Landscaping in progress

The motivation bug nipped us recently and we started attacking the long-awaited project of putting plants in the ground and landscaping. This is no normal project- not just because it's new construction or because of the size, but because everything in our yard is stone- and there is very, very little soil. Each and every plant, down to the smallest, required V to use the excavator to put in holes to fill them with topsoil and fertilizer. You can imagine the time it took for even small sections! What would we have done without the excavator? As it was there were sore backs and arms.

We're pretty proud of how the first few beds came out- for a couple amateurs. We've only have had a couple "deer" casualties that we've had to replace. We did our best to go with native varieties or deer resistant plants, but those little stinkers sample everything! We still have a long way to go, but it's a start. Next up...more fill dirt, driveway paving, grass planting... BUSY SUMMER!

The tree to the right is a coral-bark Japanese maple- it maintains a gorgeous coral color after it drops its leaves in winter.

This tree is a weeping dogwood. Dogwood is native here, and the deer have left her alone so far. I can't wait for it to get larger and show-off!

This is one of 2 giant sequoias we planted. This one is named Earl Jr. (Earl senior was planted at our last house).

The trees here are royal burgundy cherry trees. Apparently they taste really good (say the deer). We're trying blood meal to deter them and so far it's working.

Second sequoia- this one is named Pearl.

These guys came out to check it out again this morning- looking at me as if to say

"WHO... US?"

Ocean Trip

In the latest chapter of life, Mom and I took off on our annual spring get-away... this time to Westport, on the ocean. We enjoyed a few days of R&R and found our sea legs while we landed sea bass and ling cod on an ocean charter. There is something so powerful about watching the waves come crashing in to the shore- really puts everything in perspective and you realize just how small you are in the creation. Here are some memories...

Yes, that really is my Mom!

We stayed in these gorgeous condos with large picture windows looking out into the ocean.

'Get 'em'

And stocked the freezer!

First Bear Sighting!

No sooner had I posted the last post about the bears not coming down until the berries ripen...when Vil hung up the phone and told me that the 1st bear of the year had been sighted by one of our neighbors. Apparently, at 5:30 this morning a healthy sized black bear came up onto our neighbors porch and despite her dogs barking at it (they were inside and it was about 6 feet away)- continued to sniff around her deck and property for a half-hour. Guess it's officially bear season- time to be extra careful around our property and keep an eye out for tracks and scat.

Yesterday I rode my bike 30 miles home from work. Spring was back and the day was glorious. The air was perfumed with the blooms from the deciduous trees and the forest was waking up and showing off. Wild bleeding heart lined the trail sides and sword ferns unrolled with the warmth of the sun. They look like tiny sea horses bouncing in the elements.

And...there was not a bear in sight, or evidence of such a creature. I suspect the mild winter has invited them to stay higher in the mountains until the berries ripen.

My path takes me down beautiful trails and paths and even plays peek-a-boo with the famous Snoqualmie Falls. Another day of feeling fortunate to be healthy and wonderful way to stock the soul's cookie jar.

From outside our tent...

My new gig has me shooting all kinds of pictures and wanting to be behind a camera more than ever. My poor victim, model... has to put up with all kinds of shenanigins. Here we have him in a camp at night scene. " me.. man... camp...alone... with fire..." (insert grunts). Is this how it looks when we camp? Sometimes... but the second picture down is a little more realistic. Maya took it when we camped in Cle Elum! I really like this picture because I think it captured the essence of lazy, or shall I say... relaxed? After all... THAT is what it's all about!

Untitled from tkaye on Vimeo.

Love this...

Look at the trees, look at the birds, look at the clouds, look at the stars... and if you have eyes you will be able to see that the whole existence is joyful. Everything is simply happy. Trees are happy for no reason; they are not going to become prime ministers or presidents and they are not going to become rich and they will never have any bank balance. Look at the flowers - for no reason. It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are. ~Osho