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<\/a><\/p>\nThe skies were not bald, for sure\u2013full of interesting clouds and magnificent beauty.<\/p>\n
More amazing sky\u2026<\/p>\n And more\u2026.<\/p>\n Here is the view from the front of the cabin\u2013the meadow view we enjoy so much. \u00a0The aspens and larches were not even starting to leaf out yet. \u00a0This photo was taken the day we left\u2013notice that the snow is reduced to near the trees.<\/p>\n The sun fighting to part the clouds.<\/p>\n This is hilarious. \u00a0I wanted to remind myself to look up deer droppings when I got home. \u00a0There were some piles of really large deer-like droppings and some tracks that looked much bigger than any deer tracks I\u2019ve ever seen. \u00a0I suspect there may be a moose afoot.<\/p>\n Here is a group of sagebrush buttercup blooming on a hillside. \u00a0These brave little wildflowers were the only thing I found blooming\u2013almost the only thing that had started to leaf out. \u00a0They have small leaves and relatively big flowers, always glistening with water droplets.<\/p>\n One of my hiking buddies\u2013Mona wrapped up from the cold. \u00a0It got close to 60 degrees during the days, but down in the 20\u2019s at night.\u00a0 Leon brought a bag of stale cashew nuts to feed to the critters. \u00a0Steller\u2019s Jays apparently can\u2019t get enough cashews. They are skittish up in the mountains, not like the raucous, confident city Jays. \u00a0I had to be really patient to get these pictures on the railing of the cabin porch.<\/p>\n The seasonal stream was running under ice through the meadow.<\/p>\n Another meadow picture\u2013you can see there was more snow earlier in the week.<\/p>\n This week was a bird-fest. \u00a0We have a flicker house that Leon built and we set in front of the cabin. \u00a0Here, a pair of Williamson\u2019s Sapsuckers approach. \u00a0The house is a popular telegraphing station for all the woodpeckers. \u00a0Because it is hollow, tapping on it resonates throughout the meadow.<\/p>\n A Red-Breasted Nuthatch that visited the cabin one day with its mate.<\/p>\n Bodhi enjoying the sunshine.<\/p>\n Mona had a grand time exploring and hiking.<\/p>\n Another Bodhi pic\u2026the sun was too bright for his eyes!<\/p>\n Here is another Nuthatch peeking between the cabin logs.<\/p>\n Super cute Bodhi on the porch. \u00a0He\u2019s eleven-years-old now, but he hiked with me a like a puppy.<\/p>\n I would call this photo, \u201cLittle Dog, Big Sky.\u201d<\/p>\n There weren\u2019t a lot of animals, or even birds out, so it was the sky, trees, and mountains that I enjoyed on my hikes.<\/p>\n Close-ups of the Sagebrush Buttercups.<\/p>\n And another\u2026<\/p>\n This a bad picture of a chipmunk\u2013just had to prove that some of them were awake!<\/p>\n At the 100-plus year-old homestead near our cabin, I could really see how the Douglas fir trees and the Ponderosa pines were more yellow in winter than they are the rest of the year. \u00a0You can make out the yellowish green with the wood as a contrast.<\/p>\n Bodhi waiting for me\u2026impatience written all over his face!<\/p>\n This was the ultimate turkey trip. \u00a0I heard a tom gobbling near the cabin every morning, the first time I\u2019d ever heard that. \u00a0And a hen crossed the meadow one day towards his concert. \u00a0The next day, he sauntered past us in the near meadow, as well. \u00a0Turkey tracks in the snow above.<\/p>\n Two male Williamson\u2019s Sapsuckers at the flicker house.<\/p>\n We had a funny experience in the little town Republic, east of Tonasket. \u00a0As we finished getting gas, I noticed a deer crossing the main street and going down a side street. \u00a0We followed in the car and I popped out when we got close. \u00a0they seemed very tame. \u00a0Leon threw me some carrots and I threw some to them. \u00a0The deer in front here was a carrot fan. \u00a0Eventually, he ate one out of my hand. \u00a0It was surreal. \u00a0Deer near there are usually very afraid, since hunting is so common there, but Leon pointed out these were likely \u201ccity deer,\u201d used to people and handouts.<\/p>\n The meadow the day we landed\u2013notice how much more snow was on the ground than when we left.<\/p>\n Our first walk\u2026and the dogs were ready.<\/p>\n Off on their own\u2013so many smells to explore!<\/p>\n Hauling wood from the woodshed to the cabin. \u00a0It was in the 40s int he cabin when we got there\u2013took about two days and a lot of logs to really warm it up.<\/p>\n Big sky over the meadow when we first landed on Saturday.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We spent almost six full days up at the cabin at Bench Creek Ranch this last week. \u00a0Every time we go up there, the experience is different. \u00a0This trip we saw winter trying hard to hold on and spring fighting to take over. Snow remained on the ground around our cabin (3000 ft elevation) and … Continue reading The Tonasket Tussle Between Winter and Spring<\/span> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n