EKjourney Backup

Annual Silverton Pet Parade.  The children insisted that we go (though not so secretly, I didn't want to!)   We met the Mulkeys and our old neighbors the Davis'.  Being in Silverton always makes me a bit homesick, especially seeing neighbors and getting updates on the neighborhood and our old house.  Michelle sent me this..... So, I sent her this... I love that we have been such great friends over the last 40 years and we "talk" (via skype) almost on a daily basis. Vienna, wrapped in a coat, in the desk drawer, while Sawyer does his schoolwork. I am slowly biting away at High School planning.  I have been just jotting down notes, figuring out credit hours, pondering how to fit everything in, what curriculum to use, what extracurricular activities to do.  It is going to take me quite awhile to get the year planned out.  I don't want to leave this to the last minute (school starts end of July for us) because there is just so much to sift through and...

We have had such a good time bird watching out the school room window into the tree block.  I keep our bird book, Birds of the Willamette Valley Region, binoculars, and my camera on the windowsill just incase we see something really special (I missed the Western Tanager and have yet to see it again).  I use my zoom lens and then crop the picture even larger to get the close ups. There are several species of birds that come through briefly in May on their way to nesting grounds further North so we are lucky to spot something that is only here for a short time. The following is the female Bullock's Oriole, followed by the brighter yellow, male. Male black headed Grosbeak.  These are more common to the region but this is the first time I have seen one here.  We have been waiting for the Evening Grosbeak on its way to Detroit Lake where it nests.  I saw one two years ago, but not last year, so I am keeping my fingers crossed!

I think there are 3 traditions that the children and I must keep to in the Spring.  1.  the Tulip Fields  2.  the Iris Gardens  3. the Peony Gardens Today, we had music class, a picnic in the car while we headed out to the Schreiner's Iris Display Gardens, and then a trip to the library. I love irises!  They are a short lived in that there is a 2-3 week window but I love their color combinations, their spices scent, their ripples, their demand for up close observation....they are one of the few flowers that are bold enough to be colors and to blatantly combined colors that no other flower would dare.  It is almost an offense!  What a Magnificent Creator to break the rules of color theory in such marvelous ways and combine it with a scent that you can't decide if you love or dislike!  I must love Irises, they demand it!