Mystery solved!

What a delightful surprise to find that the mystery plants were crocus!  Good call, Maya.  They must have been deposited by chipmunks or possibly in the soil that came as fill because they are in really random places in the yard- just blooming away!  Daffodils are sooo close.

I just can't get enough.... they are amazing...

Snowmo-bilies

Since so much snow has fallen in the Cascades, we've been getting in some late-season riding.  The weather can change so fast- the days in this video were shot a couple days apart- one snowy and wet- the other sunny and warm.  Stay tuned for the bloopers at the end.  You'll get a giggle.  

Click here for the video

They're here!

Sitting in the hot tub 2 days ago, Vil pointed out a hummingbird at my feeder!  I was giddy- it was the first one of the season.  Since then, I've seen several (at least 3 different birds, both male and female) using it.  They are all rufous humming birds.  The one pictured below is female. The one above is male. The males are brown with iridescent red heads, females greenish & brown.

AND... I guess a little complaining and venting about the weather was what it took to make the sunshine pop out.  Yesterday it was near 70 degrees here (normal is 50's)aaahhhhhh.  There is one particular daffodil that is ready to open and I'm crossing my fingers it will today.  Another day of blue-bird, cloudless sunshine is on tap with a high of 70 again.  It was sweet music to my ears to hear the weather gal say that we are way ABOVE average!  Wednesday it's back to rain and normal temps, but the forecast doesn't seem to have snow- at least for the time being.  I'll take my spring rain boots anyday over my winter snow boots especially now that it's April.

Always makes me laugh...

I've perfected BBQ RIBS!

Yessssssss!  After years of trying to make fall-off-the-bone good BBQ Baby Back Ribs, I've finally done it!  Who knew the answer was as easy as a crock pot?  The great thing about this recipe is that it's easy and quick for those who want dinner in a hurry.  Slide it all in the crock pot before work and come home a quick fix.  I'm so excited about how they came out that I had to share the method.  As always... if you try it- be sure to let me know how it went!

BBQ BABY BACKS:

1 (3-4lbs) rack of baby back ribs

Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper

4 cups BBQ Sauce

Water

1.)  Cut ribs to serving sizes (4-6 ribs each)

2.)  Brush ribs with olive oil and generous amounts of salt and pepper.

3.)  Broil ribs for 15 minutes on each side until seared.

4.)  Place ribs in crockpot and fill with water to the top of the ribs.

5.)  Mix 1 cup of bbq sauce in with the water for simmering flavor

6.)  Cook on Low for 6 hours.

7.)  Drain Water out of crockpot

8.) Add remaining 3 cups of BBQ sauce to ribs. (I make homeade BBQ as I find it more tasty than store-bought.  Either one works)

9.) Turn crockpot on high and let sauce simmer on ribs for about 30 min-1 hour.

10.)  Serve and enjoy!  

Use a flipper for serving as the bones will literally fall off, during scoop up.

Just hear those sleigh bells ringing....

I'm pretty sure we're headed for an ice age and that everyone will soon have penguins for pets.  Last year it was jaw-dropping to get snow on March 31st.  When we got another dumping on April 16th- I was again scrapping my chin off the floor.  Now nothing surprises me- including the consistent snow that has been falling at our house for days.  These pictures were taken this morning.  The good thing about spring snowfall, is that it tends to melt pretty quickly and alas... it's beautiful (still).  Our weatherman is keeping us optimistic by saying that this afternoon into evening a high pressure system is moving in with clear skies and sunshine.  After that... for a few days anyway...temps in the 50's.  We'll take it- even if it's just for a break.  If my daffodils & wildflower seeds survive this, they'll be very happy to get some warm sun on their little leaves.

Anyone care for a snow cone? 

Here's a clip from the national weather service:

.. Record lows possible Saturday morning... 
... Wet start to April... 

The cold weather in March has extended into the first few days of
April for western Washington. An upper level ridge will begin
building over the area later today and tonight. With the ridge
building skies will clear out across western Washington overnight
into Saturday morning. A very cool air mass will still be in place
over the area and with the clearing skies low temperatures
Saturday morning could drop to below freezing in some locations
with some record breaking lows possible. The record low for
Seattle is 31 degrees set in 1948. The record for Olympia is 26
degrees set in 2001. The best chances for below freezing
temperatures will be in the southwest interior.

Persons who may already have sensitive plants in the ground will
want to take preventive measures to protect the plants.

In Seattle... record rainfall has been recorded at Seattle-Tacoma Airport
on both the first and the second of the month. Total rainfall for
the first two days of the month was 1.31 inches which is over half
the monthly normal rainfall total of 2.59 inches. The only time in
Seattle weather records that more rain has been recorded on the
first two days of April was back in 1915 when 1.87 inches of rain
was recorded. Records go back to 1891.

I think it's a giggle that I think that hummingbirds are anywhere near here :).