The South Side

Also known as the front of the house.  Which is kinda scary in the middle of a hail storm.

 But not so bad on beautiful sunny days.  Like today.

Park right here and we'll take a closer look.

Up the steps to the front door.

I'll just go in and get you a glass of iced tea before we sit on the porch swing.  Just make yourself at home.  

 Go ahead.  Look around.

Too bad I have to go to work this afternoon.  I could stay here all day.

Touring

This was the week I was going to take you with me on a tour of the grounds.

 We would have started on the west side.

 In anticipation of the tour I took a few quick pictures.

 Of the things that were blooming.

 The yarrow.

 The red wood dogwood.

 The clematis.

 The daylilies, which were just budding.  But before they could bloom, or I got around to posting about them, I came home to this.

And the west side of the house took the brunt of the storm.

 And then the next day it hailed again.

And hail is not kind to plants.  So if you don't mind we will start the tour tomorrow- on the south side.

Chamber of Secrets

It's our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.
Today I chose to put another coat of paint on the emerald dresser.  And take a walk with the dog.   And finish book 2.
And I would like to choose a house elf.  Just saying.

Well Begun is Half Done

Popped open the can of Emerald Cut paint this evening, and if the practically perfect, ever practical, and wondrously magical Mary Poppins is to be believed, I am half way to crossing number 8 off the non-resolution list.
Is "My dresser needs a second coat" an acceptable reason to call in sick?

It's a Mountain, Get Over It

Today's post is not about the mountain.  It is an announcement that I have started rereading the Harry Potter books, beginning with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.  About which I would like to say a few words, and here they are: 

Nitwit.  Blubber.  Oddment.  Tweak.

Plus I have added #53 to the list:  Make a treacle tart.

The End of a Long Day on the Mountain

By the time we got to Shell Falls,

we were mere shadows of ourselves.

Take a Picture

The STP and I went over the mountain.

To see what we could see...

And all that we could see...

And all that we could see...

Was the other side of the mountain.

 The other side of the mountain...

 

Was all that we could see.

So we took a few pictures along the way.

And I share these that didn't fit into the wildflower or animal posts. 

( The funny thing to us is that along the way there are a few signs that say "Scenic View--1000 ft."  None of these pics were taken at designated "scenic view" sites. )  

Last month, on my way to see the gynecologist in the big town, I drove past wild horses and antelopes and mountains with awesome expanses of clouds, sunshine and shadows in between.  I passed a car with a camera being held out the passenger side window.  And it occurred to me that after five years of trips to the big town, I no longer take pictures out the window along the way.  Maybe because I already have already photographed the whole trip.  Maybe because I know, that no matter how hard I try, I can't capture the awesome landscape with my point and shoot.   More likely, because I take the amazing scenic views for granted.  So I'm thankful today for a reminder to slow down, stop occasionally, look around, and take a picture.

You know what this picture means, don't you?  Sibley Lake is open.  Time to get the kayaks out.

Incidental Animal Sightings

 While in search of wildflowers, we couldn't help but notice this moose: 

Oh, you drove right by and missed it?  Let me zoom for you.

Still can't make out the moose for the trees?  A little closer then.

Oh, we're so close now it lifted its' head.  It looks like a young one, doesn't it?

Here, let me take a pic for you through the binoculars.  What?

Okay, here is another one.  Closer to the road. 

 See?  It's hard to miss a moose.

Deer, on the other hand, will hide behind guardrails so you may overlook them if you are concentrating on seeing flowers.  

If the 'over the car roof' shot doesn't work, you might have to use the 'close to the ground' maneuver we practiced with the wildflowers.

And then do a little cropping.

Not bad, especially since I was just here to see the flowers.

Catch or Duck

 I picked up a little something for you this weekend.

Here you go!

Productive Weekend

41.  Finish the north rock bed.

This has been on the list since last summer, and completes the beds around the house.  (Five short years after I started.) 

**With thanks to the STP, the Goob, and my friend the Game Warden who all recognize a good rock when they see one.

The SLD and Why I Love Her

 We invited the Goob to go with the STP and me on our trip to the mountain, but he has no enthusiasm to go anywhere with us.  Especially if it involves the outdoors.  Or moving.

 On the other hand, we had the dog at the word "Go".

She loves the outdoors.  Especially if it involves running.  Through snow or mud.  Or both.

She loves smelling things.  Like imaginary underground rodents.  

And she loves protecting us from things (like moose and crows) with her vicious bark.

When she is outside, she has the attention span of a hyper little dog. (Squirrel.)  She listens to the STP, and is deaf to the sound of my voice.  When she gets in the car, she prances her muddy feet across my seat.  Occasionally she does that stealthy dog kiss thing that I hate.  I hope she lives long enough to move out of my house with the Goob.

But the thing I love about her is her ability to be in the right place, at the right time, looking in the right direction when the shutter snaps. 

Good dog.

Wild About the Mountain

Tiny wildflowers bloom in very hostile places on the mountain.

Some are so tiny that you almost can't see them.

Unless you are looking for them.  

And you use your macro setting.

And get close to the ground.

 Some are slightly less exotic than others.

And some are more exquisite.

And, like most things, if you take enough pictures of them, you are bound to get a few good ones.

Touched today by the beauty of the creation and the vast creativity of the Creator.