Poor Old Mall

Okay, I'm cheating. I didn't take this today, and it was taken during the afternoon rather than the morning, but I like it and it ties in with the other blog I'm working on today: Responsibility!

The rubble in the background is what remains of the Blue Mountain Mall, in Walla Walla, WA. I can actually remember a visit to my aunt's house before I moved to the Northwest when this was still a beautiful field full of horses grazing on luscious green grass. So, I don't have any facts available, but I'd say it was an early death as far as mall lives go!

The graffiti-ed foreground is the unfinished remains of an ill conceived strip-mall project that died in the credit crisis. I've heard Detroit is considering turning it's acres of abandoned buildings back into farmland, perhaps we should let this real estate go back to the horses!

Warming Barrett Station

I got a tip there might be lovely irrigation ice formations out here, but it was too warm. I love the way the rising sun warms up the silos though!

The Joy of Spring Break

Welcome to Spring

Monday, March 22, 2010

Okay, so Spring was officially here on the 20th, but this is the first really Springy photo! ^_^

Ugly Morning

I have obviously been ignoring my blogging duties, but I was inspired by two glorious mornings where the orchards had been doused with water to keep the buds from going below 32 degrees and they had been covered in brilliant glistening icicles, to search desperately for my camera! No luck...but yesterday afternoon I finally found it. So, this morning, instead of a neighboring ice castle...I found this:

Very anti-climactic! Maybe tomorrow will be better...

------------Update----------------

Turned into a nice day after all!

Fast Fog II

I first woke to a beautiful clear dawn, but then noticed a line of fog building in the distance! Although it wasn't as dramatically fast as the morning of Fast Fog I, by the time I got downstairs it had smothered us all.

Puddle Jumpin'

No, it's not sunrise, but it is when the sun decided to make a brief appearance! ^_^

Foggy Fun

Close Up

I'm guessing this is a hawk, but I am no expert! So if you know, please let me know in a comment! I'm pretty happy with how well it turned out at 16x zoom on my Canon Powershot!

See it?

January 28, 2010 - I did not take any photos. So, here is part one for the 29th. ^_^

(Click pic for a larger view!)

Morning

January 27, 2010

Rain Warped

January 26, 2010

Blue Fog Fade

January 25, 2010

Winter Flower

Snowy View

January 23, 2010

Nostalgic

The frosty light of dawn landing on these tiny tennis reminded me that my teenager once wore them. They have served each of my three boys well, but as soon as my youngest outgrows them it seems an era will have passed.

Wind and Clouds

Actually, the wind chased those puffy clouds away pretty quickly. It turned into a WINDY, but beautiful day. It's to the point where my husband suddenly said last night, "Listen! The wind stopped!" But by morning it was back.

Wind and Sun

January 20, 2010

Blinding Brilliance!

My son got this shot as I drove him to school. It still feels more like Spring than January, and the bulbs are starting to sprout. They usually don't make an appearance until mid February. The worry is that if the fruit trees warm too much, they will start to bud early. I love the sunshine, but wouldn't mind a bit more winter.

January?

Feels more like Spring than the middle of Winter!

Wood Cuts

January 17, 2010

I love these artistic little patterns in the wood!

Drip Drop

A Glow

January 15, 2010

I considered making a video this time so I could capture the wild wind that blew all the clouds back in. This shot looks deceptively calm!

A Sunrise

It truly felt like Spring rather than the middle of January today. Apparently, this is not good for future crops, but it sure felt nice!

Red Light, Foggy Light

Windy Ride

I always enjoy looking at the creative decor in this yard as I drive past. This morning I noticed that the wild wind storm that barrelled through last night knocked two of these brave teddies off their bikes! I was a tad bit worried all the huffing and puffing would blow our old house down last night. ^_^ Actually, the effects of the storm even surprised the weather dude on the local news this morning because the downdraft over the Blue Mountains raised the temperature in Walla Walla to 61 degrees by 6 this morning: nearly 30 degrees above the rest of the area! We are about 10 miles away and didn't get quite that warm, but it was up to 48 when I drove through down town.

Lovely!

That's the way to start the day! It's foggy again now. I'm glad I looked out at just the right moment! ^_^

Blanket

Fog blankets the valley today:

Lament of a Night Owl
(Another cheesy poem)

Somewhere deep inside my soul,
a part of me aches to control
the too harsh rules of time and space.
Listen as I make my case:

I hate to go upstairs to bed
and pull the blankets to my head,
because it seems that when I sleep
instantly alarms will beep.

So, if I stay late in the night
perhaps I can delay the light
that races round our too small earth
to brighten up a new day's birth.

But sadly, if I finally rest
at one or two or three, the West
will soon be bright'ning anyway,
for I CANNOT delay the day!

Glazed

The rain was already washing away the layer of ice it left in the night, making things extra shiny for a moment.

(You can really see the ice here if you click the picture and view it full sized. ^_^)

Shattered

Hurry Up!

Touch of Sun

Waiting...

I'm not used to being early!

Time for School

Took this from my car AFTER dropping my son off at school. I could have used another day or so of vacation! ^_^

Before the Fog

The fog has rolled in thick now, but it was pretty this morning!

Melting Away!

Bye-bye snow!

Sorry to see you go...

01-01-10

Trying again in two thousand ten!

Happy New Year!