Lately I have been closely watching the posts on Facebook concerning the weather around Yakima. Yesterday there were some posts showing the mountain passes that allow access to the Eastern side of Washington state. All of them are covered in snow, which I think has mainly fallen in the last day or two. We usually have our first snow around Thanksgiving, so I guess it is right on time. The main pass, Snoqualmie (I just love that word), was closed for most of the day yesterday due to wrecks and spin-outs. I am kind of glad we aren’t going to have to brave the snow to go over the pass at Thanksgiving this year. Although we are going to miss getting together with family, it is always a stressful time driving through all that snow. This year we are going to have a Facetime celebration with family. It’s what we do during Covid.
There have been no more sightings of the little Ruby-Crowned Kinglet around the house. He may have moved on to greener pastures. However, yesterday as I was sitting in the living room listening to my audiobook, I saw a hawk descent from the sky and land behind our spirea bush (which is right beside the bird feeder). I went out on the porch to see if he was still there, but he had already flown away. I don’t know if he got one of our sparrows or not, but a couple minutes later I spied him sitting in a tree that is behind our house. He wasn’t eating on anything then, so I doubt his hunting expedition was a success. While I was outside on the front porch looking for the hawk, I spotted a hummingbird up in our Thundercloud Plum tree! It is unusual to see hummers around here at this time of year, although it is not unheard of. He was just sitting up there, looking around like hummers do. I hope he starts to head south because the temperatures in Yakima have already been down in the teens, and are likely to go lower pretty soon.
Linda and I went to Randall Park this week to check on all our waterfowl friends before the really cold weather hits. A few of the ducks came over to greet us when we first got there, but they weren’t acting like they wanted to climb all over us like they do when we have cracked corn for them. We will soon be making a trip to Walmart (first time since the pandemic started) to get several bags of cracked corn to last over the winter. I saw this hybrid Mallard in the picture above. He posed nicely for me, and I took his picture because I just loved his coloring. The Canada Geese were there at the park this time, and a group of them were busy practicing standing on one foot (see video below). Over at the pond, there wasn’t a whole lot going on. A few ducks were swimming around, but other than that it was quiet…that is, until a family came up and started talking and making noise, so I decided that was the end of videoing. We left the pond area and took a walk around the park.
Most of the trees had already lost their leaves, so there wasn’t much fall color at the park. I did like the way the tree branches looked against the sky, so that afforded me a few photo opportunities.
One tree was laden with small, yellow apples. I doubt they are the kind that are good for eating, but I’m sure that tree provided a welcome treat for some birds.
Back at the house, I walked around the yard looking for some fall color. The “Featured Image” on today’s blog is a photo of a leaf from our Stargazer Lily. Close by to that plant is Fried Bananas hosta, which always provides some good fall color.
Our yard has a lot of Cranesbill plants, which is a hardy geranium perennial. One plant multiplies over the years and pretty soon you have a yard full. We like them, though, because they thrive in our cold climate, are drought-resistant, and have beautiful flowers. In the fall they provide some beautiful red, brown, bronze, and green color.
We’ve taken a few walks around the neighborhood lately. On one recent walk I decided to look for a heart anywhere I could find one. It didn’t take long to see one imbedded in the sidewalk we were walking on.
PARTING SHOT
When I told Summer Girl that she was going to have to share her Parting Shot spot with Zorro this week, she got kind of mad at me. She refused to even look at me, but you can tell by the swishing of her tail in this video that she was definitely not pleased!
Zorro had such a good time at the dog park yesterday that he was done-in when he got home and had to stretch out.
Join me every Wednesday (barring any unforeseen circumstances) for more from the Southerner in the Northwest.
Southerner in the Northwest 
I’ve not been to Randall Park in ages. Miss those deep-throated quacks from the waddlers near the pond.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have you been since they renovated it? Pathway is wider and the park just looks cleaner. New parking lots, too.
LikeLike
I guess so. We drove over there for a walk with Charlie (our Cocker Spaniel) for the first time in a couple of years, and the west end of the park had been refurbished and a gazebo installed on bluff overlooking the creek.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is that the renovation you’re talking about?
LikeLike
I enjoy the low-key atmosphere you create in your post – it’s refreshing after reading the news. 😉 Love that Hosta, the little Cranesbill leaves, the heart in the sidewalk, and that swishing tail – watch out! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for your kind comments! I do try to provide a respite from all the crap that is going on now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a good thing!
LikeLike