Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Morning in the Methow Valley

I am visiting my auntie/sister this week and am basking in the quiet relaxation and peacefulness of their home. I awoke early today to the sound of chickens quietly clucking. Their voices are reminiscent of low volume chuckling and it's a happy way to start the day.

The sun was about to rise over the ridge and the wisps of low clouds in front of the distant vista was so pretty! Horses out in the pasture can be seen past the garden yard and the low shush-shush-shush of the sprinklers is interrupted only by the proud crowing of the rooster as he rouses his flock.

The view from the other side of the house/barn is the opposite ridge that rims this beautiful river valley they call home. Here's a photo from her kitchen window. Peeking through the forest of hollyhocks, past the beautiful clematis covered gate arbor, you can see more of these low wispy clouds.

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

As the sun's first rays hit the clouds, the play of light and shadow on the stark landscape of the ridge is quite lovely, but very different from the forests of my side of the Cascades and the beach side vistas of our little bay.

The sun is bright, today is going to be a warm one. Shep has closed all the windows to preserve the coolness of the night's breezes. Jannie has started her morning routine and I am eager to start the day, as I am incorporated into their Life In The Barn.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Daybreak in the Garden

Couldn't sleep at all last night, perhaps it was that I am soooo excited about my sister's upcoming visit!

First hummingbird at the bedroom window feeder: 4:49am.

Outside to greet the day: 6am, after coffee and a bagel

Here's the view as I stepped off the deck this morning:
I tried to capture the wonderful quality of the light in the clear blue sky as the sun touched the white trunks of the cottonwoods behind us but the pictures were unspectacular. Too bad this isn't an HD blog, because the colors of the flowers and the variety of green is just astonding!

Well, back outside to pick my paintbrush back up and get to work! Have a great morning!