Mt Rainier and Her Doppelganger

To anyone who lives in the Seattle area, you know we love our Mount Rainier. She dominates the horizon and is even a reference for our weather. For instance, you know it's a darn good day if 'the mountain is out' (that means it is clear enough to see Mount Rainier).

Of course when we moved to our little spot in paradise (Seattle area), we were smitten with the view we had of her. Hundreds of GB later, I had folders of pictures I had taken of every angle, form, and view of the majestic Mountain possible. So then imagine, if you will, one day I look outside and see not one, but TWO Mount Rainiers!


The cloud formation this particular day was something I hadn't seen before. On the left you see the real Mount Rainier in Washington State. To the right, you see what looks like another mountain, of a similar shape.

(click on the photos to enlarge)

But now, compare the photo below...

Only one mountain!
It's like magic...weird, wild, wacky weather magic.
How fun is that?!

Have a magical weekend, all!
~Aerie-el

More Skywatch Friday photos here.

Wordless Wednesday--signs of life in the garden

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Aliens at the Flower and Garden Show!

(Click on any of the images to see them bigger,
and maybe even scarier in the case of the 'Aliens' below!)

Look, they're here! And displayed proudly at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show in Seattle. You can even see the lights from their spaceship above!

This was one of the beautiful floral arrangements.
It won an award.
Perhaps not a 'major award' the likes of which Mr Parker received in
A Christmas Story, but still, it won an award!

Who said you can't wear purple and red together?
They look gorgeous here, don't you think?

And here are the treasures that I found and couldn't pass by.
The poster was FREE and who doesn't love a bargain like that? :)

Did you attend? What were your take-home treasures?

~Aerie-el

Wordless Wednesday...This morning

Wordless Wednesday

Weekend Bird Count

Do you see what I see?
(Click on any of the photos to see them larger.)

Are you talkin' to me?

I was one of many who participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count this past weekend. When I'm home I tend to be on 'bird alert' most of the time anyway, so it was no big deal to notice which species were in the neighborhood for a mere 15 minutes each of the 4 days. If you have youngsters at home, you can make it a fun family affair, like they did at A Gardener in Progress.

above: Dinner for the bushtit family

Here are the birds that visited here (mostly for the suet, some for the lake)...

Friday, Feb 13, 2009

Buffleheads
Bald Eagles
Anna's Hummingbird
Black-capped Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Spotted Towhee (Pacific)
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)
Song Sparrow

above: Northern flicker on suet feeder, towhee on railing

Saturday, Feb 14
Bald Eagle (they're on the nest all the time now)
Anna's Hummingbird
Red-breasted sapsucker
Northern Flicker
American Crow
Balck-capped Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Spotted Towhee
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird

above: Red-breasted nuthatch

Sunday, Feb 15
Brandt's Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Anna's Hummingbird
Steller's Jay
American Crow

American Robin
Varied Thrush
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)
Red-winged Blackbird
Song Sparrow

above: a nervous Stellar's Jay

Monday, Feb 16
Canada Goose
Mallard
Brandt's Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Anna's Hummingbird
Red-breassted Sapsucker
Northern Flicker (red-shafted)
Steller's Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee

Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Varied Thrush
Spotted Towhee (Pacific)
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)
Red-winged Blackbird

As of right now, Washington State ranks FIRST in 'States/Provinces reporting the most birds', and in the TOP 10 for 'States/Provinces reporting the most species'. Check out the TOP 10 here.

And as the suns sets on another day, I wish you all happy horizons,

~Aerie-el

I MADE IT to 100!

I did it! I made it to 100!
My 100th post, that is!

In the beginning, I started my blog to share pictures and information with family and friends about the bald eagle adult couple who took up residence and began a family nearby in January 2008 (and they're back again this year, setting up house).


After researching information about eagles, and talking with Jay, an eagle expert wildlife agent, I learned that the eagle family would be away on vacation for salmon fishing and travel sometime after their eaglets fledged. To fill that void of eagle updates, I thought, why not share my passion for all things gardening? Voila! Gardener's Roost was born, and Aerie-el was to be her caretaker.

Now that I've reached '100', my blog has 'matured' and needs some 'work done' (facelift?), like updating my 'blogroll' list and adding links to the many great blogs that I follow. Many of them are members of Blotanical and include friendly fellow gardeners who live nearby, Garden Muse, Greenwalks, Petunia's Garden, My Secret Garden, A Gardener In Progress, Weed Wackin' Wenches; others a little farther away, Blunders with shoots, blossoms 'n roots, the Inadvertent Farmer; others who live even farther, A Corner Garden, Clatter Valley, The Variegated Thumb, Garden Joy 4 Me, Faire Garden, Thanks For 2 Day, Gardens, Dragons, and some more, Gardening Tips 'n' Ideas, An Artist's Garden, Gary's Garden, Nancy's Soliloquy, The Balconey Gardener, My Chutney Garden, the Urban Gardener, Muddy Boot Dreams, Teza's Garden, Roses in Gardens, Blossom Blooms; and many more! So this isn't a complete list, nor is the one under 'view my complete profile'. So coming soon will be the complete list of blogs I follow on the sidebar!

Also coming soon, a new playlist, and all new posts.
Thanks for visiting, and for making comments to the first 100!
Looking forward to the next 100...

~Aeri-el

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Thoughts of Australia...

My post today was to be a celebration of it being my 100th post.
But I can't celebrate.
I can't take my mind off the devastation, horror, and tragedy of the fires burning in Australia, and what that means to the people, their pets,
and all the animals there.
I can't even imagine.
I can't imagine that a person would have set any of these fires. How could they?
How could this happen, on this scale?
Is it because of:
a. scorching weather
b. drought
c. dry bush
d. arson
e. all of the above
You know what? At this point I don't care what the reasons are.
For now, I just pray for those who are fighting the fires, that they can stop the burning, and that it happens before anyone or anything else dies or loses its home or habitat.
The world is a small place now and we're all neighbors.
Neighbors who care.
My thoughts and prayers are with you, Australia.

~Aerie-el

Skywatch Friday

Two sunsets in June 2008 on Cape Cod...
(right click on image, select 'open link in a new window' to see details)

I love taking photos of sunrises and sunsets,
and try to capture their essence on film...oops, with my digital camera.
They can be intense and impressive, or soft and subtle, but each one is special.
These are two shots I took while I was on Cape Cod this past summer. They remind me of the intense times during that visit...the comfort of knowing I was helping my mom during her radiation treatments, the happiness of visiting with family, and the sadness of being away from my West Coast family.

Skywatch Friday

~Aerie-el

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - cardoon

Wordless Wednesday