Deciduous? Coniferous? Or What?

When I was a little kid, I drew two kinds of trees:

the round ones (deciduous), and

the triangular ones (coniferous).

Because those are the two types of trees, right?

(Simple minded, just maybe?)

Now, we do have some confusing ones that look like they would be deciduous, but their leaves are thick and waxy, and don't drop in the winter.  Think rhododendrons, azaleas, and madronas.

Okay, so there are three kinds of trees ;D

And then there are larches.

As we were driving over the pass (think high altitude) Kerry was reminiscing about a trip we took up to Banff and Jasper, in Canada, and talking about some unique trees there, and how he wished he could see them again, "but it's too bad they don't grow here."

...as I was photographing them out the car window and asking him to stop.

"You mean, larch trees, like these?"

Larch trees are tricky.

Most of the year, they look like a normal coniferous evergreen tree.

You know, like a big Christmas tree.

But in the fall, their blue-green needles (leaves)

turn golden and eventually drop.

We hit it at just the right time :D

With the sun shining through them, they seemed to glow.

I'm glad we stopped, because as the highway sloped down this valley we quit seeing them, as these are Alpine Larch, and only grow at high elevations.

I'm amazed at the diversity God put on the earth - so far beyond what is necessary!

Beauty, for no reason, but for His glory :D

Over the Pass

I love living in Washington for the variety of climates.  We have everything from rain forest to desert to seashore to alpine.  We can drive to snow any day of the year, or sail around the San Juan Islands, or hike in a forest.  Living on the wet (coastal) side of the state, one thing I really appreciate is the dramatic change we get just from driving over the pass to the dry side.

I took these photos literally moments apart - maybe half an hour.  The first peak is near Diablo Lake, on the wet side, and already has a dusting of new snow.  Notice the cloudy sky.

Thirty (or so) minutes later we were at the pass, looking east at this mountain (if I'm reading the map correctly, part of Kangaroo Ridge - huh???) and the blue sky :D

This particular mountain pass is only open seasonally as it's quite high (compared to others) and doesn't connect any biggish cities (like Seattle or Spokane).  You may have heard that Washington gets a lot of snow.  A LOT.

As we headed east, early in October, the road was perfectly clear and the hillsides - while evergreen - were showing beautiful fall color.  Notice the colored poles by the side of the road?  That's so when it snows the plow drivers know where the edge of the road is.  But they don't plow this road all winter.  The pass closes, usually from late November until May.  Too dangerous for the road crews, not to mention the average driver (avalanches).

While we were in Winthrop we had a day of heavy rain, and when we came back across the pass, things looked a little different!  The road was still clear, but the snow was not far above it.

Quite a difference, yah?

When I snapped some pictures on the way east I wasn't thinking of doing comparisons, and now I wish I had taken more.

These photos aren't quite the same, but they're looking the same way and the second is zoomed in more.  There was NO snow on that peak earlier in the week!  But I love the way the dark trees and the white snow interact with the colors in the rock.

This peak is officially named Early Winters (probably because winter comes early at that elevation) but is often referred to as Liberty Bell, and the highway curves around to the right of it.

And that would be called an avalanche chute.

Looking up from the highway...

I love how the clefts in the rock almost line up.

I'm not a fan of driving in the snow and was really glad to see the beauty of it... above the highway :D

Our Dam Vacation

Oh my goodness.

We have funny memories of a family vacation from the "pre-blog" days when we took the boys to Grand Coulee Dam and they innocently overused the word.  (Ie "When are the dam people coming to give us the dam tour?" Etc.)

So.  Wyatt and his job.  He is a "peak-season-hire".  Because guess when UPS is the busiest?  Before Christmas, right?  As in, from NOW until Christmas.  So if he wants to keep the job (and he does!) he pretty much has to suck it up and pull down the hours between now and Christmas, and after that he can cut back.  Feel free to pray for him!

And... back to vacation.

Washington has a lot of dams.  Lots of rivers.  Lots of hydroelectric power.

And the anniversary trip wasn't about dams at all, but they're kind of unavoidable.  We passed by Ross and Diablo Lakes - beautiful at any time of year :D

Great for power AND for recreation.  Though it's quiet this time of year, you might see lots of boaters, campers, hikers, fishers, etc. around Diablo Lake.

This tiny island intrigues me.

Love how the colorful maples and alders are along the edges of slide areas and the shores of the lakes.

And though we didn't this time, you can drive right across the top of this dam!

Kind of an eerie feeling, seeing the lake about level with you on one side, and the sheer drop on the other.

I always expect to see birds nesting here... but they're not.  Seems like a perfect place for eagles.

Yes, the water really is that color.

Not sure of the name... maybe Pinnacle Peak?

Very majestic looking at the end of this fjord-like arm of the lake

And again with the evergreens' tenacious hold on life.

Kerry and I both love how clear and blue the water is.  Harder to see on a cloudy day, but you can look right down through the water.

And look what was revealed when they drilled down through the rock to build the highway.

The main rock is probably basalt, but I don't know what the lighter colored layers are.

Pretty, though.

Grasshopper Days

Grasshopper Days

For today, Monday, November 3, 2014.

Outside my window...  it's just after 3:30pm and already getting dark... bye bye, daylight savings.  Bye bye daylight.  

We were at the Potluck/Game Night at church Saturday night, talking about the time change, and I made a comment about how often I'll just have changed all the clocks, and then we'll get a windstorm and lose power and I'll have to re-set them.  Again.

And guess what?  Sunday morning I was sitting in the living room, sipping my tea before we left for church, and it was NOT WINDY.  So, fabulous, right?  And then BOOM.  We heard an explosion and the power went out.  Why on earth would a transformer blow on a calm morning?  No idea.  But when we got home, I re-re-set the clocks.

And not five minutes later, the power flickered.  It just flickered.  And I re-re-re-set the clocks.  And by golly, it better stay on now, because Wyatt REALLY needs his alarm clock, but more about that later.

Meanwhile, even though it has nothing to do with this post, I have some more vacation pics from our trip to Winthrop.  While we were over there we took a drive down through Twisp to Pateros, and up to Omak, and back to Winthrop a more northerly way, through much of the area that was burned this summer.  Lots of beautiful fall colors interspersed with devastation.

The Chewuch River, coming by Winthrop.  Love the reddish tree trunks.

Hearing...  wind outside and the dryer inside.

You can sure tell a difference between the fertile valley with the river and the dry hillsides.

Pondering...  you ever hear the expression "It never rains, but it pours"?
* The van is making a thunking noise.  It's still running fine, but... maybe shocks/struts?  $$$
* The 4Runner (Kerry's vehicle) had a flat, and I mean down-on-the-rim-flat, tire.
* Wyatt's Nissan isn't starting right.  Starter? Relay? Also random electrical problems.  $$$  And he NEEDS transportation right now.  So Kerry and I are sharing the van while Wyatt drives the 4Runner.
* Gunnar looked out the window while we were doing dishes and said, "Oh look!  A cute mouse!"  Uh-huh.  It took me about ten seconds to realize that if he could see it from the kitchen window, it wasn't a mouse.  There are rats nesting under our compost bin.  Fabulous.  Time for some poison.
* Got the Visa bill.  News flash, I have NOT been making charges in China.  But somebody has.  Canceled the Visa and requested a new one.  That will come in two to three weeks.
*  Got a notice from our credit union that my debit card may have been "compromised" and they are replacing it also.  In about three weeks.
* I've been sick.  Gunnar has been sick.  (Just yucky colds, but no fun.)
* Tate went out hunting twice last week and got skunked.  Nothing.  Saw one doe about 100 yards away.  Regular deer season finished Friday.  Saturday, two bucks were bedded down next to our driveway, and one was a nice big 3x2.
* I am waiting on TWO surgery dates.  And waiting.  And waiting.  It's like flying stand-by.  Why?
* And my new (as of May) computer needs some TLC.  How is that possible?

Poor Eastern Washington.  After the fires, flooding.  This creek washed out...

... right into their garage...

... and house.

Praying...  to keep my head on straight.  Wouldn't I love to have a secretary!  And for Kerry's clients to pay up promptly.  Whew.

It boggles my mind how some trees burned and others were untouched.

Thankful...  for my cozy, warm, dry house on these wild, wet, windy days.  And... (drum-roll...)  Wyatt got a job!  He's working the early morning "pre-load" at UPS.  As in, be at work at 3:30 AM, and then go straight to school.  Right now they seem to think he can work close to 30 hours a week and I'm telling him that is NOT sustainable for a full-time college student, so he has some negotiating to do.  BUT, we're VERY thankful for such a good job!

Wearing...  dark blue jeans, navy blue Danskos, and a stripey sweater - navy, periwinkle, gold, green and orange - very fall :D

 Some houses survived and others didn't.

Creating...  Sunday School lessons.  How would you draw the 10 Commandments for pre-readers?  I'm making a matching game.

Even the soil looks scorched.

Going...  off to Messiah rehearsal in a few minutes.

Up near Alta Lake campground.

Reading...  Proverbs.

In between burned spots... beauty.

Looking forward to...  an imaginary time when things settle down.  (When?)

Alta Lake State Park... I've camped here :o(

In the kitchen...  I made a big pot of elk stew over the weekend and there's still a bit left for tonight.

More campsites at Alta Lake

In the learning rooms...  feels so different with just Gunnar and me most of the time!  He's been reading The Ravenmaster's Secret and enjoying it.

Down along the Columbia River, near Pateros.  Such a difference water makes!

Around the house...  loving all my pretty twinkly lights and candles :D

It feels so different in the open country... so much sky!

The Mother Load...  oh boy...
* Help Wyatt adapt to his new schedule (going to bed by 7pm?)
* Help the other boys adapt to Wyatt's new schedule (they all share a bedroom)
* Stay on top of medical appointments, sending information from one doctor to another, insurance referrals, etc.
* Keep Gunnar on track with school work (because he would rather just curl up and read) (and so would I)
* KEEP WALKING even in the crummy weather
* Sew, sew, sew
* Pay bills
* Get computer in for servicing
* Get Wyatt's Nissan to the mechanic
* Fold the laundry (!)
etc.

Apple or cherry?  Lots of orchards in Eastern Washington

Noticing that...  how can Gunnar be almost as tall as I am?

The site of the Omak stampede - they run the horses down that embankment and across a river (out of sight).

Something to remember for later...  Wyatt, at 2:30 AM, telling me that when his alarm went off, it took years off his life.  HA!  Just wait until your night shift tiredness piles up for a few days... trust me, I KNOW.

This farm just looked so... so FALL.

Something fun to share...  Gunnar has been made an Element Leader at CAP.  A small step, but a good one :D

Must have been awful, watching the hill behind their house burn.  But the house survived!

A favorite quote for today...  When I do stuff, stuff gets done.  *sigh*

One of my favorite things...  that Gunnar, who is thirteen, will still take hold of my hand once in awhile while we're walking.

I love how evergreens will cling to life in the most unlikely places.

A Bible verse...  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.  Matthew 11:30
Not feeling it right now, but praying for it.

And just yards from the tenacious evergreen... this.

A few plans for the rest of the week...  working through the Mother Load, while homeschooling, while helping Wyatt juggle his new schedule, and trying to get all the vehicles on an even keel.

So, you know... not much.  (HA HA HA.)

How did that patch of green trees survive?

A peek into my world...  and in spite of all that burned, life is coming back :D