Saturday, December 28, 2013

Lindsey Family, 1936 Christmas Card Greetings


This beautiful card is not done justice by the scanning process.  On all the leaves, star and candle light there is a shimmery coating that makes the satin and flat paper finish and the colors appear to glow.  The details are wonderful!  Letter inside follows ~~
1936-1221 – Dora A S Lindsey & Frances Cox Lindsey to Susan Sherwood Weber & family

Dear Family – So fast the season roll around.  I’m much stronger but have not been back to work.  The girls are all working during the holidays and if they continue to do so I’m really needed at home.  Mother Lindsey here for the holidays but I would not think of letting her do here.  We are the kind of people who make too much work.  Guy still selling cars.  Keeps him busy long hours to get his share of business.

            Will try to get a real letter off to you soon, tho there is little more to tell than this holds.  Meanwhile our sincere loving prayers are for a very happy season and a prosperous year to you all.

                                                  As ever,

                                                       The Utah Lindseys 

Dear Susan and family: - I am down here for a visit and to spend Xmas with the family.  Rather took them by surprise but I’m having a lovely time.  Here’s wishing you all a very “Merry Christmas” and “Happy New Year”

                                                        Frances Cox Lindsey

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Leavenworth Snow Train

A year ago we bought tickets on the Alki Tours Leavenworth Snow Train. We were very excited to be going, but that year at this time our area was having a very, very wet fall and at 6:00 in the morning on the day of our adventure we were called and informed that a mudslide on the railroad tracks between Seattle and Edmonds had resulted in a cancellation of our plans.  So this year we signed up again hoping, too not get rained out. 

Things worked out much better!  Not only did we have less rain, on the Friday (the 21st) before our trip it snowed at our house!  This boded well for snow in the mountains! We went to bed with hope in our hearts that tomorrow would bring the long awaited Christmas Train Adventure.

Our friend dropped us off at the train station at Edmonds, saving us having to worry about parking.  She also took good care of our beloved dog all day as well.  We knew he was in good hands!

 Our first view of the Snow Train -- what do you know?!  Amtrak!  I actually expected an older train, not exactly like the Dinner Train that used to go from Renton to Woodinville, but certainly not a modern commercial train.  On the other hand, old trains are drafty and noisy and this was more like riding better than economy on an aircraft.  Maybe business class.  The seats were wider, with a little more leg room with the normal locked tray table.  However, there were electric plugs available (which in this case was the starting point of twinkling Christmas lights.  It is not easily seen, but we had a Seattle Seahawks theme in our car.
 As we left Edmonds the tracks ran right next to the water.  Puget Sound waves lapped almost at the tracks. 
 We had a Forest Service representative on board who occasionally came through and pointed out interesting information. We rolled past the USS Nimitz that had come home for the holidays and was parked at the Everett Home Port.
 We had a variety of minstrels who rotated through the cars including slight-of-hand magicians, barber shop quarters, string quartets, soloists accompanied by their own guitars and comedians. 
 We started seeing snow along the road even while we were still in Everett, but as we headed through Monroe and all the little communities along Hwy 2 toward Stevens Pass, the depth of the snow increased.
 
 
 
 
 Occasionally there was a siding rail.  Since we were the "low priority" train compared to the freight trains, we were destined to be the waiting train if someone else was in a hurry. 
 
This was our last second before we entered the tunnel.  The tunnel starts at the large bend on Hwy 2 where the ascent for cars really steepens.  The tunnel is 7.8 miles long.  From 1929 until the 50's or so it was electrified because there was no way for older trains to seal out much of the diesel fumes.  The process of pulling the trains through with electric engines was discontinued when the new ventilation system was installed in the tunnel.  After we waited for a freight line to go through, we still had to wait for 15 more minutes while the giant fans blew out the diesel smoke.  I thought the electrification was a great idea, but apparently trains had to be separated into a whole bunch of little trains for that to happen. 
This is a Wikipedia photo (public domain) showing the opening of the new tunnel in 1929.  For more information on the tunnel, you can go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascade_Tunnel or there is additional info at the American Rails site - http://www.american-rails.com/cascade-tunnel.html

 On the other side of the pass we traveled on and as we approached Leavenworth we saw the first of the large orchards there hibernating away until the warmth of spring reawakens them!
One of our first sights at Leavenworth.  There was a low fog, but above that the blue sky was beginning to shine through.
 Now all of our friends know that we are not really comfortable in crowds, but we put on our good attitude and dove right in with the rest.  We immediately got into the shopping spirit and my husband bought two new hats -- a new brown felt and a black pigskin (very naturally waterproof).  He was a happy camper. We did a little stocking stuffer shopping and a good time was had by all. 
 We were entertained in Leavenworth by a variety of minstrels as well, both young and old. 
 The sun came out at last and brightened the day.
 Good lunch spot!
 
 At 4:30 as dusk started to fall, the hundreds of Leavenworth visitors gathered for the tree lighting ceremony.  The large light in the center is as street light.  We decided to "gather" over on the east side of town so that we could immediately head off to the train as soon as the tree lighting took place. 
 The grand moment arrived!
 The town lights blazed on as well!

 And the train travelers headed briskly back to the station.  Yes, they say that some procrastinators get left behind at nearly every trip.  It was obvious that train engineers take their schedules seriously.
 Boarding to go home!
 More great entertainment
Our evening ended returning from the mountains back to the sea, passing Monroe and all the little towns along the way in the dark.  I think we may just do that again -- maybe even next year!

Saturday, December 07, 2013

Polar Bear Plunge Chickadee Style

 The following photos show the progression of the hearty Black Capped Chickadee who decided that in spite of the temperatures being below freezing, it was time to take a bath.  Since we heat the water in the birdbath enough to keep it from freezing, perhaps it was comparatively like jumping in a hot tub.  However, afterwards, going to dry off in a tree doesn't sound like a lot of fun!  The current temperature according to NWS is 27 degrees here! Brrrrr!!!!!





 His friend must have come by thinking he was NUTS!

Flock of Feathered Friends

  A Goldfinch and a Chestnut Backed Chickadee hanging out together at the heated bird bath.  We keep the water from freezing so they have some place to drink when the water on the ground is all frozen.  We've also had a robin stop by.  Robins look REALLY BIG after these guys. The House Finches haven't stuck around for the photo shoot either!
 A Black Capped Chickadee and a Chestnut Backed Chickadee share the pool.  We love having Chestnut Backed Chickadees Showing up in our yard.  The past two years they have nested in boxes in our trees.
 A Junco with the cute little pink beak and the Chestnut Backed Chickadee take turns drinking and watching out for danger.
 Goldfinch looks a little brighter than usual due to evening sun glinting off the water of the bird feeder and reflecting on his chin.
Black Capped Chickadee and Junco share the space as well. 
 
We're getting a  new window hummingbird feeder so they can come close again.  The old one has kept slipping off the window recently.  We bring the two main hummingbird feeders that hang in the tree in at night now because they are freezing solid.  This morning at 7 (Saturday) my  husband got up to take the feeder outside and when I got up at 9 (what a great sleep-in) the nectar was almost frozen solid again, so I traded out the feeders. 
 
It has stayed melted this afternoon but will likely freeze again tonight. We worry about the hummingbirds when we have to leave early on really cold days and can't get back to change out the feeders when we know the will likely freeze again. They have to eat so much to keep alive when it is really cold and we don't want to let them down!  There is something to be said for our rainy northwest winters!