BEAUTIFULLY BLUE

Blue skies are always welcome — especially in late February.   And  especially when much of the rest of the country and even much of our State is under severe weather watch.  But in truth blue skies don't always make the most interesting pictures. 

 

 

On one day last week though, the blue skies were as intriguing as they were welcome.   It's rare that I can't stop taking pictures of a blue sky.  It's usually just "there" and unchanging.  On this day though these clouds just scudded across the sky painting pretty patterns as they traveled.   

 

 

All these sky pictures were taken from one small area in the "way-back" of our daughter and son-in-laws  home.    It was kind of a chilly day (for here).   The scrub jay didn't mind the cold.   His blue color doesn't show up against the sky as much as it would  on a gray day.

 

 

 

And I got this wonderful surprise that I almost didn't notice while sky-watching.  These are the first pussy willows I've seen in years.  We've  spent February in warmer climates since the turn of the century* when we sold our Oregon home to travel.   *(I've always wanted to use that phrase!)  And very early spring flowers don't bloom in sub-tropical climates.

 

 

It hasn't even rained hard enough to knock down the daffodils .  These first-of- the-year flowers are always kind of a gamble.  Way back (yup, back in the last century) when we gardened, they were my favorite flowers of all just because they are so welcome.   But hard rains  can decimate them quickly.  We have been very very lucky in our weather this year.    So far, at least.    Family and friends remind me that in the past year or two (while we were away) our valley had a snowfall on the first day of Spring.   We're grateful for every blue sky day!   

 

 

Here in our present Oregon backyard, there are no flowers blooming yet, but the red-bellied sapsucker keeps us entertained most mornings when we're at home.  (Of course I pretend to be sure it is always  the same one — really, we never do see more than one.)  

 

 

My bird book says that in addition to enjoying sap from the trees, these birds  feed on insects extracted from the bark.   And that helps to keep down the number of  boring-type insects that destroy healthy trees.    I hope that is true because Eugene needs trees!  And this tree  is right next to the one that gave up completely and fell down last year   (this post from last September).   

 

 

Linking this week to these sharing opportunities.  Thank you to the hosts.

MOSAIC MONDAY;  NATURE NOTES;  THROUGH MY LENS;   OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY;  MY CORNER OF THE WORLD; THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  FRIDAY  BLISS;  SATURDAY CRITTERS;    and RATHER B' BIRDING