On the Way

We stopped in Nebraska at a charming rest stop.

Western Kingbirds

Lark Sparrows

and Rattlesnakes greeted us.

I heard the rattle before I saw him.

A horned toad crossed our path.

In Wyoming we saw Pronghorn grazing
by the side of the road.

We were on a lonesome highway.

We were traveling into the wilds.

Tulip Time in Iowa

We attended a tulip festival in Pella, Iowa.
It is a three day event every year.
We stayed for two days.



Pella is a Dutch community in south central Iowa.



This tulip is known as the "Pella" tulip.
It was developed for the town of Pella by growers in Holland.

The town is charming and Tulip Time is beautiful!

The tulips are fantastic!

There were two parades each day.
These two napped on their shoes after dancing in the parade.



I did some shopping.
So I needed a shopping bag.



I have begun collecting pottery mugs from the different festivals we attend.

A storm blew in while we were walking about on the square.

A downpour to water the tulips.

It quickly passed.

We heard about a kite festival that was being held in the small town of Grennell,

just north of Pella.

Saturday morning we drove up to see kites!

A windy beautiful day.

Perfect for kites!

I was "Wowed!"

I love kites.

They are beautiful.

They are fun!

A strong 25 mph wind kept the kites flying high.

I so enjoyed watching the proformance kites.

Some kites had small kites on their strings

and some had super long tails!

One small delicate kite was blown onto the netting of the kite field.

I waited to see if she would be claimed.

After awhile I took her off the netting.

She came home with me!

People came from all over

to fly their kites.

Kites are so beautiful and fun!

I bought an umbrella.

An umbrella for summertime festivals.

Perfect Hostess

Bunny sits on her desk.
He tells the time and gives the forecast.
In Portland he normally says, "Rain."

If I had a Bunny our Bunnies would be ear friends.
I need a Bunny.

The four of us played cribbage after supper each night.
Little Red won the tourney.
She long ago won our hearts.

We planted an indoor herb garden together.
The chives took right off.

The boys planted strawberries in planter boxes

for the patio.

I hope they get enough sun.

Since it rained while we were at Lake Quinault we were not able to take our sketch books into the forest and do our watercolors. My daughter knew I was a little disappointed. Lake Quinault Lodge has a water color class on Saturdays. We would not be there for it since we had to leave on Tuesday. No worries, my daughter gave a water color class for just the two of us at her

kitchen table!

She knows all about watercolors.

She taught me the joy of letting go of the outcome and enjoying the process.
I need a set of watercolor pencils.

While our pages dried we went to the yarn shop. We both want to learn to knit. Even though we are 1,500 miles away from each other we both can learn to knit! We can chat about knit one and pearl two. We can both knit a scarf.

I was fascinated with her moss.

She is fascinated with the slugs that call her backyard home.

We are careful not to step on a slug!

I finished my book about the Pacific Northwest. I left it for her library.

She loaned me a book for the plane from her stacks.

Flowers filled her rooms with light.

She filled my heart with joy.

Thank you for a wonderful time in Portland, Oregon!

"Knit one, pearl two...ear friend."

I miss you dear Daughter!

Lake Quinault, Washington

When we arrived at Lake Quinault
there was a slight mist.

By the time we were unpacked and in our rooms it was raining.


We enjoyed a fire in the lodge and our books.

We played cribbage and drank tea and ate cookies.

We had fun.

The next morning it was still raining.

After breakfast we bundle into our rain gear

and went for a hike in the old growth forest.

Some of the areas around the lodge are being replanted with native plants.

In the ditches by the road Skunk Cabbages were in bud.

Steller's Jay flew near in the rain.

The temperate rain forest is my favorite forest.

It is managed by Mother Nature.

There were some birds in the rain.

This Varied Thrush was spotted by my husband.

A flock of Bushtits chattered.

I loved seeing the birds but I came to be with the trees.

Even in the rain they were full of magic.

We were able to take two hikes in the Forest.

I visited my tree, my Ent.

In the Quinault rain forest I feel alive.