A Morning of Excitement

As I was heading into the kitchen for coffee this morning around 6am, I happened to look out the front door. I had to do a "triple take" because standing about 100 feet from out front door were a dozen elk. They were enormous and so beautiful. They were grazing and making their way up the slope. Later in the morning, Rich and the puppies went on a hike following the elk trail and watched them higher up. Rich also spotted a blue grouse. We have a plethora of wildlife and it is so fun to spot everything.
We also have "checkered mallow" blooming which is a blue lupin type of wild flower. They are found only on our slopes following Peshastin Creek down from Blewett Pass.
My 48 yards of top soil is almost all spread. I purchased grass seed and fertilizer today so I am hoping to get it out for the rain later this week.
No, I didn't get pictures of the elk, because I was so busy watching them I forgot to grab my camera.

OK, here is the office w/cabinets

Andrew is working on his computer at the new cabinets. He will soon be moving into the basement again (carpet comes tomorrow and then it is done!) I also included an up close picture of the desk top and the tile surround on the basement fireplace. Can't wait for guests.

Puppies in the Rhino

Lewis and Clark love to ride in the back of the rhino to get the mail. And they are so cute.

Future Lawn??? I have high hopes.

Yesterday and today was spent spreading top soil. We had 4 dump truck loads, about 48 yards, delivered and we are working hard to get it done. I'm still waiting to find out the cost of hydroseeding, but we may be spreading seed ourselves. Too many expenses these days. We had the office countertop done today also. I am including pictures of me on the tractor. I love driving that machine. Also, pics of the back yard and the office cabinets.

OH, what a beautiful morning!

It was spectacular this morning. I got up, poured myself my gigantic cup of coffee (I LOVE coffee!) and sat out on the porch. The sun was coming up, the birds were singing and it was so peaceful. I take full advantage of it because when 6:30 arrives, we go full throttle the rest of the day. Of course, it begins with letting out the puppies, feeding the puppies and walking the puppies. After that, I can sit on the porch and watch them run and wrestle around on the hillside above us.
Today, Rich and I traveled to "town", which is Wenatchee about 15 miles away. We had to go to Sears to pick up his new air compressor. Doesn't everyone need an air compressor???? We also went to Lowes to get drain pipe, closet rods and cabinet door hardware. The cabinet installer put the cabinets in Rich's study on Friday and will return Monday to do our closet. I will be so glad to get this done! For those of you who know me well, you know I don't do well with Clutter. Right now, Rich's desk is in the Great Room and piled high with all our hanging clothes from the closet. Our bedroom is packed with the extras like shoe boxed and baskets, etc.
Also, we are hoping to get the carpet in the basement installed this week and then, back to organizing the basement.
Is someone going to visit us soon, so we can say it was worth getting the basement finished?

The Hills are getting greener!

Now that it is finally warming up, we can start some landscaping. I spent last weekend planting 90 native shrubs and trees that I purchased from the Cascade Conservation District. I am hoping to restore some of the trees that burned in a fire in 1994. This week we are to get into the upper 60's - lower 70's and we need it. The mountains are now full of snow for the summer water tables, so we can move on to summer. My wish anyway. I'm ready for shorts.

Lewis and Clark at 4 months

These two are getting BIG and they are so much fun. We get a lot of exercise chasing them all over the mountain: morning, noon and night.

Basement finish

The basement walls have been painted and the tile is up around the fireplace. This pictures include two of the family room and one of the bedrooms. Tomorrow the trim gets painted and the masking will come off on Saturday. Carpet will be installed next week.

Pictures of the wild flowers

Yellow spring lillies, orange buttercup, bluebells and balsum root (sun flowers.)

The Hills Are Alive!

Spring has arrived on the mountain. Wild flowers are beginning to bloom and the slopes are greening up. It is beautiful! But then, if you've been reading my blog regularly, you know that I think every day, every week and every season is beautiful. It was beginning to dry out and Rich and I were starting the landscape process. Then, a spring winter storm arrived on Friday. Let's call it "White Friday" and about 4 inches of snow fell. The wind blew as if trying to blow in a blizzard. About 3 feet fell in the higher elevations and we needed it for the snow melt this summer. It started raining in the evening and on Saturday, even though it was cold, the snow melted and allowed the spring colors to explode again. Apparently, the snow didn't bother them at all. One last note, last Saturday we had a herd of about 25 to 30 elk grazing fairly close to our ridge. We all had binoculars and must have spent a good part of the day observing them. What massive animals.