Legal (Again)

Yikes - turns out my California driver's license expired on my birthday in October!

Stephanie drove me to the DMV where a very nice and helpful clerk helped me become legal again. I am now the proud owner of an Oregon Drivers License with the worst DMV picture of me ever - hands down beating the worst CA DMV picture. Oy. The good news is the license was only $59 and is good for 8 years. I also learned what I need to do to register my car in Oregon (I have to get a duplicate pink slip from CA since mine is still in storage in CA). I can get a maximum of two temporary Trip Permits, each good for 21 days for a total of 42 days. The clerk recommended I send off for the duplicate and then come in and get the temporary Trip Permit.

Rain in the forecast but I knew that looking at the clouds. It feels like rain but does not smell like rain - yet.

Transition

Cold. Wet. Windy. Another blustery day on the bay. Stephanie is gone for the weekend, visiting a friend from church in the Portland area and has my camera with her.

Have been enjoying the howl of the wind, watching the small whitecaps on the bay as they crash into the old dock pilings. Tonight, I can hear the roar of the crashing surf of the Pacific on the other side of the spit. I celebrated Earth Hour with all lights off except for that glowing from my computer and a blazing fire. Outdoors, nothing changed. The street lamp still shined on the road and I could still see the light across the point. Rainy and overcast so I haven't been able to stargaze.

This week has felt like January instead of a few days away from April. I see blooming daffodils and buds starting to form on the apple trees but the air has a cold bite to it still. My peony has started to bud but hasn't leafed out yet - a good thing with the blowing wind.

Random Ten

My random ten:

1. The Doors - Roadhouse Blues

2. Johnny Cash - Jackson

3. Fleetwood Mac - Silver Spring

4. Etta James - I Don't Want It

5. Taj Mahal - Hello Josephine

6. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - Work Song

7. Laura Love - Freak Flag

8. Jimmy LaFave - Bohemian Cowboy Blues

9. Johnny Cash - A Boy Named Sue

10. Los Lonely Boys - Crazy Dream

Extreme Shepherding

Thanks to Ellie for sending me this. From the utube page:

We took to the hills of Wales armed to the teeth with sheep, LEDs and a camera, to create a huge amazing LED display. Of sorts.

Enjoy!

Demon Eyes

The Answer - Demon Eyes

Clammers On The Bay

This afternoon, during one of the brief sunny periods, I spotted two clammers walking on the mudflats looking for clams as the tide went. Of course, by the time I got off the phone, grabbed my camera and went outside, the sun was hiding behind clouds again.

Rain showers then sunny then cloudy and more rain showers are what is on tap for the first part of spring break. Weather dood says there is a chance for more sun and warmer temps the second half of the week.

More Gray, More Rain

More gray - more rain. Tis a good thing I like the rain (especially since I no longer have to pretend to be a traffic control device while wearing a banana suit in the rain). Took this day before yesterday when there was a brief break in the clouds. Yesterday and today everything is wrapped in a wet gray blanket.

Has not been so cold at night. Spring officially starts tomorrow and the flora and fauna of Oregon are starting to show their spring colors all around me.

Beat It

Fall Out Boy featuring John Mayer - Beat It.

ZOMG!

Breezy but not windy here today - still doing the sunny then cloudy then sunny and back to cloudy thang.

Happy Blogiversary To Me

Luckily, I picked a day to start this blog that I can remember. Video of the Leprechaun Brothers doing Danny Boy.

Mother Earth

Gov't Mule - Mother Earth.

Mother Nature has been making us more aware of her presence since Friday. Rainstorms, hail, gusty winds that one has to lean into to make any progress walking, sunshine and rainbows quickly followed by more rain, and the wind only eases. I forking love it (laughing). Token still gets all agitated when it hails and he and Bailey will stare at the living room windows as if they are not quite sure that whatever it is out there isn't gonna end up in here.

White Caps

White caps and waves on the bay today. Wind has been blowing steady and is pushing waves up the creek. We got a wee bit more than an inch of rain yesterday, had rain and hail earlier today and now the sun is playing peek-a-boo with clouds. Still cold - we never got out of the mid 40's today and the wind makes it even colder.

Here Comes The Rain

The clouds are dark and moving in, hiding the sun again. Looking at the clouds, it should start raining soon.

Still, tis a breezy 58 outside with small whitecaps on the bay as the tide rises. The sun briefly breaks free of the clouds and the ripples on the bay are more apparent - but only for a short time as the clouds quickly cover the sun again. The wind is blowing around 10mph but has a cold bite to it - no open doors and windows today.

Spring Is Springing

Daffodils are blooming in the side yard off the kitchen deck.

The rhoddys are in full bud - can't wait to see them.

These little white daisy like flowers are strewn throughout the yard.

The bay with a large glitter patch.

Thursday's sunset as seen from the art studio - the big trees on the point prevent me from seeing it from my deck.

Spring is springing. We hit 60 today and the weather dood is forecasting rain starting Friday night and lasting until mid-week of next week.

But, today I had all the doors and windows open. A hummingbird flew into the house and had to be gently assisted out an open window.

Sunny!

Twas a lovely sunny day here today. Got up to the mid-50's today but still getting down into the low 30's at night. The actual sunset has moved to the north and is blocked by the trees but there is still nice eye candy to enjoy.

Weather dood said we may see the 60's tomorrow but that it will rain this weekend. Stephanie and I are looking into changing our cell phone company - she has a 3G phone and the Verizon 3G coverage out here is spotty at best - resulting in every call dropping or cutting in and out. I get one bar, ok for chatting on the phone but... so we are looking around at our options.

Walking After Midnight

Patsy Cline - Walking After Midnight.

Last Snow?

Had snow flurries off and on most of the weekend but it melts almost as soon as it hits the ground. Had a good snow shower hit around noon today and grabbed the camera - and it blew out just about as fast as it blew in. Snow is sticking up on the cape.

Not Quite Spring

The weather reminds me that it is not quite spring yet. There is snow in the forecast for later today until Monday. Steph is not going to be able to head to church this weekend due to predictions of up to several inches in the Coast Range, which she has to cross in order to get to the Portland area. Could even be a dusting of snow in Portland and the valley floor.

As for me, I was out on the deck a few ago, watching the eagles flying over the point in lazy circles when a red head and throat hummingbird buzzed by my head. He/she stopped and took a look at me (or perhaps looking for a feeder) before buzzing lickity split towards the hollies and their bright red berries on the north side of the house. I heard the buzz first and thought it was a large red insect when I realized it was hovering and was a hummingbird. About that same time I realized what it was, off it took for the berry side of the house.

Tis a cold gray day today. Currently only 43 outside and the afternoon breeze has begun, making it feel colder. Temperature is already dropping. I don't think we will get as much snow as we did in December and it will not last nearly as long. This should be more like the snow last week, melting quickly here at sea level.

The eagle pair has made their way to this part of the bay and have scattered the birds feeding at the water line as the bay empties - not quite at the peak of this afternoon's low tide. As soon as the eagles have moved on, the birds will return to continue eating at the tide line.

Pictures are from last nite's sunset. The actual sun set has moved north out of my line of sight now that the days are getting longer. Will be nice - fabulous sunsets in the winter when there is so much gray around and protection from the heat of the sun by the large trees on the northwest side.

Chad After Dentist

Chad After Dentist - a video response to David After Dentist (if you have not seen the original, put down any liquids you may be holding and click on that link).

h/t Stephanie for the video.

And Wednesday's Just As Blue

More blue skies but also clouds coming in from over the cape and they are looking like rain. It has only gotten up to 49 today and the wind is blowing in from the southwest and has a right nasty chill to it. Not a terribly strong wind - nothing really stronger than 10mph but it sure sucks the warm right outta me.

Stephanie is over at Tillamook Bay Community College registering for her classes. The staff there has been very helpful, letting her know when she could take the placement exam and she met with her academic advisor afterwards to sort through the results (she did good). The advisor even gave her a list of the books for each class and its cost at the college bookstore. Steph checked around online last night and found the two expensive books were cheaper online and two lower priced ones the college bookstore had the best price on. The entire admissions process is free, including the testing, and the course fees are significantly lower than in California.

Blue Monday

Blue skies and white puffy clouds for most of the day. Gray storm clouds came ashore before sunset - hiding all the color. A lovely day for kicking back with the ipod blaring and putzing around the house - getting my mojo back on my day off.

Birds on the bay scattering as one of the eagles flies overhead and then come back as he/she heads for the cape around the point. I could spend all day every day just staring out the window watching the show nature provides. There are buds budding and I think this place may be loaded with flowers, lots of flowers. I know there are a bunch of rose bushes all around but not sure of what else is planted. Lots of green poking their heads up from the dirt, looks like maybe bulbs planted in the beds.

Worth The Wait

Been rainy most days and evenings and no sunsets. Sunday nite, the skies parted just enough to get some color. Then back to the rain.

I'm Gonna Get There

Mike Farris - I'm Gonna Get There.

Thanks, ThatGuy, for the video. Dood has one hella voice.