The Waters of March

  It has been a dark and wet month.  In spite of the extra three inches of rain this month, we have managed to get out in a few sunny moments.  But I have to admit it is getting to me.  I've done a lot of yard clean up, but there was not much sun to do it in.  Even the dry days were mostly cloudy with a few of those classic Northwest "sun breaks."   Mid month we went to the annual quilt show in Monroe, with a stop at a near by wildlife refuge that is reported to be the habitat of swans.  The white in the water is only the reflection of the clouds in the sky.  I think you have to be there at dusk to enjoy the swans coming in from the farm fields for the evening.  We did drive through the river valley and maybe saw some out in the fields.  They were large white birds with long necks and I think the necks were longer than the snow geese we so often see, but it was one of those narrow, but busy roads with not place to stop.  I think it was the best day of the month so it was a good day to be out.


The trees were heavy with moss and ferns.     




But it was spring and the salmon berries knew it.                                                                                            


                          The quilt show featured many styles of quilts, including this modern sun design.
                                                      You gotta get your sun somewhere.  

 It is fun to go a quilt show with other people.  They notice things you don't.  I have a friend whose husband also quilts.  DER was a good sport and went with us too.  I was focused on the quilting itself.  I'm kind of looking at the ones that are not the big all over designs and the ones that don't require too much curving fluidity to emulate on my home machine.  Thinking about how to start small with that aspect of quilting. 

 DER and his hiking buddies have missed a couple of months, but they hit the trails again on the fourth Saturday in March.  Here he is in those dark months thinking about the trails he has yet to explore.  They went on the Whitehorse trail between Arlington and Trafton.  I'm thinking that I might like to get in on this hiking thing, but I don't want to mess up the guy time - and they tend to go a little farther than I might go. And then there is me always wanting to stop to take pictures.  Maybe DER needs two hikes per month.....