My pretty Lupines are trying very hard to act like it really is spring here. I can't believe that they can survive such cold temperatures.
This is a deer fence that I had placed around the area that holds my beautiful Tiger Lilies and as you can see it is also trying to protect the Lilies from the ice and snow!

OKAY, I have had enough of this weather during this VERY long winter we are having. As I sit in my wonderful warm home and look out my window, it is once again snowing like it's the 23rd of December! Our true winter started the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and hasn't shown any mercy -- except 2 glorious days two weeks ago. They were almost just a horrible tease of what we are missing.

A few of our weekly walks have been spent in snow storms, high winds, and very icy footing. Of course the horseback riding outings have been put on hold . Riding on icy roads and trails is not much fun nor riding in the wind when the temperature says 25.

And to add to the gloom around here is the view from our south windows. It's a very awesome view looking towards the end of the Bitterroot valley as it turns into the State of Idaho. The mountains are beautiful. And we can always see the storms coming as they move out of the West Fork, Nez Perce area and head our way. But this week the neighbors barn contractor had the roof trusses delivered and it really reinforced to me just how big this barn is going to be. It is being built about 60 feet from our back deck. We will loose our beautiful view of our valley. I guess it's hard on me because the neighbors own 4 beautiful acres but they have chosen to put the barn right next to us. I really like these neighbors so I am trying to be a good neighbor and I am smiling as much as I can!!! Of course the Port-a-Potty out the front window still is an unpleasant sight.

So between the views and the weather I am anxious to get out in the flowers beds and pull weeds instead of shoveling snow! It is amazing that even with a couple of inches falling on my flowers once or twice a week that they still continue to put forth the effort to make their appearance. I have been covering up my Hosta plants that I moved to the deck last fall so that they may survive for another summer. It is wonderful to see that they too, have put on some growth.

So we now have a new project for the summer...to screen in our back deck. We enjoy spending a lot of time out there but I do not want to fight the flies while I am eating my lunch or snack there. And with any luck we will be having some sunshine in the near future and I know that will help brighten my attitude and activity levels too. I did take a before photo of the view so when the barn is up I will include it and have a before and after pics to share.

PLEASE....SEND SUNSHINE AND WARM TEMPERATURES OUR WAY!!!!! AND IN TURN I WILL SEND YOU ALL THE SNOWY WEATHER I CAN!!

YOUR HOUSE AS SEEN BY.....

YOURSELF....
YOUR BUYER....

YOUR LENDER.....

YOUR APPRAISER....

YOUR TAX ASSESSOR......

BEFORE AND AFTER

THIS POOR LOOKING FLOWER BED HAS BEEN IN NEED OF SOME LOVING CARE FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. THE DAYS WERE JUST TO SHORT LAST YEAR FOR ME TO GET OUT AND RESURRECT THIS POOR THING. SO THIS MORNING JW AND I TACKLED THE JOB. THE FOLLOWING PHOTO SHOWS THE BED WITH MOST OF THE DEAD STUFF RAKED AND TRIMMED BACK.
THIS PROJECT TOOK US MOST OF THE DAY. THE FLOWERBED IS FILLED WITH DOZENS OF NATIVE PLANTS AND WE EVEN DISCOVERED A FEW WE DIDN'T KNOW WERE THERE BECAUSE THE BED IS SO OVERGROWN. BUT DURING THE LAST SUMMER I DID MAKE SURE THIS WAS WELL WATERED SO I AM HOPING WE WILL BE REWARDED WITH LOT'S OF BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS THIS SUMMER.

OH, TWO MORE THINGS, YES, WE STILL HAVE LOT'S OF SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS BY US AND YES, THAT IS A "PORTAPOTY" IN THE BACKGROUND!! THE NEW NEIGHBORS ARE HAVING A BARN BUILT THERE AND THIS IS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION CREW. YES, IT'S A WONDERFUL SITE OUT OUR FRONT WINDOWS!

COMING TO AMERICA SOON-- THE NEW 5 DOLLAR BILL

It's spring time here in the Bitterroot valley as Tom Turkey is busy doing what tom turkeys do in the spring here.
Their plumage is so beautiful at this time but gosh, they are still so ugly.

I have been collecting feathers on my walks and hikes and have acquired quite a collection. I have an idea in mind of what I want to do with them, but it may take a lot of feathers so it's still in the planning stage. But I will certainly post photos when I start on the project.

I have been very busy with my eBay store and I am still trying to find a little time each day to get away to spend a little time out in the fresh air. We are still getting snow every once in a while but the sun is finding it's way out during most days. And I have been able to join my walking group for the last 3 walks and plan to join them again for the Monday walk. And I plan to get in some horseback riding as often as possible too.

So, it looks like another fun filled year ahead for me.....I love it here!!!!