burst into life every year, and stay until it's too cold for them.

They do like the shade, but we have a lot of that. ;~}

(I chose to post this today because Wednesdays are for ABCs.)

H is for ...

Hoh River and Hoh Rainforest

Majestic Olympic mountains, complete with glaciers and snow,

budding trees, and a small piece of the Hoh River in the foreground.

Mossy carpet under old growth trees.

Dazzling sun shining through moss-draped, towering trees.

Hoh River, rushing, crystal clear and cold,

from the mountains to the Pacific Ocean.

Beautiful!

Real rain forest right here on the Olympic Peninsula,

temperate rainforest, not tropical.

Part of the Olympic National Park.

For more ABC Wednesday, go to:

http://abcwednesdayround3.blogspot.com .

G is for...

Gnomes in our Garden!

We were having a little fun with these mushrooms that grow in our yard every fall, and used these Gnomes that my husband carves to bring a little whimsy to the day. The mushrooms are called Fly Agaric, and are a bright red until they get older. These are past their 'prime' but look like little gnome shelters. For perspective, the gnomes are about 6 inches tall.

While not being very good at posting every week, I always enjoy seeing what folks come up with on ABC Wednesday. It's a fun premise, and can be a little challenging sometimes.
Come and join us and see more ABC Wednesday at:
http://www.abcwednesdayround3.blogspot.com/ .

A is for ... Aircraft

Ahah! Here they are!

We get a lot of different types of aircraft, as the Forks airport is small.

We've gotten ultralights and parasails all the way up to the little jet that brought some (we suspect Twilight) visitors (tourists or production company?).

The Coast Guard lands here as well, along with the medivac helicopter.

I've already posted pictures of quite a few besides these.

Well, it WAS for aircraft. Blogger won't let me upload my photos. I'll keep trying... Meanwhile, you can see more ABC Wednesday at:
http://abcwednesdayround3.blogspot.com/2010/01/abc-round-6.html

Ravens for Poe

a picture of ravens

for Edgar Allan Poe's birthday

Frosted frame

frosted wonders seen,

cold breath across empty field,
glittering morning

Flicker

That's a Beak! The flickers are so interesting to watch.
Actually, all the birds are, but you gotta love the flicker's accurate sense of dominance.


He looked as though he was giving me the 'eye' - maybe doesn't like having his picture taken...

Busy feeder

A flicker is one of the few birds that the starlings won't bother at the feeder. With that beak, we're not really surprised.

Visitor Center Rain Gauge

This was the rain gauge as it read on Dec 26, 2009.

You can see we had less than our average of 10 feet for the year.

It was only about 8 feet last year - 95 inches for the year I believe it was.

This last week we have been working hard on making up for last year -

6 inches one day alone.

Stormy sunrise

Sun just clearing the hill at sunrise