Service Team came today and installed the new railing. It will take some getting used to...it looks ok, but I'm just not used to seeing a railing on the front of the house! I'm sure it will grow on me in time!!




And one project leads to the next one...the landscaping! :) Did you notice in the photos that the one Alberta Spruce is gone?

While I was washing the dishes tonight, I looked out the window, and thought there was a skunk in the woods...until...he popped his head up, and I saw the red tuft! I was so surprised to see the Pileated Woodpecker eating on the ground. If you look closely, you can see the branch under him that he was getting his dinner from. It's always a treat seeing the Pileated. :)

Last Saturday's snowshoe to Lanham Lake. Stephan and I went with some of his friends who came up and stayed at the cabin this weekend. It was a short hike, only 3 or 4 miles RT, but the combination of snowshoes and 1000ft elevation gain in 1.5 miles made it a good workout :)

I would say we certainly earned a long soak in the hot tub afterwards!


The edge of the lake, under a foot of fresh powder. (The lake itself isn't much to see, it just looks like a big, snowy field.)



On the way up, we passed a nice couple making these awesome snowmen. The snowmen are perfect replicas of the two of them (I particularly liked the moss "beard").

Happy winter-spring.

Hi everyone! Here's a few pictures of the new (awesome) backyard space. Much better than those piddly containers I had to work with a the last place.

Landscaping. The area all the way on the left is going to be turned into a patio this summer: the strawberry patch is in the middle, behind that clay pot.

Garden shed and our raised bed, on the left.


Our landlord's raised bed, and the new patch that will soon be another raised bed where the tomatoes will go (there's still a compost bin there for the time being.) This is apparently the sunniest part of the yard.


Kale overwintered. Pretty tasty.


Close-up of the strawberry patch.



So although today isn't the sunniest of days, here are a few flowering pictures to prove that it is already spring in Seattle (and has been for quite some time!)

I've been meaning to upload this photo for a few weeks now. I found this the last time we were up at Poppop and Grammie's house and snatched it up before Mom could destroy it. Check out Mom's short skirt and skimpy top! Not to mention Dad's skinny leg jeans! I'm guessing Poppop Eckard took the photo. I think it's great, and I knew Theresa and Laura would enjoy it too, although I'm sure Mom will be mortified that I'm posting it...hehe. :-)