What Light Through Yonder Window Breaks!

food memory ...

it all began with a simple chat about a Mexican restaurant

somewhere on the highway to somewhere

we both knew it from different times in our different lives

it was a stormy Saturday as we zoomed over the pass in our trusty bug

yum time was just a short drive away

we took the odd exit for Zillah

the restaurant had closed

it was "FOR SALE"

alas, food memory shall remain just that

we stopped in Toppenish

to walk

to view the great murals

snap snap snap

then,

we drove the back roads

to purchase great bounty

we chatted

we munched

we enjoyed

perhaps it's just as well the food memory is just that

one can dine out often on memories

Ode to Alexa

The Blooming Skagit Valley

Who am I?

what do I do?

can u guess?

Hope

I have watched these walls for some time.

I believe the greenery expresses Hope.

for in the midst of warehouses, trucks, abandoned buildings, hussle bussle of everyday commerce,

these plants thrive.

Hope can be found, just look.

Olympia Fellowship for Reconciliation at Capitol Lake

Candles for peace and rememberance - 8-8-9

Montlake Burn

A fire on July 29 burned tall grass meadows, several Hawthorns and a pine. The path provided a fire break. The fire department arrived quickly before it consumed the rest of the dry Union Bay Natural Area on Lake Washington, a wonderful birding spot. Ground-nesting birds had already fledged.

Don't know if I'll use these photos for my summer project but a strained back kept me from shooting much this month. The burn was interesting. I'll go back to see it under different lighting conditions.

In the Pink!

After a long dark winter, I decided to redo my office in colors inspired by my trip to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. My office is located in a little 1920's cottage attached to our house. Originally, I had glazed the walls and hung Indian fabric from the ceiling which made for a cozy and warm space. This summer, I was ready for a more vibrant look and feeling. I also decided to enlarge and frame some of my photos from the trip. My space feels light and bright and fun. Now, even on the coldest days of winter, I can take a little trip to a sunny climate just by stepping into my Chinese Orange and Poppy colored room! While this is not my summer photo project it should count as one since my little home improvement project took waaaayyyyy longer than I'd anticipated!

Milwaukee Art Museum

Just got back from Wisconsin again and got to go to an exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum. What an exquisite structure! Reminded me of all those other arches I seem to photograph. The floor is white marble. (Pavillion was completed in 2001 - Spanish architect: Santiago Calatrava)

to the beat beat beat of the drummer...

'cruzing music at Alki

it's 4th of July

all the spiffed up cars are 'cruzing

music is a hummmming!

wait wait wait

whose waving?

Sprinkler and hazelnut tree

I had the sprinklers running the other day trying to keep my plants alive and as it was early morning, I had the sun shining from the East through our hazelnut tree. The lighting was perfect to catch the water droplets and I had some fun playing with shadows, light and depth.

Here are two photos that I took. I pushed the contrasts on the b/w photo just to see what I could get from it.

SILVER LAKE, WA

This tree caught my eye while taking the frog pictures and I really loved the way it photographed.

MOTHER NATURE AT WORK

I witnessed an incredible act of nature today and I wanted to share. I took Ruby to Silver Lake and we saw literally 1,000s of tadpoles hatching into baby frogs. Hope you can see. I wish I had of had a dollar bill or a quarter to lay in the picture so you could see the small area it was condensed into. Each frog represented is about the size of your index fingernail or smaller.

Good Neighbors

North Seattle's tall trees attracted the 1st nesting Merlin (falcon) pair in the city for the second year. Five young hatched, 4 fledged and the remaining less-developed chick tried to follow, crashed into a tree and fell. Watchful neighbors and birders rescued the downy nestling and took it to PAWS Wildlife Center. Two days later, PAWS returned it to the nest site for a successful release. All 5 fledglings are expanding their flight range but still being fed by the adults.

These Merlins bring birders and neighbors from both last year's and this year's nests to watch, encourage and exclaim their progress: practicing flight between trees and calling for food.

Boom Town

The Swinomish Tribe sets up Boom Town every year in a dusty lot on the reservation. The firework stands remind me of a circus midway with their bright colors and festive signs. My favorite stand is owned by the Wilbur women. It's called Boom Babes Unsafe and Insane. My kind of women!