A Morning Drive Through Skagit Valley-Nov 2019

This morning was cold, but clear, so we decided to take a drive through Skagit Valley and check out the sights.  Some birding friends of Dave's had shown him some great birding areas, so we added them to our normal route.

We even found a few barns with quilt patterns painted on their sides


The famous eagle tree was empty today, but we still manged to count 36 bald eagles.


Mount Baker was out in all its glory.


Numerous wetlands have been restored by breaching old dykes.  This was originally done for salmon restoration, but it also opens up great habitat locations for birds.  The tide was on its way out, leaving behind some ice from the previous night's frost.


In addition to the eagles, we saw many other bird species, including the heron shown above, and other hawk and falcon species.  The shore birds were too numerous to count.


The valley is famous for the snow geese and trumpeter swans which make their home here in the winter.  These are snow geese, but we also saw hundreds of trumpeter swans.  It was a fun trip, plus we took some new roads that offer more of these beautiful views.

A Sunny Day in the Pacific Northwest

The Northwest usually lives up to its reputation for dark and dreary days in the winter.  But occasionally, like this morning, we wake up to a beautiful sunny day where the mountains are out and the blueberry fields show off their winter colors.

Vera and I like to drive out into the Skagit Valley farmland to see the birds.  These are snow geese who like to winter over.  Today we saw hundreds, if not thousands of them.

Not quite as plentiful are the trumpeter swans.  Like the snow geese, they were too numerous to count, but we saw at least a few hundred of these beautiful birds.  They like to winter over as well.

What we really came to see were the eagles.  You can see two in the background, maybe checking these swans out.

This was not an unusual sight today.  These are big birds.

Our favorite tree along the morning drive, and only a few miles from home.  Can you count how many eagles there were in just this one photo.  Today we counted 80 eagles, a new personal best.

V's Museum Quilt Donations 2000-2017

View from our Living Room

Falling Leaves

The Princess and the Pea

Tulip Time

Flights of Fancy

Tea Time

Power of Sunlight

Origami Flowers

2016 Oyster Run (and quilt ticket sale)

Vera once again sold quilt raffle tickets at the annual Anacortes Oyster Run. No, it's not about oysters, but all about showing off your motorcycle, and associated fashions. Black leather is the approved attire.

Vera and the quilt being raffled

Dave spent his time checking out the motorcycles. This is a vintage 1944 military version of the "Indian". Airedale not included.

A modern "Indian"

Something for those who like to camp.

Not sure what these are.

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Anacortes Oyster Run

No, it's not a 10k as we naively thought last year, but rather the largest motorcycle run in the Northwest. Motorcycles everywhere, with over 30,000 last year. If you like to people watch, this is the place to be. The weather was perfect, the crowds festive, and we had a great time.

An example of the interesting motorcycles. Note the obligatory turd at the rear of this beast. The license plate was "HDBULL".

Many were quite colorful.

Our neighbors and proud Harley owners, Neta and Gary. Not sure who the guy was pointing to just to right in the picture.

And of course, oysters for everyone.

Vera's quilting guild even sells raffle tickets for a beautiful quilt made by the members of FIQ.

And then it was off to the marina for a nice lunch. Watch for the blog next week, as we will be off to Italy.

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