“Silhouettes”
Hawks perched above
On high bare winter trees,
Waiting for dinner below.
Winter continues to persist. Birds of prey frequently perch on surrounding trees looking over the snow covered pastures waiting for slight creature movement below. It is a good time for bird watching.
Neighbor’s Pasture
How beautiful the snow is, but it is really cold. Today was -6 degrees when I got up. It is “dry” cold, so not too uncomfortable. Since Punxsutawney Phil made his prediction of an early spring, winter has hit Eastern Washington hard. We have had our first real snow of the year and the temperatures have dropped below zero. We are in for more!
The only good advice I have heard is to not trust the groundhog. Out of Phil’s 103 predictions, he has been right only 39% of the time! I see that he has about the same prediction accuracy as our regular weather forecasters.
Backyard Fog
I looked out the window and watch the fog roll in. Ghost images appeared where just a few minutes earlier trees stood. I couldn’t resist going outside to try to capture the feeling. I was thinking, “Look at all these cool silhouettes!” It only took a few moments for my fingers to freeze, making it difficult to operate my camera. I took a few images and scurried back into the warm house.
Old Schoolhouse, Yakima Valley, WA
I wrote a little on this old schoolhouse on my previous posting. As I was walking around the back of the building, this old vine captured me. I felt that it was reaching out trying to pull me in to its history. I really do need to do a little research!
Old Schoolhouse Window, Yakima Valley, WA
I love to drive around without any specific destination. I am amazed what I have missed over the years as I have just driven from point A to point B thinking about how long it will take me to reach my destination. This day a few weeks ago, I was just driving backroads where I had not been before … just driving along. I saw this old school house somewhere north of Zillah (I think), I really did not where I was. I stopped and just gazed for a while, contemplating what stories this old building amongst farm lands had to tell. How long had it been since the last student walked through its doors? Was it a grade school, high school, or an all inclusive country school? After a while of just looking at it, I got out of my car and walked around with my camera.
Many stories, many questions … time for a little research to satisfy my curiosity.
Yakima Valley Wine Country near Zillah, WA
On a clear day, Mt Adams prominently displays its beauty on the horizon. Well this was not a clear day, but the rows of the various vineyards were on display against a light dusting of snow. In a couple of weeks, the Yakima Valley wine country will be bustling during the February Red Wine and Chocolate festival. It will be a good weekend to take a break from eating wisely and indulge in the wine and chocolate.
Roadside Near Prosser, WA
Bare branches against a winter sky always catch my eye. Last week I was driving along the Interstate when I saw an interesting pattern on the Horse Heaven Hills. I took an exit to explore with my camera. After a little walk, I looked up and saw these tree branches against the sky. It gave me a cold, gloomy feeling. I couldn’t resist the opportunity.
“Out My Bedroom Window”
I was enjoying my morning cup of coffee, looked out the window, and saw this weird cloud formation. I dropped everything and rushed to get my camera. Luckily I had the right lens and was able to get a quick photo of this cloud spiral before it dissipated. A few seconds later it was gone. I have never seen such a cloud phenomenon. I have no clue what could have caused it here in Eastern Washington. I wonder if it was a mini cyclone???
The mysteries of nature engulf my imagination. The more I stop to contemplate what is going around me, the more wonder I see and feel. I feel grateful to witness such events and even more lucky if I have a camera near by. It is time to celebrate the wonderful world around me.
Selah – Naches Irrigation Flume
A few days ago we had a light snow. I gazed our from my kitchen window and became fixated on the wonderful piece of history in my backyard. The snow provided a nice contrast between the irrigation flume’s wood structure and the sagebrush speckled background.
This piece of history was built in 1892 to provide irrigation water to the Selah Valley. Over the years, much of the canal has been upgraded and the wooden flumes torn down. I am lucky to have one of the few remaining sections above my home. I currently get my irrigation water directly from this flume. Sadly, it won’t be for too many additional years. Plans are to replace this section with an underground pipe. So until funds are available, I will enjoy what remains of our little bit of history.
Gravel Walkway – Yakima Arboretum, WA
A straight line is not always the best way to get from point A to point B. The path’s gentle bends direct my interest in multiple directions: a beech grove to the right, a crabapple grove to the left, and a Japanese garden forward. Each bend encourages a little side trip off the path for further exploration.