Happy Holidays to You!

Saturday Afternoons in the Summer

This is one of my favorite old buildings, in the heart of my hometown down in California. I miss it tonight, my town and this wonderful old theatre. Many childhood Saturday afternoons in the summer were spent in there, perched wide eyed before the screen enjoying all manner of movies. I loved the moments before the lights dimmed and the popcorn and soda commercial torment began. When the ceilings, walls, light fixtures and the organ well were all in view. Oh and those magical side balcony seats that looked like something out of a European theatre, or so I thought as a child. They mimicked the balconies in the tower. What wonderful workmanship that building held and holds still I'm told. Bless renovators that stay true to original design.

Many towns across the country had theaters just like this and that pleases me no end. It means there were places for other kids to enjoy movies and architecture once enough pop-bottle pennies were saved for a ticket. We were the kids of the 50's, saving landfills from early closures by capturing all those returnable bottles. Who knew? We didn't. It was a means to an end. In my case it paid for fabric to sew clothing too.

This image was made in the early morning just as the light hit the side of the tower, lighting it up like a Christmas tree. As I raised the camera and zoomed in a bit, I realized the spires and other elements edges were wrapped in tinsel and sparkling. A gift for getting up and out to see the sunrise? Maybe. It was definitely a gift to have a bit of quiet, private time to enjoy the building and reminisce before traffic and noise hid it's memories from me. It was also the spot of my first kiss years later. Do you have some favorite spots in your hometown?

Summer Color for a Winter's Day

A bit of summer color for a winter's day. And winter it is here in Western Washington where our morning temps have been in the teens. A tad farther south in Olympia, friends have been waking to numbers like 8 and 9. Burrrrrrr. What a difference a little distance and height make. We have risen in Taos, NM on days with similar temps or lower and marveled at how it feels warmer than it should. Add a bit of wind and NW humidity and those temps make my bones bark.

Why, I believe I'm whining. Hmm. Revised version. Though our winter temps have been dipping, what a delight to live where enough rain falls to lessen drought worries and keep the area green year round. We are truly lucky to be here. How am I doing? Hope you are getting all the things your area needs at this time, where ever You are. Enjoy!

To Love the Ordinary

“It is ordinary to love the marvelous;

It is marvelous to love the ordinary.”

-Donald Windham

Photos taken at the Fort Nisqually Living History Museum

located in Point Defiance Park, Tacoma, WA

The remaining portions of Fort Nisqually,

home to one of the Hudson's Bay Company trading posts,

were ultimately transferred from their original location to the Park.

Recently a major restoration project was completed.

Nothing Seems Enough

I've been trying all week to find a way to adequately express the love and support we want to offer the families of the four brave and committed police we lost this Sunday past. Nothing seems enough. A lunatic savagely altered the course of so many lives. The arraignments of those who foolishly assisted him have been taking place across the street from my office.

I have great admiration for our local and regional police men and women, sheriffs, sheriff's deputies and emergency responders. They have all stayed to task, employing the highest levels of professionalism and control during tense times. Please keep them all in your thoughts; the four now lost, their families, friends, coworkers and the vast sea of people impacted by this weeks events.

Bring in the Brass Monkey

Another of my favorite spots to pass for visual R & R out here in the hinter lands. I don't "think" I've posted this before. To late and too tired to check so apologies if that is so. This week winter is making a colder and less wet statement. Jackets and a warm neck scarf are thrown into the car each morning for good measure. The pellet stove was officially kicked off today as well. I may bring in the brass monkey before heading to bed. Or not. Stay warm! Even you folks down in that CA time zone. Wink.

Slow to Go

The migration of fall color, from great heights to ground, has a wonderful slow to go aspect. Some plants shed their color early on while others, bit by bit, draw winter to them before succumbing. Refusing a harsh wind, they hold tight, greedily letting a leaf or ten escape now and then. And though the camera loves those colorful blankets dropped in haste, I favor them all. The early and the late. But those slow to go fliers, something about their refusal to let go until forced makes me want to applaud their efforts.

Wishing You Simple Pleasures

Let the Winter Celebrations begin!

I love simple primitive elements, reminiscent of days past. Tickling memories. Best moments relived. Homemade decorations. (And no I didn't make the one above, though I cherish it and the sweet needle work holding the old quilt pieces together)

I remember one year, not so long ago, taking brown paper grocery bags and cutting them into long strips. I roughly crunched and twisted the strips until I had worked my way down each one. Then I loosely encircled a small narrow tree, spiraling the rough brown paper garland top to bottom. A few dried white berry bunches and burlap shapes hanging from copper wire loops dressed the boughs. With the addition of few clear tiny lights those simple decorations came to life. It remains one of my favorite trees. Much can be made from little or nothing. A leafless tree branch and some dry moss can be magical.

What ever your winter seasons celebration entails, I send you wishes for simple pleasures.

Mother Nature's Abundant Gifts

A thankful offering to mother nature for her abundant gifts

and sending each of you

best wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving.

In the Early Morning Light

In the early morning light, the nursery down the road always feels so peaceful. Places like this, the ones you can always count on for some soul resting as you pass, are priceless. If this special spot of mine were given a waking sound I think it would be this.

Room 424

“Send two dozen roses to Room 424 and put

`Emily, I love you' on the back of the bill.”

Groucho Marx

A little color for our gray Northwest Sunday.

Have a great Monday!

Evidence

Unearthed evidence of a season passing, found on a leaf stroll in Gig Harbor. Me thinks I've watched too many NCIS shows. I don't watch much TV but for some reason (or reasons) I have a true NCIS addiction. There. It's out. I've confessed. Crime solving by funny characters, one of my weaknesses.

At this point, in this age of endless reruns, it is possible to overdue. And we (I say we because my husband and I share the addiction) do seem to be exhibiting some things I suspect are early signs of "overdue". I'm not naming them individually but...the leaves above were almost scooped up so they could be tested for soils of origin, possible poisons and DNA. Good thing I have a day job to force me to stay in the real world! Most of the time.

I Love Succulents

I love succulents. So many interesting varieties, colors, shapes and sizes. These were grown by someone with good watering skills. Over watering is their downfall. Hard to avoid here in the Northwest. Hope you have a terrific Friday!

Whether They Want to Or Not

"When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not."

Georgia O'Keeffe

A Matter of Choice

"Light and shadow are opposite sides of the same coin.

We can illuminate our paths or darken our way.

It is a matter of choice."

-Maya Angelou

Snapshots

Before the winds de-leafed us, one of my lunch searches for fall color took me down to Commencement Bay along Ruston Way. The sight of this train, perched on the trestle, caught my attention. So, it was back and under the trestle for a better look. Twin vivid orange engines, butted together were at the head of a shorter group of cars.

Trains pulling cars or second engines facing backwards have always disturbed me. Makes me kind of dizzy. Some would argue that's my natural state. Anyway, the combination of that and having this big one parked, by appearances, on a small strip of trestle was equally unsettling as I drove under it.

The unplanned stop with it's resulting photo touched me on a few levels.

Visually. The image is nothing fancy but I like it for a few reasons; that top heavy feeling with the train over water, the engine giving an odd sense of movement in one direction with the runner below moving in the other, the stenciled crow graffiti on both sides of the trestle base and the deep colors. It was interesting standing there with the underlying tension of the train possibly moving at any time. The engineer was sitting in the lead engine window looking ready to roll.

Memory. Coming from a small rural town, we had a small rural train station. It was privately built in the late 1800's, along with a handful of other stations in the area, to provide competitive transportation for agriculturally grown goods traveling to areas it had taken days to reach by other modes. The same goods, grown in areas close to main rail lines had a clear leg up prior to the development of these private stations. Of course the trains carried people as well, ultimately bringing my grandparents to town in 1913. Relative newlyweds in their twenties.

Both of their parents had arrived in Texas as kids on wagon trains around 1860-70. When my grandparents were children, travel across the country by rail had become possible, not necessarily affordable, but possible. Pretty significant travel option changes in a relatively short period of time. Ruts remain today on the most commonly traveled of the wagon train trails.

What's the point? It's this, when I was a child in the fifties, my grandfather (Pappy) would be gleeful when he heard a train engine's whistle. The drama of those big work horses, especially to those who had little access to other areas, still lived in him. Though he owned cars and traveled widely in them, he never lost his love and respect for trains.

When I was small, Pappy and I had a Sunday train station ritual. By the early fifties there were other trains running, but on Sunday morning a steam driven train would come through. Riding on my grandfathers shoulders, the two of us would eagerly wait for the whistling to begin. Once in full view and slowing, the sounds, sight, steam and rumbling ground vibrations made by that big black mechanical wonder were amazing. An experience that always made my grandfather grin and laugh. That laugh was infectious.

It wasn't long before age and design forced the old steam train out. In most places they were already a foreign sight. The switch didn't alter our Sunday ritual. When my younger cousin was big enough, off we would all go, he now riding Pappy's shoulders as I held his hand. Both happy, safe and experiencing something I doubt either of us will ever forget. That ritual of respect and celebration.

Time and age changed our Sundays and then in the late 1960's Pappy gave a final hat tip to the engineer. My grandfathers departed Irish spirit seemed to leave a mighty gap in our town and how I felt there. To this day, I don't see a train without thinking of him. Without feeling his childlike excitement build as we stood beside the tracks at the little train station. Without seeing him wave and smile at the engineer just as, I suspect, he did for his father who worked for the railroad.

My stop at the trestle in Tacoma resulted in a snapshot; an image, catching a moment in time and a reflection. Hope you didn't mind riding the rails with me for a bit?

Have a great week!

Trend

trend

noun

a general direction in which

something is developing or changing

Hmm, could this be a trend.

Keep looking down, see what you see and so will we.

Look Down

Remember to look down,

remnants of fall are still around.

Taking Time Today

Wanted to take time today to thank those

who have served our country when called.

I do dream of a time when peaceful resolution of conflict

is expected and common practice.

"The practice of peace and reconciliation is

one of the most vital and artistic of human actions."

Thich Nhat Hanh

Fair Winds and A Happy Week

As another weekend slips away and I head for bed, thought I would leave you with an image taken in Gig Harbor a few weeks ago. All sunny with Mt Rainier putting on a show. I never tire of this view from the head of the harbor. It's a good reminder to me of how many locals still make a living in the dangerous fishing industry. A job where keeping ones wits about them is key to survival with the ever changing weather conditions and more. Hats off to the fishermen, fair winds and a happy week to all! Sleep...

Swimming In It

We have been swimming in it the last few days. The wind, rain and hail have been ummm...let's say memorable. Night before last we woke from deep sleep gasping about the hardest Northwest rain we've experienced in 33 years. Not so. It was hail. Then as we were getting ready for work the next morning it started again, between downpours, heavy hail. Deafening. The size of a thumbnail. The kind that makes you want to yell, "duck, incoming."

Those events and a few others the last three or so days have run us through conversations about the strongest storms we have experienced. We agreed the most dramatic to date occurred a few years ago with dear friends in Puerto Escondido, Mexico. Living below the tropic of cancer means living with extremes. Extreme beauty heads the list and extreme storms are right up there. I don't know how our storm ranked on the scale, but I do know the four of us stood in speechless awe for a long time as we watched the deep speeding waters search for every possible way down hill. The loudest thunder, brightest lightening and most heavy rains raised hell. Filled the swimming pool down hill with feet of mud, it's waterfall oozing more of the same. And as dramatically as hell arrived, it departed with clean air and sparkling skies left in it's wake.

On the evening following our "little storm" we stood on the deck overlooking the beautiful calm bay as the sky flushed to deep pink. Such an odd and stunningly beautiful sunset, I thought. It almost seemed to be moving. Then the light shifted and the moving pink clouds turned into flamingos. Extremes.

Tomorrow we are to dry out for a day, then back to it for the week. These aren't rain complaints for I know how dry things have been in other places for far too long. None-the-less, we really have been swimming in it. Just ask the leafless trees.

Tacoma Art Museum

Tacoma Art Museum architecture is one of the allowable things to photograph. I love the building and what it does for the art. It's previous location was a turn of the century building down the street. It was fine but their collections and shows have been a good fit with this new design. The upstairs area (as seen in one of the photos from the previous post) has rooms off to the right. One is an open workspace for visitors to play a bit. Another is a large studio for classes and visiting resident artists. Wonderful spot for working with tons of light coming into the room from two walls of windows, floor to ceiling. "Rentable" she says with wiggling eyebrows.

Dia de los Muertos - a Celebration

Nov 1 & 2 are the days of Dia de los Muertos, a celebration of remembrance. The Day of the Dead. That time in Mexico and other locations where people gather and remember. Most often the gatherings are held in the cemeteries and go on for the days. How like the wonderful people of Mexico to show the rest of us a way to bring love and laughter to the topic of death.

Traveling to Mexico isn't necessary to get a taste of the holiday. The Tacoma Art Museum, again this year, has made it easy. The traditions of sand painting and Ofrendas (altars) have been set up for your viewing. These photos touch on what is there. Tomorrow, Sunday, there will be music and more. If you are in the area I'm told it is a wonderful gathering. We always seem to have other must dos when those guitars are strumming.

If you can't make it, I've tried to catch a bit of what resides on the two floors of the Museum in these shots. The Ofrendas are upstairs on the left in the photo looking down on the floor from above. The sand painting was great to see up close but hard to capture regardless of where I stood. Photos are not allowed of art work in the Museum. However you can shoot the architecture, sand painting and Ofrendas.

The altars often have dried flowers, Marigolds being the favorite, along with items that are reminiscent of the person, people, animals, etc being honored. We have seen some in New Mexico that simply radiate with color and flowers.

I hope you have a chance to take a moment on Dia de los Muertos to honor those now gone. And to enjoy some memories that bring a smile or laugh to your day. I'm guessing they would like that.

Boo!

If ghosts and goblins scare you

You've got no cause to worry

Just go along your merry way

But hurry, hurry, hurry!

Unknown

A Fall Finale of Sorts

And for the fall finale of sorts, I'll make this brief. The least I can do after my last post. Above are some of the colors here at home this season. Also a before and after sample of some big sunflower heads I picked up for the birds at the last farmers market of the season. They were a hit as always. Plump when I left for work, nearly naked on my return. Sunflower seeds ARE yummy.

And these shots are from that windy lunch walk through Wright Park last Friday, except at bottom right. It was taken a week earlier. Of course that isn't really the finale. Undoubtedly I will end up adding another bit of autumn here and there. However, for this weekend... that, that, that's all folks! Happy Sunday.

Fall Comes to the Nisqually Watershed

When fall comes to the Nisqually watershed it's no more shy of color than it is shy of water when visited by floods in winter. The lower portions of the watershed are protected by Alder Dam. Above the dam Mt. Rainier Park and the like have felt the river's force and witnessed it's course shift at will. Standard mountain snow melt carries with it significant levels of debris; silt, rock and trees. With a changing climate and receding glaciers, the volume of water and debris appears to be changing as well.

The image on the left at the bottom was taken at Longmire from the community building parking lot looking toward the river bed and bridge. This area hasn't been accessible for quite awhile due to damage done by flooding. A short distance downstream a once popular camp ground belongs to the river once more. Two images up is a rock faced ridge seen from the same spot. The massive amount of rock carried and deposited by flood waters in contrast to the beauty of the land, plant life and orange/red color tucked into the bluff is riveting from that spot.

Other images show views of the Ashford/Elbe areas along with Ohop valley, further down the road. A project is afoot on the Ohop. Around the turn of of the last century another of the Army Corp of Engineers channelization projects focused on the Ohop valley and its waters. The intent was water control and exposing more rich farm land. And it is, rich and beautiful farm land. Of course the side effect of that action changed the speed the water traveled, (now channeled instead of meandering) which changed its temperature, the health of the nutrients it carried and left little chance for fish to make it upstream and spawn. The full project will return miles of this water course back to it's natural crookedness. The first phase is nearing completion. After natural plantings and support work are done, it will be left to settle in over winter. Next year the channel will be opened to this newly naturalized section. More sections will follow.

This Ohop undertaking is possible due to the collaboration of a multitude of people working together over time. The Nisqually Land Trust, The Nisqually Tribe, property owners, jurisdictions, agencies, the Watershed Council and more supported the idea of taking action on a BIG dream.

Standing alone in the Ohop Valley last week, looking at this amazing project, I was once again reminded of what a great time it is to be alive. We humans have misused our planet in untold ways, evidence is everywhere. BUT...evidence of healthy, successful change exists as well and needs to be given voice. Not only to educate the folks not paying attention, but to support those who work daily to protect and steward our futures. There are many important BIG dreams. We need to encourage those who dream while making the dreams real through funding. If we don't, we will wear down the dreamers who are usually the doers as well.

Clear as mud right? Well probably not. The catalyst? I listened to a friend speak at a meeting (that Nisqually morning) about the overwhelming reality he faces as the Land Trust director knowing that the few thousand acres of land acquired to date is a drop in the bucket compared to what needs to be protected to offset tree loss projections. His vision of protection jumped from a few thousand to forty thousand acres. He and others have been tireless and inventive in acquiring funds for existing Land Trust lands. It takes that. Being tireless and inventive. And a strong, caring, enthusiastic spirit. He definitely has that. Throwing in ample doses of humor and sarcasm will give you his full recipe for success. But...the numbers, projections, studies, stories and economy paint a picture he is struggling with.

That looming 40,000 acre number didn't just fall from the sky. It is a direct result of the economic challenges that are toppling some of the timber companies in that area. As a result, they are selling their lands in sections to developers. Today timber companies manage and rotate crops the way farmers do. Their harvest practices have improved immensely through the years. They make pretty good environmental neighbors when following the rules. Plus those rules and practices yield more healthy wood stocks. A win win. However, when business fails they under the gun to divest. And my friend, a dreamer and doer, found himself low of spirit and overwhelmed with reality; the speed of what's coming and how to stop it.

So why is this a great time to be alive? To be encouraged that people are worried? Because concern initiates action. Help people like my friend, the dreamer and DOER, restore the planets health acre by acre, project by project, plant by plant, fish by fish. Pick your species, they all need help. I hope you'll join with me in taking action today! And if you are so inclined, here is a link to the Nisqually Land Trust.

The Fall Accounting Begins

And so the promised fall accounting begins. This gathering up of recent images was a bit more time consuming than I anticipated. I'll add more tomorrow. After culling through many hundreds of shots, these first few give you a sense of some of the things going on a few miles in either direction of us.

Timing. Just as the plants and trees are putting on their show, heavy rains and blustery winds have appeared as well. Catching color in stillness has been nearly impossible. Photos from a lunch walk through Wright Park Friday, which will be up tomorrow, were taken with drifts of leaves on the move and branches swaying. Apologies in advance.

It was wonderful really, to be out there with leaves flying and the winds whooshing about. The temps were in the 50's so it wasn't uncomfortable and I almost had the park to myself. We were very much alive...that wind, those trees and I. By Monday most of the fallen leaves will have been gathered up and on their way to the composting facility. So glad I got there when I did.

Enjoy.

Changing Daily

The colors in our yard, region and state are changing daily. Some fading, some growing richer, some shifting colors completely and others picking up where they left off in spring. Amazing. Just amazing, all these fall gifts. I'll be posting this weekend with the colors my camera has been catching from Mountain to Sound the last two weeks. Have a great Friday!

It's Almost THAT Time

It's almost that time.

Makes me want to get small

dress up and wander about

in the darkness

hunting for the perfect candy

by the light of pumpkin grins

and be frightened

by other small friends

whose voices

don't go with their faces.

A Dash of Color

And here is a dash of color for you. While out and about over the last month I managed to catch site of a few places where flowers were still blooming. Here are a couple of the photos until I have a chance to upload more. Above is a taste of the recent change-out at Wright Park conservatory.

And this artichoke is from the gardens at

Tacoma General Hospital.

Enjoy.

Outing to Olalla

When someone asked me why I spent last week's vacation where I live, instead of traveling, I had to smile. Traveling is wonderful to be sure, but this is the Puget Sound area of Washington. If I can't find something beautiful to look at nearby, I must not be looking. But I was looking and did indeed take a few drives just for that purpose. One outing was to Olalla, a little community twenty minutes away.

I stopped and watched the fishermen down by Al's grocery. Some were taking it easy fishing from the bridge while others were waterside doing some longer casting. Could have watched the fellow in the center of the photo above cast for hours. So graceful. That little splash to the far right was his landing.

Driving the roads hugging the Olalla area gave me two different perspectives. One road makes a narrow wind up the hill for some stunning glimpses of the sound.

Back down the hill and just past the bridge the cormorants were taking in the view with me from water level. Less glare and more color down below.

The other hugging road runs through Olalla valley. Farms, fields and horses here and there. The Olalla area has different temps and fall color wasn't as noticeable on this day. It was definitely in the air though. And warm enough to ride with the window open to enjoy those scents.

It was a lovely outing, a quiet eye feast. I treasure the area we live in. The seasons make sharp changes marking time with their passage. There is a wonderful range of lifestyles here, rural to urban, all close enough to offer change within minutes. So why would I want to vacation at home? Why not? But not because this area is better than another area. My answer has been the same no matter where I have lived. Beauty, or at the least something of interest is always there, you just have to look for it. Step out and see what you see. You'll be surprised at what you find, each and ever time, something new and different. Pinky swear.

By the way, the Olalla bridge is also the sight where folks gather annually to ring in the New Year at high tide by taking the plunge into cold water on a cold day. Traditions...

Earth's Intelligence

"If we surrendered to earth's intelligence

we could rise up rooted, like trees. "

Rainer Maria Rilke