Heading Out and a Winner!

Before I get started on the news for the day, I need to choose a winner from my Blogiversary Giveaway. Thanks to all who left such sweet comments. Honestly, I'm glad you enjoy reading. More than anything, however, I'm grateful for you because I enjoy writing so much. Even without my many bloggy friends, I would still write. It just wouldn't be nearly as much fun. So, thank you.

All right. Here we go. There were 250 comments left, and the random number generator came up with:

#111--beaquilter

Congratulations, beaquilter! I've sent you an email, so check your inbox! And thanks to everyone who helped me celebrate.

This morning I'm getting my ducks in a row to take off for Mt. Rainier National Park, about 3 hours north of us. We've been to Mt. Rainier several times, but not for several years. It's sort of interesting driving up to the park from our direction. The mountain is huge, and yet, one must drive almost all the way to the park before it becomes visible. It's a case of not being able to see the mountain for the trees.

Yesterday I packed all the food with the exception of some marinade for our steak dinner tonight. This morning I baked some muffins from some zucchini I found in the freezer. (Who knows how long it's been in there?) These are Lemon-Zucchini muffins. I happened to have all the ingredients on hand (nothing exotic, thank goodness). We can eat them for breakfast and for snacks.

Yesterday I got a little more done on my July doll quilt. The most time-consuming part of the quilt is finished now. I just need to add borders, and the top will be finished. I figure I have another day's work on this until it's completed and I can send it off to my partner in Australia. I can't show you the whole thing, but here's another little peek:

"Curiouser and curiouser," cried Alice. Any guesses? Here's a hint: The theme is "On My Bucket List".

The last couple of days have been pretty easy-going by design. I just got back from five days in California on Monday, and now today we're taking off for Mt. Rainier. I kept Wednesday and Thursday pretty low key. Yesterday I did some watering and took a little walk around just to see how things are doing. And look at this! Raspberries!

Something the deer and racoons missed! Also, the little cherry tomatoes are beginning to ripen. We've eaten a few, but they need just a couple more days. This is an orange variety, and so this is their color when ripe.

This is the time of year when we start seeing the work of our industrious squirrel friends...the ones dumb enough to stay around, that is. They collect the sunflower seeds from our bird feeders in their cheeks, dig a hole in my whiskey barrels (or other favorite spots), then spit about a hundred seeds into the hole and cover it up. Eventually a thicket of sunflowers sprouts from their efforts.

Pull it up, and the seeds are still attached.

Also, the butterfly bush is in full bloom. The bumblebees love it.

While I was out there, two Shasta Swallowtail butterflies were flitting around, um, making butter, if you know what I mean. I kept the camera at the ready waiting for them to light somewhere. After twenty minutes, they were still flitting. As far as I know, they never came in for a landing. Butterfly love. Sigh. But no matter. I have some really great pictures of a Shasta Swallowtail that I took on Mt. Rainier back in 2006. I was only just barely getting interested in photography then, and this was the shot of my dreams at that time.

The wildflowers are the stars of the show at Mt. Rainier this time of the year. I've taken some of my prettiest pictures while hiking in July.

It's always an adventure hiking, and I'm looking forward to seeing it again. It's been quite a while since we've been to Mt. Rainier in summer.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Smitty's life has just taken a turn into major Suckville. He was out this morning. Twice he tried bringing in a vole. I caught him and made him take it back outside. When he came in the third time, empty-mouthed, I shut his door. Now he's in for the weekend. He's pacing so much I can't get an in-focus picture of him.

To listen to the caterwauling, you'd think he was being murdered by invisible demons right before your eyes. He's sitting in the window of my office as I write this, sure there must be some mistake. 

If looks could kill... Better yet, if looks could open the door, that'd be great.

So I'm off for the weekend. I won't be blogging while we are away, but I will be back on Monday. I'm not sure about wi-fi or cell phone service, but I'll post a couple of pictures if I can. And with that, it's time to get packing...literally.

Have a great weekend!