The weather forecast for last week called for rain and flooding, but here in our corner of the Willamette Valley we were instead blessed with sunshine and blue skies most days and very little rain.
One morning, we went for a ride through the pretty farm country west of town to the small town of Junction City and then on BLM roads through the surrounding hills down into a coastal valley.
Bill likes to drive these curvy mountain roads. We probably drove about 40 miles in this backcountry and in 4 hours did not see a single other car or person. There are a lot of places like this around our area. I do think about how easy it would be to be lost and have to admit that I checked to see if there was cell service. (There was. I guess nowadays it wouldn't be as easy.)
The drive was really a long-way round to the farm (otherwise known as our daughter and son-in-law's home.) We stopped to look at the migrating pelicans on Kirk Pond — the wild area that is within walkable distance of their house. Most of them were on the other side of the water, but these three were nice enough to swim closer to the shore.
A quick tour around their backyard on this blue-sky late February day. Spring is on the way (although the groundhog did see his shadow here, so we hedge our bets).
Tree watch, late February
Stellar Jay, Scrub Jay, and Common crow.
Three different (noisy) birds all enjoyed the same blue sky in the same winter tree.
We brought a few branches of these harbingers of Spring home. (There are pictures of the pussy willow tree in last week's post — the tree has branches to spare.)
Sunny February days are a gift here in Oregon. Thankful for blue sky days and the time to enjoy them.
Linking this week to the following 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
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