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!

Foggy Fun

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.

Hurry Up!

Day 59: Fuzzy

On the right is a bud on the earliest blooming tree in the valley. I think its called a tulip tree? On the left is something I've never seen before...is it a yak?

Day 57: All in one day!

The ice on green was taken (with flash) at dawn, but the rest of the day was too amazing to leave out.

Day 54: Little Light of Mine

Guess it's time to take these down, huh? ^_^

Day 52: Forgotten

Day 24: Hang On!

Finally
ten days
of gray
and ice
and fog
and clouds
so dark and dreary
cold and weary
interrupted by a change

flakes so soft
and white
and clean
fall softly
blanketing the land
my eyes take in a feast of beauty
every hue jumps out
in contrast
to the pure white snow
fulfilling longings in my soul
long dulled by icy gray

within the midst of orchard trees
birds chirp and fly
from branches pruned
to apples sweet
and then I spy
upon a wire
a clothespin
random
unexplained
it whispers silently
Hang On!
The darkest night
is just before the dawn!

Day 14: Frozen Droplets