Slight Detour: Green Grass, Posies and Home

As we drove home from Ellensburg yesterday, I told Bill that Ireland probably held back on its rain so we could enjoy a taste of the typical Ireland on our home ground.

The steady precipitation from I-90 to all the way to the Lovestead definitely reminded us of many past wet days we've spent in Ireland. This comes after a trip where we were treated with eight straight days of brilliant sunshine.

That was okay because we spent a major part of the day in the car, and when turning onto South Center Valley Road, we were awestruck with the deep and striking shades of green that had taken over the bland fields we had left behind on March 28.

Yes, we experienced a little welcome touch of Ireland for our trip aftermath with both the rain and the green. To know that these scenes will only improve over the next days made the welcome-home views all the sweeter.

Little buds will pop out on trees and bushes, a few bright yellow daffodils will soon bloom, and the resident deer look especially pretty grazing or cavorting in their green-field backdrop.

On our trip home yesterday, my interest in Kittitas heightened when I met a second person who lives there. "It's just down I-90 from Ellensburg, she told me, and "don't blink when you're driving Main Street."

So, of course, it was fun to take the exit and do a drive through of the Washington town (pop. 1,400-plus) I've always heard of but never seen.

Bill and I were especially impressed with the size of the school. It's a neat little town with wide streets and well-kept homes.

We didn't spend nearly as much time in Kittitas as we did Washtucna a few years back. Washtucna is not far from Ritzville, which is often a convenience stop on I-90.

When we went to Washtucna (pop. 210), we took time to walk around and explore the little community where some of our neighbors spend time in the winter while grazing their cattle on winter pastures.

Yesterday's steady rain and the desire to get home to pick up our canine beloveds kept us in the car and on the road.

Now that we're home, the work begins. Horses will come home tomorrow, so Bill will be flipping the valve that turns on waterers in the barn and the pastures.

With a wing and a prayer, he'll be able to pull the horse trailer out of its soggy spot where it has spent the winter.

I've accepted the fact that there may be tire ruts to fill when the ground dries out.

I'm excited to have the horses home, and Bridie will be even more excited to see her friends which keep her vigilant with those Border Collie eyes.

I felt the need to take a portrait of one of Bridie's paws.

She and Foster both received the grooming treatment while staying at the Ponderay Pet Lodge.

Pedicuring was also included and her paws look so beautiful.

Both pups were a lovely sight when we reached the pet hotel. Plus, they received good reports on how they managed the stay---calm and well behaved, the staff said.

AND, they were happy to see us. On a scale of 1-10, I'd say their respective and long-lasting greetings of face licking, whimpering and wiggling probably ranked a 14.

We were equally thrilled.