I wasn't kidding

About the amount of snow in the Methow Valley this year.  Just look at Nova on that swing.  Yesterday was a school holiday, and Amanda walked the kids over to the city park where she took these pictures.

Roger was pressed into service as a sled dog, but he looks pretty happy about it.  Roger loves doing any "job" for his girls.

On our warm, wet side of the mountains, yesterday was beautiful and springlike. It was a balmy 50 degrees, and everything is very green. Bulbs are starting to come up.  While winter is just getting started in other parts of the country, I pruned roses and watched Colin working on the trees.

It was a pleasurable way to spend the day. Colin took about a third off the top of the plum, but left enough old wood so we should get fruit this year, depending on pollination of course. He declared it "old but healthy."  Exactly what I would like to hear next time I visit the doctor.

He suggested the Leyland Cypress tree for a fast privacy screen along the new alley fence.  It won't spread or become invasive like bamboo, and it's one of the fastest growing trees, around 3 feet a year. It might be just the thing for blocking the view of multi-story condos springing up around us. 

When left to its own devices, the Leyland Cypress becomes an attractive and hardy evergreen.  In a few decades when we're long gone, they would be 60 or so feet tall.  Our living legacy to the Urban Village.

Some people "hedge" them like laurel, which is also a tree.  And you know all about laurel-- more expensive yard work. Was Colin thinking about his job security?

Before long you are doing this...

  Or this!

And if you get carried away from watching Lady Mary on Downton Abbey boss her gardeners around, this could happen.