Spring Flowers, Pretty Birds and Yarn

Hello my friends, welcome!  Our DIL Kristi captured a new photo of our rare bird visitor - the Lazuli Bunting.  She didn't even know she'd also captured a Goldfinch in the same image.  Isn't this neat?

When I came home from swimming on Wednesday I pulled in and asked Kristi if she wanted to drive up and see if the Columbia Tiger Lily wildflower was in bloom near Vista House.  She said sure, so she and Caleb jumped in the car and off we went.  The lilies were only in bud, but we did find some nice colorful Columbine.

Oh the lovely Columbine, how do I love thee.. let me count the ways...

This was the scene behind our flowers.. :-)  That is the Columbia River flowing West to Portland, Oregon on it's way to join the Pacific Ocean.

When they built the Historic Columbia River Highway they built these "crow's nests" for people to rest and enjoy the view down the river.  Caleb is enjoying himself with his mom and grandma.

We then headed to Portland Women's Forum.. because I never pass the chance to see the view from there UP the river and to see Vista House.

I'm still amazed that I can get this quality of an image of Vista House by zooming on my LUMIX from Portland Women's Forum!

Rooster Rock seems to have sprouted a new green hairdo.  :-)

There is Rooster Rock in the bottom left hand corner and Washington State across the river.  I love the big green pastures there.  The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area was passed in order to protect the gorge from being over developed - had it not passed, you would be seeing massive residential developments spreading across the farmland.

Rooster Rock's "Mohawk" hairdo.  :-)

Across the parking lot were masses of Queen Anne's Lace.. I'd been wanting to capture an image of them close up... 

And even closer - each round bunch is a perfect posy.

Back home - this Calla Lily has bloomed for the first time since I planted it as many as 8 + years ago!  

I did some bird photographing, too.  Love me some Goldfinches.  They love thistle seed.

On the deck I thought it was fun to see a Fuchsia as the little round bud was just opening.

They open to these pretty ballerina flowers.

I walked near the Hummingbird feeder hoping to capture an image.. snap.. snap.. snap - finally one good enough to use.

I asked my dear husband to help me roll up my huge skein of natural white alpaca so I could start my new project - a Summer Shawl using the Elise pattern.  

My friends, this was a LOT of rolling of yarn!  600 yards!  The Elise pattern calls for 400 yards, so I will have enough for a lacy edge, I hope.  I got this yarn when we visited the Alpaca farm above Hood River.

This ball is bigger than a large grapefruit.  And so soft!

I needed the pattern and chart to get started but soon got into the rhythm of it and don't need to look at the chart.

Here is what I have so far.  I'm so pleased to have a nice project to work on.

I wanted to show you some great photos that Kristi got on our gorge drive.  I love this one of the top of a Columbine.

She also found this unusual red fern.  

And she also got a close up of the red fern frond.. cool!

When we arrived back at the farm, she hopped out of the car and got a shot of the Poppies being grown in the pasture across from us.  Several Laotian families share a rented pasture and grow flowers for the farmers markets that serve the Portland area.

I am happy that Gracie is back from her trip to California and will be meeting me at the pool in a few hours.  Yay!  I hope you have a nice weekend!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)