Small City Scenes of Stanwood

More Snow

2009-12-14T22:14:00.000-08:00

Well the snow did arrive and school was cancelled for the day. Both daughters left for work and arrived ok. Kylee had a friend over and they went horseback riding. As you can see our dirt road was covered with snow and stayed that way all day. Apparently there is not much snow about 4 miles away. that is down the hill. So it looks pretty up here and life goes on elsewhere

First snow

2009-12-13T23:42:00.000-08:00

First snow of this winter was today.
So far we have about 5 inches of the white stuff.This pic was taken this morning feeding the horses. So we will see what happens in the morning. This is a country of many hills so snow means sometimes schools are closed or without 4 wheel drive the kids don't get to schools if they are open. Like I said we'll see.

Leavenworth, Washington & Festival of Christmas Lights

2009-12-13T00:32:00.000-08:00

Well Saturday I went to the small touristy town of Leavenworth, Washington. It is over the mountains in Eastern Wa. I went with a tour group---I will never do that again. Too many people for me. I am not a people person on that scale. Since it was the Festival of the Christmas Lights of course there were at least a bajillion people roaming around seemingly loving to stand in long lines to be jostled by more people. I will slow down--I think I am cranky. LOL

First picture is some of the crowd during the day
Second pic is of Ron the leader of the parade with his star and bell The last 3 pics are of the town all lit up. They also have a park across from the shops which has a gazebo and huge trees and they all lit up---on the count of 1..2..3..Boom. Magical!!

The first route across Stevens Pass was built by the Great Northern Railway in 1892. The townsite was across the Wenatchee River from Icicle and was named Leavenworth the same year the rail construction began. Captain Charles Leavenworth, president of the Okanogan Investment Company, purchased the land in the present-day downtown and laid the streets parallel to the new railroad tracks.

The railroad construction was completed during the winter of 1893. Lafayette Lamb and his brother, Chauncery Lamb arrived in 1903 from Iowa to build the second largest sawmill in Washington state.

Leavenworth was officially incorporated on September 5, 1906. A small timber community, it became the headquarters of the Great North Railroad in the early 1900s. The railroad relocated to Wenatchee in the 1920s, greatly affecting Leavenworth's economy.

The city struggled until 1962, when the Project LIFE (Leavenworth Improvement For Everyone) Committee was formed to transform the city into a mock Bavarian village to revitalize its economy. In this same vein, Leavenworth is home to the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum, which opened in 1995 and contains more than 5,000 nutcrackers dating from prehistoric to modern. Leavenworth's annual Oktoberfest celebration is claimed to be one of the most attended in the world outside Munich, Germany. Leavenworth's transformation into a theme town was inspired, and assisted, by Solvang, California. Later the Washington town of Winthrop followed Leavenworth's example and adopted a town theme. Winthrop has a western theme.

My camera is in the shop again and the camera I used was not my baby. I have some pictures of the beautiful sights across the mts. Later!

Frozen

2009-12-11T23:14:00.000-08:00

It has been very cold with record low temps for this area. Mid teen to lower20s--but on the up side that means it has been sunny with a blue sky and all the mountains are out and glowing.
1. Here is Mt. Rainier at daybreak from my front room---too cold to go out on the deck.
2&3.A frozen fountain
4. Ice down by my pond waterfall.

I will be gone for a couple days but will try to visit and make comments. MB

Sundogs and sunrise for Sky Watch

2009-12-10T21:17:00.000-08:00

I couldn't decide which shot to post so I said to heck with it I'll post both. Enjoy! MB

The sun was just coming up over the trees and with the odd shaped cloud above it, I thought it looked so different.

Sun dog or sundog (scientific name parhelion, plural parhelia, from "beside the sun"; also called a mock sun) is an atmospheric phenomenon that creates bright spots of light in the sky, often on a luminous ring or halo on either side of the sun.

Sundogs may appear as a colored patch of light to the left or right of the sun, 22° (or more) distant and at the same distance above the horizon as the sun, and in ice halos. They can be seen anywhere in the world during any season. In Europe and North America, they might be seen as often as twice a week but they are not always obvious or bright. They are best seen and at their most conspicuous when the sun is low. They are caused by the sun passing through ice crystals in a cloud, similar to a rainbow caused by the sun passing through water drops in a cloud.

To see more great skies around the world or to participate go to www.skyley.blogspot.com

Rucker's Tomb

2009-12-09T22:29:00.000-08:00

The Ruckers, Mother and sons, were pioneers in Everett washington. The tomb is 100+ years old.

The Ruckers are among Everett's founding families and owned the Everett-Monte Cristo railway. They built one of the finest homes in early Everett on what is now known as Rucker Hill. It featured Everett's first elevator.

The giant mausoleum cost $30,000 to build, a fortune at the time. It's door, is 4 feet by 7 feet, 4 inches thick and made of Red Beach granite, brought from Maine. There are 22 crypts in the pyramid. About half are occupied. Rucker descendants still live in the area.
One descendant said there is a spot there for him but he is not ready to occupy it yet.
the tomb has been seen in several movies. the most recent was 'Assassin' I forget who starred in it. But was quite exciting at the time.

Yeah, You and who else!!!!!

2009-12-08T22:42:00.000-08:00

Dinner in a parking lot.

Ritzville

2009-12-08T02:31:00.000-08:00

Washington---Where my cowgirl daughter lives.

Many Moons~~Mosaic Monday

2009-12-06T17:46:00.000-08:00

MMMMM It's the Moon for Mosaic Monday.
To see more mosaics or to participate go to:http://www.dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

I tried to make the pic bigger as I was instructed but it didn't work for me--I will continue to try--but you can click on the picture to enlarge it. MB

A story for Gramma

2009-12-06T06:42:00.001-08:00

My Grandson Bradley wrote this little story about his dog. I thought it was kind of neat---A boy and his dog. MB

The New Puppy..................

2009-12-05T06:42:00.001-08:00

Her are Josie (the Baby) and Bingo (who thinks he's a baby). bingo is so gentle with Josie and Josie loves to sink her baby teeth into Bingo's nose.

Well the first pic should be the 3rd but you get the idea. Babies grow fast. MB

Has grown up. Happy Birthday Josie.

Sorry I have been gone a couple days and couldn't comment----I'm back!!!

Sunsetmoonrise~sky Watch

2009-12-03T21:56:00.000-08:00

I took these pictures tonight (thursday) from my house. The sky has been so awesome lately but now the clouds are rolling in and it will be gray again. A hint of snow----Maybe. MB

To see sky views from all over the world or to participate go to www.skyley.blogspot.com

Old town Stanwood

2009-12-02T23:17:00.000-08:00

The Stanwood Hotel was built in the late 1890s, and is one of the oldest buildings in town. Although it has been changed and added to, it is essentially the same structure that housed loggers, mill workers, hunters and tourists for many years. The mill workers purchased meal cards to eat there. It became a tavern with a card room after Prohibition.

Monday night Moon

2009-12-01T22:30:00.000-08:00

Monday evening was cold and blustery. Then the wind blew all the clouds away and we finally had a clear sky, a frosty morning and a beautiful Tuesday. But Monday night the moon and clouds were very Octoberish.

I can see the Man in the Moon. Even he looks a little spooked. MB

Theme day~~~~Waiting

2009-12-01T05:33:00.000-08:00

Tuffy is waiting for someone to come and play with him.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

My evil car

2009-11-29T22:08:00.000-08:00

So.....Kylee had a barrel Race at an indoor arena about 6 miles down the road from here. I thought I would go take some pictures. About noonish I am driving down the road about 30-35 MPH when the car pulls to the right and off into the ditch I went. I thought I was going to tip over but I kept driving, up and down, and as you can see in the pic I straightened the car and almost straddled the ditch and finally came to a driveway and out on to the road. I didn't want to stop the car and be stuck in the ditch. I could tell I had at least one flat tire but crept down the road to the arena and then said "OH Crap"!!! So I'm ok, the car is ok and all dirty and I do have a right front flat. I suppose what happened was I got a flat and lurched to the right and the rest is history. I missed Kylee's first ride and her second. I called my son in law about 25 miles away but he came right out and changed my tire. I had it out and all ready and I know I could have/should have changed it--but I didn't want to.. Wah!!
So Monday I will drive on the little doughnut tire to the tire shop and they will fix it. After all they sold me the tires just in August. Back the I had a post about my flat tire on the freeway at 70 MPH. this car is jinxed I am sure. 3 sets of tires in 3 years and now another flat. What tha........MB

How high's the water, Momma?

2009-11-28T22:44:00.000-08:00

I took these pictures Friday as I drove around the Valley.

I think the water is a little high. It is a good thing they have a nice boat.

Derelict boats on the Samish. This is how I feel sometimes. LOL

The Samish River at Samish Bay.
The Samish River is approximately 25 miles long. The river drains an area of 139 square miles between the Skagit River basin on the south and the Nooksack River basin on the north. The Samish River originates on a low divide in Whatcom County, and its tributary, Friday Creek, originates in the hills south of Bellingham. The river continues its southwesterly flow through Skagit County and outlets into Samish Bay in Puget Sound.

The Samish River supports a large variety of fish and is home to one of Washington's larger fall King Salmon runs. The Samish River has runs of five Salmon and three trout species including: Spring/Winter Steelhead, Summer Sockeye, Fall Chinook/Chum/Coho, and year-round runs of Cutthroat, and Dolly Varden. Also documented are Pink Salmon which, while rare, do arrive in small numbers to spawn in the Samish.

Flooded cornfield

A whole raft of snoozing Sanderlings in a flooded field

Don't forget to click on any picture to enlarge it--specially the last one. See each one sleeping.

Ripples in the pond

2009-11-28T00:01:00.000-08:00

Friday turned out to be fairly nice. No rain and even some sun showing through. I saw some nice reflections on the pond and decided pond pictures were due. The fish came up to greet me and they made ripples on the water. The waterfall was rushing and it was just plain nice out. MB

Crazy Clouds~~~~~~Sky Watch

2009-11-26T23:14:00.001-08:00

More of the fantastic sky and clouds swirling around Mt. Rainier yesterday. Now today is nothing but gray and showers. No mountains in sight.

To view more fantastic skies or to participate go to www.skyley.blogspot.com

Morning with the mountain

2009-11-25T22:21:00.000-08:00

The southern sky was beautiful this morning and for half the day. The sunrise on Mt. Rainier was stunning and the many different cloud formations all day long was awesome. The dark clouds came down around 2:30 and covered the Mountain and by three it was raining and hasn't stopped.
As you can see the shots were taken at the same spot from my deck.
Something I am thankful for. MB

1. 6:30am
2. 6:45
3. 7:00
4: 7:45
5. 8:00

Tremendous!!!
Click on each picture to enlarge

Mural~~~Wednesday Sepia Scenes

2009-11-24T22:47:00.000-08:00

This is a mural painted on an old brick wall in Sedro-Woolley Wa. Sedro-Woolley is an old Logging/farming community on upper Skagit River. Very interesting town. MB

To see more scenes in sepia go to http://sepiascenes.blogspot.com/

We wazzunt doin' nuthin'

2009-11-23T22:15:00.000-08:00

It seems everyone was wondering about the muddy girls in my previous post.
Here's their story and they're sticking to it.
The girls went down to the pasture to talk to the horses and decided to clean out the horse trough--water is involved--and one thing led to another--use imagination--these are the results. They even took a video. Too funny but I don't know how to post it to my blog.
The girls looked like this:

And my laundry room looked like this.

Cowgirl friends~~~~~Mosaic Monday

2009-11-22T22:59:00.000-08:00

Kylee's Rodeo summer fun.

To see more mosaics or to participate go to http://www.dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

click on pic to enlarge

New train in town.

2009-11-21T22:06:00.000-08:00

In an earlier post (Sept 18, 2009) I wrote about Stanwood becoming a new stop for Amtrak and a boarding station being built. Well it is finally done.
Today November 21, 2009 was the grand opening and ribbon cutting.
I was there with my camera--oh I got it back last night and these are the first pictures. Anyway--there I was camera at ready--people shouting-"here she comes" and I am in the front --READY--when just as I was ready to snap my first shot 87 very tall people jumped in front of me and I couldn't see a thing. Did I mention that I am sorta short--most people are taller than me. Such is life.

Dressed to the nines---the old meeting the new.

Looking down a shiny car.
The Bistro car
The Engine

Here is Stanwood and Camano's own Senator Mary Margaret Haugen cutting the ribbon welcoming passenger rail to Stanwood after 38 years.

Remember click on any picture to enlarge it.

The little darlins'.......

2009-11-20T23:38:00.001-08:00

These pictures were taken by my Mother at here home on Whidbey Island. In September I believe. I borrowed her camera while I was having mine fixed and found these pics on her camera. Lunch time for the deer. LOL MB