April Fools

Wouldn't you know it?  This is the most excitement we've seen in the mountains all winter.   Snoqualmie Pass was closed last night because of heavy snow,  and chains are required this morning for all the unfortunates who have to drive over it.  The ski areas are talking about opening this weekend.

Oh boy. Winter finally arrives just in time for our Easter trip over the mountains. Weather Underground is saying 1-2 inches of snow in Twisp on Monday.  Really?

Down here in the lowlands, the flowers are waving in the wind, between spells of drenching rain and blazing sunlight.  I took this picture yesterday with my new Sony Cyber-shot camera, a nice birthday present from John.

I'll try not to drop it on its poor face, like my old Sony I banged around on horses and in purses. With everyone using their cell phones now to take pictures, who knows how much longer we'll be able to buy these real cameras?  They don't do selfies.  In the world of camera sales it's all gloom and doom. 

This lovely flower is an anemone that comes back like a miracle every spring.  I don't know how I've avoided accidentally digging it up over the years.  The blue color is about as perfect as it gets in nature.

"Anemone" means "daughter of the wind" in Greek, and in mythology the flower was created by the goddess Venus when she sprinkled nectar on the body of her dead lover Adonis.

From John Keats:

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases, it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing
A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways
Made of our searching; yes, in spite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits.

Endymion
Book 1