Where did the snow go?

I have a feeling I am not the only one who is missing the white stuff!

Snow Wish

It finally came

     In a billion tiny flakes.

The air was cold

     But the snow warmed my heart.

All too soon it was gone--

     Chased away by pouring rain.

My joy turned to sadness

     But my memories are eternal. . . 

Nothing but death 

     can dissolve my memories.

I went to a writers' workshop held at the museum this afternoon. . . At one table, they challenged you to write a poem then and there.  The above is what I came up with, reminiscing about the recent snowfall we had, the first of our winter in town.

Neck scarves for VETS

I made 12 neck scarves for a friends project for the Vets  going to the cancer Ward for appointments.

My friend, Kathy's husband is one of those who goes to the VA in Portland for Cancer treatments.  She  started crocheting some neck scarves to give to those who she saw when she took her husband in for his treatment.  I asked if I could make some to help her, using my hairpin lace crochet method.  These are what I came up with.  The two short ones are for those who might not think it cool to wear a longer neck scarf but they will keep their neck warm anyway.  I made them with what red, white and blue yarn I had and buying only two more skeins.  

Now I have another project I started the day after Christmas.  I am making 300 neck scarves to give away on Thanksgiving to people in need that attend a free meal put on by a local restaurant -- they also give out hats and gloves but no neck scarves.  So far, I have made 33 neck scarves towards my total of 300 -- that's just 267 more to go in just over nine months.  I hope I can do it!  Most is from scrap yarn I had or that people gave me or that I bought with the 100 dollars that friends gave me for Christmas.  

It is easy to make them and I have been doing hairpin lace crochet since I was 14 ( baby blankets and shawls and afghans and neck scarves and a few hats) and probably will continue until I breathe my last breath.  In fact, I am teaching a young woman from my church how to make one for herself presently.  Years ago, when oldest son was in first grade in upstate New York, I taught 10-- 4th graders how to do this needlework skill.  Together we made a baby blanket and they ended up giving it to a teacher who was expecting.  We got our  picture with the blanket in the newspaper!  Later on I will show you the progress I have made with my latest project of 300 by Thanksgiving.

Here tonight, gone tomorrow. . . SIGH

8 hours later, this is all there was left of almost 4 inches that fell on Vancouver.  We even got more snow than Portland, Oregon but it is all gone because after 5 hours hours of snowing, the rains came.  I never had a chance for daylight photos with lots of snow.  Rain forecast:  next ten days:  RAIN everyday --which is making the rivers flood and not a good situation.  Guess who has the blues?  And I don't mean skies. . . because there aren't any of those either!

Clark College and Marshall Center (across the street) properties taken waiting for the bus just before noon after it snowed the night before.  All melted with the rains that followed.

SNOW at last!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It has been snowing since about 10:00 PM.  About an hour later, I took a short walk to get a few photos since I could hardly believe it myself.  Finally!  Here are 4 photos -- hard to take photos of snow falling. . . more to come as I don't intend to go to bed tonight!

I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo happy!

Mount Hood in Oregon from Washington

Here, my camera and I spotted Mt. Hood from a small beach near the I-5 bridge in Vancouver.  This is the beginning of my trek along the Columbia recently.  The beach was flooded last Spring and completely invisible and not accessible to take a photo like this IF I had wanted to then. . . 

This is a closeup of the above photo.  The condos are in WA and Mt. Hood in Oregon but it looks like the mighty mountain is right behind the condos and that I am standing in the Columbia River to take this photo,  Instead, I am on the little beach above and zoomed in.  The Columbia curves in many places.

This photo of Mt. Hood and the I-205 bridge was taken from Wintler Park where my hike ended.  Both, Washington and Oregon share ownership of the Columbia River.  When you cross the bridges, there is a sign about in the middle that says either Welcome to Washington OR Welcome to Oregon -- depends on which direction you are traveling as to what you read.

TONIGHT, we are supposed to get our first snowfall.  I hope the weatherman is right this time!  I am tired of just looking at Mt. Hood to get my snow experience this winter!  IF we do, you can be sure that I will be out there with my camera taking pictures of it.  

Sidewalk out of commission. . .

The sidewalk on the river's edge suffered from the floods we had on the Columbia River this past year.  There is about a half mile that is banned from walking on presently.  As you can see, the earth has eroded under the sidewalk  This happened when the Columbia overflowed its banks this past Spring.  Until it is repaired, no one is allowed to walk on the sidewalk above it.  We have to take a detour behind these buildings and there is no view there whatsoever.  I took this photo from a little peninsula that juts out from the main path into the Columbia.

Three B's: Blue Skies and Birds Heading South On My Birthday?????

If you look closely, you will see some of the birds between the trees . . . 

There were so many birds that it made a huge racket!

It didn't take them long to cross over the Columbia River to Oregon. . . 

One more glimpse of them before they disappeared across state lines, heading south!

I took these photos yesterday when I went for a long walk along the Columbia River to celebrate being able to enjoy this sort of thing when out hiking.  I almost never leave my camera at home.

I hope you enjoy my new blog.