Smilin'

Even my 'deck' was smiling, can you see it? We are finally getting more than a few sprinkles so there may be some hope yet, for life returning to the dying trees and plants.
Before my 7 yr. old grandson left, he gave me a 'clue', smiled, and walked out the door giggling. He said he drew a picture for me and that I should ' see ' if I could find it. I never look into this mirror above the ' throne ', so it took me a while. I had to laugh as the light hit it just right as I walked into the bathroom, and there it was. He drew a stick girl and wrote Grandma, under it. I laughed out loud, to ' see ' it.
How's this for a strange lil fella. Look at that tail. It looks like this mischievous little chipmunk that we have named ' Trouble, ' had dipped his tail in a couple colors of paint. Either that, or he has been co-mingling with Pippy Le' Pew.
I couldn't resist a few fun shots while checking the water level at the cabin. These are ' overflow ' bubbles. There is a large hemlock laying across the creek, and when it rains, the level comes up quickly. Foam and bubbles back up when the water rises to the bottom of the log. It looks cellular to me.
The center of the foam looks like a giant sponge. This one sure is holding a lot of water.
The next two pictures are overviews of the creek. Everything is sure green after the rains. The ferns are filling out and the mosses are forming on the fallen trees.
Click to enlarge and you will see how the creek has forked and more foam at the top right of the picture due to another large hemlock across the flow of water. The right side of the fork is always dry. Not today, and it's still coming down. I don't think we have to worry about our trees anymore.
After so many dry years, going on 8, the ground is finally starting to soften as it drinks in all the rains. The neighbor has been logging next to the line and due to the softer ground, a tree fell over the road while I was back at the cabin. This photo is deceiving, as I was ' just ' able to squeeze under the tree with ' Ol'Blue ', my faithful Dodge Pickup.

I arrived home to yet, another nice surprise. I thought I recognized his call. He sounds a bit like a robin but more quiet and melodious. He has a click in his song. I love to see him at the feeder with his distinctive rose colored breast on an otherwise, black and white body. He's actually pretty friendly, once he learns he can trust you.
Finally, I looked up to check the gloomy sky and I see this silhouette of a pair of doves. They mate for life. There is something so peaceful listening to them coo to one another. It's like they are conversing about the weather, just as I had been doing. Will they stay long enough for me to take their picture, I wonder. Perfect end to a day of surprises.
BlessYourHearts