A world of contrasts

Saturday felt almost springlike in Seattle. By that I mean, no wind, no rain and the temperature reaching 50 degrees.  Hey, we'll take it.  I did some yard work (too much, actually) and put a few primroses here and there to brighten things up.  

Talk about cheerful, hopeful sights, a flock of busy robins pecking in the rotted leaf mulch for worms and insects. I always complain about that fall mulching chore, but what a healthy thing for the soil. One of my spring pleasures is pulling it off and surprising the worms.

This looks like a summer afternoon, not a chilly February morning. The big potted jasmine is none the worst for wear, as I covered it with a fleece blanket through the cold weather. In the summer, the tropical flowers smell so good on the back deck. 

It's hard to believe that just a week ago, the yard was buried under a foot of snow. When it decides to come out, that February sun has some oomph.

But winter continues full force up in the mountains. All three major passes (Snoqualmie, Stevens and White) are closed this morning due to heavy snow and avalanche danger.  If you have to get over to the "other side," you have a mighty long drive ahead: south to the Columbia Gorge and then north to Ellensburg.

Look at our ski bunnies in the chairlift line at Loup Loup Ski Bowl on Saturday. Cross country? Downhill? Ice skating? These girls are becoming winter athletes. It's wonderful they have all this practically in their backyard.