Outside it is raining, the rain falls gently as it does in the PNW. We had many days of sun and small leaves are finally beginning to show themselves on some of the trees. Easter was spent camping on the East side in a canyon outside Wenatchee. I brought two dozen eggs from the hens and attempted some natural dying, and ended up witheggs colored slate from elderberries, brown from rosehips, yellow-green from usnea lichen and grass, and orange from onion skins and oregon grape root. Rewilded Easter colors I guess. 
We munched on the fresh green shoots of cattails and dug the corms of the purslane family flower Western Spring Beauty. 
Vesla’s dog was is heaven after finding and burying four different deer legs.
Saturday evening we were startled by a herd of 20 or so deer that sneeked up near our camp and in the night I woke to the sound of hoof after hoof making its way to the waterhole near our tent. My happiness at living in this part of the world is constantly reinforced when I take weekend trips. It is amazing how much diversity in ecosystems there are within this small state. On just a short weekend trip I can travel the lush rainforesty coastal side and then go through high dessert forests, down to dry river canyons with big horn sheep and rolling sagebrush hills. 
The draw that I’ve always felt to New Mexico is easily quelled by a short trip to the dry side of the mountains. And despite the range of beautiful things I see around the area my heart is always eased as I recross the pass and waterfalls cascade all around and green is the only color you see. When ever I come home Iam reminded how the these mountains really could only be called the Cascades.
The baby kicks inside of me and there is much work to be done around the homestead, I am grateful the kitties are as sleepy as I am and I watch as spring comes, slowly.
