tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76917390682956521662024-03-12T21:36:19.162-07:00Pacific Northwest SeasonsLivin' the vida local. Everyday adventures in the Pacific Northwest.jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.comBlogger431125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-19440613576387130872023-11-20T21:36:00.000-08:002023-11-21T09:02:24.034-08:00Thanksgiving 2023: Still Here and Grateful<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5StbZQsR0cfkXdx_vgaWlfYPpogXzMwRyzWi1QczmPyjVuVIEvn1F9rkZOhaQGY3qURv6kTtZg5aLw036Ypa9a_PWW1ju4g9QOeqKn_CSORBv9QXQRyEK1OLqKXIWhGhTgA6437Lgy8sT4aGnEEJ7YFCCEvl2N3CRti6jZtmOBcS4hHYO2j4Eiojt64/s3916/20231116_074508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2828" data-original-width="3916" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5StbZQsR0cfkXdx_vgaWlfYPpogXzMwRyzWi1QczmPyjVuVIEvn1F9rkZOhaQGY3qURv6kTtZg5aLw036Ypa9a_PWW1ju4g9QOeqKn_CSORBv9QXQRyEK1OLqKXIWhGhTgA6437Lgy8sT4aGnEEJ7YFCCEvl2N3CRti6jZtmOBcS4hHYO2j4Eiojt64/w640-h462/20231116_074508.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Happy Thanksgiving season! I have intended on blogging more this year, but somehow the days, weeks, and months are flying by without any updates. So I'm here to say: Still here, lurking, and grateful, as always.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the photo below, I'm swimming in the Salish Sea, which I've been doing a lot this past year. If you follow other Pacific Northwest Seasons social media accounts (see links below), you'll see numerous shots from regular swims in the sea with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selkie">Selkies</a>, my homegrown swimming pod.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Honestly, "wild" swimming has moved ahead of hiking, kayaking, and even skiing as my primary outdoors activity this past year. Lots of gratitude for the <a href="https://www.seadocsociety.org/about-the-salish-sea">Salish Sea,</a> swimming in the sea, new friends (and old) who share this passion with me, and for the friendly seals we see quite often while we swim.<br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpX2iXvoae9f1FS1VzslENTgPkW21j3WV8bPuG1xncXjg1nlTuB_vcdVe6U95P0WQwGXVc6aQYy_BJ_e2GwAhmm170mN-RveCyBDC9DZYexn6igwqn4VlApV5Z7ySc3Va0ypp4riRjKNZrK0-OHUdMLiTnpLqbabXrg6BveFxulMi3Xmm3K_NiuLHgxkI/s3533/20231004_182319%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2627" data-original-width="3533" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpX2iXvoae9f1FS1VzslENTgPkW21j3WV8bPuG1xncXjg1nlTuB_vcdVe6U95P0WQwGXVc6aQYy_BJ_e2GwAhmm170mN-RveCyBDC9DZYexn6igwqn4VlApV5Z7ySc3Va0ypp4riRjKNZrK0-OHUdMLiTnpLqbabXrg6BveFxulMi3Xmm3K_NiuLHgxkI/w640-h475/20231004_182319%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Of course I'm grateful for getting outdoors and the joy of movement, especially for some spectacular days hiking along the Highline Trail in <a href="https://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm">Glacier National Park</a> last summer. I am intending on blogging about it and likely will. It was such a thrill and joy to be invited by some good friends to be a part of a fun, scenic, rewarding, and memorable adventure!</span><p></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilE8PiHw3HX8PyRmJb3w-7Aig9b1fez0GKgKmg68t9BP4q_O8d0c6L9Tl1ewebJuO37QHIq8jH-bBLbQnw9TSFIXIexHet7caMVvkcg_XFb25OeRlNieNIpRRmskmtpcdEKUuqFhnCU3Udr5DLCr6BEB7Vb5CoVvjrNzTRUydwiLwOpScZaWJUG4Y8byM/s640/IMG_7704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilE8PiHw3HX8PyRmJb3w-7Aig9b1fez0GKgKmg68t9BP4q_O8d0c6L9Tl1ewebJuO37QHIq8jH-bBLbQnw9TSFIXIexHet7caMVvkcg_XFb25OeRlNieNIpRRmskmtpcdEKUuqFhnCU3Udr5DLCr6BEB7Vb5CoVvjrNzTRUydwiLwOpScZaWJUG4Y8byM/w640-h480/IMG_7704.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grinnell Glacier overlook, Glacier National Park, Montana<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTqfoSLugmpjce7BO2WCMgJeO9TT6q6Mq99vrhrc9qdUdYwk9HkkdTuPO_zNeWhoLTaol3_Nq0Sk6Wr7wFOyGEnTIal9DQfE133on_wPs0LGCWrpOMrtMCLpP6RagXmmfO9dc86bhwxQ4L3_25cyPPBLeBmarhLdard8omXEmGG9aY1g-rsQZ9wQYRXw/s4928/IMGP3448%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4928" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTqfoSLugmpjce7BO2WCMgJeO9TT6q6Mq99vrhrc9qdUdYwk9HkkdTuPO_zNeWhoLTaol3_Nq0Sk6Wr7wFOyGEnTIal9DQfE133on_wPs0LGCWrpOMrtMCLpP6RagXmmfO9dc86bhwxQ4L3_25cyPPBLeBmarhLdard8omXEmGG9aY1g-rsQZ9wQYRXw/w640-h424/IMGP3448%20(3).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxW36is_UVTYVj9RRb-FqRY9Yx5yoz84-jKwkpJCnqvW4nTQULsgfBuQJuD84NPhjJbyKhgYVQLqLMcFp-KIlnU2EjQeBjp6fkD2D6YUKsUyl4AymDPl64pVRPw2C6-d626Xt_y86OCPV-KK11FCeYCMR0iBShHbbUqQsc2-sxGGJHaBn0oZXqMoLVuI/s3289/IMGP3589%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1998" data-original-width="3289" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxW36is_UVTYVj9RRb-FqRY9Yx5yoz84-jKwkpJCnqvW4nTQULsgfBuQJuD84NPhjJbyKhgYVQLqLMcFp-KIlnU2EjQeBjp6fkD2D6YUKsUyl4AymDPl64pVRPw2C6-d626Xt_y86OCPV-KK11FCeYCMR0iBShHbbUqQsc2-sxGGJHaBn0oZXqMoLVuI/w640-h388/IMGP3589%20(3).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bighorn sheep, awfully close to the trail. Glacier National Park.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm also grateful for my little fur nugget, Mittens (aka Yuki - it's a long story), who has been inside sharing my home for almost 2 years now after living outside as a feral for almost 10 years. While she's still quite skittish, she is the most affectionate cat I've been fortunate to call my pet (number four). </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7mJuOGIzFguYuT9VLOAX8nXOr4f1kWapqbAblJdBRH12Q7H_XrSvsgJX78bSvIEI9MW_8uOtz4na4J3wJOkeuSWTdPkd-bou0mcanDxwXgrsR_oHIxpADilhtmfsvyF1CXKdswA0bsGtRXQFmzhu1ckqt12B3KLgazto8oHrof7geeKfCzgjoXBtvDs/s4000/20230807_155116.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7mJuOGIzFguYuT9VLOAX8nXOr4f1kWapqbAblJdBRH12Q7H_XrSvsgJX78bSvIEI9MW_8uOtz4na4J3wJOkeuSWTdPkd-bou0mcanDxwXgrsR_oHIxpADilhtmfsvyF1CXKdswA0bsGtRXQFmzhu1ckqt12B3KLgazto8oHrof7geeKfCzgjoXBtvDs/w640-h480/20230807_155116.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I can tell I'm rusty on blogging, as this is a bit of a slapdash post. But while there is <i>a lot</i> be be concerned and alarmed about in our world today, there is much to be grateful for as well. I have always cultivated simple pleasures in my life, like the perfect pot of tea each morning, talks </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">(and now more texts)</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> and walks with friends and family, mini road trips and getaways like the marvelous day last Friday with two dear friends to get fresh seafood on Hood Canal, and so much more.</span><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTrZo3X69SL2XoqGBgjqGOUgaNymnPh1lZoqyFCfTtLxEOXPFu0CWjjvsFoTQCmgxzUGVvGrGFh7BaCeKIt_xeVU06UybmQyIXPINYU0TJzLJsMcoQWMlBAeE-NvBkgLu9Hsh_EEeVc_QPdOCIOj2s_1KuFV75HFb5w9vU5HmcDDvG_q0nOKSS6yORmo/s4734/IMGP4249c.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3076" data-original-width="4734" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTrZo3X69SL2XoqGBgjqGOUgaNymnPh1lZoqyFCfTtLxEOXPFu0CWjjvsFoTQCmgxzUGVvGrGFh7BaCeKIt_xeVU06UybmQyIXPINYU0TJzLJsMcoQWMlBAeE-NvBkgLu9Hsh_EEeVc_QPdOCIOj2s_1KuFV75HFb5w9vU5HmcDDvG_q0nOKSS6yORmo/w640-h416/IMGP4249c.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hamma Hamma Oysters, Hood Canal, WA</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5DF5FtTXbOT3U9ZLiyEfoKwGvjUPl6MjJqCSDREeQv5PkZXCtDAY-hL9qOf7qyMjJeGu07RhUXjC6tevsd-yZb3QthOqdsqwuZwsogQzCdh1X1aSlR9ypqZePgUIWWfxwfweFDJMwLh4oKzb3ZgrZPR-AkeW4_0_eO7qcyMfDntfYFZ462ZrYAf2YwE/s4487/IMGP4229c.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2927" data-original-width="4487" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5DF5FtTXbOT3U9ZLiyEfoKwGvjUPl6MjJqCSDREeQv5PkZXCtDAY-hL9qOf7qyMjJeGu07RhUXjC6tevsd-yZb3QthOqdsqwuZwsogQzCdh1X1aSlR9ypqZePgUIWWfxwfweFDJMwLh4oKzb3ZgrZPR-AkeW4_0_eO7qcyMfDntfYFZ462ZrYAf2YwE/w640-h418/IMGP4229c.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">While I would like to be a bit more profound, I'll keep it simple this year. I'm just happy to be here, for good health, for good friends and dear family, and the beauty of my home region. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-R8WAk_oGI2Sm81JklGwLr7OKAkaaqHe8MJooVHNhOn2JTg-p6sxTSkBNdVYzYkLiCdtWa9ZM4QrQJ3s3ZjjmELGj2QnrrKQ_UBk22Z7MHoLrtb-gpO4uMMvABapYNrm_4CRpayKgaDnuj1pvKffSWwUEjvefubohbS905TLJX37jpQoDmeamd0hTT3c/s4000/20230921_190000.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-R8WAk_oGI2Sm81JklGwLr7OKAkaaqHe8MJooVHNhOn2JTg-p6sxTSkBNdVYzYkLiCdtWa9ZM4QrQJ3s3ZjjmELGj2QnrrKQ_UBk22Z7MHoLrtb-gpO4uMMvABapYNrm_4CRpayKgaDnuj1pvKffSWwUEjvefubohbS905TLJX37jpQoDmeamd0hTT3c/s320/20230921_190000.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you found your way here and are still reading, I'd love to hear some things you're grateful for this year in a comment below.</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.<br /></span></span></i><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.61px;" /></div><br />jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-27969543387775267572023-03-24T22:26:00.013-07:002023-03-30T14:23:52.754-07:00Winter 2023 in the Pacific Northwest: It's a Wrap<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChnnPjfvMFPop7XqR6xVtTHqZ56lEAbhrKsVwDWMkNwaSOIFuvEXBGAxLQ9gupeNLPuNwbQ9XloE-sCfARpdxvfu99pQmKJ8VYOB4Z1tAuhnQdHf9KcfcrdV1gcZEbe_NF2QQkSG_2y8KYimrzoDiTckQCJbROQFTjXMa6nBqIeJH0ZIONzfbl1pg/s2459/IMG_20230226_120334_122%20(2).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1705" data-original-width="2459" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChnnPjfvMFPop7XqR6xVtTHqZ56lEAbhrKsVwDWMkNwaSOIFuvEXBGAxLQ9gupeNLPuNwbQ9XloE-sCfARpdxvfu99pQmKJ8VYOB4Z1tAuhnQdHf9KcfcrdV1gcZEbe_NF2QQkSG_2y8KYimrzoDiTckQCJbROQFTjXMa6nBqIeJH0ZIONzfbl1pg/w640-h444/IMG_20230226_120334_122%20(2).jpg" width="640" /></a> </p><p></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div>Did you have a good winter this year? </div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Winter is finally loosening its grip here in the Pacific Northwest. The mountains are still getting snow, and plenty of it, so spring skiing will continue well into April.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As I write this, it's raining and cold out (in the high 30sF), after a few teaser days of sunshine and temps in the low 60s. I'll be skiing this weekend in fresh snow. But I know it's not for long now, and spring is really happening.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For this skier and nature nerd, the last few months have offered some great days on the slopes and trails. The new year began with, of course, a swim in the Salish Sea on a cold, breezy day. What an exhilarating way to start the new year!</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdl_Pz-kDrCriVFzPWFhXV2xTuskznFi-VxIinx1bOOLXI6GTC0l5vSERoCv4O-uzztI2u-qmbWOL13CSM94MllJei5tfdU3WehZHosHnZL2dqXIyl5y5Eq9OizDwSo0dSP--XwU8fJXL6BQiTAMmWkGueeggdTu-R7F1w9Fhw7O67qeP8jzCR-ns/s2517/20230101_110953.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1665" data-original-width="2517" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdl_Pz-kDrCriVFzPWFhXV2xTuskznFi-VxIinx1bOOLXI6GTC0l5vSERoCv4O-uzztI2u-qmbWOL13CSM94MllJei5tfdU3WehZHosHnZL2dqXIyl5y5Eq9OizDwSo0dSP--XwU8fJXL6BQiTAMmWkGueeggdTu-R7F1w9Fhw7O67qeP8jzCR-ns/w640-h424/20230101_110953.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ballard Wild Swimmers on New Year's Day</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My swimming pod kept it up all season with some glorious cold sunny days and stormy, rainy days. We made it through the winter swimming/dipping every week, and one week went every other day!</span><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpw_9wd_xFXa_hw-D8bV-CITXcm0u60paYrCk5gh3Xcs5k2WelwFuHqrsN6FR9txndXqy1dEvjBSGpxZTYt_XOcSP9G4ieYsFAJQYLiCppTP1WAMxo0fRgnpF8rV07yutjGZmhE29_jn7SZ4I0ccK5Tw2lRKsc-yezYgVbu8v_V6djXHSITCnPLJqh/s2403/20230110_163034.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1745" data-original-width="2403" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpw_9wd_xFXa_hw-D8bV-CITXcm0u60paYrCk5gh3Xcs5k2WelwFuHqrsN6FR9txndXqy1dEvjBSGpxZTYt_XOcSP9G4ieYsFAJQYLiCppTP1WAMxo0fRgnpF8rV07yutjGZmhE29_jn7SZ4I0ccK5Tw2lRKsc-yezYgVbu8v_V6djXHSITCnPLJqh/w640-h464/20230110_163034.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Sunset swim, Shilshole Bay, February 10, 2023</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My ski season started in January (my Ikon ski pass has blackout dates over the holidays), with plenty of snow coming down at<a href="https://www.crystalmountainresort.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_content=aa65577063835-cc650973706072&utm_keyword=crystal+mountain+resort&utm_campaign=CR_Branding-Ong-ECM-WA_SEA_B_LW_EXM&gclid=CjwKCAjwoIqhBhAGEiwArXT7KxYiNa_yjzdYo60jlI7BpYAwZPW0U1wvjyrNq9USDqppAqWRvofqRxoCvG0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds"> Crystal Mountain</a>, just north of Mt. Rainier, SE of Seattle. It was snowing all day, which is a true test for goggles (mine earned about a grade D). But always a thrill nonetheless.</span></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEuOGHjYIj31fLk0LOEWzfufBLNWrqKFFTShBXeCHFNQBbf4wnCvMwyYy9B09ck2w-mqpvzkbbfvwmGexesWYibsCGiucJY6W0pRxhVLPOEJxhTj8sH3LL9QRmCXZpZkleqpuCZpfTZW5qw1r7F23afRU8uuisNXF7MOnGOkn-oEc1cRzuOorGMa2/s2359/20230108_121350%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1777" data-original-width="2359" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEuOGHjYIj31fLk0LOEWzfufBLNWrqKFFTShBXeCHFNQBbf4wnCvMwyYy9B09ck2w-mqpvzkbbfvwmGexesWYibsCGiucJY6W0pRxhVLPOEJxhTj8sH3LL9QRmCXZpZkleqpuCZpfTZW5qw1r7F23afRU8uuisNXF7MOnGOkn-oEc1cRzuOorGMa2/w640-h482/20230108_121350%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Taking a break on a warm-up run in off Forest Queen, Crystal Mountain</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My next trip up in February was a perfect bluebird morning, with the mountain out in all its hunky fabulousness. We had to stop and get the requisite top of Green Valley with Rainier in the background shot. I have many shots of myself and friends here over the years.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyLN6j8jHjs9WD11LwYTaMfF9kLELYn0fCj6dEDWz6PVuO_bGkpIgHKuEBYtOjiOFo1ro-8lRPwAY-epptU1EMy9IYGp69vpvTicIIbJshkrRGk5C_fkh5s2RcIn-asf4lza7TIDHO8vRtxsaNnt127pmcUiWk8zqbPMrAUj-L2HZwPabdnFPTcni/s2402/IMG_20230212_170921_026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1822" data-original-width="2402" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyLN6j8jHjs9WD11LwYTaMfF9kLELYn0fCj6dEDWz6PVuO_bGkpIgHKuEBYtOjiOFo1ro-8lRPwAY-epptU1EMy9IYGp69vpvTicIIbJshkrRGk5C_fkh5s2RcIn-asf4lza7TIDHO8vRtxsaNnt127pmcUiWk8zqbPMrAUj-L2HZwPabdnFPTcni/w640-h486/IMG_20230212_170921_026.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But the peak skiing this past winter was my first trip north of the border to <a href="https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/">Whistler-Blackcomb</a> in over 20 years. The village had grown beyond recognition from my last visit, but then the Olympics there in 2010 gave it a boost. We cross-country skied the first afternoon and last morning, bracketing a glorious day skiing mostly at the top of Blackcomb on Seventh Heaven and Glacier Express area.</span></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVUTrHczerqeITUT6eFhcs4AcyuCu36WyR5Yig5eNya6Q9vJHe_CHPAjlQ6Fg9Xf22MevGY0Ty1U7ubgTrhcDkLDDDYa9_h342t6SfL1KyPqHNR6hn5wv_GHPdcVH8upxDGDzrnaCO6ABtMY1_PAxN8mA87fQ3cS9SWqIzMrunizMRMaRXpa-D8SZ/s3597/IMG_20230129_152438_714.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2680" data-original-width="3597" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVUTrHczerqeITUT6eFhcs4AcyuCu36WyR5Yig5eNya6Q9vJHe_CHPAjlQ6Fg9Xf22MevGY0Ty1U7ubgTrhcDkLDDDYa9_h342t6SfL1KyPqHNR6hn5wv_GHPdcVH8upxDGDzrnaCO6ABtMY1_PAxN8mA87fQ3cS9SWqIzMrunizMRMaRXpa-D8SZ/w640-h476/IMG_20230129_152438_714.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Top of Seventh Heaven, with Coast Range beyond.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I enjoyed my first real après ski in years at the <a href="https://explorewhistler.ca/listing/wizard-grill/">Wizard Grill</a> in Whistler Village. You're never too old to dance and group sing along. While we made our own breakfasts at our timeshare in the village, we also had a great dinner out at <a href="https://www.carambarestaurant.com/">Caramba</a>, a popular Italian restaurant.</span></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Ge4NPNENtpxrMoLvkuADJy02Nxpel3bkqsPm4FgnccS9dZXoIdVfYavmlnW1qWLEXtENeOxT4mUgb-vmcNGO8ev8_O1miEUvoibWGiyWoi6eWX2Xolblu_peEPdfFVeTWTBfV6XDpv-4O7QUCWIdajVP3NPAouIBt0KjepeBNvT3pCMn5Ax4XNck/s1280/Resized_2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="1280" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Ge4NPNENtpxrMoLvkuADJy02Nxpel3bkqsPm4FgnccS9dZXoIdVfYavmlnW1qWLEXtENeOxT4mUgb-vmcNGO8ev8_O1miEUvoibWGiyWoi6eWX2Xolblu_peEPdfFVeTWTBfV6XDpv-4O7QUCWIdajVP3NPAouIBt0KjepeBNvT3pCMn5Ax4XNck/w640-h448/Resized_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Girls' weekend</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Between trips to Crystal and Whistler, there were some winter walks in the woods in some Seattle parks. There's beauty in the sparse winter forest too. A steady rain accompanied me during a January walk in South Seattle's <a href="https://seattle.gov/parks/allparks/seward-park">Seward Park</a> below. </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMqxT7kGavptnUMR-Wftbx0UPeqhIUJwFPZ63w5yuvOcDMNaV6yTr5A1Qpy84KXQ2Ofe4PFS7K-pqqc9XopxBzLoFuLvmJQLiosM3WouaqRZSe8Eu4ic7QGvYgFzcUhEawEy4fB3TlpfF0N16wKMg_6ZcfiSnN_6v9ZUh6HQt43Nq4_Rqfk4lanQd/s2565/IMGP2091%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1634" data-original-width="2565" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMqxT7kGavptnUMR-Wftbx0UPeqhIUJwFPZ63w5yuvOcDMNaV6yTr5A1Qpy84KXQ2Ofe4PFS7K-pqqc9XopxBzLoFuLvmJQLiosM3WouaqRZSe8Eu4ic7QGvYgFzcUhEawEy4fB3TlpfF0N16wKMg_6ZcfiSnN_6v9ZUh6HQt43Nq4_Rqfk4lanQd/w640-h408/IMGP2091%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As winter drew to a calendar close last weekend (and temps broke 60 degrees F!), I celebrated with a hike with some of my favorite women in one of my book clubs (Alpine Trails) at one of my favorite places (<a href="https://www.parks.wa.gov/497/Deception-Pass">Deception Pass State Park</a>). I took off my jacket and enjoyed the relative warmth in such a beautiful place.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMm-dWAAR8PIkPoIqLry5llSZCamtSI7rc70w-3cZsOHjbh1m2p-crEp2vn2y7_QjsOKctCKL0Xk1T3AUsesHy-kybp-JC9YIdaX_wqQj0QugWQYV07hcxHa3BmMn34NxWvgOuPAVN2Ulw6y0PQ9e9LSEvNSZM2ph9VkAnQFF2l-pZTbw-k-PoEP_d/s2498/IMGP9979%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1678" data-original-width="2498" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMm-dWAAR8PIkPoIqLry5llSZCamtSI7rc70w-3cZsOHjbh1m2p-crEp2vn2y7_QjsOKctCKL0Xk1T3AUsesHy-kybp-JC9YIdaX_wqQj0QugWQYV07hcxHa3BmMn34NxWvgOuPAVN2Ulw6y0PQ9e9LSEvNSZM2ph9VkAnQFF2l-pZTbw-k-PoEP_d/w640-h430/IMGP9979%20(3).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Deception Pass Bridge</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGWlp9ecnPf2DD_ysbA9rjSZ4kGnU4fgvNw3CBHfaReqsyzdXdHMYKxtTBwTyDwiTFhXPuGmf6p5P6QEydj_RAJKkkLsUJNqe3lUVQlCnNSyKntESrdGf-56P3EqCpJldIFJffmCQlCvwt3D79cGbbKk1X5-4c-PrADA88VXrJljIKUpoZ_Syqhrn/s2487/IMGP9972%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1686" data-original-width="2487" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGWlp9ecnPf2DD_ysbA9rjSZ4kGnU4fgvNw3CBHfaReqsyzdXdHMYKxtTBwTyDwiTFhXPuGmf6p5P6QEydj_RAJKkkLsUJNqe3lUVQlCnNSyKntESrdGf-56P3EqCpJldIFJffmCQlCvwt3D79cGbbKk1X5-4c-PrADA88VXrJljIKUpoZ_Syqhrn/w640-h434/IMGP9972%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And the day before, I also celebrated the end of winter/coming spring with a swim with the S Pod (or most of it) on a brilliant late winter day. While the water is still pretty darn cold and won't really start warming up for another several weeks, we lingered on the beach in the sun afterwards. It was marvelous.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLLfadnBGJ6Na81ByZXbe07z1Fle_Vbvl_dD_dQLY9THtup9mq3hiVWlC6917x_pZ1wik1Dt9XUjMha-JBZ3hTmiR7wWFANWnYiLsdLcnoxWCEHXCwrfUmpWyMLppQavHN91frFh_Z5YoHX9u6S_Hw-FaVVLPJ__Km87f9Q99t_vGlqCM7-Jfr7bo/s2364/20230318_134021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1773" data-original-width="2364" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLLfadnBGJ6Na81ByZXbe07z1Fle_Vbvl_dD_dQLY9THtup9mq3hiVWlC6917x_pZ1wik1Dt9XUjMha-JBZ3hTmiR7wWFANWnYiLsdLcnoxWCEHXCwrfUmpWyMLppQavHN91frFh_Z5YoHX9u6S_Hw-FaVVLPJ__Km87f9Q99t_vGlqCM7-Jfr7bo/w640-h480/20230318_134021.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As Seanna said, towel sarongs are a thing here.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcXF-Vp4MkvLTN1i4I8gXpFSap128V4nx7XQRDhfj4PHwTs8WskBWCxiidwoXBjjdDE1-mOs1Z6QkKasoulGmhXHojUF9jNQzcMk0VoTxCSokia4yTa59c8BFt-wL0KsCUd7icdHVCAUFJK7UhQTialOB7iQcOInaEh1Oo-tS_nd10Oj3siUdsESp/s2364/20230205_165708.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2364" data-original-width="1773" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcXF-Vp4MkvLTN1i4I8gXpFSap128V4nx7XQRDhfj4PHwTs8WskBWCxiidwoXBjjdDE1-mOs1Z6QkKasoulGmhXHojUF9jNQzcMk0VoTxCSokia4yTa59c8BFt-wL0KsCUd7icdHVCAUFJK7UhQTialOB7iQcOInaEh1Oo-tS_nd10Oj3siUdsESp/w240-h320/20230205_165708.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So that's a taste of a Pacific Northwest winter in western Washington/British Columbia. The weather has been a bit colder than whatever normal used to be. It has been a great ski season, but we're looking forward to warmer and drier days ahead.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">How was your winter?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></span></i><br /><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div>jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-38840977930433442522023-01-07T15:25:00.001-08:002023-01-07T20:14:56.343-08:002022 in the Pacific Northwest: Taking Stock and Moving on<div class="separator"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0lmv_H2PUyViRpexZfrdUboWsx639DP0hL6lp3Jr8GfrbQUWWmeiAY3-BBI-RYHNiQ85hgRtHO5GelbBw_dfZa9P3fGBLz7MjsHDxj-wnVSSfnIwXt5z-icukQUKIVzx37taoVoO6fghBQWB3quUn_wE5unoa3lzdYPxWS5xcT_Nyx7qYxVuFvs4/s2384/20221013_120710c.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1759" data-original-width="2384" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0lmv_H2PUyViRpexZfrdUboWsx639DP0hL6lp3Jr8GfrbQUWWmeiAY3-BBI-RYHNiQ85hgRtHO5GelbBw_dfZa9P3fGBLz7MjsHDxj-wnVSSfnIwXt5z-icukQUKIVzx37taoVoO6fghBQWB3quUn_wE5unoa3lzdYPxWS5xcT_Nyx7qYxVuFvs4/w640-h472/20221013_120710c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />We're starting off 2023 by taking a quick look back at the year just past. For this local, there were lots of walks, some hikes in the Cascades, a bit of kayaking and skiing, foraging for mushrooms, lots of ferry rides, and many swims in the Salish Sea near my home.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">2022 was one of the very few years in my life that I didn't get down into Oregon. Except for that quick trip to New York City, I didn't travel farther north than Bellingham, farther east than Leavenworth, farther west than Quilcene on the Olympic Peninsula, and farther south than Vancouver, Washington. For this wanderer, that's quite remarkable!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>January</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqB-kxAzsuoAYGoWId2JTeMEjGh8Z9r5n8gcq-aQ9gpNIviJYPkoldPJl_bLPKFp-wHoXrVGRFvklBzsmTP1qGvGCgnnc-Mo82Bp12ct14-M8tl7YaM7txxnFou5Tm2tMY7NeVQMMWLnzJ2slfUrnHeNcDNgpDRfcERqG4g1wsvPmiYLTpW8-aBCGp/s1357/273951150_5253662301310976_6170984079691073489_n%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1357" data-original-width="1125" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqB-kxAzsuoAYGoWId2JTeMEjGh8Z9r5n8gcq-aQ9gpNIviJYPkoldPJl_bLPKFp-wHoXrVGRFvklBzsmTP1qGvGCgnnc-Mo82Bp12ct14-M8tl7YaM7txxnFou5Tm2tMY7NeVQMMWLnzJ2slfUrnHeNcDNgpDRfcERqG4g1wsvPmiYLTpW8-aBCGp/w331-h400/273951150_5253662301310976_6170984079691073489_n%20(2).jpg" width="331" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span>For someone whose teenage passion was downhill ski racing, I unusually missed two years of skiing (due to injury and covid). But in January I had a marvelous start to my ski season at Crystal Mountain, where I was a ski instructor back in my relative youth.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Crystal still feels like my home mountain now, and I usually spot someone I know on the slopes or having lunch in midmountain Campbell Lodge.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here I am posing for that classic top of Rainier Express shot with Mount Rainier/Tahoma in her full bluebird day glory in the background. I can't tell you how many shots I have of myself or friends taken with that view, which never fails to be awesome.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>February</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qQmExA2Q8cMjiUvqbrifZ5Fby1jTddnoMUawDnbPlRebZcOWYdH5QoXAn5WnXPI5Spgle3lvdbd716KnykQaV9fpQvcvibnCibUKLNpaRTUW82ILv1IGQOPBB0_KghCe-LefAS4v1U0o7so6ve6pqsPUhQu4Fv3noDmhtI55dDqZQ-GtaMsBeCbm/s2525/DSC07898%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1661" data-original-width="2525" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qQmExA2Q8cMjiUvqbrifZ5Fby1jTddnoMUawDnbPlRebZcOWYdH5QoXAn5WnXPI5Spgle3lvdbd716KnykQaV9fpQvcvibnCibUKLNpaRTUW82ILv1IGQOPBB0_KghCe-LefAS4v1U0o7so6ve6pqsPUhQu4Fv3noDmhtI55dDqZQ-GtaMsBeCbm/w640-h422/DSC07898%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>One of the first signs of spring each year are the snowdrops blooming in Carkeek Park. These non-natives, which have spread in the woods from a former orchard, were probably originally planted over a century ago. You have to know where to look for them, since they're off the trail system a bit.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I start watching for them around the first or second week in February, and take shots of them every year despite having many shots of them already.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>March</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKa_gJfxBeMxGJ9qi_V0Fo7108tLZi7MFvyGLLlyv9IZ3PYdoe5QBMN42J2xb5rNc6ZkVLTkEi8uYibcGB00S2rB4Ij7VeDRs-hM9nSBFDUcH1oJ55sa88t1g-XGvW1fUaJyiiy6Lc77kxJD3_9pEnIOF_4fzh6mNTj__PUjpGBrvVI5e2w0p2P0Ze/s2516/IMGP2823c.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1666" data-original-width="2516" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKa_gJfxBeMxGJ9qi_V0Fo7108tLZi7MFvyGLLlyv9IZ3PYdoe5QBMN42J2xb5rNc6ZkVLTkEi8uYibcGB00S2rB4Ij7VeDRs-hM9nSBFDUcH1oJ55sa88t1g-XGvW1fUaJyiiy6Lc77kxJD3_9pEnIOF_4fzh6mNTj__PUjpGBrvVI5e2w0p2P0Ze/w640-h424/IMGP2823c.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I call Seattle Sunset City, and often they're especially spectacular in the winter or shoulder seasons. On the early March evening I took this shot from Golden Gardens where I often swim, a friend was visiting from Maine. I was happy to be able to share such a glorious evening on my home beach where I spend so much time.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>April</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCkDVqWju4uXlew_E0wflr95zuGX4mIaqZgn7KoJP5zA8Rc_f7WKBqU_4OZNP5wpKT1U1q8xniJmquA6ob8tHJNM_6VDZI66GQ8TuC0lzds18TpNl-y4D2iLzyEevXIQ6UvvSWsG37ANyknQzFfRTJ4OBkIkzUt7ltnHemgUay9sJLkGQ204xgkhA/s2548/IMGP3963%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1645" data-original-width="2548" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCkDVqWju4uXlew_E0wflr95zuGX4mIaqZgn7KoJP5zA8Rc_f7WKBqU_4OZNP5wpKT1U1q8xniJmquA6ob8tHJNM_6VDZI66GQ8TuC0lzds18TpNl-y4D2iLzyEevXIQ6UvvSWsG37ANyknQzFfRTJ4OBkIkzUt7ltnHemgUay9sJLkGQ204xgkhA/w640-h414/IMGP3963%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">In April, I joined the Alpine Trails Book Club for a luscious hike along the L<a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/olympic/recreation/recarea/?recid=47871">ower Big Quilcene River Trail </a>through lush old growth forest on the eastern edge of the Olympic Mountains. I'd had the good fortune to spend the night before at a cabin on Hood Canal, and my gracious host joined me kayaking along the shoreline. All in all a perfect Northwest spring weekend.<br /><br /><b>May</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnyVdKnuGl7p5tBcQ2VpkXkXTtU5F0JZVZ6cph5_1T0oBdyO2h07gC22BGsJdKTmQgEmof1XqFvU-2_W6yOmfeAB1PlnY9pbc70CVt6kSQ74vCu0QnTLNJLgMSGvU8domfUJj5eAXGb87273uvM8_WpP-YcPEpxHOUMIlgr475qtex1nQEUT7mLut/s1796/IMGP4447%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="1796" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnyVdKnuGl7p5tBcQ2VpkXkXTtU5F0JZVZ6cph5_1T0oBdyO2h07gC22BGsJdKTmQgEmof1XqFvU-2_W6yOmfeAB1PlnY9pbc70CVt6kSQ74vCu0QnTLNJLgMSGvU8domfUJj5eAXGb87273uvM8_WpP-YcPEpxHOUMIlgr475qtex1nQEUT7mLut/w640-h416/IMGP4447%20(3).JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />In 2022, we had a cool, damp spring, which led to gorgeous wildflowers. While early paintbrush and wildflowers are easy to spot at Deception Pass State Park on Goose Rock, this shot was taken on a rainy Memorial Day weekend hike just south of Anacortes to <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/whistle-lake-trail">Whistle Lake</a>. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>June</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFrwFG7BA3uurFbvp1i91NpxeikVOTVnrs5n9pkoE0C-6HJszWX7UgsNtTfLQbMWxc9Iut0t8cK5lNQI9dYKZSkMAlYkE1-RPrIKhNhjqPtJKJiK2GQ7Bb3-IiQQE4MP-2dHjfS2u3jxRqlIWgiLqRFtBenP69xEp1BtSUV41TYau8Qv9H9AyKOz_/s690/20220626_143732c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="690" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFrwFG7BA3uurFbvp1i91NpxeikVOTVnrs5n9pkoE0C-6HJszWX7UgsNtTfLQbMWxc9Iut0t8cK5lNQI9dYKZSkMAlYkE1-RPrIKhNhjqPtJKJiK2GQ7Bb3-IiQQE4MP-2dHjfS2u3jxRqlIWgiLqRFtBenP69xEp1BtSUV41TYau8Qv9H9AyKOz_/w640-h352/20220626_143732c.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cIkOGvSIGeBHVmDYIRfGgnet-uUy_fJkrr9pdmxU1tU1HQ4f2vs3IoRtkKcXGR5M8Ix6B2tH-l9GfoWjNPWTYOmOZthFLOgfyb6tVNGklnJH34rr-R9xnPaEmF60CTBVWWHFA02LvBFRr83oW-Z4pi7xJDlDqwVjWR-FiQ0YwxPNcxlyiPC1RiRm/s4128/IMGP4912%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2791" data-original-width="4128" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cIkOGvSIGeBHVmDYIRfGgnet-uUy_fJkrr9pdmxU1tU1HQ4f2vs3IoRtkKcXGR5M8Ix6B2tH-l9GfoWjNPWTYOmOZthFLOgfyb6tVNGklnJH34rr-R9xnPaEmF60CTBVWWHFA02LvBFRr83oW-Z4pi7xJDlDqwVjWR-FiQ0YwxPNcxlyiPC1RiRm/w400-h270/IMGP4912%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Due to our damp spring, wild morel mushroom foraging was still good well into June and early July of 2022. While I can't name specific locations, I was lucky to be invited to go twice with an expert forager friend. We tramped through forest that had burned the year before, a bit east of the Cascade Crest. While the trail that passed through the burn was closed, I found a few stretches of intact trail that offered solitude and spectacular views. And the foraging was excellent too. Hmmm, nothing quite like fresh wild mushrooms sauteed and spooned atop pasta, eggs, risotto, wild salmon, or steamed veggies.<br /><br /><b>July</b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrU8B7Tkht-Hgioz0H9EZ9ovuMyjznWVHIEC8KkqA0N4ZJsA0pm-kYhGNRwd7MTIiN8P5YljgIemgt1pY60mcTp9-Uc0MlBocWbTDV3xbUhux0QlGjnXdkYdSbxOLTRoem6cnfWFgBhDGlXMjRZ4G1b5VvbNywAtClxOaz4dl3RC69foAR4wWNjTDB/s2353/IMGP0087%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="1552" data-original-width="2353" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrU8B7Tkht-Hgioz0H9EZ9ovuMyjznWVHIEC8KkqA0N4ZJsA0pm-kYhGNRwd7MTIiN8P5YljgIemgt1pY60mcTp9-Uc0MlBocWbTDV3xbUhux0QlGjnXdkYdSbxOLTRoem6cnfWFgBhDGlXMjRZ4G1b5VvbNywAtClxOaz4dl3RC69foAR4wWNjTDB/w640-h422/IMGP0087%20(3).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">We jumped straight from cool and damp to hot and dry after Fourth of July, causing us to seek shady, forested trails. And to be honest, I tend to hike the less popular woodsy hikes now instead of the super popular hikes with spectacular views. It keeps the crowds down.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some friends and I did the always pleasant <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/granite-lakes-via-granite-creek-and-granite-lakes-trail">Granite Lakes Trail </a>in July off the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River road. While this trail passes through mostly second-growth forest that was likely logged within the last 75 years or less, it's still a nice green hike.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsonWu4NFwCb_m9umrWMsokQormsgGc7mhLZBYr5_qA6CXaArkUgChxB7pWBscd5c6aZML4d7lKqbtG_2sl1vXPZwQCWQCV_bYo6vVU20RSTtgl8xe8sgMUUg9xfcqN6IZCJ3K7Gavmt9op9wBmtSNbLWOJoQBtUI0Nye0qUpnp4Fm4m4Rof4lNwu3/s3911/IMGP0171%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2554" data-original-width="3911" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsonWu4NFwCb_m9umrWMsokQormsgGc7mhLZBYr5_qA6CXaArkUgChxB7pWBscd5c6aZML4d7lKqbtG_2sl1vXPZwQCWQCV_bYo6vVU20RSTtgl8xe8sgMUUg9xfcqN6IZCJ3K7Gavmt9op9wBmtSNbLWOJoQBtUI0Nye0qUpnp4Fm4m4Rof4lNwu3/w640-h418/IMGP0171%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">And then there was that incredibly magical late July night swimming in a cove in <a href="https://cob.org/services/recreation/parks-trails/parks-guide/chuckanut-bay-shorelands">Chuckanut Bay</a> in the sparkly bioluminescence. You can <a href="http://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2022/10/open-water-swimming-in-puget-sound.html">read about that in a blog post</a> from last year.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>August</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEfcKqJDM0-bhd0OOCAcdF00gvr5efC7L8F7ic_wkGfBXpoKn3THcrL9JOjQlL6OBEy-qz1_TfOc1IEAbgovty1ekowk9uNtWzOnphanDY-9w0O7KZAkY-GhsP74a_4orCxET1Yyr5JPimIXB8R8e59KbwFCCbjBOWn0shdesWxrylPKWTmkj7Nky/s2517/IMGP0501%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1665" data-original-width="2517" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEfcKqJDM0-bhd0OOCAcdF00gvr5efC7L8F7ic_wkGfBXpoKn3THcrL9JOjQlL6OBEy-qz1_TfOc1IEAbgovty1ekowk9uNtWzOnphanDY-9w0O7KZAkY-GhsP74a_4orCxET1Yyr5JPimIXB8R8e59KbwFCCbjBOWn0shdesWxrylPKWTmkj7Nky/w640-h424/IMGP0501%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />While I'd done a few shorter kayak outings earlier in the year, I managed to find some friends to join me for just about my favorite kayaking day trip - upper <a href="http://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2011/08/sea-kayaking-northern-skagit-bay-seals.html">Skagit Bay,</a> with stops at Hope and Skagit islands. It's never crowded, parking is free at the put-in (thank you Swinomish Tribe!), it's beautiful, and the swimming in the bay afterwards was marvelous.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>September</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FxfRbptQpnvZpHgVLFjGdiar01DIQuQkDeOfG0_BP0PEFYNz5e-5IcBqwVVNOOnhKZy5nSPdBDLMPjG0SxoHevaKsPi_69H0flA_-C90JrVbD9xQ840yjxywQUGbjoC5FH5I71vHVHb9xHJG6SBqIdLyzDWnr_sDOjAASmRIlQzEDLgrZ8J9fdzK/s2533/IMGP1045%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1655" data-original-width="2533" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FxfRbptQpnvZpHgVLFjGdiar01DIQuQkDeOfG0_BP0PEFYNz5e-5IcBqwVVNOOnhKZy5nSPdBDLMPjG0SxoHevaKsPi_69H0flA_-C90JrVbD9xQ840yjxywQUGbjoC5FH5I71vHVHb9xHJG6SBqIdLyzDWnr_sDOjAASmRIlQzEDLgrZ8J9fdzK/w640-h418/IMGP1045%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />During prime hiking weather, a friend and I escaped to the high country for a cool hike on a hot late September day to the very popular <a href="https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/naches-peak-loop">Naches Peak Loop</a> Trail at Chinook Pass on the edge of Mt. Rainier National Park. We made the loop longer by hiking down to Dewey Lakes (and lost some of the crowds on the trail).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tahoma was out in all her late summer glory.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>October</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhns1BY9K0DWmxHQ6piulFjNI-MgFBgxEvgSIKn-gbjpafWaMuca7vtjmaQ1DcpofoQNti9J_c3kPCFD4Qbpjo0cqX2DsclTFgzAO1LjNzNZbaHHgKiTgOmOlV9QBei_OksrH3a3NcLLs3lgRojNq_FY7-cH2_4hMarr5OlMmk2NPZoshf1khH7oc8q/s2535/P1010009%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1654" data-original-width="2535" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhns1BY9K0DWmxHQ6piulFjNI-MgFBgxEvgSIKn-gbjpafWaMuca7vtjmaQ1DcpofoQNti9J_c3kPCFD4Qbpjo0cqX2DsclTFgzAO1LjNzNZbaHHgKiTgOmOlV9QBei_OksrH3a3NcLLs3lgRojNq_FY7-cH2_4hMarr5OlMmk2NPZoshf1khH7oc8q/w640-h418/P1010009%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Into mid October, with freakishly warm temperatures lingering well past the old normal, the open water "wild" swimming was fantastic. The Salish Sea/Puget Sound stayed relatively "warm" (mid 50s Fahrenheit versus mid 40s right now) later than usual in the year. At its warmest, I was staying in 25 to 30+ minutes.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">A big treat was meeting up with a swimmer from Scotland, who was passing through Seattle, and taking her to the beach for a swim. Cheryl was a hoot and clearly thrilled to join us in the water.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Also, the mountain lake shot at the top of this post was taken on another unusually warm October hike to Snow Lake, a classic trail that had just reopened after a seasonal closure for trail upgrades.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>November</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQ9YMHHZmHRAuvv3XdCb5jYwk-xXDLKP8G6lKLrPemwYS_7gM3Tm0AI8N6ioNQvg79X6dIC04lFZyyGLh4NNW0fwc4GaouFtVMSLQCpY6tqMaFbtdiKXJMVqx6UUpcp6c8meFsXW4oNcLpMMBhyG7qSsGpxcsuveSSnqV_3XsEUExeZnR_n43QPDV/s2048/317082678_485301546920216_8606871636456838718_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1510" data-original-width="2048" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQ9YMHHZmHRAuvv3XdCb5jYwk-xXDLKP8G6lKLrPemwYS_7gM3Tm0AI8N6ioNQvg79X6dIC04lFZyyGLh4NNW0fwc4GaouFtVMSLQCpY6tqMaFbtdiKXJMVqx6UUpcp6c8meFsXW4oNcLpMMBhyG7qSsGpxcsuveSSnqV_3XsEUExeZnR_n43QPDV/w640-h472/317082678_485301546920216_8606871636456838718_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />With winter coming, we swam a lot still in the Sound as temps started to drop. I took the shot above right before I waded in and swam in this lovely, quiet cove at Manitou Beach on Bainbridge Island the morning before a happy, tasty Thanksgiving dinner with family at my sister's home. The brisk, cold water was an exhilarating way to start the day as the fog was lifting. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>December</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBxQF-vkAiyIl53dxewBCdn7qRrloArk1KRScmSSK635uwMrXcF_erZ9pZbUsyLM7Ttl9PZubccFPHQnUJSnLhy93lv2ocJ0eKWqQEg_np7IBUOKVLuWVDmF9s8TjXpKnn4vhLNTJ1Wo4A2PYLLmmLVvAnGKI9DLD4JgNkNy4n6kbM_T6ABF_TAUr/s2326/20221217_124125.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1802" data-original-width="2326" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBxQF-vkAiyIl53dxewBCdn7qRrloArk1KRScmSSK635uwMrXcF_erZ9pZbUsyLM7Ttl9PZubccFPHQnUJSnLhy93lv2ocJ0eKWqQEg_np7IBUOKVLuWVDmF9s8TjXpKnn4vhLNTJ1Wo4A2PYLLmmLVvAnGKI9DLD4JgNkNy4n6kbM_T6ABF_TAUr/w640-h496/20221217_124125.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">With a good hit of snow before the Christmas holiday in the lowlands as well as the Cascades, some friends and I dashed up for some cross-country skiing east of Snoqualmie Pass at <a href="https://www.snowrec.org/cabin-creek">Cabin Creek</a>. This friendly favorite Sno-Park is tracked and groomed all winter for Nordic skiing, which truly is one of the best total body and calorie-burning workouts.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">While we're not hard core speed skate skiers, it was fun and a great 90-minute workout. Next up: back to Crystal Mountain and a trip to Whistler/Blackcomb in B.C.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">As always, there are just too many photos and too many adventures to pack into one annual year-in-review blog post, BUT...you can find more Pacific Northwest photos on FaceBook, Twitter (hanging in there for now), and Instagram (links below).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wishing you a great 2023! <br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><b><br /></b></span></div>jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-68559161055580753172022-11-21T10:28:00.010-08:002022-12-02T12:42:35.573-08:00Thanksgiving 2022: Seeking Wonder<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSU5n1T53jkC4mZ2ISYyuHb1vGOJWsQNlgmqeQxW6pEhkZ9vPVsejlJBUnOaTFYcpA8eTBncM4ij8m8rWyldMkUxM1p8w6Jv_ae0IRko_ka5gPf_RwVceK2iyRaG6IWyUXpyrhZoxX_zJpkaHqjme0yT9kLLNQamvtIC8YPKk3JVtJlZRrlUOJom_/s2336/IMGP3776%20(3).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1547" data-original-width="2336" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSU5n1T53jkC4mZ2ISYyuHb1vGOJWsQNlgmqeQxW6pEhkZ9vPVsejlJBUnOaTFYcpA8eTBncM4ij8m8rWyldMkUxM1p8w6Jv_ae0IRko_ka5gPf_RwVceK2iyRaG6IWyUXpyrhZoxX_zJpkaHqjme0yT9kLLNQamvtIC8YPKk3JVtJlZRrlUOJom_/w640-h424/IMGP3776%20(3).JPG" width="640" /></a></p><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I ponder gratitude around Thanksgiving each year, a theme often surfaces. This year, I've been thinking a lot about wonder. Each time I experience or witness something that makes me smile or gasp in awe and wonder, I'm grateful.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">These moments take us out of our everyday world and anxieties slip away. I can't put it better than this quote (I found online <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0034408980930107?journalCode=urea20">here</a>):</span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc">Wonder <b>helps to put our place in the world into perspective</b>.
It not only allows us to see beauty in a crabapple; it reminds us that
we are finite and that we are a part of something much greater than our
ability to comprehend it. </span></span></span></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhKnu3X2weE_0mWTRRGKGOqe0yo9fctr_0m6DdeOZybQZVRigXSIWYGx-p_ic5KaB8P9ICY7d_nG8gzBiw42vi-XrXOqfPpcidysSwbNesCf0F1G8jbGlvq6tVQRbYWonQ_l7TtoHgONh6NINFOrIeiU-6sSTbpOttdWI6sSF7dr2l4zqfCMUNQGG/s2433/IMGP8611c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1643" data-original-width="2433" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhKnu3X2weE_0mWTRRGKGOqe0yo9fctr_0m6DdeOZybQZVRigXSIWYGx-p_ic5KaB8P9ICY7d_nG8gzBiw42vi-XrXOqfPpcidysSwbNesCf0F1G8jbGlvq6tVQRbYWonQ_l7TtoHgONh6NINFOrIeiU-6sSTbpOttdWI6sSF7dr2l4zqfCMUNQGG/w640-h432/IMGP8611c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Every time I see a sunrise or sunset that stops me in my tracks, witness a solar or lunar eclipse, or spot some wild orcas in the Salish Sea, I feel this awe.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are a zillion things that can elicit a sense of wonder or awe. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQECFwG7hq1hHodHhnUTPxb0cDEii-JJLR-w30NjB-6kfMsf2Tqy5Qv4l9CQYEdq0sd2GCaqt6OTMTIGHxmPul3GzKWhcsLWsPDAio4NR2YqA8XRF05WqwP4UP4zFAbWdjtuvwrdrC0vxq6mKI2tO6JmZS9vphRpklQ7AsebAVURy5DCJI_TS_DNH/s1860/92545779_3202317026445524_7006326041966804992_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1281" data-original-width="1860" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQECFwG7hq1hHodHhnUTPxb0cDEii-JJLR-w30NjB-6kfMsf2Tqy5Qv4l9CQYEdq0sd2GCaqt6OTMTIGHxmPul3GzKWhcsLWsPDAio4NR2YqA8XRF05WqwP4UP4zFAbWdjtuvwrdrC0vxq6mKI2tO6JmZS9vphRpklQ7AsebAVURy5DCJI_TS_DNH/w640-h440/92545779_3202317026445524_7006326041966804992_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For this blog post, I was initially thinking about natural phenomena, not all of which I could photograph. Actually, thank goodness I wasn't disrupting some of these moments by taking pictures!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I mentioned in my last <a href="http://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2022/10/open-water-swimming-in-puget-sound.html">post about open water swimming</a>, there was that incredible night this past summer swimming through tiny sparkles of bioluminescent light in the dark Salish Sea. And the sunset that preceded the experience:<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhSvmpPNCdg_GOt_8MG3Dgb_bcTFhvXn-tGxHnroFc1sRNNLHgxTeBk-1Jp8JGzlNBG7n0GBauyqieq-wXkbgqX2_SEsPt5pki5QUx30qnn-0fMO_Pe95YYX4QMkyEc3JdijppauDLbhulEMtw_aTioknM-RNzg0VosPKKSD9-IWp0Q-b3A5y3JaM/s3845/20220729_211650.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2141" data-original-width="3845" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhSvmpPNCdg_GOt_8MG3Dgb_bcTFhvXn-tGxHnroFc1sRNNLHgxTeBk-1Jp8JGzlNBG7n0GBauyqieq-wXkbgqX2_SEsPt5pki5QUx30qnn-0fMO_Pe95YYX4QMkyEc3JdijppauDLbhulEMtw_aTioknM-RNzg0VosPKKSD9-IWp0Q-b3A5y3JaM/w640-h356/20220729_211650.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">Chuckanut Bay sunset.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Hiking through a grove of <a href="http://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/search?q=larch">golden subalpine larches</a>, which I call unicorn trees, is another wondrous experience. People flock by the hundreds (maybe thousands?) to the most popular larch hikes in the region in a frenzy of "Larch Madness" each autumn. These conifers that glow golden for a few short weeks each October seem to cast a spell and draw you onward, wanting more.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDR-_4qwbg6iq0ut4Mawdd0AcbaM10F8jcWid2ePT_ZAu0EZ6AxM87xJ5SrciLAxSkIvwzNVkLeXMBgG0h5JnUig17SjSuqWCFbWm6QmrRADpEVe-pBT5O7AJ9w6eeSZKK4yJ0qqb62Hp8dQ_PVPv8dovOVkyGq4OlhDSjKw8K4uHDtUmjbYgQbRj/s1452/121082289_3727223160621572_8740273640791033497_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1452" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDR-_4qwbg6iq0ut4Mawdd0AcbaM10F8jcWid2ePT_ZAu0EZ6AxM87xJ5SrciLAxSkIvwzNVkLeXMBgG0h5JnUig17SjSuqWCFbWm6QmrRADpEVe-pBT5O7AJ9w6eeSZKK4yJ0qqb62Hp8dQ_PVPv8dovOVkyGq4OlhDSjKw8K4uHDtUmjbYgQbRj/w640-h424/121082289_3727223160621572_8740273640791033497_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I treasure memories of many nights sleeping under the stars during meteorite showers. Spotting a shooting star is truly one of the most awe-filled things to witness.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">An especially vivid meteorite encounter was a peak experience, literally and figuratively. As my friend Matt and I neared the summit of <a href="http://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/search?q=mt.+adams">Mt. Adams</a> predawn one August morning many years ago, </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">a brilliant shooting star streaked low across the horizon, not much higher than where we stood high on the 12,000-foot-tall mountain. </span></span></p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwHzTOWIKC6NBDz6k7lS2djbFCMrQrJus-xA-yl1Ut-Vz3I3VO5anoRGt00MuVtJJLla2-jva7lNf9aO3csGAEktn3y7C9H5vfPWCYsVjDqYb48L6MkALnm7c_h-YjMRnTxmXaTv9oXxdqoiJvoxd1KWzC-n-Najj8VTO_CuoJeSvq6NxKX8p2U4I/s1345/Adams%20climb%20%20dusk011.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1345" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwHzTOWIKC6NBDz6k7lS2djbFCMrQrJus-xA-yl1Ut-Vz3I3VO5anoRGt00MuVtJJLla2-jva7lNf9aO3csGAEktn3y7C9H5vfPWCYsVjDqYb48L6MkALnm7c_h-YjMRnTxmXaTv9oXxdqoiJvoxd1KWzC-n-Najj8VTO_CuoJeSvq6NxKX8p2U4I/w640-h440/Adams%20climb%20%20dusk011.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">Mt. St. Helens from the Lunch Counter on Mt. Adams</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">In 2017, I was fortunate to <a href="http://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2017/08/eclipse-2017-in-celebration-of-family.html">witness a total solar eclipse</a> from a friend's farm in Oregon's Willamette Valley. I was gobsmacked by that 90 seconds. The image of that black sun with spiky tendrils of light shooting out all around is a moment I will never ever forget.<br /></span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMNEpkIJ4jAbzoYQ1MwWorHS9x8NXVQVbigHAL68mHSzcUmYkFaWSBWCqrCCA8swL-rOddLEGHNGAbuDi83jzDfGw1Zkts3zQOsMilKGZVvm82tNPZ1WT1llr6Fil2xMFkyxu1VIE6dBryp_mUeGATEN_rWK1BftlOGvafuNL0N1b1iVjyK_xSC4L/s640/CRW_1095%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMNEpkIJ4jAbzoYQ1MwWorHS9x8NXVQVbigHAL68mHSzcUmYkFaWSBWCqrCCA8swL-rOddLEGHNGAbuDi83jzDfGw1Zkts3zQOsMilKGZVvm82tNPZ1WT1llr6Fil2xMFkyxu1VIE6dBryp_mUeGATEN_rWK1BftlOGvafuNL0N1b1iVjyK_xSC4L/w640-h426/CRW_1095%20(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Photo by Allen Denver.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In 2020, while the world was upended by the first wave of COVID-19, Comet NEOWISE was visible for weeks in the Northern Hemisphere. Several times I drove, binoculars in hand, to the darkest viewing spot I could find near my home in Seattle to see it, seemingly immobile in the night sky.</span></p><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_DzVf7kwIrf4EL-wVywvMj29VTlS1mJMyufLzMzQFQ_1xHz73BfWjUMr2cwqI1mHC6_QxHmIp92r-zMjNnSYJf7-AHafVlpkpOONb3lcFhoggU32U92MB5Wpe8gZRYV3FSf5XoT8M_3Ia7INFdHkrnuH2pnL9CUOwuUyb7Ue2-q279fWcAOuscy4/s960/comet%20painting.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="718" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_DzVf7kwIrf4EL-wVywvMj29VTlS1mJMyufLzMzQFQ_1xHz73BfWjUMr2cwqI1mHC6_QxHmIp92r-zMjNnSYJf7-AHafVlpkpOONb3lcFhoggU32U92MB5Wpe8gZRYV3FSf5XoT8M_3Ia7INFdHkrnuH2pnL9CUOwuUyb7Ue2-q279fWcAOuscy4/w478-h640/comet%20painting.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sorry I don't know the artist name to give credit, but isn't this a splendid painting of NEOWISE?</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hummingbirds also enchant me, and I always love to hear and spot them.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> They're an amazing marvel of physics and speed. To the <a href="https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/canada/articles/a-very-short-history-of-the-coast-salish-people/">Coast Salish</a> people, they were a sign of good luck.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-T6oW0-faeosXc75OwCnZN7C5zuY9-cuS8p1N77_RP8OFRtabYRr6cJ_vy-H1iCTRp_RjImt6bx4gWr1sTAS7Mp2CybZf_eEeukgHqlCV8imEibIY_AxtSxRIF_qts36LX5gpY7SNLgrAjH1QItoIhY2tjanDLKCopPFr7jfLHc4hUGtYOfmP-zA1/s1750/_IGP6766.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="1750" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-T6oW0-faeosXc75OwCnZN7C5zuY9-cuS8p1N77_RP8OFRtabYRr6cJ_vy-H1iCTRp_RjImt6bx4gWr1sTAS7Mp2CybZf_eEeukgHqlCV8imEibIY_AxtSxRIF_qts36LX5gpY7SNLgrAjH1QItoIhY2tjanDLKCopPFr7jfLHc4hUGtYOfmP-zA1/w640-h596/_IGP6766.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />And the <a href="https://www.weather.gov/fsd/aurora">Aurora Borealis</a>! I finally saw them shimmering in curtains of green across the night sky about a year ago. I called a stargazer friend to narrate how awesome and wondrous it was as I watched them dance across northern horizon. I think I kept on saying "THIS IS SO AWESOME!"<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> As I was thinking about writing this post, I was trying to catalogue my top wonder experiences (most mentioned above). But then I realized I could write all day about the wonder and awe we can feel every day if we pay attention.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSd5wlBqMZMWitJ-boiO9zD6WM9OEmUw3uTdv24y48Kf8JfMuBu1l6plsdaaBJkPi8EkPU3NiCYleHBmjM_WhR101Aaet3nLW7_57YfrSJLFpjorQk9N3OP8M3iv53dOXtPABp-gg2Yz_MFiszeNExyTHQH1foLMha7rXJnwAh46tT9k8KY_ZkowX/s2397/IMGP0382%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1460" data-original-width="2397" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSd5wlBqMZMWitJ-boiO9zD6WM9OEmUw3uTdv24y48Kf8JfMuBu1l6plsdaaBJkPi8EkPU3NiCYleHBmjM_WhR101Aaet3nLW7_57YfrSJLFpjorQk9N3OP8M3iv53dOXtPABp-gg2Yz_MFiszeNExyTHQH1foLMha7rXJnwAh46tT9k8KY_ZkowX/w640-h390/IMGP0382%20(3).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">Mt. Rainier/Tahoma sunset from Bainbridge Ferry</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">So this Thanksgiving/holiday season, I'm feeling gratitude for the capacity to witness and feel wonder. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">May you, too, allow yourself to notice and experience a sense of wonder, today and every day. And I'd love to hear in a comment below some of your wonder moments.<br /></span></p><p><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><br /><p><br /></p>jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-88564905009146624822022-10-24T23:47:00.012-07:002022-10-27T09:05:36.265-07:00Open Water Swimming in Puget Sound: Besotted by the Sea<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8nLvLnmLFVeqm5DQMr80P46NwKV-ytyyeB2Jzh652Uo9o8HROVtAOn8iA1xjLmInjMqtatm0H3RW_jFtDcQtyhsVRnY56bIFVIg8Rzl5bi7ZSmXv9ElVm783TwI7kMZrXgoncFbhL799nHFe-SmzIibY_puzpf17V_CngOMqUq_aIrwFMzBbNCxb/s4155/IMGP1471%20(2).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2634" data-original-width="4155" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8nLvLnmLFVeqm5DQMr80P46NwKV-ytyyeB2Jzh652Uo9o8HROVtAOn8iA1xjLmInjMqtatm0H3RW_jFtDcQtyhsVRnY56bIFVIg8Rzl5bi7ZSmXv9ElVm783TwI7kMZrXgoncFbhL799nHFe-SmzIibY_puzpf17V_CngOMqUq_aIrwFMzBbNCxb/w640-h406/IMGP1471%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Apologies to those of you who follow this blog for the lack of content this year. While I used to post about all the places I went, all the getaways, hikes, and such, I'm not inspired anymore to promote favorite places that are getting a bit much traffic for my taste. Our special corner of the world is definitely on the map now.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've been hiking some, been out in my kayak a few times, and attended a great farm dinner this past summer. But somehow I didn't get around to blogging about those things. Mostly what has grabbed me this year is my healthy addiction (is that an oxymoron?) for plunging, dipping, bobbing, and swimming in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puget_Sound">Puget Sound</a>, the southern portion of the inland Salish Sea.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Although I first plunged into the Sound in January 2020 (for probably less than 15 seconds) and <a href="http://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2021/07/wild-swimming-in-seattle.html">blogged about "wild swimming" last year,</a> this is the first year I've really truly become an open water swimmer. (Exhibit A, short video of me this past January...)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pqWL1Zq45fY" width="320" youtube-src-id="pqWL1Zq45fY"></iframe></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Open water swimming exploded in the region during the first couple years of the pandemic, but I didn't really get my groove until this year when I connected with a regular swimming partner who also lives near the Sound. The camaraderie is a motivator. Since last winter, my swimming pod has grown. And the more you go, the more you start to recognize the other regulars.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEila4i3qaZc3m_NgIbTIsnkcOZgf5vmVDGksC8TwiF5ZAptFNMHZoIQmyHZckyh_e-44KJRAjDDBRuXJAaLtm8K1QYBXHWg_zD41rKHZ_X_swLnD0JzTclusrVnwmrxzsy9aCzzqzy8L3zK99IazngQwuMwDntz6MBVDf6SxnXz8oHrstCQmdymBStl/s2316/P1010004%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1640" data-original-width="2316" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEila4i3qaZc3m_NgIbTIsnkcOZgf5vmVDGksC8TwiF5ZAptFNMHZoIQmyHZckyh_e-44KJRAjDDBRuXJAaLtm8K1QYBXHWg_zD41rKHZ_X_swLnD0JzTclusrVnwmrxzsy9aCzzqzy8L3zK99IazngQwuMwDntz6MBVDf6SxnXz8oHrstCQmdymBStl/w640-h454/P1010004%20(3).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last week I was interviewed on the beach by someone from KIRO radio about being an open water swimmer. [They didn't use my quotes, but <a href="https://mynorthwest.com/3684335/seattles-year-round-cold-water-swimmers-practice-mood-lifting-life-changing/">here is the story.</a>] She asked, why do you do it? What keeps you coming back?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I don't remember exactly what I said, something like, I start craving the cold water when I don't go for a couple days. It's clarifying, bracing, invigorating. There's always a bit of euphoria.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2b1pt8G7mJxIVoUg4gPDBbWWoPM04YIAxZSHTtClgkEIR_DJuYhVb6DD05zQumE-nR4XfKhYsVzCAdWY2IQ9Drfzet0LPbD54EtYp0pjMEGbhRnWoSSTn6jLv91QoH5Bw1OrgE3KBNJPNYBQioE0tsVHS9l19uOIdJJauE6ftywlMCtJSFP_KYpT/s2231/IMGP1098%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1516" data-original-width="2231" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2b1pt8G7mJxIVoUg4gPDBbWWoPM04YIAxZSHTtClgkEIR_DJuYhVb6DD05zQumE-nR4XfKhYsVzCAdWY2IQ9Drfzet0LPbD54EtYp0pjMEGbhRnWoSSTn6jLv91QoH5Bw1OrgE3KBNJPNYBQioE0tsVHS9l19uOIdJJauE6ftywlMCtJSFP_KYpT/w640-h434/IMGP1098%20(3).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Plus I've witnessed many glorious sunsets this past summer and early fall while in the water or on the beach right after swimming. Sometimes we're lucky and a curious seal or two pops up close by to check us out. I've seen sea stars underwater as I've swam above them.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A highlight this past summer was the warm July evening we took a road trip north to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuckanut_Bay">Chuckanut Bay </a>to swim in the bioluminescence, which is plankton that glows in dark water when it's disturbed. When it's fully dark, I put my head in the water and thrust my hands forward as I began my breast stroke, swimming into bursts of little plankton galaxies. It was "effing magic," to quote an Irish gal from the Golden Gardens RAFT group of swimmers I join some times.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSKjP9f0fzafHaZIvOosSTnU-RvazAa-xARGBaifRHmo4SpBblntE3I5-DdZRmBZ_GVfs0yGt_Fqhp7yrk_X5N_1FxzpkmUnn3BCjEv4l46M6vfv5LMHONVthUKwUA1twWko84A1ll1xPeJGMEuThr49ww_PVWTBtyBH8lo4NVcjn5EvvkvFailWo/s1919/IMG_6381.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1490" data-original-width="1919" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSKjP9f0fzafHaZIvOosSTnU-RvazAa-xARGBaifRHmo4SpBblntE3I5-DdZRmBZ_GVfs0yGt_Fqhp7yrk_X5N_1FxzpkmUnn3BCjEv4l46M6vfv5LMHONVthUKwUA1twWko84A1ll1xPeJGMEuThr49ww_PVWTBtyBH8lo4NVcjn5EvvkvFailWo/w640-h496/IMG_6381.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzSBhQNv9N6U7NmzHuqpFJNV3b81gyQbiXvz6xG3i6w8yMLFbtwOOA77VYKrpGexOtGbDZ52GD7Bxg8zUIyXH9V8HUECKvSZ2h2DMZo3SN5he9DZTrKKgQbioN36jvLt_--YjQvl1gQaYAH2JPikNY0zHhYhpZjX9zFHewRa3dElpHKhjn_miGOc8/s2448/20220729_212824c%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1461" data-original-width="2448" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzSBhQNv9N6U7NmzHuqpFJNV3b81gyQbiXvz6xG3i6w8yMLFbtwOOA77VYKrpGexOtGbDZ52GD7Bxg8zUIyXH9V8HUECKvSZ2h2DMZo3SN5he9DZTrKKgQbioN36jvLt_--YjQvl1gQaYAH2JPikNY0zHhYhpZjX9zFHewRa3dElpHKhjn_miGOc8/w640-h382/20220729_212824c%20(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We've been spoiled this past summer with such warm and dry weather for so long. Now that fall has really arrived, it will take more fortitude to stick with it. Last Friday I did my first swim in a chilly rain. It was still awesome, but I was pretty chilled afterwards. A thermos of hot tea is a must now.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today we went again in a steady rain. There was only one other solo woman out there.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">"This is my favorite swimming weather," she told us. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was especially exhilarating being out there in the elements. It felt more </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">wild.</i></div><div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJfHuBUA5vvZohn3F2Sqbxwt9Xql8_u37syyFUxw-aPYGTeE_9bGyOzygGgufhhjI390re1kaDqVb4FNt3WNpbBqHNT2SwB-cgYm88S5vp9da0pKBrLG_4zUePu_v-3tDgUuedTh58XLZxxMX2u3kyL2XfEeUUd8iTFcRnp0o-Tzx_F-ugqFgi7Ph/s1779/P1010005%20(2)c.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="1779" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJfHuBUA5vvZohn3F2Sqbxwt9Xql8_u37syyFUxw-aPYGTeE_9bGyOzygGgufhhjI390re1kaDqVb4FNt3WNpbBqHNT2SwB-cgYm88S5vp9da0pKBrLG_4zUePu_v-3tDgUuedTh58XLZxxMX2u3kyL2XfEeUUd8iTFcRnp0o-Tzx_F-ugqFgi7Ph/w640-h424/P1010005%20(2)c.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was initially inspired by a few <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq1Ym738dlk">YouTube wild swimming videos</a> out of the United Kingdom. In an "it's a small world" twist, the photo above shows me sharing a dip with Cheryl, who was passing through Seattle from Scotland. She found the Seattle Open Water Swimmers FaceBook page and asked if anyone would be willing to join her for a swim.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A couple of us picked Cheryl up at her hotel and spent a fun few hours learning a bit about her life in the UK and taking the plunge. If you want to see a few seconds of pure joy, check out <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_8b13xik1Y">this short video</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHk-1_r2oPQTm5eN3YudPQsHvEjNvQ00xul-2ZCXoqVYaFyc0g9qNv4ofgZhsGbYJCBrwJyqTtEkGErsEcu-js1ZZFAEcQ38f5h4ZhK0njo88uY_1zHbcGm7amSLVOFxQ_Z4Rd3Fpbw6rfdETsunjVXfa9OiojFVYEM2fKkwtTldmev8XOIjXHUaWI/s2048/308011930_440354281414943_4739399709304903287_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="2048" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHk-1_r2oPQTm5eN3YudPQsHvEjNvQ00xul-2ZCXoqVYaFyc0g9qNv4ofgZhsGbYJCBrwJyqTtEkGErsEcu-js1ZZFAEcQ38f5h4ZhK0njo88uY_1zHbcGm7amSLVOFxQ_Z4Rd3Fpbw6rfdETsunjVXfa9OiojFVYEM2fKkwtTldmev8XOIjXHUaWI/w640-h372/308011930_440354281414943_4739399709304903287_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPuCsvhamIeJbhdqpD3VdK6pSFWc1LPGCttDj9kCyK-YrO_oQLhOsz1Cpc_RRfIkh1UoacLBYOop2tJjrr8KnZo6JzbkCTcnCuwLYPHDcStODHaLV070UmD5xiZfHmOrxw48ebyX3L26ix9gTTGWNG7Jb_w7ZPZNt6NZGkc0Ka8vFPXAdeiXEOGWk/s1719/20220216_123953c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="1719" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPuCsvhamIeJbhdqpD3VdK6pSFWc1LPGCttDj9kCyK-YrO_oQLhOsz1Cpc_RRfIkh1UoacLBYOop2tJjrr8KnZo6JzbkCTcnCuwLYPHDcStODHaLV070UmD5xiZfHmOrxw48ebyX3L26ix9gTTGWNG7Jb_w7ZPZNt6NZGkc0Ka8vFPXAdeiXEOGWk/w640-h454/20220216_123953c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></span><p></p><p></p><p><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you're interested in giving it a go, this <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/how-to-get-into-open-water-swimming-in-the-greater-seattle-area/">piece in the Seattle Times</a> provides some advice and more links. Start gradually and see how you take to it. It's not for everyone. More than half of my friends are a hard no when I suggest they join me some time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6bXIm8u2Pq3R4HxMOTLmZRRBKZ1oUYkGEdLlNK0ILV4pQT-YIxddqyLW2SVFr2WXRA8FWKosyoTPGO_8LnsqMdAfTaMOr4U_r7MNFVRL0YFUJvGajbWGpz4N_0n-nr5oLYHw24ykohx6aPVzV_dv0F7s9DNYcrpOfboLav2nZfnTU2s0RhlEB9_m/s1507/278430716_5433040060039865_2552170655156567563_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1507" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6bXIm8u2Pq3R4HxMOTLmZRRBKZ1oUYkGEdLlNK0ILV4pQT-YIxddqyLW2SVFr2WXRA8FWKosyoTPGO_8LnsqMdAfTaMOr4U_r7MNFVRL0YFUJvGajbWGpz4N_0n-nr5oLYHw24ykohx6aPVzV_dv0F7s9DNYcrpOfboLav2nZfnTU2s0RhlEB9_m/w640-h408/278430716_5433040060039865_2552170655156567563_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">No matter how stressed or anxious I might be feeling, it <i>always</i> dissipates when I hit that cold water and start swimming. I come out with a smile on my face every time.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeM3ONbzlRhHeaqDZvz3hH2nVSa7yf2p6YYaVaaW8F-mXhD7xcQlnlSEKODc74XD6C0_byDOY_WWhqRTtYSLGGrrKl3flKgXOWKnQ4jCX_2uIzYE_-6K2xFBULmoWWXE5jMedIrL9orRUWh12ldWa59AtYIDGncBE980w6AOLQo4X69Lcpmki1Cpv/s2425/P1010006%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1729" data-original-width="2425" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeM3ONbzlRhHeaqDZvz3hH2nVSa7yf2p6YYaVaaW8F-mXhD7xcQlnlSEKODc74XD6C0_byDOY_WWhqRTtYSLGGrrKl3flKgXOWKnQ4jCX_2uIzYE_-6K2xFBULmoWWXE5jMedIrL9orRUWh12ldWa59AtYIDGncBE980w6AOLQo4X69Lcpmki1Cpv/w400-h285/P1010006%20(3).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">L</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">ike I told the radio interviewer, I'm hooked...on the cold clarifying water, the
friends and companionship forged through a shared sense of adventure,
the glimpses of marine wildlife, the sounds and scent of the sea, the
joy of movement and swimming, and just fully inhabiting and being in a
beautiful place.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And mostly, I'm grateful to live so close to the sea and to have discovered this joyful, slightly crazy, life-affirming habit. <br /></span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you're interested in seeing some short videos of me or friends swimming, post-swim musings and sunsets, check out<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Wmx683a_sR2uZ5can3pKg"> my YouTube channel</a></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Wmx683a_sR2uZ5can3pKg">.</a></i></p><p></p><p><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4iqKa_o4TwL6wyhrGSjh9nn6BmjT1XvRKXAzbO5XKaefBPt8ZHY02ZGt3W_MtklotUSmtKiojm-z-plww086hALopr_2R23d0VAxxTGbHavjeto2-nAW53_vgg8EIiB5pl_K65X79pTefLOsHg54oaPHA2pbtHR7xljDco9rgOSxfQ7lzkwrxkHj/s4155/IMGP1471%20(2).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><p></p></div>jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-78484528612456278222022-05-30T23:37:00.006-07:002022-06-06T15:06:04.689-07:00Walking Seattle: Garden Whimsey and Peek-a-boo Pets<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBnQDC6h8XGXzSkB-zApH__kjh5iJJA0mVt1Gik48GaoKPrqdDhAfvoeQk_s8XKGm-JSImJnXEAvkA1i35DbR7z76gR6meFE_XmVe5nNejEkC_IefQbNzEd4_0eSrCWQ63hW8OYeaKDIryG_wTW7tZAvZrmqEwyyX8oEkAQOSsym4YLTUIYYmGwXN/s2516/IMGP3146%20(2).JPG" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1666" data-original-width="2516" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBnQDC6h8XGXzSkB-zApH__kjh5iJJA0mVt1Gik48GaoKPrqdDhAfvoeQk_s8XKGm-JSImJnXEAvkA1i35DbR7z76gR6meFE_XmVe5nNejEkC_IefQbNzEd4_0eSrCWQ63hW8OYeaKDIryG_wTW7tZAvZrmqEwyyX8oEkAQOSsym4YLTUIYYmGwXN/w640-h424/IMGP3146%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last year I blogged about all the garden art and gnomes I spied while walking around my northwest corner of Seattle. I'm back again, revisiting and searching for new gems. This time pets crept into my photos, lurking and lounging as I passed by.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I mentioned last year, looking for garden art really makes my walks feel like a treasure hunt. And since I started seeing more cats (and a few dogs), it brought a whole new level of happy hunting to my walks.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Since coyotes are a real and present danger to cats in the 'hood, I thankfully saw very few wandering on their own. In the last few months, I even trapped a young stray who was then happily adopted into a good home.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">So without further rambling, let's get going.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQKD5ssHVD5AQ3rYTl-Z0LhhxbdBK5Rz5d-b7EyclVKbBUKpG8xisTvxr1c2rShX_3mLar8rpH3Bo7wHqaIL4LQVh6c13BlVQKAkroVPTTR4s1lBdHgHWq4BLyDIoi9qSJ88re0M7WrjbL7x0XsBlcX8nua_8t2vxkzdXHmf5hJ4cERFcVLUMcGb4/s2447/IMGP3159%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1713" data-original-width="2447" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQKD5ssHVD5AQ3rYTl-Z0LhhxbdBK5Rz5d-b7EyclVKbBUKpG8xisTvxr1c2rShX_3mLar8rpH3Bo7wHqaIL4LQVh6c13BlVQKAkroVPTTR4s1lBdHgHWq4BLyDIoi9qSJ88re0M7WrjbL7x0XsBlcX8nua_8t2vxkzdXHmf5hJ4cERFcVLUMcGb4/w640-h448/IMGP3159%20(3).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Spotting a cat (or even less commonly, a dog) is a rare treat now in north Seattle. Besides the coyotes, racoons and owls can prey on them. On an hour+ ramble one late afternoon, this black cat was one just two cats that I saw. While black cats don't get adopted as easily, I think they're gorgeous.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1-xMcp5uhnzZXQ6phOVXJNzGxEUDlOqdkjWCV5wYE03jZ1MNVKmQnn09xNG-GWDDe8hjzstwoAwRa4hhNNJnT1P7P8q_i3gKDDQuVVjfVTJmSC6tyoUadeovOnSihE0RZ_XTe0fN-TFqEAASn6xG_32sXbBnuI9GH5xEmHWxbooSLv7fFEitV9xV/s2574/IMGP3153%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1629" data-original-width="2574" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1-xMcp5uhnzZXQ6phOVXJNzGxEUDlOqdkjWCV5wYE03jZ1MNVKmQnn09xNG-GWDDe8hjzstwoAwRa4hhNNJnT1P7P8q_i3gKDDQuVVjfVTJmSC6tyoUadeovOnSihE0RZ_XTe0fN-TFqEAASn6xG_32sXbBnuI9GH5xEmHWxbooSLv7fFEitV9xV/w640-h406/IMGP3153%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">While gnomes are the most popular figurine in Seattle yards, frogs seem to be a close second (by my unofficial, off-the-cuff estimation).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46OupkV8fD0x00cJY2HaJBLfuXDjYB9wBnR6RhiribLc0FQN1RxjgtolewYsimVbmEOUOwLli2CNdIMKCO94IueeBxUoucd9vezpT3W_ej1XIoV3jG_TBurYSPzAIY8lxQuErOFEz9Ki8kK2fe80_7nxoec1GR8CwLzJ8WovW-cXScv191sSHPicd/s2730/20220415_075933.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2730" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46OupkV8fD0x00cJY2HaJBLfuXDjYB9wBnR6RhiribLc0FQN1RxjgtolewYsimVbmEOUOwLli2CNdIMKCO94IueeBxUoucd9vezpT3W_ej1XIoV3jG_TBurYSPzAIY8lxQuErOFEz9Ki8kK2fe80_7nxoec1GR8CwLzJ8WovW-cXScv191sSHPicd/w640-h360/20220415_075933.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>A month or two ago, I passed by The Goblin Pub (above), which is quite enchanting in the care that was put into creating this neighborhood watering hole. (I assume gnomes are allowed.) I suggest you enlarge the photo of the interior below to see the incredible detail...a restroom door, a mural on the back wall, taps for the different drinks, the patrons, and more.<br /><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvV-RveAJwfifGAahX21ARfGgO3b2EUd56LrZqryDY-QlUgirqUR61xTQ-k9JjTtuv_oUFxU2hnKxdTssuJioT6iXxn_T5aTnRILVWKSJ2U1pHM-o59RfXjs0I_u4O3ytR9R8fvYLrr3lp9aq3x7p2gbYxTpGdkIsGxYtyDZPckEDdG72oM5OPei-/s2659/20220415_080018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1576" data-original-width="2659" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvV-RveAJwfifGAahX21ARfGgO3b2EUd56LrZqryDY-QlUgirqUR61xTQ-k9JjTtuv_oUFxU2hnKxdTssuJioT6iXxn_T5aTnRILVWKSJ2U1pHM-o59RfXjs0I_u4O3ytR9R8fvYLrr3lp9aq3x7p2gbYxTpGdkIsGxYtyDZPckEDdG72oM5OPei-/w640-h380/20220415_080018.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The likely proprietors of the pub live behind the gate below, which I think also looks like something out of a fairy tale.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFLh4SAhbRIAej3dcIpwxnCbuqPYBAZQZ0_XVRPEcddWur5kg8-CTZV3AOh-CA5qnIb0Ks3JJtS-bis_L1QK1na1e6IVSQg-lMS6jyxTkeHl_znkn2o91Tu9AdNBoB2CuFe5fwyUTq5iSuIZGbuQjD2YYkfn6XATRbpSW-edXdfTg2rAUX3LKnNU_/s2652/20220415_080027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1581" data-original-width="2652" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFLh4SAhbRIAej3dcIpwxnCbuqPYBAZQZ0_XVRPEcddWur5kg8-CTZV3AOh-CA5qnIb0Ks3JJtS-bis_L1QK1na1e6IVSQg-lMS6jyxTkeHl_znkn2o91Tu9AdNBoB2CuFe5fwyUTq5iSuIZGbuQjD2YYkfn6XATRbpSW-edXdfTg2rAUX3LKnNU_/w640-h382/20220415_080027.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
cheerful glass daisies below are a favorite from my spring wanderings
this year. I know they were made by the glass artist who lives in that
home (we share a mutual friend). And see that little pink gnome in the
window flower box?</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR74JE4EotDbsuaJ9uj6JAxHqMDDMhfNBPzCW1Ej8mmvycOUNQpvZtkyXgfg9E3tLthKFriXcz8jhrKVy9s7c0UoX5FLVQcS7T6s1hU3Typ027HR6kTe2egnjIzNfBg-mlMFvdqA5hyMgietOZGt8bauOgX88M1zmnnVUnOaM6mbAmIN4eycXxMUfk/s2516/IMGP3186.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1666" data-original-width="2516" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR74JE4EotDbsuaJ9uj6JAxHqMDDMhfNBPzCW1Ej8mmvycOUNQpvZtkyXgfg9E3tLthKFriXcz8jhrKVy9s7c0UoX5FLVQcS7T6s1hU3Typ027HR6kTe2egnjIzNfBg-mlMFvdqA5hyMgietOZGt8bauOgX88M1zmnnVUnOaM6mbAmIN4eycXxMUfk/w640-h424/IMGP3186.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This
super handsome orange boy (pretty sure it's a boy based on size) below
matched his porch wood stain color. His owners must have planned it. :) </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFc_yy5zQe8Kh9n-jauWXHS_weaQaHAQCO8IT6LYcKAqFi_x7iwLzjf1Aft6sh6_130JLFDlKGOl1tSQoxWwIU_k_reu58uRyxuyj7rxhrbgVWKhueFExWIAUOOv4XhqMgnIobPxmwmhuwHfmbtj8k5mHy7-Jxzljb6qfpJsowFdjlQTLu3I2AbYVR/s2495/IMGP3192%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1680" data-original-width="2495" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFc_yy5zQe8Kh9n-jauWXHS_weaQaHAQCO8IT6LYcKAqFi_x7iwLzjf1Aft6sh6_130JLFDlKGOl1tSQoxWwIU_k_reu58uRyxuyj7rxhrbgVWKhueFExWIAUOOv4XhqMgnIobPxmwmhuwHfmbtj8k5mHy7-Jxzljb6qfpJsowFdjlQTLu3I2AbYVR/w640-h430/IMGP3192%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The lovely tabby in the window below is what started my quest to spot pets on walks. I assumed they would mostly be in windows, but there were a
few porch cats too. <br /></span><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBCfeIBrBYF9V7Y5blEOleDaFJiR2VClrZMkDeBxtwQdUv4RGO01T8Kk3nD2yX2cfKK-Rc2Edxh05kKFDMDAQknbkKfRQPPqIpPPK-492tL9PL_Vr4g9hToNnfTWtZ7-hRkC-CXw0J2Xl775fJHHzfq81FpG6mANAu2FeFTqJpZd2GpOjcMk_Iwjo/s2499/IMGP3093%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1678" data-original-width="2499" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBCfeIBrBYF9V7Y5blEOleDaFJiR2VClrZMkDeBxtwQdUv4RGO01T8Kk3nD2yX2cfKK-Rc2Edxh05kKFDMDAQknbkKfRQPPqIpPPK-492tL9PL_Vr4g9hToNnfTWtZ7-hRkC-CXw0J2Xl775fJHHzfq81FpG6mANAu2FeFTqJpZd2GpOjcMk_Iwjo/w640-h430/IMGP3093%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">And
perhaps Kermit, deeply contemplating the meaning of life reminiscent of
Rodin's famous The Thinker sculpture, has inspired the
profusion of frog art?</span><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tK10lpJpaZELUov_Ou8aDK5-v3XIpfaPwY2ZI92LbSsiPOzY_CO55d1EnSfeknFw7xu_zVm2StWSgalS_Au7Osdzqd0qyEKWZEFTbi7avAM2DT3VHukPadAm4p_usICBKa28JUW_75W1_AHSFu0k2vVsBf7_cPzEXoCTRwOfF6mUXGpAU6sn46JW/s2372/IMGP2925%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1601" data-original-width="2372" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tK10lpJpaZELUov_Ou8aDK5-v3XIpfaPwY2ZI92LbSsiPOzY_CO55d1EnSfeknFw7xu_zVm2StWSgalS_Au7Osdzqd0qyEKWZEFTbi7avAM2DT3VHukPadAm4p_usICBKa28JUW_75W1_AHSFu0k2vVsBf7_cPzEXoCTRwOfF6mUXGpAU6sn46JW/w640-h432/IMGP2925%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now this, my friends, is some serious yard gnomery. Or, as my friend Suezy informed me, a very large <i>donsy</i> of gnomes. A friend told me about the raised bed full of gnomes, so I had to check out it for myself.</span><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeL4K1oRXy6qajA3ibBaPjjFFNCNEiRBUWPUlfrFWRVeilUh_fcnSvwy6hRdnSYfDOCMk8NK3YjE0Tv6kjtn7I07l-kOD-rB5JuyB1q-KrmewDNAztvnfV8yXkv4AOpnQUz87GOUvYGSCBzKfGJXzigOIuBMMM8dq1hp3bN1iV8YhIyiF2ZH_BxtH/s1779/IMGP3249%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="1779" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeL4K1oRXy6qajA3ibBaPjjFFNCNEiRBUWPUlfrFWRVeilUh_fcnSvwy6hRdnSYfDOCMk8NK3YjE0Tv6kjtn7I07l-kOD-rB5JuyB1q-KrmewDNAztvnfV8yXkv4AOpnQUz87GOUvYGSCBzKfGJXzigOIuBMMM8dq1hp3bN1iV8YhIyiF2ZH_BxtH/w640-h424/IMGP3249%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yes,
there are dogs in a few windows. These pups live just down the street
from me, and I often see them out walking their human dad. (</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">This isn't the sharpest image but a smartphone snap.)</span></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Cyb4TywCZc14ql5ojvegBluOowLbcwyZCjwJd_GrtqR_CSC-OgVd-Ktt2xcYiJIKj0IbpsJZw9rKLF0sO2cERvdo50wcn6wiki95F7EyXsxjPM_cR-3VgQWXIGhvGYJhGzTVPZIDmT-hLoS-PCT_TpTgNik4FXJuz0rKVLOizb2TJBc_uPhslI7g/s2683/20220530_164426.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1792" data-original-width="2683" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Cyb4TywCZc14ql5ojvegBluOowLbcwyZCjwJd_GrtqR_CSC-OgVd-Ktt2xcYiJIKj0IbpsJZw9rKLF0sO2cERvdo50wcn6wiki95F7EyXsxjPM_cR-3VgQWXIGhvGYJhGzTVPZIDmT-hLoS-PCT_TpTgNik4FXJuz0rKVLOizb2TJBc_uPhslI7g/w640-h428/20220530_164426.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">This
sweet pup was very good mannered and wistfully watched me passing by. I
wished I had a ball or stick to throw over the fence for it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZc22uUSfWa_t8lfJbyxNm9LYsoo8qqVFdGE0Pv312vU3zuo0cEJ1-tJzVfOCAPsYqbx0wwIBhAwaR363T_aaL199qtcHhLWO8PPra7WRlSFUqGgasQWMmk-kgutcQg8tELrtiCVVC4SV4Pld1uHW1O02PzzCPyu7Z_z8tTZRkjnhPQUZLxm38J2Z/s2426/IMGP4026%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2426" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZc22uUSfWa_t8lfJbyxNm9LYsoo8qqVFdGE0Pv312vU3zuo0cEJ1-tJzVfOCAPsYqbx0wwIBhAwaR363T_aaL199qtcHhLWO8PPra7WRlSFUqGgasQWMmk-kgutcQg8tELrtiCVVC4SV4Pld1uHW1O02PzzCPyu7Z_z8tTZRkjnhPQUZLxm38J2Z/w640-h456/IMGP4026%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I
can't claim the shot below, but it's so alluring I have to include
(shot taken by my friend Corey somewhere near Woodland Park Zoo in NW
Seattle). Look at that...dragon(?) face, what a character!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0uRMYk_8_3SLX4oawvia7u9r6cESnpI3UtUfhoijX7vXm8pG2O8-iESSn6C3sJEkBmkXoqG0djZRz2Weua7ZeMlvJ5U2VC5BM6gzWerFQ8c4i7H6-nZ8mTJlGfu96SVWeiEr_TccnRaYDET1vED_rUUuaM-kqMtYHPqbbuAU5owN2fky_Z85OzPD/s895/rps20220419_122051_247%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="895" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0uRMYk_8_3SLX4oawvia7u9r6cESnpI3UtUfhoijX7vXm8pG2O8-iESSn6C3sJEkBmkXoqG0djZRz2Weua7ZeMlvJ5U2VC5BM6gzWerFQ8c4i7H6-nZ8mTJlGfu96SVWeiEr_TccnRaYDET1vED_rUUuaM-kqMtYHPqbbuAU5owN2fky_Z85OzPD/w640-h452/rps20220419_122051_247%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">And figurine or real cat? At least floofy kitty was posing like a figurine.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzCgQ-KyZFBzTbBL_P0Wo5J_jOCH3CfKWGcRedT40L6sPibWYIaAeKaQl6lLG1czt_KNjMgU7f780nI9KLeS_p4s6MELHuuk7x5A2Vx38mtpBMpOolH6rSCsfalonpT1u4vOF53nczhrb6H_5w8j-2deeMKjBEEObAlO5CB9F9vNtT568HC-20OIt/s2403/IMGP3707%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1744" data-original-width="2403" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzCgQ-KyZFBzTbBL_P0Wo5J_jOCH3CfKWGcRedT40L6sPibWYIaAeKaQl6lLG1czt_KNjMgU7f780nI9KLeS_p4s6MELHuuk7x5A2Vx38mtpBMpOolH6rSCsfalonpT1u4vOF53nczhrb6H_5w8j-2deeMKjBEEObAlO5CB9F9vNtT568HC-20OIt/w640-h464/IMGP3707%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I could post many more images, but I'll leave it for now. I'll continue to hunt for pets and quirky or even beautiful yard art on my walks. Maybe this will become an annual post on this blog (at my current rate, my only post per year)? Want more?<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'd love to hear about your favorite yard art/pets/what you see in your neighborhood in a comment below!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons!</span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> <i>In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on </i></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #d41506; text-decoration-line: none;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">FaceBook</span></i></a><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">, </span></i><a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #d41506; text-decoration-line: none;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Twitter</span></i></a><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">, and </span></i><a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #d41506; text-decoration-line: none;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Instagram</span></i></a><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i> </span><br /></i></div></div><div><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></i></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-25301340572552903702022-03-19T22:42:00.000-07:002022-03-19T22:43:16.360-07:00A Pacific Northwest Winter's Slow Fade into Spring Flowers<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVhqG5qQ9q8w2Wv9XlYzVWXNhFEGZbia4_UFeCIuAUgGGQxI_zZBTk2iyKxKvvkeHoUvA24PQVcTcUSWiEwQCW6TMN7B4X5mZ27asdRBJ1mBjaG9Q03sTzq_ips03UQvQmnOM5SleWLaMo_0KfShPtOwO6fg65wZC5P9U0N41C1fXH9Aw0FEAR-XKC=s2552" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1643" data-original-width="2552" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVhqG5qQ9q8w2Wv9XlYzVWXNhFEGZbia4_UFeCIuAUgGGQxI_zZBTk2iyKxKvvkeHoUvA24PQVcTcUSWiEwQCW6TMN7B4X5mZ27asdRBJ1mBjaG9Q03sTzq_ips03UQvQmnOM5SleWLaMo_0KfShPtOwO6fg65wZC5P9U0N41C1fXH9Aw0FEAR-XKC=w640-h412" width="640" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's Spring Equinox Eve here in the Northern Hemisphere as I write this, and winter's grip is loosening in the Pacific Northwest. </span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our weather is still chilly, damp, and snowing in the mountains. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">But signs of spring are bursting out all over.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In western Washington where I live, while we can have freakishly warm winter days (more common than it used to be) and infuriatingly wet and chilly summer days (my most miserable cold day ever was a July sailing trip in the San Juan Islands), we do have four distinct seasons.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Every year I say autumn is my favorite season. Then I relish winter's biting chill and sometimes snow in the lowlands. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But when spring rolls in and flowers and green emerges all over again, it's <i>molto bellissimo</i>. (That's <i>very beautiful</i>, but with an Italianesque flair for dramatic proclamations).</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEif2fRm3B8nD6NCtpjj81vlT6OpHRNv7nSjtKDeCuxcE7TkEwoSm6-9XrB-lgxoHBmSr0tvEVAhleXoC-GubkKB5oVec9WOOoewKCPcS0ISATzYrprqBK1fm9mKmE59UNdjJpMqjPf8VyhJD3YbD9ZITcqfS9QRQtn9yz-W9SuWp5D03n6dtLfXrZ5B=s4928" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4928" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEif2fRm3B8nD6NCtpjj81vlT6OpHRNv7nSjtKDeCuxcE7TkEwoSm6-9XrB-lgxoHBmSr0tvEVAhleXoC-GubkKB5oVec9WOOoewKCPcS0ISATzYrprqBK1fm9mKmE59UNdjJpMqjPf8VyhJD3YbD9ZITcqfS9QRQtn9yz-W9SuWp5D03n6dtLfXrZ5B=w640-h424" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Red flowering currant</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This past winter has had its moments. There was that gorgeous week of snow </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">between Christmas and New Year</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">, with skiing around Seattle. And there were some awesome days skiing at </span><a href="https://www.crystalmountainresort.com/the-mountain" style="font-family: verdana;">Crystal Mountain</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHJIz5SPNpaEsAOr4PokvswM99tl6APj-0mp82GW7UkuFpqC_6VQ2UD3pZj5dY37T_0HasJtKm_jkOaGyvmh7tv7g0hGWjrCKyXkQsG2Qm2Rd4WuNOwXUUAKwDxf9ocZLcg4c8q59IqNtCxOTq3m78Yh3EEH4PFYvRtzg0ojh5W22Jpp2XrACMPCmt=s2592" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1617" data-original-width="2592" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHJIz5SPNpaEsAOr4PokvswM99tl6APj-0mp82GW7UkuFpqC_6VQ2UD3pZj5dY37T_0HasJtKm_jkOaGyvmh7tv7g0hGWjrCKyXkQsG2Qm2Rd4WuNOwXUUAKwDxf9ocZLcg4c8q59IqNtCxOTq3m78Yh3EEH4PFYvRtzg0ojh5W22Jpp2XrACMPCmt=w640-h400" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">View from the top of Green Valley at Crystal; Stuart Range in the distance.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">But evidence of spring started in February. The first sign of spring renewal each year for me is the delicate snowdrops that grow feral in <a href="https://www.seattle.gov/parks/find/parks/carkeek-park">Carkeek Park </a>near my home. Every year I feel compelled to seek them out with my camera, despite having many shots from prior years.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0cqYMArHRJf6etJPzT7uC-Uy6KFMMnqVgc6ucuSSceuLR5nMiQQ3azHs-DO4Hrfl0t5hcGvO5Y7LC--awDjJaA1zCbekKCv0HabkWeQusCZ_7oNd_Wbw_fbNb_iNrfyz1gQaECPbmUtqAB6jpLWffD5ky5t-wFKnVXPmQ1dEI-AYu5JeGdv00_xkY=s2587" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1621" data-original-width="2587" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0cqYMArHRJf6etJPzT7uC-Uy6KFMMnqVgc6ucuSSceuLR5nMiQQ3azHs-DO4Hrfl0t5hcGvO5Y7LC--awDjJaA1zCbekKCv0HabkWeQusCZ_7oNd_Wbw_fbNb_iNrfyz1gQaECPbmUtqAB6jpLWffD5ky5t-wFKnVXPmQ1dEI-AYu5JeGdv00_xkY=w640-h402" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then the brown forest floor layered with last fall's downed leaves suddenly becomes green again with <a href="https://eattheplanet.org/sweet-coltsfoot-a-plant-of-many-names/">sweet coltsfoot</a>, which comes up in late February.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJy4FrJ5eptP471ULJAwGrv7px82JqQPBqBJNRdc9HFkUoUVLs7s5Pb8krsHc2CeiFg36d4K7yOoPH1CY4GpPtSR2ylh05IKy6cbnflEkzefQ7DxufTATOJvtUMbIgG7vNUjJiPj2K5B952L44pM53JzG42d2d7L_-bZZTKFsXkfGPoxqZPcgbrv9D=s2516" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1666" data-original-width="2516" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJy4FrJ5eptP471ULJAwGrv7px82JqQPBqBJNRdc9HFkUoUVLs7s5Pb8krsHc2CeiFg36d4K7yOoPH1CY4GpPtSR2ylh05IKy6cbnflEkzefQ7DxufTATOJvtUMbIgG7vNUjJiPj2K5B952L44pM53JzG42d2d7L_-bZZTKFsXkfGPoxqZPcgbrv9D=w640-h424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Delicate crocus are also an early harbinger of spring, and it's like a treasure hunt spotting random patches of them around my neighborhood and nearby neighborhoods that I regularly walk.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEillyBHMtUVcnrmEXAd1b_sFJE81G_dk8qziVr1tkCnw6rbGNRUNNNkF2zfTQtr307BEfFPP6oawcIPxrynpAKnM5ULhB7Z-xZ9D3mnvGa-nTHpROOxUmHIrd3yl7eRG8Bky055Ofh6meIR0ttQ5PKJ5rorudmff0hn2pjTWqyhZd4DKpx-t3BkazRi=s2444" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1715" data-original-width="2444" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEillyBHMtUVcnrmEXAd1b_sFJE81G_dk8qziVr1tkCnw6rbGNRUNNNkF2zfTQtr307BEfFPP6oawcIPxrynpAKnM5ULhB7Z-xZ9D3mnvGa-nTHpROOxUmHIrd3yl7eRG8Bky055Ofh6meIR0ttQ5PKJ5rorudmff0hn2pjTWqyhZd4DKpx-t3BkazRi=w640-h450" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And I can't forget the hellebores. They're a real workhorse flower to get us through the later winter and early spring. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8-yysh1SkF2wzwjTFNBGVPw3fVE-9r6-GL6ykOOdspgNxjWa8vEcefEjwT1Lzt5yaoApnsbqkrSNAB7KtcCi9A-V236saWiNWn06Wto4-64gXoVTsLCk7cyTEvIOr2hajtAnz-VOq9wq2MGW8Yf_B3HCoRtlmcBLYUAmFBbDnb0f7PUrSWo21sEUq=s2516" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1666" data-original-width="2516" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8-yysh1SkF2wzwjTFNBGVPw3fVE-9r6-GL6ykOOdspgNxjWa8vEcefEjwT1Lzt5yaoApnsbqkrSNAB7KtcCi9A-V236saWiNWn06Wto4-64gXoVTsLCk7cyTEvIOr2hajtAnz-VOq9wq2MGW8Yf_B3HCoRtlmcBLYUAmFBbDnb0f7PUrSWo21sEUq=w640-h424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And especially just in the last week, suddenly it's all over - cherry blossoms, daffodils fully up and open (and up in the Skagit Valley too), violets, and much more.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPgur8jblRLZwTo3EbkvbNLlQ53O-yeyrI8xfvGyTnxRZiuDXGdeWhXX2QKmCmoGDQ68I7-nE06wVzchbTUNfmTrpSbWu7hDjP3VwR1Wftbtx0rML6ScxUkAQLh5yoKtuBFaM6YmtKyrMF7IHQADMoCEuDwKYL_y_vPjqh5Kcg9pdkA0GLCnb2YSlR=s2471" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1696" data-original-width="2471" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPgur8jblRLZwTo3EbkvbNLlQ53O-yeyrI8xfvGyTnxRZiuDXGdeWhXX2QKmCmoGDQ68I7-nE06wVzchbTUNfmTrpSbWu7hDjP3VwR1Wftbtx0rML6ScxUkAQLh5yoKtuBFaM6YmtKyrMF7IHQADMoCEuDwKYL_y_vPjqh5Kcg9pdkA0GLCnb2YSlR=w640-h440" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggEIydEH84gIDtLM7DUH8gNgqdU4MVD7jOX3NSAh406-fK1snbQ9Qr5N1oMC-5BBy2D6WyGIXOfIKbI8_UcaA89oC-3dJhqTiKQ_IkSkLzyRJ2bUab3o3dDucTpjyElyF6zo-d9Jq5rXynGiqd67tY65pC_se4zZ1ccrSbIsKeFJ0dEKZMlm9mrLD4=s2498" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1678" data-original-width="2498" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggEIydEH84gIDtLM7DUH8gNgqdU4MVD7jOX3NSAh406-fK1snbQ9Qr5N1oMC-5BBy2D6WyGIXOfIKbI8_UcaA89oC-3dJhqTiKQ_IkSkLzyRJ2bUab3o3dDucTpjyElyF6zo-d9Jq5rXynGiqd67tY65pC_se4zZ1ccrSbIsKeFJ0dEKZMlm9mrLD4=w640-h430" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I hear the <a href="http://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2017/04/university-of-washington-cherry.html">cherry blossoms are close to peaking over at the University of Washington's Quad</a>, which has become an event that draws visitors and photographers from all over. When I was a student there, it was just picturesque to walk through between classes.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Native skunk cabbage are also unfurling in our forest and woods now; I think its flower looks like something you'd more likely find in the tropics.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQ61D2ZCabhHCt-UesMn-xaAccv3A57dN4Fk9Dtupj7oXER5_yiIXvZZ0Ndpc-ZIrX_8KKUd5Mxnds_EDz7xp5UJ3Iavklc-GI5oMoUwSoiLFwkCOsJT5QKT6zF8KhukFzAg0m-CfSDwHWGvUAf8B1VTv4pTgplggxAPeORzbc9mmAlcqVlzDzig6X=s4605" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3165" data-original-width="4605" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQ61D2ZCabhHCt-UesMn-xaAccv3A57dN4Fk9Dtupj7oXER5_yiIXvZZ0Ndpc-ZIrX_8KKUd5Mxnds_EDz7xp5UJ3Iavklc-GI5oMoUwSoiLFwkCOsJT5QKT6zF8KhukFzAg0m-CfSDwHWGvUAf8B1VTv4pTgplggxAPeORzbc9mmAlcqVlzDzig6X=w640-h440" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Since the daffodils are in bloom up in the Skagit north of Seattle, I'll head up for a look. I'm hoping tomorrow's rainy and cool weather will keep people away. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9wXywE1rwxAQHZJrDqpyHgs_q5MdnYi70CI9Y9zi71iZMLVRql9VQo_DuXhWN1neS8afT-b4Lsw7h6UPtquTTShdnpLwA1WuNobAMg6Kqe8fqdak8LzAivBU54rQdWmFgp_D16Y4gJQ_dYnK-hJcWt4TuQ8Cr0uO-0i-KqcpmJ54ZJht8iVfvwKTb=s2420" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1652" data-original-width="2420" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9wXywE1rwxAQHZJrDqpyHgs_q5MdnYi70CI9Y9zi71iZMLVRql9VQo_DuXhWN1neS8afT-b4Lsw7h6UPtquTTShdnpLwA1WuNobAMg6Kqe8fqdak8LzAivBU54rQdWmFgp_D16Y4gJQ_dYnK-hJcWt4TuQ8Cr0uO-0i-KqcpmJ54ZJht8iVfvwKTb=w640-h436" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Do you have a favorite spring flower or blossom, wherever you are? Honestly, I can't pick a favorite, or rather, it varies day to day. I'll take them all, in their season.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEga7thw95YzY3cF9do-PhnEzB3gtl907wXJDEX9unZYQxzV3667xAWVMjsIK9VYmg51ULsIRVVuoWLxjiHD1GBy8LJvBm1Vxe_k8bjoIL4I2LOVulwwQcb5-z-zWV8gBsF8XDTAxTIgCl0wq9L-M9-qTXqvRHzzyRlJHwCtlOwe8c1KKow8pCVlITDp=s4928" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4928" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEga7thw95YzY3cF9do-PhnEzB3gtl907wXJDEX9unZYQxzV3667xAWVMjsIK9VYmg51ULsIRVVuoWLxjiHD1GBy8LJvBm1Vxe_k8bjoIL4I2LOVulwwQcb5-z-zWV8gBsF8XDTAxTIgCl0wq9L-M9-qTXqvRHzzyRlJHwCtlOwe8c1KKow8pCVlITDp=w400-h265" width="400" /></a></div>Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons!</span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> <i>In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on </i></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #d41506; text-decoration-line: none;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">FaceBook</span></i></a><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">, </span></i><a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #d41506; text-decoration-line: none;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Twitter</span></i></a><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">, and </span></i><a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #d41506; text-decoration-line: none;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Instagram</span></i></a><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i> <br /></i></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div></div>jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-18077430778832969822021-12-29T12:56:00.008-08:002021-12-29T21:30:01.110-08:002021: A Pacific Northwest Year in Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-vLWiYf5zVyrTsJIjHila4mjMsoLf5nRseaVLfL22RPJEAb3ADgVkL47Au1oyYoLKHoxhtuOI9wVDz5mgncsbq_MjPZXUjKJCKg0ElWdPxQyFUeWZKnCDLlLohBSWVkQlVV31SRcE87cvZ6E0Mb8nxG5uIomB4-JEczyLGR_JrdUsWecxp1epdR9Q=s2518" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1665" data-original-width="2518" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-vLWiYf5zVyrTsJIjHila4mjMsoLf5nRseaVLfL22RPJEAb3ADgVkL47Au1oyYoLKHoxhtuOI9wVDz5mgncsbq_MjPZXUjKJCKg0ElWdPxQyFUeWZKnCDLlLohBSWVkQlVV31SRcE87cvZ6E0Mb8nxG5uIomB4-JEczyLGR_JrdUsWecxp1epdR9Q=w640-h424" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">So long 2021. I can't quite settle on how I feel about you. After 2020, we all had great hopes for you.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For me and most of my friends, who can no longer be called young by any stretch of any imagination, life in the time of SARS-COVID 19 is still more tamped down than the "before times." We had a brief few months of semi-euphoria in the late spring and summer after vaccination. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And then came delta, followed by pesky little sister omicron.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But I'm not here to write about the pandemic. I'm here to share a year in photos and a few videos of my special corner of the world, which I haven't left since late 2019. Please join me!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>January: Into the Woods</b><br />To be honest, most of my year was into the woods. But for January's sake, we'll start with several trips cross-country skiing the lovely forested trails at <a href="https://www.kongsbergers.org/GroomingReport">Cabin Creek</a>, a few miles east of Snoqualmie Pass (which is southeast of Seattle in the Cascade Mountains). This gem of a trail system, tucked against the side of Amabilis Mountain (which I've skied up and down too), provides an excellent workout in as little as an hour or as long as you want to keep skating and gliding or tramping.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLxqGqEgRnM0xJUi4j-MFsWOa-wZnrIRDdaSAXhIzrDC7pXd6qzO7kUDqN_1SHAZxMqj1qLlQ11IxPpLAKlNP-blmtQ0V0lkrfEPxU_fDpJEE2ojSTHOpI159FxgXeSyuxojflQ0Hy4r9vcedjvi4KtALWGNQTLzhD5DXS7PmQSIXrUK7JAFBobR74=s2401" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1665" data-original-width="2401" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLxqGqEgRnM0xJUi4j-MFsWOa-wZnrIRDdaSAXhIzrDC7pXd6qzO7kUDqN_1SHAZxMqj1qLlQ11IxPpLAKlNP-blmtQ0V0lkrfEPxU_fDpJEE2ojSTHOpI159FxgXeSyuxojflQ0Hy4r9vcedjvi4KtALWGNQTLzhD5DXS7PmQSIXrUK7JAFBobR74=w640-h444" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>February: Across the Sea</b></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">My winter routine involved lots of walks around northwest Seattle where I live, punctuated with trips every few weeks to <a href="https://enjoypt.com/">Port Townsend</a> to visit my aunt and friends for Monday morning coffee. This involved leaving my house and boarding a ferry across Puget Sound before sunrise (the 7:10 a.m.), which provided opportunities to shoot the changing hues in sky reflected on the horizon. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzE932XAk7s36VY1ICoIayoW8gOdqrRk0KX-OMy2z7elIpq3qEFJFeHogZIsndD04204CyFSFDknvjkYLnsbB0R3jG0Hi90YG_i-ZkT3_Pppe_Q1JmXYt29GmFuQOXOd1aNnMboJLpezbkV0VGrvX7au8NXxRfwFYUkBtfIF2pRoHLrgU1FPR4BdVH=s1793" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="1793" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzE932XAk7s36VY1ICoIayoW8gOdqrRk0KX-OMy2z7elIpq3qEFJFeHogZIsndD04204CyFSFDknvjkYLnsbB0R3jG0Hi90YG_i-ZkT3_Pppe_Q1JmXYt29GmFuQOXOd1aNnMboJLpezbkV0VGrvX7au8NXxRfwFYUkBtfIF2pRoHLrgU1FPR4BdVH=w640-h384" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Westbound on the Edmonds to Kingston ferry</span>.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I always stop at a quiet overlook on <a href="http://nr.pgst.nsn.us/environmental-program/gamble-bay/">Port Gamble Bay</a> and walk about 20 minutes on the bluff trail to greet the day, camera in hand.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjc_BuNrietvZom_GWEUxfcikOObNOsGyz7aCJ0yPJQN4FLBlbIdYPSjBYGdCyZ7A4YHwmegHok1elEWBedmJ-mafL57qghg8FvcylQvIlwxJ7rCsff9V9bJgs4dR-PbLA7-R11eX48ENLFaDk_S5vRYwZJjEjDktWMHLz4filY7-VqtvBl7CHhq_GT=s2465" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1622" data-original-width="2465" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjc_BuNrietvZom_GWEUxfcikOObNOsGyz7aCJ0yPJQN4FLBlbIdYPSjBYGdCyZ7A4YHwmegHok1elEWBedmJ-mafL57qghg8FvcylQvIlwxJ7rCsff9V9bJgs4dR-PbLA7-R11eX48ENLFaDk_S5vRYwZJjEjDktWMHLz4filY7-VqtvBl7CHhq_GT=w640-h422" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port Gamble Bay</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>March: Into the Sea</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">In March I met a group of swimmers </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">at Golden Gardens near my north Seattle home </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">who were actually, like, </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">swimming</i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> in Puget Sound and not just plunging in and out like I'd been doing. My neighbors were the nexus of the group and invited me to join them. So I resolved to take a few extra strokes each week to build up my endurance and time in the water.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This began early in March on my birthday, which happened to be an unseasonably brilliant day:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VZ97We6sRJw" width="320" youtube-src-id="VZ97We6sRJw"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">...and the day was topped with one of the most gorgeous sunsets over the Salish Sea I witnessed all year.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaIY65xcTr3cRDGYMIXeju7DReTcPrRlhWcholkLqkBDOfz3JgRJpewdRgKEaTEdxYFJFkWENvbhlk-RUfoglI22fLuG_Fub4eiaWd828NAo6ruixNGvnLlcu5ajviPL5VMkUHWkL_Z8xWd7ygLpZJLC9ZxKl8xsTQ6iW9IvTS0WKUp7OXaEoC1JmL=s2457" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="2457" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaIY65xcTr3cRDGYMIXeju7DReTcPrRlhWcholkLqkBDOfz3JgRJpewdRgKEaTEdxYFJFkWENvbhlk-RUfoglI22fLuG_Fub4eiaWd828NAo6ruixNGvnLlcu5ajviPL5VMkUHWkL_Z8xWd7ygLpZJLC9ZxKl8xsTQ6iW9IvTS0WKUp7OXaEoC1JmL=w640-h424" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>April: Across the Mountains</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Come early spring, I started embarking on my first overnight getaways from Seattle in almost a year. A friend graciously let me stay at his gorgeous cabin just outside Leavenworth, where I enjoyed brilliant views of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Enchantments#">the Enchantments</a> and met up and did some walks/hikes with friends who live over there.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyqvebkiyr68oZqKUcgE0OaHR2MGs0qD1Amr55ldUuGhg90VdRzETMq4KIlXk8bGPZFFlbaZ7vxouEdXeQBcbiE-favUDnYEWBQxKV57NR4Gk0wrBN4OpQIOdVQSy2sDnrp9VX3qjaMcZEC1WEFWBU7iRPiZUNgdXI02ZSALhu18a3nivdPF9Bu6KD=s2431" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1645" data-original-width="2431" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyqvebkiyr68oZqKUcgE0OaHR2MGs0qD1Amr55ldUuGhg90VdRzETMq4KIlXk8bGPZFFlbaZ7vxouEdXeQBcbiE-favUDnYEWBQxKV57NR4Gk0wrBN4OpQIOdVQSy2sDnrp9VX3qjaMcZEC1WEFWBU7iRPiZUNgdXI02ZSALhu18a3nivdPF9Bu6KD=w640-h434" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sleeping Lady near Leavenworth, Washington.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b style="font-family: verdana;">May: Onto the Island</b></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">A top 2021 highlight was my first trip back to Orcas Island since 2016. How could it have been that long?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I hiked, swam, and paddled with friends also visiting the island (including an Orcas ex-pat "native" visiting her mother in <a href="https://www.visitsanjuans.com/eastsound-orcas-island">Eastsound</a>). Another friend who lives there showed me some of her secret special places. It was an absolutely perfect spring weekend </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">(can you hear me exhaling slowly?)</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> with blue sunny skies. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsygJjcqY8BaRwtIz7OzfAkVE7EK8-7qEsY9Nl9CNVIamLI_9hmk21mtKyKRaSuqj7Xeq7E5RUTB-90rMH4eZjVF2Yh2XHYTHmhvuslE0YeQERwR0aRzw5udYMJXi-uh3AVmhP9hi98-83nUuzO-X4IXZf9oN4DLjVNfYY5VCAHQhTZnTvtt0R8JiO=s2457" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="2457" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsygJjcqY8BaRwtIz7OzfAkVE7EK8-7qEsY9Nl9CNVIamLI_9hmk21mtKyKRaSuqj7Xeq7E5RUTB-90rMH4eZjVF2Yh2XHYTHmhvuslE0YeQERwR0aRzw5udYMJXi-uh3AVmhP9hi98-83nUuzO-X4IXZf9oN4DLjVNfYY5VCAHQhTZnTvtt0R8JiO=w640-h424" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Kayaks and standup paddleboards do mix! Eastsound, Washington.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And because I can't adequately put into words how incredibly wonderful this hike up and down <a href="http://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2012/11/orcas-island-getaway-hiking-turtleback.html">Turtleback Mountain</a> was, here's a short video clip:<br /><br /></span></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dTAiZGMtMlk" width="320" youtube-src-id="dTAiZGMtMlk"></iframe></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">There was also a marvelous weekend east of <a href="https://visitrainier.com/chinook-pass-sr-410/">Chinook Pass</a> at a friend's cabin, with hiking, good food, and some morel foraging. Life is indeed good here in the Pacific Northwest.<br /></span></div><div><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>June: Up and Down the Region</b><br />Family moved front and center in June and cousins were up visiting from California, so there were trips to the Portland area and Port Townsend. I booked (and my sneaky aunt called and paid my bill) an overnight at the historic and charming <a href="https://palacehotelpt.com/">Palace Hotel i</a>n Port Townsend. I also joined my cousin's wife for a swim in the sea there too. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjd8Cpxw6MT5juLrqToty82-tvDSHBbZMf0aCtDWFc-xHUULdk2QXjp1HeHiGWeRahn6hXl9OTm6ih2Q0T-oci0R0in6Zqq3iV-9diOJ9QBx1gccsBC0lFWCGcz3dvDPFt6hBqmJ3hnHgoauuq1ISkEs9KO31CBLQ-qz_aIz3hm_RP-4uvmOwXCMumz=s2380" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1680" data-original-width="2380" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjd8Cpxw6MT5juLrqToty82-tvDSHBbZMf0aCtDWFc-xHUULdk2QXjp1HeHiGWeRahn6hXl9OTm6ih2Q0T-oci0R0in6Zqq3iV-9diOJ9QBx1gccsBC0lFWCGcz3dvDPFt6hBqmJ3hnHgoauuq1ISkEs9KO31CBLQ-qz_aIz3hm_RP-4uvmOwXCMumz=w640-h452" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can you say charming street front? Palace Hotel in Port Townsend, Washington.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I guess I must mention the unprecedented <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-is-heat-dome-extreme-temperatures-pacific-northwest/">heat dome</a> we experienced late in the month. The only respite was walks in a nearby forest, where t</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">he temperature dropped at least 10 degrees as soon as you entered. This says something about the value and necessity of saving our urban trees and woodlands.</span></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">July: Honoring and Revisiting<br /></span></b><span style="font-family: verdana;">A super busy work period kept me inside a lot, but I did get down to Portland for time with family and old friends, in light of a loss. I watched a beautiful sunset on a warm summer evening with friends on <a href="https://www.oregon.com/attractions/rocky-butte-stunning-views-bit-history">Rocky Butte</a> and was up and out before sunrise for a lovely hike in the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/crgnsa">Columbia Gorg</a>e with some other friends. The Portland area will always be as equally home to me as Seattle.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhB1iU3zWC9twgnUOXKqCAsAvXh2qbsjOLJuQRPCG8yqn2EjFrOH-WZHQwVplMmzhB0nKxaRvEGq2dbKLrLDWASW6rCK4tWpL-fpeocXA3-NfaSOsd2NHQkMyw529-mvDs-DtfFwi3UEDlA8nVJp8AsAObZKLre2fOfvhmL23Euq_qHVwhErVDKqTOV=s2270" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1574" data-original-width="2270" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhB1iU3zWC9twgnUOXKqCAsAvXh2qbsjOLJuQRPCG8yqn2EjFrOH-WZHQwVplMmzhB0nKxaRvEGq2dbKLrLDWASW6rCK4tWpL-fpeocXA3-NfaSOsd2NHQkMyw529-mvDs-DtfFwi3UEDlA8nVJp8AsAObZKLre2fOfvhmL23Euq_qHVwhErVDKqTOV=w640-h444" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>August: On the Trail<br /></b>In preparation for a backpacking trip in early September, I hit the trail more in August (and work died down). Highlights were a hike up to the <a href="http://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2009/09/mount-rainier-national-park-beating.html">Tolmie Peak</a> fire lookout <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">in Mt. Rainier National Park with the Alpine Trails book club (on a day </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">smoky </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">from regional wildfires), a morning hike to <a href="http://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2013/08/hiking-northwests-greatest-hits-wallace.html" style="color: #d41506; text-decoration-line: none;">Wallace Falls</a> just outside Index, and the grind up and down <a href="https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/mcclellan-butte" style="color: #d41506; text-decoration-line: none;">McClellan Butte</a> in the I-90 corridor east of Seattle.</span> With poor visibility and prudence, we did not do the rock scramble to the true summit.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7-WpAziJ46iQprv5F8Asexh2aOB0S10C6unj7Uv44XDv9jVv-BJPecWDNfr9SdtnCtbezU7Gq2bbYxC6VJG9jNiclwYM7kN8mBc1sdARCfHATcDDRDeOrSluZuxu00orGs_PkPB75OGoiMyPUqnnpdU7FQEitpli2JWRZB94DFeLS-DKqfJfncO6j=s2364" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1637" data-original-width="2364" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7-WpAziJ46iQprv5F8Asexh2aOB0S10C6unj7Uv44XDv9jVv-BJPecWDNfr9SdtnCtbezU7Gq2bbYxC6VJG9jNiclwYM7kN8mBc1sdARCfHATcDDRDeOrSluZuxu00orGs_PkPB75OGoiMyPUqnnpdU7FQEitpli2JWRZB94DFeLS-DKqfJfncO6j=w640-h444" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Any day on the trail is a good day.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And a long weekend with dear high school friends on a Puget Sound beach was the restorative balm we all needed. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12.61px;">💚</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-ECOgoHPGSIRvP4jI0GnJcSu3z1z9RoTjjm_WH2YOTUhk7QiVWjd8uk8bL7dlG2GLieNQgfCi6yWCaKSngwh1nCytpRjogHraAzGsDbRMiVnSSAFC3-59jsHJYR2zyKH1U0JGwDAqBCDc9Z6y7hR-3fvCHis1NTVVYqrM9Yd464GmqYZHEbucfY6R=s7142" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4765" data-original-width="7142" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-ECOgoHPGSIRvP4jI0GnJcSu3z1z9RoTjjm_WH2YOTUhk7QiVWjd8uk8bL7dlG2GLieNQgfCi6yWCaKSngwh1nCytpRjogHraAzGsDbRMiVnSSAFC3-59jsHJYR2zyKH1U0JGwDAqBCDc9Z6y7hR-3fvCHis1NTVVYqrM9Yd464GmqYZHEbucfY6R=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div> </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>September: Across and into the Mountains</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">While my knees are still willing, I was thrilled to join some friends for an absolutely awesome <a href="http://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2021/09/hiking-glacier-national-park-dawson.html">backpack trip in Glacier National Park</a>. On the eastern crest of the Rockies and at higher elevations, we passed through some starkly beautiful landscapes.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKKVkUlH3756iHN-DCAw0DwBEnx3Ehcdtg5YxWms6d9zWEFEcIRX22Iq34S9814kqyYQEkHwX5rJDsi0PfId_Iw0pVgzXX4-Zgupt9q_KnKKyYUBukwJ9tLJEsBbBakSexTeI1HvH88cdtPOra6qWzxif86aujXGA29_G8UXkEX-tvJ7lMTNUFdnSR=s2403" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1745" data-original-width="2403" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKKVkUlH3756iHN-DCAw0DwBEnx3Ehcdtg5YxWms6d9zWEFEcIRX22Iq34S9814kqyYQEkHwX5rJDsi0PfId_Iw0pVgzXX4-Zgupt9q_KnKKyYUBukwJ9tLJEsBbBakSexTeI1HvH88cdtPOra6qWzxif86aujXGA29_G8UXkEX-tvJ7lMTNUFdnSR=w640-h464" width="640" /></a></div><br /> </b><br /><b>October: Back into the Woods, Water, and Mountains<br /></b>Yes, this Northwesterner's life involves lots of time in the woods and mountains. There was also a sweet afternoon kayak trip on the <a href="https://www.seattleandsound.com/sammamish-river/">Sammamish River</a> and Swamp Creek in a splendid Pacific Northwest rain (video below), a wonderful hike to <a href="http://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/search?q=lake+valhalla">Lake Valhalla</a>, and an overnight at <a href="http://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2021/10/leavenworth-getaway-sleeping-well-at.html">Sleeping Lady </a>near Leavenworth, where the fall colors were cranking up.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8JS97oNH1Mo" width="320" youtube-src-id="8JS97oNH1Mo"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0WRyzYP6Ov8cAOdsH19caJLfVPZZIuPMved10ptc8dXwa0k3qs9vecbjy-j_Coyw2CwQ48Ne5d5aK-sfYiHbWbJFfVU4eTyYplCOvEP2BFdq-tKzVrfVRlsP4PUIb-DbP-FZT7HR0rRZoU6uV3I_YPkb5fhU4egWrGlJCDXh13uOjIiuhEAwYlbnM=s2506" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1673" data-original-width="2506" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0WRyzYP6Ov8cAOdsH19caJLfVPZZIuPMved10ptc8dXwa0k3qs9vecbjy-j_Coyw2CwQ48Ne5d5aK-sfYiHbWbJFfVU4eTyYplCOvEP2BFdq-tKzVrfVRlsP4PUIb-DbP-FZT7HR0rRZoU6uV3I_YPkb5fhU4egWrGlJCDXh13uOjIiuhEAwYlbnM=w640-h428" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lake Valhalla and </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mt. Lichtenberg beyond.</span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>November: Stalking Mushrooms<br /></b>Actually I got out with a friend in September to forage for <a href="https://www.wildedible.com/foraging-chanterelles">chanterelles</a>, but in November the hunt is with cameras in hand to shoot them. They're easy to miss if you're not looking in the right places, but this downed log on a side trail near my home was wild with mushrooms. I'm still learning, so I can't name this variety, can you?<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxgAwTz4WIbJ7bVsFpiTztuSC__B6PRrBWhPXjNE8n1eD0akMZZrlItxiqUlxxtd94wPIPgmp1izjPuHFlmu2Gb5hAnTW6m6L9CPQ9m13zJRdb7sKwEpW1Cs42UEvzQqNn1NncT3oXqKRUYQow_WVYyaR4KJp9OkF_YL8425et-BfaD5Fq0Txls1Qc=s2488" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1685" data-original-width="2488" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxgAwTz4WIbJ7bVsFpiTztuSC__B6PRrBWhPXjNE8n1eD0akMZZrlItxiqUlxxtd94wPIPgmp1izjPuHFlmu2Gb5hAnTW6m6L9CPQ9m13zJRdb7sKwEpW1Cs42UEvzQqNn1NncT3oXqKRUYQow_WVYyaR4KJp9OkF_YL8425et-BfaD5Fq0Txls1Qc=w640-h434" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>December: Snow Comes for the Holidays<br /></b>This year with vaccines, boosters, and testing, it has been wonderful to gather with family and friends in person for the holidays. After another quick trip to Port Townsend, the snow arrived in full force the day after Christmas (</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;">thank you weather gods for sending the snow a day late and sparing us from snow driving that's so problematic around Seattle with our many hills).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's a rare treat to be able to ski outside your front door here. Below is a short clip of a ski down into the ravine near my home:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lsDpt2lo0Cw" width="320" youtube-src-id="lsDpt2lo0Cw"></iframe></div><br /> <br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And with that it's a wrap on the year. It was a mixed bag overall, but as I've been composing this post, I realize there were many wonderful experiences and memories made over the past year. So 2021, not bad. Not perfect, but moments of perfection.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's to 2022, may you bring us many laughs, smiles, and good times ahead!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgburnGQwGuj3Bt0-01JLyNTGBQJarNMmxlkKbMgwXw7kQNhklT0_mgY_TExKG55ufibfR9dImqIcGy406QrhXHqZ4Dijx5wfYvHm4YY3vu4eD_MP31v-gzJMc8ywSJhY1Wo3DVvCq2iM0JwiVxdVzYfY5TufVe1jJURdP7ouiqSN3XKcgFE5Io1Bgv=s1662" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1662" data-original-width="1261" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgburnGQwGuj3Bt0-01JLyNTGBQJarNMmxlkKbMgwXw7kQNhklT0_mgY_TExKG55ufibfR9dImqIcGy406QrhXHqZ4Dijx5wfYvHm4YY3vu4eD_MP31v-gzJMc8ywSJhY1Wo3DVvCq2iM0JwiVxdVzYfY5TufVe1jJURdP7ouiqSN3XKcgFE5Io1Bgv=s320" width="243" /></a></div>Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more <br />Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i></span> </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></span><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><br /> </p></div>jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-51835974737194214892021-12-23T22:45:00.004-08:002022-05-31T09:35:59.601-07:00Hiking through the Holidays in Mosslandia: Twin Falls<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGLS5HMENDlOQTL5wPwlYsNSPFneD7t6edQ0oeXUFqE4SpILhQLUl-CN8I9gmopZu6FTFDSIR6dyTYiClPtH82QnVkqqipS-uQqBMIe6z0CTfF8_tTNtFzDCXDXmAiySP551RSFvhb_obPXD49lALfYjwuzEAixUy2m1R9kIdAxJAPGjd80uP7yM_K=s2534" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1654" data-original-width="2534" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGLS5HMENDlOQTL5wPwlYsNSPFneD7t6edQ0oeXUFqE4SpILhQLUl-CN8I9gmopZu6FTFDSIR6dyTYiClPtH82QnVkqqipS-uQqBMIe6z0CTfF8_tTNtFzDCXDXmAiySP551RSFvhb_obPXD49lALfYjwuzEAixUy2m1R9kIdAxJAPGjd80uP7yM_K=w640-h418" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Although the days are getting longer (and colder) now that the Winter Solstice has passed, it's still what we call the "dark days" here in Washington.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our chilly wet weather is about to turn into a possible record-breaking cold snap, with likely snow. Local moss, in its multitude of varieties and very happy from our wet autumn, will go dormant from the freeze. So, too, will some Mossbacks who live here.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But many of us will be outside reveling in winter. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last week on a bone-chilling rainy/snowy day, I dashed east of Seattle into the foothills near North Bend for a short but sweet hike to <a href="https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/twin-falls-state-park">Twin Falls</a> (which is actually three waterfalls). On this rainy Wednesday in the middle of the day, I only saw two other hikers on this normally super popular trail.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFIqx8-vzeChwqiXadkPbpSZxUdaU3O781mnSh2CcxYdozgWJ4HS4M3O-O-0dsi0tuqD6N2GNAIEF1GlFgA_eZygVsv7z6SnofcfFi1_3_xM5_o8nM2V5xxHmskEsgBZn6Zkhm7Au1cvNHKYHW1tlPd1OtdfFCuiT3u8d7HYm6pbdDFRU2ulg6XF3T=s1773" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="1773" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFIqx8-vzeChwqiXadkPbpSZxUdaU3O781mnSh2CcxYdozgWJ4HS4M3O-O-0dsi0tuqD6N2GNAIEF1GlFgA_eZygVsv7z6SnofcfFi1_3_xM5_o8nM2V5xxHmskEsgBZn6Zkhm7Au1cvNHKYHW1tlPd1OtdfFCuiT3u8d7HYm6pbdDFRU2ulg6XF3T=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">The Twin Falls trail skirts close to the South Fork Snoqualmie River</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Besides it being a week day, another reason I had the trail mostly to myself was, of course, the steady, hovering-just-above-freezing rain. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I tramped onward, just happy to be out in such lush Northwest beauty, the rain turned to big fat wet snowflakes. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pqzr9aO9EDk" width="320" youtube-src-id="pqzr9aO9EDk"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I kept on thinking I'd turn around because it was so wet despite my rain pants and Gore-Tex shell, but I couldn't stop until I got to the main bridge over the waterfalls. It was too lovely out there.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaSjektNWZRKPXwwHKce4Ucx6b8Okg3SClsmaRMILwTW4qerayEOTxZ16OtlR1TTFRtdasRmYJERRT1_3-XZj_cyO1wZDpHcfSC_Xbje3MaKHNr2WK83TQgxoZ2J3QqSESryLI2lyPSTI2gTwz8NK-bO7Rhco4eLM3h9Ov3DLB2YEcjtrPHJsmqVgc=s2412" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1738" data-original-width="2412" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaSjektNWZRKPXwwHKce4Ucx6b8Okg3SClsmaRMILwTW4qerayEOTxZ16OtlR1TTFRtdasRmYJERRT1_3-XZj_cyO1wZDpHcfSC_Xbje3MaKHNr2WK83TQgxoZ2J3QqSESryLI2lyPSTI2gTwz8NK-bO7Rhco4eLM3h9Ov3DLB2YEcjtrPHJsmqVgc=w640-h462" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">By this time, snow was covering the bridge, although thankfully it wasn't slippery.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZmhjINBAr_z-hLImsJYAW22VbmE3wyKbscZOV3zhB9RUhH1LCE7qprq2N8j3J87mYs9PL_K-zsvrBthePLV-jelvq2jGFITs0GLWxGNbJTzALIB2NsOubpLt5XcLQm_q_WV3OQwn5S6jkCneo2PaY3DZwltuUqXHPlXNRKVJnNMeOidDSEXXTqfKv=s2516" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1666" data-original-width="2516" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZmhjINBAr_z-hLImsJYAW22VbmE3wyKbscZOV3zhB9RUhH1LCE7qprq2N8j3J87mYs9PL_K-zsvrBthePLV-jelvq2jGFITs0GLWxGNbJTzALIB2NsOubpLt5XcLQm_q_WV3OQwn5S6jkCneo2PaY3DZwltuUqXHPlXNRKVJnNMeOidDSEXXTqfKv=w640-h424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">On this trip, I bypassed the lower waterfall viewpoint deck. But I did stop to admire lots of moss and the huge old growth Douglas fir along the trail.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1F7X3ATeNOmFiTbuBs0qNfjxUNDNAqZqeloNyY-Zuc1GrDd0PAkkK-dJjkF7yMitn_xyR7ULTxly1ewgp3U23BrlJZxD_uNKegCq1dY5oaoGfVcZOJTD-kpPpykmsY6AC9539nP_6NzCzCUiadQMPw0HrUdupE3Pfz3V_8uG525k6vsGa6xmH3SDU=s2552" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1643" data-original-width="2552" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1F7X3ATeNOmFiTbuBs0qNfjxUNDNAqZqeloNyY-Zuc1GrDd0PAkkK-dJjkF7yMitn_xyR7ULTxly1ewgp3U23BrlJZxD_uNKegCq1dY5oaoGfVcZOJTD-kpPpykmsY6AC9539nP_6NzCzCUiadQMPw0HrUdupE3Pfz3V_8uG525k6vsGa6xmH3SDU=w640-h412" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhX8e_aG9jbLrNmSfWg4O_Q7O0WxmzGfHgN7uL-D75KjRSZZQdyaSLyWv9BvhH12KW6cOByKP1OEmEnd--v803jyN6lncmAvMVNoTdGA2DcZQBBdIuYJe2vxKyh_5wBDzOzCjrpbhx_sELlMiDteLtnSAn09m2Of2AaALjc7MsDT5pBtSHYlvU6QU1Q=s2622" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1599" data-original-width="2622" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhX8e_aG9jbLrNmSfWg4O_Q7O0WxmzGfHgN7uL-D75KjRSZZQdyaSLyWv9BvhH12KW6cOByKP1OEmEnd--v803jyN6lncmAvMVNoTdGA2DcZQBBdIuYJe2vxKyh_5wBDzOzCjrpbhx_sELlMiDteLtnSAn09m2Of2AaALjc7MsDT5pBtSHYlvU6QU1Q=w640-h390" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">After about 90 minutes of hiking in nonstop rain/snow/rain, at places the trail seemed like a side channel to the river.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yKolsdYXOL1NL7pbZhoosoQV2t4LTbjePyNlQ6n6gYV5sNaJkSxNbybRsyaLYjhChlZqVKmEPeQkb7xyZHNPNMRJGSVjip-0jjlxqCeqbUlzjt8-4r8DoTWcViR-bX2TpKKGrujh47g/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yKolsdYXOL1NL7pbZhoosoQV2t4LTbjePyNlQ6n6gYV5sNaJkSxNbybRsyaLYjhChlZqVKmEPeQkb7xyZHNPNMRJGSVjip-0jjlxqCeqbUlzjt8-4r8DoTWcViR-bX2TpKKGrujh47g/w640-h360/FGHi5ZIVUAIeMhE.jfif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Because there was such a healthy flow in the river and I had the trail to myself, I did a few detours down to the river's edge to shoot a few clips from my smartphone. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2pNbdCToTDc" width="320" youtube-src-id="2pNbdCToTDc"></iframe></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">By the time I got back to the car, my jeans were damp beneath my rain pants and so too was my jacket layered under a shell. But I just slipped off those outer layers and turned up the heat in my car as I drove home, thoroughly exhilarated from "forest bathing" in solitude. This is a rare treat anymore near Seattle.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Happy holidays!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i></span></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;"><br /></span></i></span></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-12069500712985407922021-11-22T20:13:00.006-08:002021-11-23T15:22:18.499-08:00Thanksgiving 2021: Random Gratitude<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKBkQ5hG7eyXkYWC5UfS5mN-LUAaYDm_xSEVs69yT3j9CmIrUzC89I_jh81dhHgz8fthVTnNKRnzfQXHS_oWnrwaBwRX5wsrjTWiYlO-DF9awzSwwV4tduzsvs_5-XRRQ88UbszfhI84/s2048/DSC07490c.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKBkQ5hG7eyXkYWC5UfS5mN-LUAaYDm_xSEVs69yT3j9CmIrUzC89I_jh81dhHgz8fthVTnNKRnzfQXHS_oWnrwaBwRX5wsrjTWiYlO-DF9awzSwwV4tduzsvs_5-XRRQ88UbszfhI84/w640-h428/DSC07490c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's a chilly, damp late fall evening as I'm writing this 2021 Thanksgiving post. I'm tired and worn down from the last couple months of work overload. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">To be honest, I'm worn down from the last almost 2 years of the pandemic. I'm not as resilient as I was as a young woman, and my family suffered a couple sad losses in the last year.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, well, I'm still here, like the Salish Sea tides that rise and fall and rise again near my home. And as we get on in years, just <b>being here is the ultimate gift</b>, to witness life and all its messy loveliness. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJctn42KRZIfaH7Ovdesvl9tYitT0ecawkStSEpl7-10OIxbLpqqP5emI9FXaMygz7zX7wR-QnuJTl3JVviF8FR6qB8paRo16AWADIaSs4kN6oS8RRrhGhVtBUtZ_T5zJ81x-UYZw_X4I/s2048/DSC07617c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="2048" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJctn42KRZIfaH7Ovdesvl9tYitT0ecawkStSEpl7-10OIxbLpqqP5emI9FXaMygz7zX7wR-QnuJTl3JVviF8FR6qB8paRo16AWADIaSs4kN6oS8RRrhGhVtBUtZ_T5zJ81x-UYZw_X4I/w640-h348/DSC07617c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Take mushrooms. I'm increasingly intrigued and captivated by their weird and wonderful variety, their shapes and sizes, and that they spring up like a surprise each year. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Did you know that <a href="https://www.scienceabc.com/nature/how-are-mushrooms-more-similar-to-humans-than-plants.html">their DNA is closer to human than plant</a>? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">I stalk them with my camera, and of course I live in good fungi territory. So here's to <b>gratitude for mushrooms/fungi</b>. There's so much more to learn about them.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDK2hUfWKrV_leDpNplVvMmetK5Ubqb3W3ASriWIf10cmyyqR1qX2olSq2xpltrZVhIcmXuks2JMcDNyQ62zdmWnHMyYAROC5GUMil6UQbh9xmDkx0rUnhI6Fpr2HQ9jb9OP4dkKsr-84/s2048/DSC07368c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1354" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDK2hUfWKrV_leDpNplVvMmetK5Ubqb3W3ASriWIf10cmyyqR1qX2olSq2xpltrZVhIcmXuks2JMcDNyQ62zdmWnHMyYAROC5GUMil6UQbh9xmDkx0rUnhI6Fpr2HQ9jb9OP4dkKsr-84/w640-h424/DSC07368c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I guess that leads me to <b>another gratitude:</b> <b>curiosity</b>. Without curiosity, human societies around the globe would be much less developed and advanced (although with the state of resource overuse and climate change, one can question the wisdom of some of our advances). But there is just so much to learn and read about in the world (and universe). Curiosity has led me to many <b>excellent books</b> as well, for which I'm grateful.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMsiuGvZFmwbhaC7aykQ_CKhrweDdN24PRNgI9wgP_txwdWD0DP9H39GOEBBZ-iJ6Bci7xyjK7Upzj9slyvqsp7lCHvz54osr32-eEDfagX2afIWjWZz6NDvDbsCjIqm-xf_C_Tz7J4I/s3871/DSC07573c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2777" data-original-width="3871" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMsiuGvZFmwbhaC7aykQ_CKhrweDdN24PRNgI9wgP_txwdWD0DP9H39GOEBBZ-iJ6Bci7xyjK7Upzj9slyvqsp7lCHvz54osr32-eEDfagX2afIWjWZz6NDvDbsCjIqm-xf_C_Tz7J4I/w640-h460/DSC07573c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was hard to think of a photo to match curiosity, so I grabbed the shot above of Yuki, the last cat standing of the colony of spayed/neutered feral cats I've helped manage and feed (along with my neighbors) since 2007. He has been successfully dodging coyotes, cars, racoons, crows, and perhaps an owl or two since at least 2013.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the bunch, Tashi, became my beloved pet who died at the end of 2020. Yuki is too feral to become totally domesticated, but he is a nice cat who talks to me and likes to be petted and scratched around the ears. I'm <b>grateful for his feline companionship</b> over the years, and sad he just lost his last buddy Jude. They kept each other warm at night.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKwNEwr8r8YMURn0z_nQTbx27ZaeucmqXg03UgiuXpBqmPmxSEvYaY95pne9IVZaEDriimpgIgm2DkG3dchcxUzWytOImJmorbUKrQV5RtMJyqxpV6xI3Hp6yPkaV0NAa-MYmsSy_r6k/s2048/IMGP8959c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="2048" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKwNEwr8r8YMURn0z_nQTbx27ZaeucmqXg03UgiuXpBqmPmxSEvYaY95pne9IVZaEDriimpgIgm2DkG3dchcxUzWytOImJmorbUKrQV5RtMJyqxpV6xI3Hp6yPkaV0NAa-MYmsSy_r6k/w640-h428/IMGP8959c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm also <b>grateful for ferry rides back and forth across Puget Sound</b>/Salish Sea for visits to family in Port Townsend and Bainbridge Island, Washington. I will never, ever tire of the clarifying embrace of the stiff, cold breeze while standing on the front ferry deck as the vessel skims across the sea surface.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On my semi-regular trips to Port Townsend for Monday morning coffee/tea with the gang up there, I always stop at a park on <a href="http://nr.pgst.nsn.us/environmental-program/gamble-bay/">Port Gamble Bay</a> and walk along the bluff or down to the water's edge to take pictures. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EH8rPK3cg6uQeVuU8ayTgGsPmN9jhlP-px9AzsoJjkF3nK_CzrYSn5VW6R-S9KEovFHlzkNE2e7pDBYWSYss8MofbDQrGEo9S1I__Af3ZzfZn2gjGTsiXaJPFiw-QJuejaFduXP2-Bo/s2048/IMGP9470c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1315" data-original-width="2048" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EH8rPK3cg6uQeVuU8ayTgGsPmN9jhlP-px9AzsoJjkF3nK_CzrYSn5VW6R-S9KEovFHlzkNE2e7pDBYWSYss8MofbDQrGEo9S1I__Af3ZzfZn2gjGTsiXaJPFiw-QJuejaFduXP2-Bo/w640-h410/IMGP9470c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm always the only one there on Monday mornings, and it's an incredibly peaceful escape from the city. As always, I'm <b>grateful for the balm of nature</b>.<br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3Wx3VT29OiXeJqvkfrAAYFTxsfdfJ9Q0akcTMHtRy3ZzqSnIrBT6BTFHJ_bPji5eBHtZQ8GMHhADCelxV9ZGAfx5tSY23MJzgif_zfgfL8HsL8SRGSJs8oRpJsuIGABT3Kepdn2fo44/s2048/IMGP9433c2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="2048" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3Wx3VT29OiXeJqvkfrAAYFTxsfdfJ9Q0akcTMHtRy3ZzqSnIrBT6BTFHJ_bPji5eBHtZQ8GMHhADCelxV9ZGAfx5tSY23MJzgif_zfgfL8HsL8SRGSJs8oRpJsuIGABT3Kepdn2fo44/w640-h422/IMGP9433c2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I could continue rambling here on what is basically a stream of consciousness post. But just reflecting on these things bring even more things to mind for which I'm grateful. One can't forget <b>friends and family</b> to share adventures and the everyday.<br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyL56N1_Tg2leJFU-PEPn1dQNu2sjm2xLlmYQBGTig-8ni_vgoOq2prQ5FM_l6WJIAjj-7LGmbPVWy22Lrfs32JYi97jPS99b6gfsxkdymT8BcTD0TNaT9yvbKg5tRKCLW1YsnKjwQcA/s2048/IMGP1126c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyL56N1_Tg2leJFU-PEPn1dQNu2sjm2xLlmYQBGTig-8ni_vgoOq2prQ5FM_l6WJIAjj-7LGmbPVWy22Lrfs32JYi97jPS99b6gfsxkdymT8BcTD0TNaT9yvbKg5tRKCLW1YsnKjwQcA/w640-h424/IMGP1126c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> And I'm happy that it's always possible to <b>make new friends </b>and reconnect with old friends. They're all gold.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMCkWuRGxPJVy1u4u9-l-aP3V7L1SrE1vhRl3plRRhBQyhk_ixJWPlxc13I8FS_xrayAGe9bQ5h5MqqaPeUUQJAhg2lsHfxbk_yacjVFP0q4OxsgQzfO9G1BWUKVhq5lzqwAesRKdhNg/s869/229803153_10224094284856225_1635120498853470460_nc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="869" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMCkWuRGxPJVy1u4u9-l-aP3V7L1SrE1vhRl3plRRhBQyhk_ixJWPlxc13I8FS_xrayAGe9bQ5h5MqqaPeUUQJAhg2lsHfxbk_yacjVFP0q4OxsgQzfO9G1BWUKVhq5lzqwAesRKdhNg/w640-h480/229803153_10224094284856225_1635120498853470460_nc.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So what tops your list of gratitudes this year? I've barely scratched the surface. But it's a good exercise to get one thinking and appreciating all there is to be thankful for again.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wishing you and your loved ones a happy Thanksgiving/holiday season. May you cherish just being here and remember, let's strive to look beyond what divides us to what binds us, with compassion and humanity. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1GZPPQsZLQ7rO76Lu6zD-dvhH7FdWKUYnGbLfQjBvfoQv9oaU0E6kRfYEHv5LhhA7ZoorCljBFFQsHDZ_1o9NPHbgVH_NcApL3ulLLK0CLTLiLzeosGkRhEEKe8R7RBsRcTU-NXSUfc/s2048/IMGP3466c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1GZPPQsZLQ7rO76Lu6zD-dvhH7FdWKUYnGbLfQjBvfoQv9oaU0E6kRfYEHv5LhhA7ZoorCljBFFQsHDZ_1o9NPHbgVH_NcApL3ulLLK0CLTLiLzeosGkRhEEKe8R7RBsRcTU-NXSUfc/w640-h424/IMGP3466c.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> And let's all strive to approach others with<b> kindness</b>.</span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;"><br /></span></i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><br /><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;"><br /></span></i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;"><br /> </span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-32549132901394803502021-10-09T23:38:00.008-07:002021-10-23T17:37:20.094-07:00Leavenworth Getaway: Sleeping Well at Sleeping Lady<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFL0gqvALlK4BC_eEGr9KeixlOQpfxKzdcL-frnj0kU7i65XyfEvvXagH4hWoklFdr9jDWKbZIdB7btdbYNK1zCbg0IdjGl7NZHRhCq3vJ_yPKVCqSaEMpcA38FIUqt0vIhyH89_7_3_A/s5674/DSC07046c.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3432" data-original-width="5674" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFL0gqvALlK4BC_eEGr9KeixlOQpfxKzdcL-frnj0kU7i65XyfEvvXagH4hWoklFdr9jDWKbZIdB7btdbYNK1zCbg0IdjGl7NZHRhCq3vJ_yPKVCqSaEMpcA38FIUqt0vIhyH89_7_3_A/w640-h388/DSC07046c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sleeping Lady Mountain </span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fall color in October around Leavenworth, Washington, is nothing short of magical. Compared to what we see over on "the Coast" (western Washington), the mountains and canyons glow crimson and gold. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">With a short window during the work week to avoid the <a href="https://www.leavenworthoktoberfest.com/">Oktoberfest </a>crowds, last week my sister and I dashed over <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevens_Pass">Stevens Pass</a> for a getaway. While I've spent lots of time in the Leavenworth area staying with friends, this trip we decided to stay at <a href="https://www.sleepinglady.com/">Sleeping Lady Resort</a> south of town on Icicle Creek.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This resort/conference center site was originally built as a <a href="https://revisitwa.org/waypoint/icicle-creek/">Civilian Conservation Corps camp </a>that operated </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">from 1934 to 1942. After also serving as a dude ranch and Catholic camp, in the 1990s Northwest arts and environmental philanthropist <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/a-year-into-her-succession-plan-harriet-bullitt-prepares-for-sleeping-lady-to-thrive-beyond-my-lifetime/">Harriet Bullit</a> developed it as Sleeping Lady Resort.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22SsfFIFu6iil5bgIX47bZyEolklAB59WDNlOPkDUJfO_Hunk25cserHSVONGbtN5zEdnQM2HTo5awPHZl8R_Hq7v31NQvSAGa6am5xWwrC0Qit1Hqw69-K6d64rLZ2WbTITKFj8mE-M/s2048/DSC07068c.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1374" data-original-width="2048" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22SsfFIFu6iil5bgIX47bZyEolklAB59WDNlOPkDUJfO_Hunk25cserHSVONGbtN5zEdnQM2HTo5awPHZl8R_Hq7v31NQvSAGa6am5xWwrC0Qit1Hqw69-K6d64rLZ2WbTITKFj8mE-M/w640-h430/DSC07068c.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many of the cabins at the resort were repurposed from the old camp but upgraded. The compound features walkways that were constructed using recycled wood materials. With arts venues, a pub, office/conference facilities, a mercantile, cafe, and restaurant interspersed around the site, along with art and sculpture from Northwest artists, it feels like a charmed mountain village.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6G4rtF8wah_9hch4jFmfl89KBRocLCq0aPBlNjTkiCUTl2izAJIrcmAxe2SbAg03Or1Piasx4D-KZTFsp8ERgPmyxuHIK9g6O72LqcdBEzffAGT4sIe9e9w4s7Y3iDdWh6U0IO31u-o/s2048/DSC07054c.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="2048" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6G4rtF8wah_9hch4jFmfl89KBRocLCq0aPBlNjTkiCUTl2izAJIrcmAxe2SbAg03Or1Piasx4D-KZTFsp8ERgPmyxuHIK9g6O72LqcdBEzffAGT4sIe9e9w4s7Y3iDdWh6U0IO31u-o/w640-h468/DSC07054c.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRND245p71WyftLEtSjjYoKsbS_zYt2NoHDVrtjCBPkGUiedPp7IlhQV9I9QdfHcOomrAZfFZCh5lXbiEvOjLYaoHU7TwGVWVKiKyE9WHOjZLwYia2NHupDPcEa8bnFyb3LKJiH_im_J8/s6144/DSC07058.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3760" data-original-width="6144" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRND245p71WyftLEtSjjYoKsbS_zYt2NoHDVrtjCBPkGUiedPp7IlhQV9I9QdfHcOomrAZfFZCh5lXbiEvOjLYaoHU7TwGVWVKiKyE9WHOjZLwYia2NHupDPcEa8bnFyb3LKJiH_im_J8/w640-h392/DSC07058.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Waterfalls beside the outdoor patio at the <a href="https://www.sleepinglady.com/dining/the-grotto-bar">Grotto Bar</a>.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We arrived after dark and and then walked along the lit pathway through open pine forest to our comfortable and cozy cabin </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(no driving up to your cabin, it's pedestrian-friendly and car-free)</span>. On such a dark and quiet mountain night, I had one of the best night's of sleep I've had in months.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_khLeqxb0ScbPy1gas2XrCIJzInTyq7cJ57t-jHhoMZ_f1Mb6y5q-R7gcsgPsUnV_-4X8ldmjQ2ZOBgLNy5oaE_33wGH9g24zNUizbkuPJYRu_KPu-gGcxjaG2B8Pbw6SogmGus7Hag/s2048/DSC07069c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1410" data-original-width="2048" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_khLeqxb0ScbPy1gas2XrCIJzInTyq7cJ57t-jHhoMZ_f1Mb6y5q-R7gcsgPsUnV_-4X8ldmjQ2ZOBgLNy5oaE_33wGH9g24zNUizbkuPJYRu_KPu-gGcxjaG2B8Pbw6SogmGus7Hag/w640-h440/DSC07069c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was up and out shortly after sunrise, camera in hand, to snap some of the shots here. No one else was up and about yet on this Friday morning.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTMkOxaeqLFW083Zg_m_xH4s9NtldCjk6aC4QwYhT_YyMEhnZTv604VLs3cb6oT1V4k2jMoYdrX1rFSRRYQ4IiAHrmSIC978pNb_PY-eQ_4huO3GAKTdUmPjJWfVAWZhyl0J5W4J8U2Y/s2048/DSC07051c.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1310" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTMkOxaeqLFW083Zg_m_xH4s9NtldCjk6aC4QwYhT_YyMEhnZTv604VLs3cb6oT1V4k2jMoYdrX1rFSRRYQ4IiAHrmSIC978pNb_PY-eQ_4huO3GAKTdUmPjJWfVAWZhyl0J5W4J8U2Y/w410-h640/DSC07051c.JPG" width="410" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The sculpture above is one of many artworks scattered around the compound. (Apologies to the artist for not checking the name or title, but I think it might be <a href="http://www.richbeyersculpture.com/">Richard Beyer.</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Since we were going to a friend's home for a visit, we were up and out pretty early. Due to the pandemic and related staffing shortages, indoor breakfast wasn't being served at Sleeping Lady's <a href="https://www.sleepinglady.com/dining/o-grady-s-pantry-mercantile">O'Grady's Pantry</a>, but we grabbed hot tea and fresh, delicious scones for breakfast.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTmWh6iGyYxncAkzrzAG3EwWCKw2WSdA3LrnXQmJO3zQ-ZaduUVM6yFMmInr4oibNf-fP_Mmd2WsLtnNSP2I33f3sZXXuMMmDyzgx5v5GpsG3KBKFsHVy1RMjPPZEXTug3BkZKBMDjDE/s2048/20211001_085236.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1495" data-original-width="2048" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTmWh6iGyYxncAkzrzAG3EwWCKw2WSdA3LrnXQmJO3zQ-ZaduUVM6yFMmInr4oibNf-fP_Mmd2WsLtnNSP2I33f3sZXXuMMmDyzgx5v5GpsG3KBKFsHVy1RMjPPZEXTug3BkZKBMDjDE/w640-h468/20211001_085236.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzUAPAgXCWOyfPE0m0e5xjiizFLO6SyK_JTUjA5BhzT8ZNzNOLGXFJ8YRuwRUkf7_TCdVxl4jj-zYUvccHAqJ88N55PSncYnT-gKPcXu4YizWFnU6ZQa_EPUInTs26mXDGzFKS3bx8C8/s2048/20211001_085252.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="2048" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzUAPAgXCWOyfPE0m0e5xjiizFLO6SyK_JTUjA5BhzT8ZNzNOLGXFJ8YRuwRUkf7_TCdVxl4jj-zYUvccHAqJ88N55PSncYnT-gKPcXu4YizWFnU6ZQa_EPUInTs26mXDGzFKS3bx8C8/w640-h358/20211001_085252.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">O'Grady's Pantry courtyard</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">While I don't have any more shots of the onsite art, we were fortunate to visit one of the artists whose gorgeous wildlife sculptures are featured there. Longtime family friend and artist <a href="https://www.gretchendaiber.com/Gretchen/Gretchen_Daiber_Artist.html">Gretchen Daiber </a>lives nearby and has several of her sculptures scattered around her garden.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLatuknhaMUOp6Emw0yA34EZ8ms-E304jgcipJs_e9L-jenhlkMz1TPN9g0ZVHLle2MSxg3v-FvhfOKymSeHGh4gwixf5VWl4OtOzXZM3zWKx_hKRr99kOiMO4vLGR0hWqN_mhvmWyHo/s2048/DSC07072c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1382" data-original-width="2048" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLatuknhaMUOp6Emw0yA34EZ8ms-E304jgcipJs_e9L-jenhlkMz1TPN9g0ZVHLle2MSxg3v-FvhfOKymSeHGh4gwixf5VWl4OtOzXZM3zWKx_hKRr99kOiMO4vLGR0hWqN_mhvmWyHo/w640-h432/DSC07072c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">Ptarmigan sculpture by Gretchen Daiber</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On such a glorious autumn morning, we walked with Gretchen through forest near her home above Sleeping Lady. She enthusiastically talked about the <a href="https://iciclefund.org/cha-cha">I</a><a href="https://iciclefund.org/cha-cha">cicle Fund's Artist-In-Residence program </a>celebrating the
conservation, history, and arts of North Central Washington. The goal of the residencies is to honor, celebrate, and record
the unique environmental aspects of the Wenatchee River/Valley watershed. She is one of the 10 selected Watershed Artists this year. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZW-ZSStePGDU4pJaGIZgjyIxNWpl_AqOtmDr1eOMj-WVDdfTP3TqyE_dJlxhFhncQHpJTldPzEOrLEzp-bGxosfNiDZ-H6zv23cES8EMX23s7iaLEB-LdR506POu94bL7sje-I4lwDIk/s2048/DSC07081c.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1348" data-original-width="2048" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZW-ZSStePGDU4pJaGIZgjyIxNWpl_AqOtmDr1eOMj-WVDdfTP3TqyE_dJlxhFhncQHpJTldPzEOrLEzp-bGxosfNiDZ-H6zv23cES8EMX23s7iaLEB-LdR506POu94bL7sje-I4lwDIk/w640-h422/DSC07081c.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">Aspen Grove</span></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Later in the day we drove up Icicle Creek Canyon and walked the <a href="https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/icicle-gorge-loop">Icicle Gorge Trail</a>, an easy warm-up hike that has very little elevation gain and winds over and along Icicle Creek for a little over 4 miles.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaF5GWR6xloexHwhN2bHRCfof3UQ0FiEjsWKxVCrErYml_LxXkYQPWBVfdBAtnvspvNXrg5YsKYK4uUkBUzVS2GygsmGyPec6I8D1QMug-pQCJixzXmS5dN4eHa9K_3UHHm2Jz9JpQsI/s5098/DSC07113c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3656" data-original-width="5098" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaF5GWR6xloexHwhN2bHRCfof3UQ0FiEjsWKxVCrErYml_LxXkYQPWBVfdBAtnvspvNXrg5YsKYK4uUkBUzVS2GygsmGyPec6I8D1QMug-pQCJixzXmS5dN4eHa9K_3UHHm2Jz9JpQsI/w640-h458/DSC07113c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Icicle Creek</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hN1rRntDi6Ba_qWofna-QKQ2hgKOnoacZi1Lbxo3hBinGlM69JuTcfpwlCtk-2L2vXzuEtVU3hyphenhyphenGAuO-7yuWIZ-LqQF6YEnfrj7zKC3X3qDLBLthouovwhYLy1bJkkYrODlTNwjILSM/s2048/DSC07154c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1359" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hN1rRntDi6Ba_qWofna-QKQ2hgKOnoacZi1Lbxo3hBinGlM69JuTcfpwlCtk-2L2vXzuEtVU3hyphenhyphenGAuO-7yuWIZ-LqQF6YEnfrj7zKC3X3qDLBLthouovwhYLy1bJkkYrODlTNwjILSM/w640-h424/DSC07154c.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> Since crowds of people were arriving for the first weekend of Oktoberfest, we didn't want to deal with trying to drive and park in the center of town for dinner. Instead, we grabbed a thoroughly typical Bavarian grilled bratwurst topped with sauerkraut at longtime local burger shack <a href="http://heidleburger.com/">Heidelburger</a>, which sits right off the highway at the edge of town.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then we snuck up into <a href="https://www.roadtripusa.com/the-great-northern/washington/stevens-pass-cashmere/">Tumwater Canyon</a> to snap some of the fall brilliance. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFhCD9A1VUFflduFy9NDeVD2H_BBb0B1ffXwYPedurYfPJspNZWyYMtrr3zsd_qfdpysMq5C0fI7kencRq2Y05FNEJ59C3o8mpUHSbfxf2eWtT2Sk-jT6OiJVN7XCEYWuuu9Atr19u2U/s2048/DSC07157c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1439" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFhCD9A1VUFflduFy9NDeVD2H_BBb0B1ffXwYPedurYfPJspNZWyYMtrr3zsd_qfdpysMq5C0fI7kencRq2Y05FNEJ59C3o8mpUHSbfxf2eWtT2Sk-jT6OiJVN7XCEYWuuu9Atr19u2U/w450-h640/DSC07157c.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-family: verdana;">All in all, our sister road trip was a great success. I highly recommend a loop over one of our passes here in Washington to see the eastern side of the Cascades soon, while the colors are still aglow. And if you get to Leavenworth, I also highly recommend Sleeping Lady.</span><p></p><p><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i> </span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <b>When You Go</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8StemtF6ZJWXfdUZ43YJ5xFXaKhkHGQvTrNmyMrOZFQ1pVC7tZJ_Jdtqbr_an-MpFuVPWQyNj0VKgw0__OTo85u22C1_j0fN7IrbSHbBDlicG66joBuqGl8mHMXeRowUWGEVLkpJLcA/s6615/DSC07129c.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6615" data-original-width="4719" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8StemtF6ZJWXfdUZ43YJ5xFXaKhkHGQvTrNmyMrOZFQ1pVC7tZJ_Jdtqbr_an-MpFuVPWQyNj0VKgw0__OTo85u22C1_j0fN7IrbSHbBDlicG66joBuqGl8mHMXeRowUWGEVLkpJLcA/w285-h400/DSC07129c.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Icicle Creek</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Sleeping Lady is not a budget lodging destination, but their <a href="https://www.sleepinglady.com/accommodations">cabins can accommodate</a> from two up to eight people, plus they allow pets (my sister's beagle Zelda joined us). Prices vary by season and time of week, but our room was $224 per night and could accommodate four.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our cabin had a mini-fridge and a hot pot with tea and coffee provided for us to brew hot drinks ourselves. <br /></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Part of the proceeds from the resort goes toward the <a href="https://iciclefund.org/">Icicle Fund</a>, a non-profit co-founded by Harriet Bullit that supports the arts, environment, and cultural and natural history of the North-Central Washington region.<b> </b><br /><br /></span></p><p> <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br />jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-5012859140179232652021-09-25T21:49:00.006-07:002021-09-26T17:20:26.763-07:00Hiking Glacier National Park: Dawson Pass/Pitamakan Pass Loop (Part 3)<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHdm9vV8sPYMkcKgSPGk4ruUb1McKKnW5zh-ujHqoAKgybJlAXMIGy16ARk-iGo96e76Q8fIcj0DJE3QOVoFXNz0Luzcmhz3S7NT2Kv9uSbZOM0tDT_lq8kbZlrK9daFHPP9JNpxwp5c/s2048/IMGP1207c.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2048" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHdm9vV8sPYMkcKgSPGk4ruUb1McKKnW5zh-ujHqoAKgybJlAXMIGy16ARk-iGo96e76Q8fIcj0DJE3QOVoFXNz0Luzcmhz3S7NT2Kv9uSbZOM0tDT_lq8kbZlrK9daFHPP9JNpxwp5c/w640-h416/IMGP1207c.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This is the third and final post about an epic backpack trip in Glacier National Park on the <a href="http://www.hikingwalking.com/index.php/destinations/mt/mt_glacier/two_medicine/dawson_pitamakan">Dawson Pass and Pitakaman Pass loop</a> in early September 2021. You can read the <a href="http://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2021/09/hiking-glacier-national-park-dawson.html">first post here</a> and the <a href="http://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2021/09/hiking-glacier-national-park-dawson_17.html">second post here</a>.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When I awaken on this third morning of our Glacier National Park backpacking trip, I notice the air is warmer than yesterday, even though we're at a higher elevation at <a href="https://www.visitmt.com/listings/general/national-park-trail/oldman-lake-trail.html">Oldman Lake</a>. Summer isn't over yet here in the Montana Rockies, even though the park ranger told us there used to be sleet and snow already </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">by this time of year</span>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On this day, it's mostly all downhill, except a short uphill near the end of the trail. And, thankfully, it's a much more gradual descent than yesterday's descent to Oldman Lake from Pitamakan Pass.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the early morning light, the first thing I do is grab my camera and head down to the lake. There's a gorgeous pink glow that's not visible in the harsh glare of midday.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jVrxReZaXW1-wK4Dp-EAk7hec4uDACznJ5H8mvoNaeGa4_YKbFQVNKmf05_UquDaXBJOLCMxqMZ1IySuxzLTHBbdTri7q3ji8Z1A29of1HADeMIOzuS4r3FlXVKoEDlaes_7XYO8igA/s2048/IMGP1178c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1386" data-original-width="2048" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jVrxReZaXW1-wK4Dp-EAk7hec4uDACznJ5H8mvoNaeGa4_YKbFQVNKmf05_UquDaXBJOLCMxqMZ1IySuxzLTHBbdTri7q3ji8Z1A29of1HADeMIOzuS4r3FlXVKoEDlaes_7XYO8igA/w640-h434/IMGP1178c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Oldman Lake</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> </span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84IzEIrHx8F6ShTlQKlQtmvwc-qZVJZOoYEy5xwfBVBXd4v5mEV_xp5ECZnVuhzJrwENREsHoiSrwGPgJWFpo32wBQcj54bpx1nPEUxg2epBbAX1y-r9rthWnLHIhuQUfXo37efG6ycw/s2048/IMGP1183c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1379" data-original-width="2048" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84IzEIrHx8F6ShTlQKlQtmvwc-qZVJZOoYEy5xwfBVBXd4v5mEV_xp5ECZnVuhzJrwENREsHoiSrwGPgJWFpo32wBQcj54bpx1nPEUxg2epBbAX1y-r9rthWnLHIhuQUfXo37efG6ycw/w640-h430/IMGP1183c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oldman Lake campsite trail, morning light</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We gather at the campsite cooking area for a hot drink and breakfast and pull down our bags of food from the high bars provided at each campsite. In grizzly country, the protocol is strict: Before even going to your campsite to drop your pack and pitch your tent, pull all your food and lotions/toothpaste out of your pack and hang them in a bag at the top of a 12-foot + bar. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After a light breakfast of hot tea and a KIND bar, I go back down to the lake while shooting another short video. (My shadow makes an appearance in the video linked below.)</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sig1MBzlmtA" width="320" youtube-src-id="Sig1MBzlmtA"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After saying our goodbyes to the other hikers, we pack up and head on down the trail. This day is sunny, warm, and mellow compared to the strong wind and drama of being up on Dawson and Pitamakan passes. This day is just fine by me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSbGEfFHDbPzQCXb7OSry8JBDBeus7qqIPtgPyZD5Y43e-QNglXtk_sD4mxoJbqqqHrr4swT1YwDS5OXNMNm5mdz4BcuYKArmZ2Hm3RS-dIwMh5rkpNY6t_NaYTbeksmrPKqoBjak1BI/s2048/IMGP1191c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1354" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSbGEfFHDbPzQCXb7OSry8JBDBeus7qqIPtgPyZD5Y43e-QNglXtk_sD4mxoJbqqqHrr4swT1YwDS5OXNMNm5mdz4BcuYKArmZ2Hm3RS-dIwMh5rkpNY6t_NaYTbeksmrPKqoBjak1BI/w640-h424/IMGP1191c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-family: verdana;">Occasionally we stop and take a look back from where we came.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqLA87FywgMyDVaVrTDyZGEi4hwCpPAJyayrpMd9N0Dzta1DreUR3ONzPBAgRmEUYNLslqTkpUCrPI7xortLYI5foeHXQr4O22ZANgYC-vcTtjSvA2YIns6j66kuePebZvK5Se4qvgmM/s2048/IMGP1192c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1380" data-original-width="2048" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqLA87FywgMyDVaVrTDyZGEi4hwCpPAJyayrpMd9N0Dzta1DreUR3ONzPBAgRmEUYNLslqTkpUCrPI7xortLYI5foeHXQr4O22ZANgYC-vcTtjSvA2YIns6j66kuePebZvK5Se4qvgmM/w640-h432/IMGP1192c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Back below timberline, we're seeing brilliant fall color in the huckleberry and other shrubs. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_UYyjYSqsFjW2y1lN_UW-UmcnG23ZSz5S-70UoJvuBwzQJjThWeSeVbaOjFx0neAI2b3PVKqYwYV273-sBT78h7MHl7IijXSIiT37vGIDWcOF-3yzueTiTancYDmie592EjEVSM7kLU/s2048/IMGP1200c2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1336" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_UYyjYSqsFjW2y1lN_UW-UmcnG23ZSz5S-70UoJvuBwzQJjThWeSeVbaOjFx0neAI2b3PVKqYwYV273-sBT78h7MHl7IijXSIiT37vGIDWcOF-3yzueTiTancYDmie592EjEVSM7kLU/w640-h418/IMGP1200c2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3ZFM2bFaAM219Xu_lvJoL4NS6VUT4qZJmGj_d8Od_WIb2j06Lfr4Kbb_Qr7DFMaU6AKdvQOkCIWLD3OilCjC2-VrBzpl2zU7Ii349kR8waiborFGhu8yfK3rheqJizsUXw_EAGBCJRY/s2048/IMGP1209c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1340" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3ZFM2bFaAM219Xu_lvJoL4NS6VUT4qZJmGj_d8Od_WIb2j06Lfr4Kbb_Qr7DFMaU6AKdvQOkCIWLD3OilCjC2-VrBzpl2zU7Ii349kR8waiborFGhu8yfK3rheqJizsUXw_EAGBCJRY/w640-h418/IMGP1209c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Passing through what appeared to be a grove of dwarf aspen</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Seriously, the trail grade is so mild for most of the 6+ miles we hike this day, it hardly feels like we're losing elevation. After crossing a mostly dried up stream (Dry Fork Creek) over a small log bridge, we take another look back. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8gLkOjPZ7mFk3wk1BeJEInpNqFIcsoTicf7wkICUBSB6aTOl2SEtfSmlEufk3L9DjqhsmvU_6Fj7eUsRcsCzUV6VXRRWPzz7JTPXWpPQ83xXPytLP-UyzNrECmOg4VamYc5Zh8mm37Q/s2048/IMGP1216c.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1320" data-original-width="2048" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8gLkOjPZ7mFk3wk1BeJEInpNqFIcsoTicf7wkICUBSB6aTOl2SEtfSmlEufk3L9DjqhsmvU_6Fj7eUsRcsCzUV6VXRRWPzz7JTPXWpPQ83xXPytLP-UyzNrECmOg4VamYc5Zh8mm37Q/w640-h412/IMGP1216c.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">By this time, we're like horses headed to the barn. We do have a long drive back to the Spokane area (about 5 to 6 hours) tonight after finishing, so we're moving along at a pretty steady pace through alpine meadows, then forests, before finishing the loop.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just as we can see the parking lot, suddenly we come to an abrupt halt. About 10 yards ahead is a cluster of bighorn sheep (I call them goats, but Mark corrects me) on the trail. They seem to be wary of the people down on the river below watching them. We're wary of them. They're also wary of us.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NO3iRadVEqgpRoKtdCkx9A61llasyunKl7WsO21Oo2X4lt8l9bI1omfUJ9MjaVyCFsZFUdTYXYzrqSOodZDGis88YzZ-_-L9Nw9UsyuH1kdgizKBEP6xD9JniGvsdJ-dL-x138nlV0E/s2048/DSCN2369c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1436" data-original-width="2048" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NO3iRadVEqgpRoKtdCkx9A61llasyunKl7WsO21Oo2X4lt8l9bI1omfUJ9MjaVyCFsZFUdTYXYzrqSOodZDGis88YzZ-_-L9Nw9UsyuH1kdgizKBEP6xD9JniGvsdJ-dL-x138nlV0E/w640-h448/DSCN2369c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bighorn sheep. Photo by Mark Beaufait</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">After a few minutes minutes, the sheep finally all descend to the river below, and we scoot past to finish our hike.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The first thing Andy and I do is tear off our hiking boots and walk over to Pray Lake, where we both soothe our battered feet in the cold water. (My taped up feet and ankles make an appearance in the video below at the lake).<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oWYZ8uZTnaE" width="320" youtube-src-id="oWYZ8uZTnaE"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And then it's over, this hike planned for months. Mark got the reservations in January through a lottery, although some hikers told us they showed up the day of and got permits. </span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5qD1-l5QwWQjz4K0U9C3ygMGTZTFZJkuecffnmp8UQriECQTylN1HUe8QI3U4J88n5rFrEL0R-KWXBMmctStpmqUIyAQQYzCb32iiT2DtRsxUKjTOG-o-4eWt0ft8j-3gs5yLa0ShRg/s2048/IMGP1221c.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1399" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5qD1-l5QwWQjz4K0U9C3ygMGTZTFZJkuecffnmp8UQriECQTylN1HUe8QI3U4J88n5rFrEL0R-KWXBMmctStpmqUIyAQQYzCb32iiT2DtRsxUKjTOG-o-4eWt0ft8j-3gs5yLa0ShRg/w274-h400/IMGP1221c.jpg" width="274" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">Happy Hikers. The End.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Regardless, it was challenging, spectacular, and very rewarding. We covered 15 or 16 miles overall and gained and lost about 3,000 feet in elevation, peaking out at about 8,100 feet at our highest point; many do this loop as a day hike now. Gotta say, it would be much faster going without a full backpack, even with ultra light tents and such.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm happy to have seen a new corner of the park (and world). I'm slower than I was as a young woman, but I'm not much bothered anymore when faster, younger hikers pass on the trail. It's all worth it, no matter your pace.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many thanks to Mark for planning this trip, and Mark and Andy for being so generous and including me. Old friends are gold, but old friends who like to get out and do fun outdoors adventures together are platinum.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'd love to hear in a comment below if you'd done this hike too, or other similar adventures.<br /> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><br /></p>jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-83480559990054306552021-09-17T23:32:00.011-07:002021-09-18T13:36:39.783-07:00Hiking Glacier National Park: Dawson Pass and Pitamakan Pass (Part 2)<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2AQx0ML4V0a43ljda16KqXvOM0v6hhhU9moLfQtPZeIhvWxcCbZw-gU8CcIABHX_AV2n01Lr1_GFPYZgMg0ixm1c0V9LVFUj-wSOY1GzBsUoF5yo0vOQvNf64wc_FmTWG_Zw4WMnBtA/s2048/IMGP1141c2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1322" data-original-width="2048" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2AQx0ML4V0a43ljda16KqXvOM0v6hhhU9moLfQtPZeIhvWxcCbZw-gU8CcIABHX_AV2n01Lr1_GFPYZgMg0ixm1c0V9LVFUj-wSOY1GzBsUoF5yo0vOQvNf64wc_FmTWG_Zw4WMnBtA/w640-h414/IMGP1141c2.jpg" width="640" /></a><i>This is the second post about an early September backpacking trip in Glacier National Park. <a href="http://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2021/09/hiking-glacier-national-park-dawson.html">Read the first post here.</a></i></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On this second day of our trek, we hiked through a stark, glacially carved landscape where mountains meet the sky. After a relatively easy first day, this second day was more challenging, but the payoff was absolutely worth it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After packing up and leaving <a href="http://www.hikinginglacier.com/no-name-lake.htm">No Name Lake</a> by mid-morning, my hiking buddies Mark and Andy and I hiked up switchbacks a couple miles to <a href="http://www.hikinginglacier.com/dawson-pass.htm">Dawson Pass</a> (elevation 7,600 feet) on the <a href="https://www.geographyrealm.com/north-american-continental-divide/">Continental Divide.</a> For this lowlander (I live about 300 feet above sea level), I actually didn't feel the elevation that much.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Along the way, we passed above timberline into a dramatic landscape of shale and scree (Mark, who has a geology degree, would describe the rocks/formations more precisely).</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkL9f4bHbJTP2msuLPkcXMnb8zEbWpq4eoe1wtgjq8jq7jJq9ek-3mvmxoMhxxELX01Mrbo3KunwbnOVsxK-bXZ735-fLxQwzuSL0-U8y9y98QVvx2fj_0tQXWjqIPFU6uJuralFjKm-Q/s2048/IMGP1119c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1354" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkL9f4bHbJTP2msuLPkcXMnb8zEbWpq4eoe1wtgjq8jq7jJq9ek-3mvmxoMhxxELX01Mrbo3KunwbnOVsxK-bXZ735-fLxQwzuSL0-U8y9y98QVvx2fj_0tQXWjqIPFU6uJuralFjKm-Q/w640-h424/IMGP1119c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Approaching Dawson Pass, Two Medicine Lake behind and below.</span><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wildfire smoke blew in and tamped down the dramatic views, a minor downside on an otherwise spectacular day hiking. We'd been warned about the winds at the pass, and sure enough, as we crested the pass, wind raced across, prompting us to pull out windbreakers when we stopped for lunch.</span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0LUddZ70flbvSTuwxMb0YaCW0gBQ6YfJ9AXfLUNrIl0sLxEaE9MsFxGnG8jjfFrBwCc4pheOYtbheTclZVq11wPBBigV5qwen8uZTlUhWDq3ncjjdwu1m0LsfYNp5T7XjYgtwzfEb4Y/s2048/DSCN2278c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1345" data-original-width="2048" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0LUddZ70flbvSTuwxMb0YaCW0gBQ6YfJ9AXfLUNrIl0sLxEaE9MsFxGnG8jjfFrBwCc4pheOYtbheTclZVq11wPBBigV5qwen8uZTlUhWDq3ncjjdwu1m0LsfYNp5T7XjYgtwzfEb4Y/w640-h420/DSCN2278c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Windy Dawson Pass. </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mark Beaufait photo.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpVqoCkNcQDljPcILWrfYF5zPU5J8TRWmT59bAq8DS7jHDE4LzvHgS2wiRux2KjtSmR4bIGGqovzdIQr9aMx8uZUnS9s30dj3uCw069VJ4KGtvoYhmWpwjAS5xh3gIJNuBM50SPmagtM/s2048/IMGP1128c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2048" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpVqoCkNcQDljPcILWrfYF5zPU5J8TRWmT59bAq8DS7jHDE4LzvHgS2wiRux2KjtSmR4bIGGqovzdIQr9aMx8uZUnS9s30dj3uCw069VJ4KGtvoYhmWpwjAS5xh3gIJNuBM50SPmagtM/w640-h416/IMGP1128c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Smoke obscured the views on the other side of Dawson Pass</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">After lunch and hiking up a few hundred feet above the pass, the real drama of the day began. I'd read about the relatively narrow ledge portion of the trail that skirts beneath Flinsch Peak, but I didn't realize this narrow goat trail (or so it seemed) continued <i>over 3 miles</i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDklz92I9pua_04a77l2xukFb4Ec6C1wIDu1OP-v5jDRihiGxbjSBKCngTZT3r0lWZIS6HxSpY8mR9Ar2Gf1ASZNDL8cg9aEScqhTfxvCOnLdF6JlC_sl_qJonshvqCO3qDki9x9aT-4/s2048/IMGP1134c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDklz92I9pua_04a77l2xukFb4Ec6C1wIDu1OP-v5jDRihiGxbjSBKCngTZT3r0lWZIS6HxSpY8mR9Ar2Gf1ASZNDL8cg9aEScqhTfxvCOnLdF6JlC_sl_qJonshvqCO3qDki9x9aT-4/w640-h424/IMGP1134c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The trail continued past and around the backside of the second peak in the distance.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Let's be clear: The trail was pretty exposed in some places, where a misstep on the loose scree could lead to an unstoppable fall/slide down a 3,000 foot mountainside. Have I mentioned that although I like being in high places, I'm not a big fan of heights?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But onward we trekked because, of course, there was no going back. A couple times rock steps on the trail were so tall that it was a challenge to step up with a heavy backpack (once with an assist from Andy). And some wind gusts were so strong that I was pushed sideways and had to stop to steady myself.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcYwS4nayKxfmqkGqsoUKwvDqHTfnisiqa9axk5dzmR5QYVeMLJ46KY-yTgFId8yoXnsOw1dh9qdzH8COHwFYRfV2mOglk0dpanJY7iZXH-_fWWpka-AwE_n0nf8T6G5sAMMkiciDR-I/s2048/DSCN2297c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="2048" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcYwS4nayKxfmqkGqsoUKwvDqHTfnisiqa9axk5dzmR5QYVeMLJ46KY-yTgFId8yoXnsOw1dh9qdzH8COHwFYRfV2mOglk0dpanJY7iZXH-_fWWpka-AwE_n0nf8T6G5sAMMkiciDR-I/w640-h462/DSCN2297c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">We passed beneath the glacial horn of Flinsch Peak shown here. M. Beaufait photo.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7UvjEL63lQe_t27q5v3_Ysb8aE0eMaku7gzH_wORTMYUJ8lRScvDDzLsipMjTqQJICQe-iWFPN2wfxZskAwEInfEykIjtTj6zptrFwL3Dd7nyY8kzABsWXQ6kSmvVrqO7IHu0Ti9AzA/s2048/DSCN2305c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1455" data-original-width="2048" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7UvjEL63lQe_t27q5v3_Ysb8aE0eMaku7gzH_wORTMYUJ8lRScvDDzLsipMjTqQJICQe-iWFPN2wfxZskAwEInfEykIjtTj6zptrFwL3Dd7nyY8kzABsWXQ6kSmvVrqO7IHu0Ti9AzA/w640-h454/DSCN2305c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">One of the widest stretches of the ledge trail. M. Beaufait photo.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEKsXUIXtRvggR0qcvOVyaZceNLT-kNwSm-0_375pnTFv3p7YGcsvp3U9rtfV3f94T-23HOjOiVjbqlwURjU1IjdBzLSfkt5UpsAlItnT7h1GataqZiDrm8ybcqSknpT8vrNi_0nnFXA/s2048/DSCN2316.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEKsXUIXtRvggR0qcvOVyaZceNLT-kNwSm-0_375pnTFv3p7YGcsvp3U9rtfV3f94T-23HOjOiVjbqlwURjU1IjdBzLSfkt5UpsAlItnT7h1GataqZiDrm8ybcqSknpT8vrNi_0nnFXA/w640-h480/DSCN2316.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The trail at times. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">M. Beaufait photo.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Walking the ledge for that distance required complete focus with every step, at least for me. But the views, even with the smoke, wow! I felt a sense of expansive space, like being in an airplane and looking around and down at the world below. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXNTuDiXyLi0Kg3wWGPLeo6R-cqtNqQ3ZLeN8SBEO5fV9Rfa9ShzHRuHQ7YWiKfeDgZJK8FO6b1FU1RqENBaMFPvi0fTa04qroQcgTh1lTeYRoiJGaOdJe7icR9DXDqwE6kiR34lJRQc/s2048/IMGP1150c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXNTuDiXyLi0Kg3wWGPLeo6R-cqtNqQ3ZLeN8SBEO5fV9Rfa9ShzHRuHQ7YWiKfeDgZJK8FO6b1FU1RqENBaMFPvi0fTa04qroQcgTh1lTeYRoiJGaOdJe7icR9DXDqwE6kiR34lJRQc/w640-h424/IMGP1150c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Starting the descent down to Oldman Lake, our destination for the night.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhL3EOG-sSvUP0bgUdhlpaGdrKTIaEXDzi3lizYTrRRONw214HtA-RxId0qd-G84Zs579nu8tv4l_JBNbzVViz5eA3JKK_e7VA7GFVUEn_4zzE96mGHIECmFocOIdDJNY8gMP5brgqZs4/s2048/DSCN2318c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhL3EOG-sSvUP0bgUdhlpaGdrKTIaEXDzi3lizYTrRRONw214HtA-RxId0qd-G84Zs579nu8tv4l_JBNbzVViz5eA3JKK_e7VA7GFVUEn_4zzE96mGHIECmFocOIdDJNY8gMP5brgqZs4/w640-h480/DSCN2318c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">M. Beaufait photo.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As we neared <a href="http://www.hikinginglacier.com/oldman-lake.htm">Oldman</a><a href="http://www.hikinginglacier.com/oldman-lake.htm"> Lake</a>, we passed through big scarlet patches of low-lying huckleberry bushes heavy with sweet ripe berries. We also passed some very large piles of berry-infested bear scat; we'd heard from other hikers that grizzly bears had been spotted near the lake and even wandering through our upcoming campsite.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">While black bears aren't that scary to see, grizzlies are another matter. Fortunately the bears decided to forage elsewhere that night. Perhaps they were scared off by our pack of hikers (nine of us) at the campsite, most of us from Seattle.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbYcp3mV8W8WVa2JAaV4DKZBRkCB2BewVlJRzlpM30M6t6KjJscuNXBFrhF-DxyE3St5FadSzQUMotSvX-pUYREj4vLKgMs1rZ3kxa6i0gO74qfTb04HcR1jDH2-O6zO8uU2hrMua5Ek/s2048/IMGP1154c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1315" data-original-width="2048" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbYcp3mV8W8WVa2JAaV4DKZBRkCB2BewVlJRzlpM30M6t6KjJscuNXBFrhF-DxyE3St5FadSzQUMotSvX-pUYREj4vLKgMs1rZ3kxa6i0gO74qfTb04HcR1jDH2-O6zO8uU2hrMua5Ek/w640-h410/IMGP1154c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oldman Lake</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A rustic gray-bearded, solo man (trail name, Stormwalker) showed up at camp later than the rest of us and told us he'd done many epic thru hikes since the 1970s (<a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/pct/">Pacific Crest Trail</a>, <a href="https://www.nps.gov/appa/index.htm">Appalachian Trail</a>, the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/trails/cdt">Continental Divide Trail </a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/trails/cdt"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(CDT)</span></a>, Nepal, New Zealand...). On this outing, he was seeking CDT thru hikers to give them advice and $2 bills. In some parts, that's still good for a cuppa (not Seattle).<br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5lsRlZvXRLv9zvWxbZg428KIAnD2UUnJAMALFZZ3-t3LzCtfxzcJN-1rahoYTeVRDaYlArzTV-MsovX40tRmmGfAJuCh0K9VR4F66LRbork1BfVUm6-pp9LY4yCag_LEpjD-55Fudl8/s2048/IMGP1156c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1320" data-original-width="2048" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5lsRlZvXRLv9zvWxbZg428KIAnD2UUnJAMALFZZ3-t3LzCtfxzcJN-1rahoYTeVRDaYlArzTV-MsovX40tRmmGfAJuCh0K9VR4F66LRbork1BfVUm6-pp9LY4yCag_LEpjD-55Fudl8/w640-h412/IMGP1156c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Evening light at Oldman Lake. </span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fellow hikers we met at our two campsites were all fun, friendly, and engaging. Maybe that's partly why I'm drawn to the outdoorsy. We swapped stories and laughs in the designated cooking areas (away from our tents to deter bears) and then wandered off </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">to our tents </span></span>as it got dark.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Perhaps the grizzlies were hunkered down due to the persistent strong wind, with occasional big gusts. Who knows. But regardless of the bear factor, I slept well again. Being "good" tired makes for good sleep.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <i>Just too many more photos to share to cram them all into this post, so check back in a couple days for the third and last post of our backpack trip on the Dawson/Pitamakan Passes Loop. </i></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7fWZGdD6b1VReVLDwzSLwR0l5BDrs23Yx0IuX7bM9BNo1PMiQG4u9Ts-OrHfA-e-vIF06I3d6-RbgQLZ7BcPrvOjJeQ1XXV3r7A6bh7efcWqRJPjmg1OPaQfANrwQpc9oG48OLGdgoE/s2048/IMGP1164c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1413" data-original-width="2048" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7fWZGdD6b1VReVLDwzSLwR0l5BDrs23Yx0IuX7bM9BNo1PMiQG4u9Ts-OrHfA-e-vIF06I3d6-RbgQLZ7BcPrvOjJeQ1XXV3r7A6bh7efcWqRJPjmg1OPaQfANrwQpc9oG48OLGdgoE/w640-h442/IMGP1164c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><i> </i><br /></p>jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-2514585636571456042021-09-12T23:18:00.013-07:002021-09-17T23:40:50.587-07:00Hiking Glacier National Park: Dawson Pass and Pitamakan Pass Loop (Part 1)<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2XT6dK_GxOOeA2Ts9FAamx5WIRACRg_MXufLyyAR1OAKLZgJtM2gwPdTzJL26R8EOngMQkfYJABx5QYyPDGyyP_FHWkSpU386k9wAF_ryQlsUH8jdqtRCD-ehLRkMh7h0azrNo78_0E/s2048/20210909_094139.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1211" data-original-width="2048" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2XT6dK_GxOOeA2Ts9FAamx5WIRACRg_MXufLyyAR1OAKLZgJtM2gwPdTzJL26R8EOngMQkfYJABx5QYyPDGyyP_FHWkSpU386k9wAF_ryQlsUH8jdqtRCD-ehLRkMh7h0azrNo78_0E/w640-h378/20210909_094139.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />As I sit down to reflect and write about hiking the spectacular <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/montana/dawson-pass-and-pitamakan-pass-loop">Dawson Pass/Pitamakan Pass Loo</a>p in Montana's <a href="https://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm">Glacier National Park</a>, I still feel a lingering sense of awe. This hike was different than my usual treks in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascade_Range">Cascades</a> of Oregon and Washington. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There were plenty of big mountains, big views, and big sky. The sense of space and chiseled (rather than Cascade craggy) mountains dominated. Despite a smudgy blanket of wildfire smoke that subdued the views somewhat, it was still all that and more.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">With so many shots to share, this is the first of a few posts about this early September road trip/backpack. While many hikers do this 16- to 19-mile loop as a day hike now, some of us opt for a more leisurely trek, with a few days on the trail. Yes, I'm old school, but I don't want to rush through paradise.<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Road Tripping</b></span></h4><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You don't want to hear much about the car troubles I had as I drove east from Seattle to meet friends north of Spokane. I'm grateful for <a href="https://wa.aaa.com/">AAA</a> and managed to barely make it</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">to a truck stop in <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=j&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FGeorge%2C_Washington&uct=1631550531&usg=eAYXPTGIkuzuj3wLrIgmexWSJxo.">George, </a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=j&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FGeorge%2C_Washington&uct=1631550531&usg=eAYXPTGIkuzuj3wLrIgmexWSJxo.">Washington</a>, </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">where I charged up my dead smartphone to call for help </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">since my clutch died</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">. Enough about that.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After a good night sleep at the home of my friends' relatives north of Spokane, we took off mid-morning for the 5+ hour drive across northern Idaho and on to <a href="http://www.eastglacierpark.info/">East Glacier.</a> My friends Mark and Andy splurged on a big room for us at the historic <a href="https://www.glacierparkcollection.com/lodging/glacier-park-lodge/">Glacier Park Lodge</a>, vintage 1913, before we started our 3-day backpack.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfoCxa6mniJ3Nwqe8bzgn6U96Je5hOXJAVKG5mRmo8kbMd3K_oLIW4LBqpkzX07UxOJrrfA1dOB3LUPy0dA6l5eLTIclxcIB9CCbEudXiDxwt0dYXvRn9rCU5FjlYIQzLyNhXzHJ2rTs/s2048/20210906_201819.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="2048" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfoCxa6mniJ3Nwqe8bzgn6U96Je5hOXJAVKG5mRmo8kbMd3K_oLIW4LBqpkzX07UxOJrrfA1dOB3LUPy0dA6l5eLTIclxcIB9CCbEudXiDxwt0dYXvRn9rCU5FjlYIQzLyNhXzHJ2rTs/w640-h362/20210906_201819.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Glacier Park Lodge lobby</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I love these big old lodges built for guests traveling by rail. This lodge was along the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Northern_Railway_(U.S.)">Great Northern Railway</a>, and you can still arrive by train today.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We had dinner and breakfast in the lodge dining room, where the food was tasty and the portions were <i>very</i> generous. I gave half my breakfast to Andy, and it was plenty for two.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Day 1 on the Trail</b> <br /></span></h4><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We needed to be up and out early to pick up our two-night permit (pre-reserved) at the Two Medicine Lake</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> ranger station when it opened at 8 a.m.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> It was fun to chat with some of the other hikers in line ahead of us at the ranger station. One middle-aged woman was thru-hiking the <a href="https://continentaldividetrail.org/">Continental Divide Trail </a>(CDT) solo and down to her last 3 days. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1o6Ytp4NCApuvhaCKQFhpClERAS60Be2g7yS7AeVARUPa-iJd8SbPmZTQ-Uqpfl6oW_u7rVh-CN33AjEzk6MN00By8xyXymT003o2-ZPdPP3wG0S8BAkQzBhViWHcHQP9_5QKuQCC2Qo/s2048/IMGP1065c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1377" data-original-width="2048" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1o6Ytp4NCApuvhaCKQFhpClERAS60Be2g7yS7AeVARUPa-iJd8SbPmZTQ-Uqpfl6oW_u7rVh-CN33AjEzk6MN00By8xyXymT003o2-ZPdPP3wG0S8BAkQzBhViWHcHQP9_5QKuQCC2Qo/w640-h430/IMGP1065c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Two Medicine Lake</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We hopped on the historic shuttle boat that traverses the lake to the trailhead, and enjoyed the gorgeous morning as we cruised across the lake. (Some hikers start near the ranger station and hike an additional 3 miles along the lakeshore to the trailhead, but we opted for the scenic boat ride. See the short video below for a taste of the ride.) The boat is on the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/index.htm">National Register of Historic Place</a>s and was originally built in 1926.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zsxzNoHTgl4" width="320" youtube-src-id="zsxzNoHTgl4"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwmDckTdRjRFoojLO2nZoq9SIkTL_sGGgPkseSgJPT98a0Dzzy6V0ia8hEICqfI1CvdLO39h6j3tefCHsPWRJiKdPge2AxQXO5rQAUAYgz5aFXNgQf3Rft35-nnzvvQsa57Lc4o8kYzA/s2048/IMGP1067c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1451" data-original-width="2048" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwmDckTdRjRFoojLO2nZoq9SIkTL_sGGgPkseSgJPT98a0Dzzy6V0ia8hEICqfI1CvdLO39h6j3tefCHsPWRJiKdPge2AxQXO5rQAUAYgz5aFXNgQf3Rft35-nnzvvQsa57Lc4o8kYzA/w640-h454/IMGP1067c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Historic Sinopah shuttle boat</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;">All the other passengers dispersed </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;">pretty quickly</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;"> up a few shorter trails as we slathered on sunscreen, shed layers, and threw on our backpacks. Our first night destination was <a href="https://www.outdoorproject.com/united-states/montana/no-name-lake-hike">No Name Lake</a>, a short warm-up hike only about 2.2 miles away and 900 feet higher.</span><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">While hiking up a somewhat steep trail with a heavy-ish backpack can be a slog, I tend to do better on the uphills because they're easier on my aging feet and knees. We stopped once for a water/snack break and to enjoy the increasingly spectacular views.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykfFp1X09bxk2IOtnQZHf0P66s4xptsL1OJvkmFg9ylpvmKRzBWvJ_2J9UobrCUqhKugiZvocfh9uQ2msWT8vFhA6DSWp_EHlwhB9LHbDG0YXiYciJ1q__7N7rZvieYe1bBSWwST3SS8/s2048/IMGP1076c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1409" data-original-width="2048" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykfFp1X09bxk2IOtnQZHf0P66s4xptsL1OJvkmFg9ylpvmKRzBWvJ_2J9UobrCUqhKugiZvocfh9uQ2msWT8vFhA6DSWp_EHlwhB9LHbDG0YXiYciJ1q__7N7rZvieYe1bBSWwST3SS8/w640-h440/IMGP1076c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Looking back down to Two Medicine Lake where we started.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiU0ysjEVJBPcOk1yrFPucAV2isurKRyjIgFkSCRhJ5Wz2U_z98AGyFdPuc3QW6rZmfY3gt1iVxm8Z51gwUOKc5E3Xa9PeQGLu3YeihZ7iclJGbw3zYULEeqn9fNz0DseYyv80TitXA-8/s2048/IMGP1070c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1474" data-original-width="2048" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiU0ysjEVJBPcOk1yrFPucAV2isurKRyjIgFkSCRhJ5Wz2U_z98AGyFdPuc3QW6rZmfY3gt1iVxm8Z51gwUOKc5E3Xa9PeQGLu3YeihZ7iclJGbw3zYULEeqn9fNz0DseYyv80TitXA-8/w640-h460/IMGP1070c.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our best weather was this first day, with clear blue skies and mild temps. Since it was such a short hike, we arrived at the lake by early afternoon and had our pick of the three campsites.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And then we chilled all afternoon after setting up tents. Thankfully, this late in the season mosquitoes and other pesky bugs aren't a problem. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">No Name is a lovely alpine lake tucked close against the base of a steep cliff wall that juts </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">upward </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">abruptly a few thousand feet. Mark spotted a couple snowy white mountain goats lounging on some steep scree at the toe of the cliff, far above. <br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEics18s13SGoUWLE-UQxT7n9LujPdvjJOb_4HG6VNz2udmgMwJ3c7kKbQ4L3NeSGpLOFHvBiTW0Izk8CQJOSM5c0_HLP8Y9apuSw40jWLtl2cjmwBqr2kIva1LpGf_yci5Ooue5m5yRLkk/s2048/IMGP1079c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1382" data-original-width="2048" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEics18s13SGoUWLE-UQxT7n9LujPdvjJOb_4HG6VNz2udmgMwJ3c7kKbQ4L3NeSGpLOFHvBiTW0Izk8CQJOSM5c0_HLP8Y9apuSw40jWLtl2cjmwBqr2kIva1LpGf_yci5Ooue5m5yRLkk/w640-h432/IMGP1079c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>No Name Lake</span></span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We'd been warned to be on the lookout for grizzly bears and carried bear spray wherever we went. So when we heard a loud <i>huff</i> and something crashing through the brush coming our direction, I got a quick rush of adrenaline. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Soon two BIG moose came trotting toward us and then split around the three of us standing close together, passing within less than 10 feet on either side. These beasts can do serious harm if annoyed, so we (outwardly) kept calm.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZayPWeEsFWgPSMk5OXb1RGPbpfHdBGUfXP1bpKAlSRixFliSupudBoc-Ra9HxllGJkoJdFR9FmJ1gd1YbVYS90mKahJP5OA3bwFYC5xFW5V93Wg4ET-t7EUyuCtuLYvDRu2UtxqVBnA/s2048/IMGP1091c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1502" data-original-width="2048" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZayPWeEsFWgPSMk5OXb1RGPbpfHdBGUfXP1bpKAlSRixFliSupudBoc-Ra9HxllGJkoJdFR9FmJ1gd1YbVYS90mKahJP5OA3bwFYC5xFW5V93Wg4ET-t7EUyuCtuLYvDRu2UtxqVBnA/w640-h470/IMGP1091c.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After dinner when we were sitting on the beach at the lake, fellow campers Maggie and Rowan yelled to us that the moose were headed our way (four of them this time). I looked up to see a moose headed right toward me about 20 feet away, so we quickly scrambled sideways and back to camp, keeping an eye on them the whole way.</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9fYds5Z1I4fWlskYsUt5stN-IA6vQG0iI4hNw9HX-ckErfaAPkofwhBf3qko3AKyyLpYLMPRizjQFVtDk13XjLkVtljcDVwlR1NPDiRRzJY15-0P-XcsXDDvVhwAhDn6XjrAfFGkgIA/s2048/IMGP1102c.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1356" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9fYds5Z1I4fWlskYsUt5stN-IA6vQG0iI4hNw9HX-ckErfaAPkofwhBf3qko3AKyyLpYLMPRizjQFVtDk13XjLkVtljcDVwlR1NPDiRRzJY15-0P-XcsXDDvVhwAhDn6XjrAfFGkgIA/w424-h640/IMGP1102c.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I lay in my tent at night after dark trying to fall asleep, I heard moose thrashing about loudly in the brush, getting closer and closer. </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was cool to hear the clacking of their antlers together as they jousted, but I really couldn't sleep until they wandered away. Then I slept a good sleep in all that mountain fresh air (thanks in part to a light warm sleeping bag and inflatable mattress).</span></span></span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the early light the next morning, the cliff behind the lake glowed pink as the sun was rising, and I scrambled out to snap a few shots.</span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After a quick breakfast and packing up, we set off for what would be a much longer, more dramatic day ahead. You can <a href="https://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2021/09/hiking-glacier-national-park-dawson_17.html">read the second post here</a> to join us as we hike up to Dawson and Pitamakin Passes.<br /></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i></p><p><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;"></span></i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnuWF4uIyfnAW5f-x_wChNn5Us7Y3BRWB0RlrYJIfT0YBATKkcJ_AYBjLFKqFkIALAgnlHCBvEX5myWbpRzUjT7i2Im6eO2rEemai9qNH9V4ik12J0lBl9BMnMjcX2ziJRpeUF3eKxg8/s2048/IMGP1084c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1351" data-original-width="2048" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnuWF4uIyfnAW5f-x_wChNn5Us7Y3BRWB0RlrYJIfT0YBATKkcJ_AYBjLFKqFkIALAgnlHCBvEX5myWbpRzUjT7i2Im6eO2rEemai9qNH9V4ik12J0lBl9BMnMjcX2ziJRpeUF3eKxg8/w640-h422/IMGP1084c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Colorful stones and a hint of autumn at No Name Lake</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;"><br /> </span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> </span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span> <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><br /></p><br />jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-17047979002015658152021-07-07T10:17:00.005-07:002022-10-25T11:26:19.793-07:00Wild Swimming in Seattle<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguR2O6qPvu9eecxLOi5y0Ci8RrCQ8GDpgUQBxtz8tn9Fzr_6Fo48VHezW9B1gt4yixJLhbgzBZxW9g7lKzCuIU__Va-Gt9VuFVz7gaEEvoMTXOF8fRCx9-o0DzhDUBEfv_HlTWDrDu-K4/s1043/FB_IMG_1592796344390.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="1043" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguR2O6qPvu9eecxLOi5y0Ci8RrCQ8GDpgUQBxtz8tn9Fzr_6Fo48VHezW9B1gt4yixJLhbgzBZxW9g7lKzCuIU__Va-Gt9VuFVz7gaEEvoMTXOF8fRCx9-o0DzhDUBEfv_HlTWDrDu-K4/w640-h454/FB_IMG_1592796344390.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">My new passion started as a polar bear-style plunge, a quick dip in and out of the chilly sea near my home.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Inspired by a friend who was doing plunges and posting about it on FaceBook, I decided to join her in late January 2020. (I was also inspired by <a href="https://vimeo.com/310618702">this lovely British film </a>by Hannah Maia.)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When it's 47 degrees </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">F<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">°</span> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">outside and the water is even colder, a plunge is an instant wake-up. I'M HERE, IT'S COLD,<i> </i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">AND</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> I MUST <i>MOVE</i>! <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Despite the cold, I quickly got hooked on that bracing sense of exhilaration, that feeling that you've done something epic after swimming in the sea, even if just a few strokes.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnNz1hbXBzwzLUaZe0wKxq3_vxOj0ZP9xyJPbmr3rcpCxhnZDImm0wHvRbMGoMsIqyAkOxW-5_V4nf-B9hENBNi7v8R0_i98p-_BNwBkEZo119ez8qO55RdmUxXE3RWaiRHkjX0q6_P4/s707/polar+plunge+2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="685" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnNz1hbXBzwzLUaZe0wKxq3_vxOj0ZP9xyJPbmr3rcpCxhnZDImm0wHvRbMGoMsIqyAkOxW-5_V4nf-B9hENBNi7v8R0_i98p-_BNwBkEZo119ez8qO55RdmUxXE3RWaiRHkjX0q6_P4/w621-h640/polar+plunge+2.jpg" width="621" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span>The very first plunge. January 2020.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So I started going almost every week, and sometimes a good friend joined me. Despite wind and waves, we'd wade out to waist deep water, then plunge in and swim in a circle and back to shore. My very slender friend Maryann, who has much less natural insulation than I do, somehow managed to stay in longer every time.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxOxjXnwBDDp3l_uqIAoMP2NhDfvZEOkERzVwb9e8Eoq6Du9o37XVS9udWeQPYr6WMEPDEkWNeZnjoJatZPpA6WnmUlRM9ac6Hub3e6cmJSZNAQfcFZL4oqik3hsOYJH1ahRGIIEcT60/s1218/March+1+plunge+GG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="985" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxOxjXnwBDDp3l_uqIAoMP2NhDfvZEOkERzVwb9e8Eoq6Du9o37XVS9udWeQPYr6WMEPDEkWNeZnjoJatZPpA6WnmUlRM9ac6Hub3e6cmJSZNAQfcFZL4oqik3hsOYJH1ahRGIIEcT60/w518-h640/March+1+plunge+GG.jpg" width="518" /></a></div></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Come March, when the world started going sideways and the pandemic lockdown started, this weekly ritual became even more important. It provided a sense of outdoors adventure and excitement when we were told stay home except for shopping for essentials.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last spring, these weekly plunges became a vestige of normalcy. On nice days, Maryann and I would sit on the beach (distanced) and enjoyed the warmth and sunshine before and after. Often we would stop and get hot tea and a scone afterwards at <a href="https://www.mirisgoldengardens.com/">Miri's</a>, the little cafe on the beach at Golden Gardens.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmlXioSq37S8GURwGnor4Nvew7xmyb_5YbnfMnO1fEVDLf3xykzwWIFTjIJEgHwj_6bzqpZdZTtQfuMNfWFr0u2KZIuR-6zf3uNs_t_JSkGiDmD8QP5FPZH9kaXB9WYsyUF5vEM0xse8/s1793/IMGP4296c.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="1793" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmlXioSq37S8GURwGnor4Nvew7xmyb_5YbnfMnO1fEVDLf3xykzwWIFTjIJEgHwj_6bzqpZdZTtQfuMNfWFr0u2KZIuR-6zf3uNs_t_JSkGiDmD8QP5FPZH9kaXB9WYsyUF5vEM0xse8/w640-h398/IMGP4296c.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Surveying the sea, getting ready to swim</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> A few times we went over to Lake Washington, which was somewhat warmer. In the summer, with swimming pools still closed, it was heavenly to swim, like <i>really </i>swim, in the pleasantly cool lake.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4q3PfOz0efqNOHVw2VQitdZvo7w3VsGSF5tcf3qPnAhk2Mn9OgYzaRBQIXbeiVE2fTi1hzRw-Lie1i_KWyIq0-2gPtllwRNvEEHC_4Ja4NF_YAdFSB0Cg3K1o1kHsgcpGyNActZOd3Mg/s2048/IMGP3291c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1475" data-original-width="2048" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4q3PfOz0efqNOHVw2VQitdZvo7w3VsGSF5tcf3qPnAhk2Mn9OgYzaRBQIXbeiVE2fTi1hzRw-Lie1i_KWyIq0-2gPtllwRNvEEHC_4Ja4NF_YAdFSB0Cg3K1o1kHsgcpGyNActZOd3Mg/w400-h288/IMGP3291c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">As the year progressed, sometimes I'd miss a few weeks here and there, but getting back out there got my juices going again. Last summer, we went over to Bainbridge Island for a plunge, with a view back across to Seattle. I started shooting short little videos that I dropped on YouTube (Bainbridge below):<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T1fgOA09G58" width="320" youtube-src-id="T1fgOA09G58"></iframe></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Earlier this year, after noticing a big group of much more hard-core swimmers than us on the beach, we went up to ask them about how they do it. As we approached, I heard "Jill!" (my name). It was long-time neighbors who live across the street. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">They started a little after us last year, and their group has ballooned to sometimes 25 swimmers, <i>real</i> swimmers, most with wetsuits and floats, who swim for 30 minutes or more (see the video below).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hKBjzEnmPrs" width="320" youtube-src-id="hKBjzEnmPrs"></iframe></div> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">So now I'm teetering on the verge of becoming a true open water swimmer. I'm slowly upping my time in the water each week. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But it's still baby steps. An exception was a couple days ago, when I stayed in almost 15 minutes (video below). The infamous "heat dome" that lingered over the Pacific Northwest raised the Puget Sound water temperatures near the surface to well over 60 degrees (in the winter and spring, it's in the 40s).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WtObSSf8apg" width="320" youtube-src-id="WtObSSf8apg"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">While <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/behold-the-intrepid-open-water-swimmers-of-alki-beach-who-brave-seattles-winter-temps-to-train-year-round/">Seattle is known for having some world class open water swimmers</a>, I'd like to up my game. Besides the challenge and camaraderie, "wild swimming" offers <a href="https://www.realbuzz.com/articles-interests/swimming/article/top-10-reasons-to-take-up-open-water-swimming/">a host of health benefits</a>.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXOZWCtlq6fdkmQMnvu5T6yLmpartNrm9e36q9oq9o74K66na_wE0Z3Ra6X125DKlM6pCRtF852e_C8eDkcKE1TbRiJQXfdf6OafHNzDSiAdq-YtUuRoEr8EBhFtSRO5xdRTtD25NPno/s2048/20210516_103001.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1513" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXOZWCtlq6fdkmQMnvu5T6yLmpartNrm9e36q9oq9o74K66na_wE0Z3Ra6X125DKlM6pCRtF852e_C8eDkcKE1TbRiJQXfdf6OafHNzDSiAdq-YtUuRoEr8EBhFtSRO5xdRTtD25NPno/s320/20210516_103001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">So we'll see. It's still daunting and a bit scary to me. I don't aspire to swim across Puget Sound from, say, West Seattle to Bremerton like some do. But every increase brings a sense of accomplishment and, dare I say, well-being.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">How about you? Have you done any serious open water swimming or even just plunges?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><p><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p></div>jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-47752155211927208542021-05-10T21:58:00.011-07:002021-05-13T21:21:00.505-07:00Mourning the Loss of a Secret Garden<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGS9_-HbX0cn6-UsAGg7VFvUr3NF5W4bq1WOXjRc5StAsyYEm8SF7f3LHOpF0hMj6BvjSb2ef7CQcjVIqON6gUNhcBYsRxjc9IW986MNh0KuCno-hmnOBMtYClrB_b-MAeA24eOYtsCZU/s640/IMGP9844+%25282%2529.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="640" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGS9_-HbX0cn6-UsAGg7VFvUr3NF5W4bq1WOXjRc5StAsyYEm8SF7f3LHOpF0hMj6BvjSb2ef7CQcjVIqON6gUNhcBYsRxjc9IW986MNh0KuCno-hmnOBMtYClrB_b-MAeA24eOYtsCZU/w640-h414/IMGP9844+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last spring when I started walking more around my corner of northwest Seattle, I first noticed the sign in front of a lush wooded lot: </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Notice of Proposed Land Use Action."</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've seen a lot of these signs around Seattle the last few years, as the city rezones single-family residential areas to allow multi-story, multi-family buildings. With our shortage of housing and the City's push to increase density, many homes with spacious, landscaped yards are being demolished and scraped bare to make room for big boxes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This particular sign showed the whole south end of the block being torn down (three homes) and replaced with a multi-story building extending to the proposed sidewalk. There wasn't a tree in sight on the proposed development sketch.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My stomach churned in dismay at the impending loss of the gorgeously landscaped lot on one corner, where a charming small house with a Japanese flair sat surrounded by a variety of beautiful, vigorous trees and happy, healthy shrubs like rhododendron and Oregon grape.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvzcF3yBLIpOjuv9Hd53kvhMYVS33UsjonAePfrAWhsIDh0bgm2yRO-_RzBX8vwus7fYpciNYRIr98CQMG0vqqC120A8R-g4Ks4d_3qhYsf86xHvqD0Ypncyr8HC54FBfl5tfZzj8dNw/s2538/IMGP9853+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1239" data-original-width="2538" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvzcF3yBLIpOjuv9Hd53kvhMYVS33UsjonAePfrAWhsIDh0bgm2yRO-_RzBX8vwus7fYpciNYRIr98CQMG0vqqC120A8R-g4Ks4d_3qhYsf86xHvqD0Ypncyr8HC54FBfl5tfZzj8dNw/w640-h312/IMGP9853+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">With the pandemic lockdown, the plans hit pause, and I often walked past that home with an increasing appreciation for the time and care the owners took cultivating such a sweet woodland in a built-out neighborhood.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uf7hyphenhyphen3gVHkJvu9d8dL6BFQH2QXWBLYhfRXL19XBbW6V6baqntDdCYhJpWwJqkB2Afno5epIWBMOllqTG5tsUG5koEFfdMJOnTHonIeaHwBO9hyphenhyphenJbfDfjW6OLVIwUmlNK3rCNdyKirkI/s2048/IMGP9820+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1361" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uf7hyphenhyphen3gVHkJvu9d8dL6BFQH2QXWBLYhfRXL19XBbW6V6baqntDdCYhJpWwJqkB2Afno5epIWBMOllqTG5tsUG5koEFfdMJOnTHonIeaHwBO9hyphenhyphenJbfDfjW6OLVIwUmlNK3rCNdyKirkI/w640-h426/IMGP9820+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWFWHZ7uUcziGCaF__aYjuZpG3JnZISJqwcYAXzI2Ukw2lzZemhfwk4D0_OcEdD5OsdCiyscRQyAlXrM0qtzU0g4oEZcW3Cwe2QP0azeW8RmnVeGg4dGBbZR4xdjzm68a2EiWn1CILFQ/s2048/IMGP9849+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWFWHZ7uUcziGCaF__aYjuZpG3JnZISJqwcYAXzI2Ukw2lzZemhfwk4D0_OcEdD5OsdCiyscRQyAlXrM0qtzU0g4oEZcW3Cwe2QP0azeW8RmnVeGg4dGBbZR4xdjzm68a2EiWn1CILFQ/w640-h418/IMGP9849+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>A<span style="font-family: verdana;">nd so a year passed, with many trips walking past this treasure, and nothing happened.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Within the last few months, however, the sign finally came down and the house started to look uninhabited. A few plants and trees started to disappear, and the yard began to look less than its meticulously cared for best. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A few weeks ago, after staying away for a few days, when I returned and saw the devastation, I was shocked. The huge laurel hedge and house at the west side of the block were demolished into a scorched earth war-like zone of dirt, jagged pieces of wood, and smashed bricks. The little Japanese house was also gone, with just a pile of rubble remaining.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But the woodland out front remained intact, for the moment. With the house gone, my walking partner and I scrambled over the bank and into an enchanted glen of native plants, shrubs, and lovely mixed trees.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGBlpDqL6lw0u8MbiWHO4hTZ0N3jkLdugb_EC9jySYyToOOR1RV9oTkbDPvE1u7RUqtAAEFQdMhLR3tsRe7cPJ6rZdJ2tqfDqT3Pd3s6y2TyxeDlYfEJ0C7tF4W4Gu9Zffp87or9Czcc/s2048/IMGP9803+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1376" data-original-width="2048" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGBlpDqL6lw0u8MbiWHO4hTZ0N3jkLdugb_EC9jySYyToOOR1RV9oTkbDPvE1u7RUqtAAEFQdMhLR3tsRe7cPJ6rZdJ2tqfDqT3Pd3s6y2TyxeDlYfEJ0C7tF4W4Gu9Zffp87or9Czcc/w640-h430/IMGP9803+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oUJFoMPf-4G6T84Gc2YwoGDCLzBbF5f-Fq07iC3k8ktpjTp9XinfYdKq0ePldvszof_5wZSzCp_x7KnsilZixnf2mkAmtUa3Z8fwA9nCa68Cegi11x8suwgqSrzt7jFDUim_cH8s3Ss/s2048/IMGP9798.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="2048" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oUJFoMPf-4G6T84Gc2YwoGDCLzBbF5f-Fq07iC3k8ktpjTp9XinfYdKq0ePldvszof_5wZSzCp_x7KnsilZixnf2mkAmtUa3Z8fwA9nCa68Cegi11x8suwgqSrzt7jFDUim_cH8s3Ss/w640-h422/IMGP9798.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XCshMsfCFN9RSYxBca5JonETkMnhVrAmN8VYyuKZBuYqKV4YGTHkJ_97uZZJuGKS3SwFtdq-jQ6WUEqkuXz_FoGbd2fzOrBMQrXwmN5CmLRqVa0IZ-EWAgxSxNGyXOUqD04-ZaRKyJQ/s2048/IMGP9345.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XCshMsfCFN9RSYxBca5JonETkMnhVrAmN8VYyuKZBuYqKV4YGTHkJ_97uZZJuGKS3SwFtdq-jQ6WUEqkuXz_FoGbd2fzOrBMQrXwmN5CmLRqVa0IZ-EWAgxSxNGyXOUqD04-ZaRKyJQ/w640-h426/IMGP9345.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I stepped into what felt like a secret garden, with native wood sorrel and delicate purple woodland violets scattered around carefully placed stones and the base of trees.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This little glen felt surprisingly private and rich, just across the street from a playfield. With sun filtering through the newly leafed out Japanese maples and evergreens, I breathed in the rich scent of mature forest.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_ICTYsBgFaP1vhtj99hYO6qAAQHlKZlDxGuH3oeVvn7CmRxplpV09M5E2-JVEDW3RmHGxJLZSJ4tPhE6mhl7IEHCoipm_R2z5Yfa-zi0_hj2Fagps9nNobaSJrd7s2LNf8ImET_X2zA/s2048/IMGP9815.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1381" data-original-width="2048" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_ICTYsBgFaP1vhtj99hYO6qAAQHlKZlDxGuH3oeVvn7CmRxplpV09M5E2-JVEDW3RmHGxJLZSJ4tPhE6mhl7IEHCoipm_R2z5Yfa-zi0_hj2Fagps9nNobaSJrd7s2LNf8ImET_X2zA/w640-h432/IMGP9815.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0a1due9sq9RohZMwJbKb-iYq-1KhUp_GevLTP7kZkLwk-vu1cnEIJ1Dc-k_Fa5aSIwAoF9IOypgYU-4eQekNkxKJ5R9GyZBlEf7r8elmlQxMQfd4WRvDf1AkOB8NbN557RFILV51vug/s2048/IMGP9787.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0a1due9sq9RohZMwJbKb-iYq-1KhUp_GevLTP7kZkLwk-vu1cnEIJ1Dc-k_Fa5aSIwAoF9IOypgYU-4eQekNkxKJ5R9GyZBlEf7r8elmlQxMQfd4WRvDf1AkOB8NbN557RFILV51vug/w640-h424/IMGP9787.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">My friend Lynette brought her clippers, and got some greenery for the beautiful wreaths she makes. I came back a day later (they weren't working the weekend there) with a few pots and trowel and dug up some wood sorrel and violets to take home, to spare them the crush of the tractors.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Before I stepped inside the glen, I paused and watched a hummingbird hovering and flitting around in there. As I stood in the glen, I found myself touching the trees, calling each one sister. It pained me to see such spring brilliance, with fresh shoots coming out of the evergreens, Japanese maple leaves unfurling, and lovely blossoms, knowing very soon their lives would be destroyed.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6qUtoj1kKlSWAlJF7XWR9Y8Ct3Dz2EQjJ7PR_6tApu2vWgZX6BCQfMi-hDHHY_J-ew5bywt6bpt_Wpn4lwR7badTqkZmUaAWSD5FM1bmxWGam8c8ZMjGT_XRcs0-D7R5lpJ8GdkFzrM/s2048/IMGP9810+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6qUtoj1kKlSWAlJF7XWR9Y8Ct3Dz2EQjJ7PR_6tApu2vWgZX6BCQfMi-hDHHY_J-ew5bywt6bpt_Wpn4lwR7badTqkZmUaAWSD5FM1bmxWGam8c8ZMjGT_XRcs0-D7R5lpJ8GdkFzrM/w640-h424/IMGP9810+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAojnND4gaWMCFnzWaEKrSmkhgawl6G92COn0jsdkkOaRrD0VaDTTk5dD0eQacEBg8lFeRKqS0PIdcGeNmz8ltZm2TjvXlvzman79JsMiuy84OSuMc8uLGS8bp8NlmiQaL-_maGL1lpZs/s2048/IMGP9861.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAojnND4gaWMCFnzWaEKrSmkhgawl6G92COn0jsdkkOaRrD0VaDTTk5dD0eQacEBg8lFeRKqS0PIdcGeNmz8ltZm2TjvXlvzman79JsMiuy84OSuMc8uLGS8bp8NlmiQaL-_maGL1lpZs/w640-h424/IMGP9861.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">It brought back sorrowful feelings of a few months earlier, when I made the appointment for a vet to come to my home to put my Tashi cat to rest, although in that instance we were ending her suffering from end-stage kidney failure. She didn't know the fate that was soon to befall her. In this instance, these trees were healthy and vibrant with the promise of spring, likely not cognizant of their impending demise.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBQYmE5WbxO9YD3KGS85-swRAOTayZVtsLhArHlPh4F7FD5_4X0KC0ogiWKA93Dan9fLiXIZfMcGaCpdHUWhb18iGamZlK5Mdev_mMspsldx4UPStJEKxAlWgq24dTImDXtlCSWRTIRM/s2048/IMGP9808+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1412" data-original-width="2048" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBQYmE5WbxO9YD3KGS85-swRAOTayZVtsLhArHlPh4F7FD5_4X0KC0ogiWKA93Dan9fLiXIZfMcGaCpdHUWhb18iGamZlK5Mdev_mMspsldx4UPStJEKxAlWgq24dTImDXtlCSWRTIRM/w640-h442/IMGP9808+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXufpN9QUrRO52nf8tO7s9kAr2AnlYkp-esWMe8Xar8iXhBKfjYo840IsNbQQo1eY5PB_fpduHFI37x63OMt_gubbys8OvzIz3BZ_TgEXz3F-7CL-IfMjLuswcvbU_pEiCi8m_knlGi4/s2048/IMGP9812.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1348" data-original-width="2048" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXufpN9QUrRO52nf8tO7s9kAr2AnlYkp-esWMe8Xar8iXhBKfjYo840IsNbQQo1eY5PB_fpduHFI37x63OMt_gubbys8OvzIz3BZ_TgEXz3F-7CL-IfMjLuswcvbU_pEiCi8m_knlGi4/w640-h422/IMGP9812.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was dreading walking by and seeing all this gone, but each day for a week the glen remained intact. Maybe the developers saw the value in retaining these mature trees and a well-tended landscape; perhaps they would keep them as an asset to work into their development plans.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The next Monday I got a text from Lynette, telling me they had taken our garden. While I thought I couldn't bear to see it, I made myself walk over there to record what I saw, which was pretty darn sad. It made me feel numb.<br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMZBCW6WfvB8mjuzOakmwqTh4n_7qns_T9nLFPF7cpzi3DHzwpsC7yIz_7G1R28dst1iUVIbuqN3gpYH2nnfuUH56xfz32Kbk-d3dAFDfz8IsWhi41I7_UIlHrIbXaOQPbKozOlUvbU4/s2048/DSC05514c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMZBCW6WfvB8mjuzOakmwqTh4n_7qns_T9nLFPF7cpzi3DHzwpsC7yIz_7G1R28dst1iUVIbuqN3gpYH2nnfuUH56xfz32Kbk-d3dAFDfz8IsWhi41I7_UIlHrIbXaOQPbKozOlUvbU4/w640-h424/DSC05514c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWEWsomGEaCRxBwE7dHL_jWY3z8leTRQoHcKEizU83rQW9PDB0LVlluL2FVdufDTdoiOcV83GhRGK55nkDj5ewSFIzvalsRw6w6p4oWwDXm62J1pkDdRa42Wkpkll5CxBHLJsr00Ta-U/s2048/DSC05516c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1388" data-original-width="2048" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWEWsomGEaCRxBwE7dHL_jWY3z8leTRQoHcKEizU83rQW9PDB0LVlluL2FVdufDTdoiOcV83GhRGK55nkDj5ewSFIzvalsRw6w6p4oWwDXm62J1pkDdRa42Wkpkll5CxBHLJsr00Ta-U/w640-h434/DSC05516c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I snapped a few shots and walked away. I haven't looked at it since. Fred, who tends the community garden across the street, said they found empty bird nests amidst the trashed landscape. No one in the neighborhood is happy about it.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I do realize the irony of this European American, whose </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">nearby</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> home sits on what was lush forest land not much more than a century ago, bemoaning the loss of a mid-20th century garden. My ancestors came to this area over 150 years ago and were likely involved in the massive destruction/filling of the tidal estuary between West Seattle and present-day downtown.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwW191GwrF9rMaUa1e5IvT1aI-oMJ7cwDMs-mM_G7su-jYXKU6fjfjC9HaqiVsKctyYnEuHD6IWvbMjcXNrJuy5ls4ZZF-Jxy4Kcb-NkEG98L9gGt9EP7UTlWTYvAz49KcGmM5loDE2PY/s2048/IMGP9827+%25282%2529.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1429" data-original-width="2048" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwW191GwrF9rMaUa1e5IvT1aI-oMJ7cwDMs-mM_G7su-jYXKU6fjfjC9HaqiVsKctyYnEuHD6IWvbMjcXNrJuy5ls4ZZF-Jxy4Kcb-NkEG98L9gGt9EP7UTlWTYvAz49KcGmM5loDE2PY/w400-h279/IMGP9827+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But still, trees are important for the health of our climate, our birds, our wildlife, and, yes, people. The City of Seattle has some <a href="http://www.seattle.gov/sdci/codes/codes-we-enforce-(a-z)/tree-protection-code">tree protection ordinances</a>, but nothing that would have saved this little lot. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think it's a shame. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Shame on the City for not providing more oversight and regulations to save a wonderful woodland, however small, that provided valuable habitat for birds and such. Shame on the developers for not adjusting their plans, for not sacrificing a little $$ for the sake of saving a restorative woodland that would have been wonderful for the new residents and important for the birds who nested there. Shame on us all for allowing the continued loss of green space and trees in our city and region.<br /></span></p><p><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p></p><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div>jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-62697434006702466862021-03-28T23:23:00.012-07:002021-09-15T14:47:01.576-07:00Gnomes, Art, and Garden Treasures: Walking Seattle Neighborhoods<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTndHR0mpbCK4i812kJ55nrzH3VliR5wqA5woBiaeAP6FhpTHfxcB1B7YBCWGtMlSldezrIyHSlmbGc707n6BiHQmCkNM-BQZjakHBcJvJtPui67P_yLztVJp2NGi8TdFv8x7EVn8IP4/s2048/IMGP9753.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1418" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTndHR0mpbCK4i812kJ55nrzH3VliR5wqA5woBiaeAP6FhpTHfxcB1B7YBCWGtMlSldezrIyHSlmbGc707n6BiHQmCkNM-BQZjakHBcJvJtPui67P_yLztVJp2NGi8TdFv8x7EVn8IP4/w444-h640/IMGP9753.JPG" width="444" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Since I've been walking my corner of Seattle much more in the last year, I'm discovering a whimsical side of my city.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lately I've started approaching my walks as a treasure hunt. I look closely in yards and gardens I pass for the quirky, the art, and of course the ubiquitous gnomes. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: verdana;">Seattleites love their gardens. With 75 percent of its residential land zoned for single-family homes (which BTW is now controversial with our growing population and affordability issues), there are a lot of sweet, tiny, and spacious yards to pass.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: verdana;">While some zoning is switching from single family to more dense development, with a loss of landscaping, plenty of yards and gardens persist, for now.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: verdana;">For starters, I'm seeing a lot more painted rocks, some with messages of encouragement, placed carefully in rockeries, parking strips, and even drainage swales.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCF2Z1tSgyMWxdoJ5KVovHrT7PA119aj7WPL_5AOkqHCP4fshw01lSBSMdtfQYf1JoA0ketKcYxYbOM-UOVYvRbkAnNpJPFuaRE5su1aAaVQ3gwOuhEuRrgiDMufeSu-ydLipPkXvQz8/s2048/IMGP9915.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCF2Z1tSgyMWxdoJ5KVovHrT7PA119aj7WPL_5AOkqHCP4fshw01lSBSMdtfQYf1JoA0ketKcYxYbOM-UOVYvRbkAnNpJPFuaRE5su1aAaVQ3gwOuhEuRrgiDMufeSu-ydLipPkXvQz8/w640-h424/IMGP9915.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQWxWPAJqwI1zqWvb-QIuv5rZV7YhzWpUeavcESH7Kq5-STvCB4efEYARwAJ_KtZ7p0uvQK1-TlfLGoU72vQg4n36VJtM6Wqcb-Clfd-yI4TVFL7dQGXTXj6lpEH7DJIOC5BaDpivhTM/s2048/IMGP9919.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQWxWPAJqwI1zqWvb-QIuv5rZV7YhzWpUeavcESH7Kq5-STvCB4efEYARwAJ_KtZ7p0uvQK1-TlfLGoU72vQg4n36VJtM6Wqcb-Clfd-yI4TVFL7dQGXTXj6lpEH7DJIOC5BaDpivhTM/w640-h424/IMGP9919.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>And then there are little surprises sometimes when you look down at the ground.</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjp8d5A9V6X7FKNILsT_BVfJ9CNTN1LrS7o8qGymp7QtNJ3GidJEswz85QxQEsp08lTtE6SPTH42PjfWzZTweXlCJht_mgQyx6Ch_2Ac8bX5YfJcynm1d0Xn-Br21HPlEXviTXbPPioDs/s2048/IMGP9748.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="2048" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjp8d5A9V6X7FKNILsT_BVfJ9CNTN1LrS7o8qGymp7QtNJ3GidJEswz85QxQEsp08lTtE6SPTH42PjfWzZTweXlCJht_mgQyx6Ch_2Ac8bX5YfJcynm1d0Xn-Br21HPlEXviTXbPPioDs/w640-h436/IMGP9748.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwsclfSY3n788yqcC90GOBehGvc45o8tKXe_XAbIXveb0E5hb88fuu3VBhxU3qxr1L64ePg44-RtVSGWFUtwVZpalE_eHbjuBNLuD1_pLsaWfq92ke0zIOuD2t6SX7qAKEj8xf76nIqQ/s2048/IMGP9761.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwsclfSY3n788yqcC90GOBehGvc45o8tKXe_XAbIXveb0E5hb88fuu3VBhxU3qxr1L64ePg44-RtVSGWFUtwVZpalE_eHbjuBNLuD1_pLsaWfq92ke0zIOuD2t6SX7qAKEj8xf76nIqQ/w640-h424/IMGP9761.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Fence art and decorative gates are one of my favorite things to spot. I love that this niche is giving some artists work. The gorgeous sunflower gate below appears to be hand-carved.</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbww59-QhdXBGw_7mR9Z0ADLE-ai6goavkaEaHUeQCvYZSxqSAsZbioKzCYt8oVdHywwZN4SOi3KQzYYc61v4V73wbiVxZn6RWTjCmbLQz0vS28j_qEeQzepPvFogFL7V018It8OI7GOM/s2048/IMGP0002+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbww59-QhdXBGw_7mR9Z0ADLE-ai6goavkaEaHUeQCvYZSxqSAsZbioKzCYt8oVdHywwZN4SOi3KQzYYc61v4V73wbiVxZn6RWTjCmbLQz0vS28j_qEeQzepPvFogFL7V018It8OI7GOM/w640-h424/IMGP0002+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQ0nagsG52z9EQAxqwMwp26Z4xY16maUxDwB3C80eI6Dl54b4LcDA1MobOJcjUKBSoW9i4uk2gtVkfMSmGfEuhpiyUfWHQCeO8kgGVOwdxy0onMAY4CgA4vQu4DeOz8flaxW0p3b9WQU/s2048/IMGP9407+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQ0nagsG52z9EQAxqwMwp26Z4xY16maUxDwB3C80eI6Dl54b4LcDA1MobOJcjUKBSoW9i4uk2gtVkfMSmGfEuhpiyUfWHQCeO8kgGVOwdxy0onMAY4CgA4vQu4DeOz8flaxW0p3b9WQU/w640-h424/IMGP9407+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: verdana;">One corner home/yard I passed last week was full of Easter eggs scattered about and hanging from trees, along with various other bits of garden art, like an old sink repurposed as a (dried up) frog pond. They even had a little machine set up on steps beside the sidewalk that pumps out bubbles as you pass by. </span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh494ewnb0b52BzVZxHsrBQKZMQBcQAazHdMJ8RVVwZYt9co2i-IhXqncqNhGhUH548YrjIv6xdqqlDV1gnKYP3oeJknC24i4L26u8ZIjz-q23WtJSxwqJ8wqs0giYyr_hCSxv-28uiO08/s2048/IMGP0030+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1378" data-original-width="2048" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh494ewnb0b52BzVZxHsrBQKZMQBcQAazHdMJ8RVVwZYt9co2i-IhXqncqNhGhUH548YrjIv6xdqqlDV1gnKYP3oeJknC24i4L26u8ZIjz-q23WtJSxwqJ8wqs0giYyr_hCSxv-28uiO08/w640-h430/IMGP0030+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: verdana;">I think I would like whomever lives there.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRvqs6Wgomaxd-NSecWlJae6iYOVkwftoB5VWsEYJ5X10fVOZ3okrVd0pvIXzxQyICDD8vQLZijuuAKandhJ_yk2LLSRZyV0U-ISNypy5e8C0U1sE5j-awA9uI7ht8El_Mt1NkzdZxiE/s2048/IMGP0014+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRvqs6Wgomaxd-NSecWlJae6iYOVkwftoB5VWsEYJ5X10fVOZ3okrVd0pvIXzxQyICDD8vQLZijuuAKandhJ_yk2LLSRZyV0U-ISNypy5e8C0U1sE5j-awA9uI7ht8El_Mt1NkzdZxiE/w640-h424/IMGP0014+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: verdana;">After gnomes and Buddhas, frogs (or toads?) are pretty popular, like this chill guy and the pensive one below. He called me to stop and contemplate for a moment.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYzAiHhWelJ_2oM2n6WtyXvPk2hmeXQEQbzqK8t8sHnhoS6ZbF8swqnztE_EvM_jievds2x_k5WruQuHG9SdeeUe4Q8osqhyphenhyphenuSgR6TOXrdy43LxLkNhNRjUnUE5VohxirEGeIg8EbRY0/s2048/IMGP9376.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYzAiHhWelJ_2oM2n6WtyXvPk2hmeXQEQbzqK8t8sHnhoS6ZbF8swqnztE_EvM_jievds2x_k5WruQuHG9SdeeUe4Q8osqhyphenhyphenuSgR6TOXrdy43LxLkNhNRjUnUE5VohxirEGeIg8EbRY0/w640-h424/IMGP9376.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGajTcWtddCMdf6KXothlnaoBrQ-XJeyKurIWgbe2yqSoyRM0u3nefEmRq4Ti6JKgbObiFCFuxxm2oXBemexeQrc2Dwn2yn5ZcXWiKPK97OMaTM2sAGvhA6yONedlEbp6eVBgnTw3iGs/s2048/IMGP0017.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1356" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGajTcWtddCMdf6KXothlnaoBrQ-XJeyKurIWgbe2yqSoyRM0u3nefEmRq4Ti6JKgbObiFCFuxxm2oXBemexeQrc2Dwn2yn5ZcXWiKPK97OMaTM2sAGvhA6yONedlEbp6eVBgnTw3iGs/w424-h640/IMGP0017.JPG" width="424" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: verdana;">And yes, the gnomes. They call a bunch of crows a murder of crows. Do you know what a group of gnomes is called? (I don't, but I could easily make something up. A gaggle? A nonsense? Ah, some commenters below says it's a <i>donsey</i> of gnomes).</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRzGQ5Ax_NNgGq5SmqbsDHYfJDzrIsYo0FcxzAoEZhIEjRJCYBvUNpJ8BceJeJi1vRPzm8ZV-z0p9v33CBl_i1yKDWG3PYPAmGkRwCqGHBq10UXRaa3rXzuDlLdl9JE6E-_wxebeToZk/s2048/IMGP0036+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRzGQ5Ax_NNgGq5SmqbsDHYfJDzrIsYo0FcxzAoEZhIEjRJCYBvUNpJ8BceJeJi1vRPzm8ZV-z0p9v33CBl_i1yKDWG3PYPAmGkRwCqGHBq10UXRaa3rXzuDlLdl9JE6E-_wxebeToZk/w640-h424/IMGP0036+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: verdana;">My personal taste trends toward the Asian, which I find charming, a bit mysterious, and serene.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNK7H7SfLTVjt8jahbPKr7Q6Zktux-ZXcHdcDqSl75FREOsB1doEVqtjCpIPUZII55hYsn29JnL7wAyy9OVBeK3AP8xtof4DfhQubIMiezfps75qYu4j6oo9AYvTnO6p4Js9AutPxE9c/s2048/IMGP9383.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNK7H7SfLTVjt8jahbPKr7Q6Zktux-ZXcHdcDqSl75FREOsB1doEVqtjCpIPUZII55hYsn29JnL7wAyy9OVBeK3AP8xtof4DfhQubIMiezfps75qYu4j6oo9AYvTnO6p4Js9AutPxE9c/w640-h426/IMGP9383.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkUTo4WGrrNQWYtXkDa-4FhgU-fZhg3PTz2hYY6AkTgyxjoiViyG3FiAgLOWA0h-C96RPn7WCfaYD3FadFLnPLTFlWyElMKGZ6Ub4t-nLCVhFPEhsCA0qGWt9UnrM22l_JrD0RQ8mH04/s2048/IMGP9391+%25283%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1441" data-original-width="2048" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkUTo4WGrrNQWYtXkDa-4FhgU-fZhg3PTz2hYY6AkTgyxjoiViyG3FiAgLOWA0h-C96RPn7WCfaYD3FadFLnPLTFlWyElMKGZ6Ub4t-nLCVhFPEhsCA0qGWt9UnrM22l_JrD0RQ8mH04/w640-h450/IMGP9391+%25283%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmLkDIZFnuxqrzXEHvpiu3AqJc5E9s8X5caCN-fQfmxCmRB-qpnLbLvrvHIY9YETNoTu4o8oF1nOGX92SZ4SoIGY4y5lFngD537OGnKX_evkPdQ6FTcp1vIxhDwDXXUTe7aVBqp_bS_4/s2048/DSC05136.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="2048" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmLkDIZFnuxqrzXEHvpiu3AqJc5E9s8X5caCN-fQfmxCmRB-qpnLbLvrvHIY9YETNoTu4o8oF1nOGX92SZ4SoIGY4y5lFngD537OGnKX_evkPdQ6FTcp1vIxhDwDXXUTe7aVBqp_bS_4/w640-h438/DSC05136.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Buddha, created by a <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/thebuddhabuilder">Zen Master</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />This unique sculpture caught my eye yesterday. It looks like these three fish are swimming toward Puget Sound from up on the side of a modern box-style home.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSorxl30BTSuHBCbK3JhiSJdVfgmUc_d1HoaZvewJYwKNI8t8qllD01KAvDovl9BXf_wjpzB-iUecFumf9O0bGn-lHF0FgcS0tlW37h3PXRqcaRsWxghNGWuY0NLDe4Ine3JdXv9OJyO4/s2048/IMGP9395.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1303" data-original-width="2048" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSorxl30BTSuHBCbK3JhiSJdVfgmUc_d1HoaZvewJYwKNI8t8qllD01KAvDovl9BXf_wjpzB-iUecFumf9O0bGn-lHF0FgcS0tlW37h3PXRqcaRsWxghNGWuY0NLDe4Ine3JdXv9OJyO4/w640-h408/IMGP9395.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: verdana;">While the rush is on here to convert smaller houses with bigger yards to tear-down/rebuild big box houses (or apartments) with very little yard, I value the green spaces, the messy yards, the tidy yards, and the shrubs and trees that provide habitat for birds and urban wildlife. </span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: verdana;">And I especially appreciate those who take the care and time to add their own quirky, artistic touches to their landscape. I think I need to start looking for a home gnome to stash in my yard.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSFpY94l-x2JfaXrsPMpuguAFkhVInoJOmWU5BVKODUKpf7VrF6ZMFcNUwuPLRI3CeaQZjSIwgCYjkkSgYuZbrr_6O73qTa-Z79EGAgjLje6YB1bw9fB0IPIbpU6napaC7EbfTq9KDh4/s2048/IMGP9971.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1449" data-original-width="2048" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSFpY94l-x2JfaXrsPMpuguAFkhVInoJOmWU5BVKODUKpf7VrF6ZMFcNUwuPLRI3CeaQZjSIwgCYjkkSgYuZbrr_6O73qTa-Z79EGAgjLje6YB1bw9fB0IPIbpU6napaC7EbfTq9KDh4/w640-h452/IMGP9971.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not my gnome.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: verdana;">How about you? Do you have a yard with any unique art? Any gnomes or toads or decorative touches? Would love to hear in a comment below!</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2gaz_H_Yxv8reqTAWJ5FvjzYqUc5PEWh1FQOOYpQkQjZJf6aCF3jdLrfm4QDJAStpp08rk1hDXpsE8SaevM26pWS0eCN_vNRDg7ArBkA4M8xdWQ2ldZz7D5xZT1DBqj_kLxcobCJ-Nw/s2048/IMGP9397.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2gaz_H_Yxv8reqTAWJ5FvjzYqUc5PEWh1FQOOYpQkQjZJf6aCF3jdLrfm4QDJAStpp08rk1hDXpsE8SaevM26pWS0eCN_vNRDg7ArBkA4M8xdWQ2ldZz7D5xZT1DBqj_kLxcobCJ-Nw/w400-h265/IMGP9397.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><i style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><br /><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: PublicoText, Georgia, TimesNewRoman, Times New Roman, Times, Baskerville, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-15374145530152821512021-02-11T21:35:00.009-08:002021-09-15T14:47:19.854-07:00The Covid Food Chronicles<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-rX8Wz8BFW0UmKP1uJhQ5tTl13DnQWcKcSHlmUhRz8RnzfnMbXcJmO8250a0iQ5arGdz8mRiOTqavOFAQTNPHlx_RKL6f1mx7bSJLG7rJnHU3lkZZqgah0uAduRYfjTAd856fMNgGwc/s635/IMGP8818c+%25282%2529.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="635" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-rX8Wz8BFW0UmKP1uJhQ5tTl13DnQWcKcSHlmUhRz8RnzfnMbXcJmO8250a0iQ5arGdz8mRiOTqavOFAQTNPHlx_RKL6f1mx7bSJLG7rJnHU3lkZZqgah0uAduRYfjTAd856fMNgGwc/w640-h390/IMGP8818c+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Over a year has passed now since the first Covid-19 case was detected in my state (Washington), which was also the first recorded in the United States. I don't know about you, but I haven't eaten a meal inside a restaurant since March 12, 2020.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There's been <i>a lot</i> of cooking going on. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've also gotten numerous takeout meals to support some of my local, independent cafes, bakeshops, and restaurants as best I can. But the cooking has increased.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I know that I'm fortunate to have a home and enough money to eat healthfully and well, albeit not extravagantly. I recognized in my impoverished, liberal arts graduate twenties that one didn't need to be wealthy to eat just as well as someone of great affluence. (Can you say fresh from the garden? Or my friend Becky's caramel chocolate brownies?)</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2X1S-ArVYi0yxdShBRZBcXLQvmtwQDoR8-_8fuBh0z9qp13yXOP75JPMC-2gNsLzCuHaiRTOP8xlz8X4TaMdDYsHv8YPb5a1MkNQmK9p0nTmyUBGuZqe4c1FnS1QEve1AkQOPJEgK3w0/s400/IMG_0291.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="400" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2X1S-ArVYi0yxdShBRZBcXLQvmtwQDoR8-_8fuBh0z9qp13yXOP75JPMC-2gNsLzCuHaiRTOP8xlz8X4TaMdDYsHv8YPb5a1MkNQmK9p0nTmyUBGuZqe4c1FnS1QEve1AkQOPJEgK3w0/w640-h542/IMG_0291.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Initially, everything was closed during the first lockdown last March, with no takeout food at all. Out came my cookbooks, and I tried a classic <a href="https://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/cooking-basics/a-little-lore-on-americas-no-1-cookbook/">Better Homes & Gardens</a> American comfort food dish: tuna noodle casserole. I did what I could to lighten it up a bit (low-fat milk, less cheese, more veggies). </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRwEjp38zchhpYi6AEq08PMNtXoKPL3qY0wqVpXsmeuEPy7MTuXmpzaGnk-VyLoxRznQaSke1Yf8hQfq0UchJ0Yb3YlWyrtA_W6q_tTgNvrJl6UYtsD10qAW6PSEOufArerenslWQPvpA/s2048/IMGP4014c.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1314" data-original-width="2048" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRwEjp38zchhpYi6AEq08PMNtXoKPL3qY0wqVpXsmeuEPy7MTuXmpzaGnk-VyLoxRznQaSke1Yf8hQfq0UchJ0Yb3YlWyrtA_W6q_tTgNvrJl6UYtsD10qAW6PSEOufArerenslWQPvpA/w640-h410/IMGP4014c.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">My friend Matt, who was parked in my guest room for the first 3 months of the pandemic, raved about it, so it was a repeat dish. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Since no bakeries were open and I was cooking for someone else much taller and hungrier, I tried baking my <a href="http://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2011/03/have-you-ever-had-unforgettably.html">"Mock Croc" spicy chocolate chip cookies</a>. Given that my oven only had one setting </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">(way too hot)</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> before it died in May</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">, I was lucky to not burn every cookie.They tasted better than they looked.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Since then, the bakeshops/bakeries reopened for takeout. I've left most of the baking to the pros except for the huckleberry galette I made from berries I picked in the mountains last fall.</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRibvx639g24AN1JAfjzNuJif84sdl1oPw5jD02MvJ6pK2423HiLFd7wn9xJirMmHpdDylO4DBqUfwHaxUKsftEp0PGSKpFHXFvmpnEkABYuOgp0i89Kgw4DXE1nGrqI7XfyH3qEVjM0/s2048/DSC04031.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="2048" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRibvx639g24AN1JAfjzNuJif84sdl1oPw5jD02MvJ6pK2423HiLFd7wn9xJirMmHpdDylO4DBqUfwHaxUKsftEp0PGSKpFHXFvmpnEkABYuOgp0i89Kgw4DXE1nGrqI7XfyH3qEVjM0/w640-h462/DSC04031.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">While cooking for two, I cooked more elaborate dishes than I normally would. This roasted chicken (from local <a href="https://www.stokesberrysustainablefarm.com/">Stokesberry Sustainable Farms</a>) for Easter Sunday was as good as anything at a fancy restaurant, IMHO.<br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6_HLPvvQGYDgLiSScd9N7E2KmVIcOdMP9UB7FEn7-X32SPcn1hZSKBzLVclrveYLgR6nEr96GWuvtFrS_PlRGOHqTiRcmZoIJni7RiAjGolWmS74Zf5S19zd6J_WJNQvptvMbXXiVoM/s2048/20200412_145002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="2048" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6_HLPvvQGYDgLiSScd9N7E2KmVIcOdMP9UB7FEn7-X32SPcn1hZSKBzLVclrveYLgR6nEr96GWuvtFrS_PlRGOHqTiRcmZoIJni7RiAjGolWmS74Zf5S19zd6J_WJNQvptvMbXXiVoM/w640-h462/20200412_145002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And stewed spring rhubarb with yogurt and homemade granola was my staple breakfast for over a month.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV62mKt2y4Wp4tiX89bn7eksNAy3058u_1INbdE8Ev2pwVV02_T3Y1UvzlvsAfjwFJnPaMEyVEOHzNggYZvJH51awuKbiaLwjhrlGNd0tWqNwP2Kpm1Wg0VGTZlWC_yMtVj6qycsIe2Ho/s2048/20200428_145958.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1390" data-original-width="2048" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV62mKt2y4Wp4tiX89bn7eksNAy3058u_1INbdE8Ev2pwVV02_T3Y1UvzlvsAfjwFJnPaMEyVEOHzNggYZvJH51awuKbiaLwjhrlGNd0tWqNwP2Kpm1Wg0VGTZlWC_yMtVj6qycsIe2Ho/w640-h434/20200428_145958.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For the first few months of the pandemic, our farmers markets were not allowed to open here in Seattle. Some farmers came anyway and set up stalls on the street, so I snuck out there too to buy spring local veggies. By summer the farmers markets were able to reopen. I feel safer shopping outdoors and supporting our local farmers anyway.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4HEfI71ZSypSuO-HLGtfiHpMvy0XH4-hN-D3VGO_q9c3AmRIQmUTM-dNfDNvHzCRIcOKAeeWR_hzVoWxgGjnvfB8SznTGKPBmyKzVf5mN8Bk5lxQHAGNiGqfpU2WLrid1OR0Ch8_eY0/s2048/IMGP6532.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1346" data-original-width="2048" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4HEfI71ZSypSuO-HLGtfiHpMvy0XH4-hN-D3VGO_q9c3AmRIQmUTM-dNfDNvHzCRIcOKAeeWR_hzVoWxgGjnvfB8SznTGKPBmyKzVf5mN8Bk5lxQHAGNiGqfpU2WLrid1OR0Ch8_eY0/w640-h420/IMGP6532.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">With the months-long closure of<a href="https://www.seattle.gov/parks/find/parks/golden-gardens-park"> Golden Gardens Park</a> last spring, food vendor <a href="https://www.mirisgoldengardens.com/">Miri's</a>, a tiny cafe in the park's historic bathhouse, lost most of their business, so I've ordered their home delivery. They offer excellent Mediterranean fare and mini Dutch pancakes called poffertjes.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvchhTq3oF8SNeq6BmMWabofyYZPRJTAXj2wDW5EWcFd1MpeIVFi49e2d-O9Yhj4iMoEEMvQ3-US9VUg0WiKtcvjiO20rbYMz-E-IvhCKuZPbWVFIeHZJ4LkMvJGxBiP3QTLPeG3dpLc/s2048/IMGP6540.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2048" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvchhTq3oF8SNeq6BmMWabofyYZPRJTAXj2wDW5EWcFd1MpeIVFi49e2d-O9Yhj4iMoEEMvQ3-US9VUg0WiKtcvjiO20rbYMz-E-IvhCKuZPbWVFIeHZJ4LkMvJGxBiP3QTLPeG3dpLc/w640-h416/IMGP6540.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">In late spring and summer, my vegetable garden kicked into full gear. (Last year more people took up gardening since most of us stuck closer to home. Did you?) </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There's nothing quite so splendid to eat as a salad or veggies freshly harvested from your own garden. Here west of the Cascade Mountains, we do battle with slugs and snails who also love the fresh greens, but still, we manage.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrt7oLNemvFUjqs7W0o1pIpQlq20pymFWKtaOpfeBJ_KzWRQjzAb4vrU77_5GA-9mF1kcEfocqcxUHgSiAXmBkgcl3kTuE5bqincf_cwrizoU4dBBRiafsLwooOwAhuYqsKKXPrPlrl4/s2048/IMGP4711c.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrt7oLNemvFUjqs7W0o1pIpQlq20pymFWKtaOpfeBJ_KzWRQjzAb4vrU77_5GA-9mF1kcEfocqcxUHgSiAXmBkgcl3kTuE5bqincf_cwrizoU4dBBRiafsLwooOwAhuYqsKKXPrPlrl4/w640-h424/IMGP4711c.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">By late June, my raspberries began bursting out a bumper crop. There's <i>really </i>nothing as splendid as eating freshly picked raspberries. Besides plucking and eating them to excess, I made freezer jam and froze several bags to use for smoothies.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjMNciecxVAYvK-VkQneih0_QLilF-C-WS28w9JKm97YgNiEPdJsepkMmuq2n80erQqeXRs-Pc6d0e1TvoHk8R0aPHrLu4eLsVtzZAbW4UXg9F8BJw9zajTVb6_thnqJ8wwwfJjIeaps/s2048/IMGP5060+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="2048" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjMNciecxVAYvK-VkQneih0_QLilF-C-WS28w9JKm97YgNiEPdJsepkMmuq2n80erQqeXRs-Pc6d0e1TvoHk8R0aPHrLu4eLsVtzZAbW4UXg9F8BJw9zajTVb6_thnqJ8wwwfJjIeaps/w640-h438/IMGP5060+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Later in the summer, a few heads of cabbage in my garden survived the relentless attack of the slugs. Smaller heads of just-harvested cabbage are surprisingly tender.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8h3hRNZ9o40Tngi2OK2ILupFGGUY1mRC7THTmHw6g0L6x12goo0XsLnGzraCNZqK2d7lIgTqNJoHSPj0Kw1H8b90GPM0RNBgjpLBlQNVCeaPs2UdwrD827Au4AdVWJi6hpF-mKVKq2s/s2048/IMGP6119.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1402" data-original-width="2048" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8h3hRNZ9o40Tngi2OK2ILupFGGUY1mRC7THTmHw6g0L6x12goo0XsLnGzraCNZqK2d7lIgTqNJoHSPj0Kw1H8b90GPM0RNBgjpLBlQNVCeaPs2UdwrD827Au4AdVWJi6hpF-mKVKq2s/w640-h438/IMGP6119.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Spring and summer were about the garden, but with fall came soup season. I could live on </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">salad and good, flavorful soup. I have a rotation of soup recipes, and added a few this past year. A lemony split pea (below) is a new favorite.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SaVxwIePzi8GjJUfCabYx221OSTxMqnSwAZGoPAS__1gcmUcwuVEn47ni-BXpqLhWQN2duRtqzYkiM5dfB8wc4kXRqt3hvKuC5qZ5Q4shwI7z1UmWJ3rkTKpEJ5XS-Ulo0JfFpxRf60/s2048/20200413_123245.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1569" data-original-width="2048" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SaVxwIePzi8GjJUfCabYx221OSTxMqnSwAZGoPAS__1gcmUcwuVEn47ni-BXpqLhWQN2duRtqzYkiM5dfB8wc4kXRqt3hvKuC5qZ5Q4shwI7z1UmWJ3rkTKpEJ5XS-Ulo0JfFpxRf60/w640-h490/20200413_123245.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And it hasn't been all garden fresh and homemade. A classic Seattle burger chain is just 2.5 blocks from my home, the closest place to get food. A couple times in the last year I've gotten their so-so cheeseburger and locally made ice cream scoops (maple walnut is my fave). (We all indulge sometimes, right? No?)<br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFccAYE3-UF6hAm9IWFaF7ZGHQc10ifxLgGN0iQpVwCgA9Zl30dITNeJPh_vI6xai1wzFr9dpy3_OsxyyEe_28UTa0eGs-rAHXvNe8acnCWD0QoNFDYPg68Nd_zIAvsJIkQ3rtEXQu-Ak/s2048/DSC03606.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1541" data-original-width="2048" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFccAYE3-UF6hAm9IWFaF7ZGHQc10ifxLgGN0iQpVwCgA9Zl30dITNeJPh_vI6xai1wzFr9dpy3_OsxyyEe_28UTa0eGs-rAHXvNe8acnCWD0QoNFDYPg68Nd_zIAvsJIkQ3rtEXQu-Ak/w640-h482/DSC03606.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">During the dark winter months, my afternoon<a href="https://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-power-of-rituals.html"> ritual</a> of <a href="https://www.afar.com/magazine/what-is-fika-a-guide-to-the-swedish-coffee-break">fika</a> has become increasingly important to me. Perhaps because of my Scandinavian ancestry, I've embraced this Swedish tradition, loosely defined as a coffee and cake break (for me tea and a cookie).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFZKDMQcQIu3R22_6-vJ4gyeRucHHZDygMgBFSWU5QbCWq1QXEAW7JnMxf0NHkoeG59Nk93DW9gPJVWKdvK2uNyV8Hi8t7U_Vt4KobgAPw10XHVRU2QdsTsl27pjdlzV3sFPeRKnc1NA/s2048/IMGP9176.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1380" data-original-width="2048" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFZKDMQcQIu3R22_6-vJ4gyeRucHHZDygMgBFSWU5QbCWq1QXEAW7JnMxf0NHkoeG59Nk93DW9gPJVWKdvK2uNyV8Hi8t7U_Vt4KobgAPw10XHVRU2QdsTsl27pjdlzV3sFPeRKnc1NA/w640-h432/IMGP9176.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I suspect the pandemic plays a role in my need for this ritual, but these 10 minutes or so each afternoon while I sip fine tea out of my grandmother's china and nibble a baked treat are a balm, a mini-vacation from the day's stresses. I blend silver and jasmine pearl teas in a teapot and then reheat the cookie (usually a buckwheat fig bar, but in the shot above a<a href="https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/madeleines/"> madelein</a>e) to just crispy. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">There have been hits and misses as I work my way through new recipes and revive old favorites. I've rediscovered old cookbooks I stopped using years ago. I've gotten a few new ones. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some sources I've used a lot are <a href="http://deborahmadison.com/">Deborah Madison</a>'s cookbooks (mostly vegetarian classics), Danielle Walker's <i><a href="https://shop.daniellewalker.com/collections/books/products/eat-what-you-love-autographed?variant=37554983829675">Eat What You Love</a></i> (paleo forward), <a href="https://terrywalters.net/">Terry Walter's</a> <i>Clean Food</i> books, farm-to-table <i>Dishing up the Dirt</i> by farmer <a href="https://dishingupthedirt.com/about/">Andrea Bemis</a>, the 1980s classic <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Palate-Cookbook-Sheila-Lukins/dp/0761145974">Silver Palate</a></i> by Sheila Lukins and Julee Rosso, and various magazines like <i>Eating Well</i> and <i>Bon Appetit. </i>Plus numerous websites.<br /><i></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjGsEa90zwMoEqtTCHvPrJ5GuC_hbLIueYpg4iV-PsGVKfbBJ2dYADNM310YEYsYwo5tKg2A_hnvhGyXdf-r75oiX4ySyvRMJOVgyKhN5GFaREHJuMDrsJGcxT08kt4zGFxryWu8XHx8/s2048/DSC04272+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1386" data-original-width="2048" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjGsEa90zwMoEqtTCHvPrJ5GuC_hbLIueYpg4iV-PsGVKfbBJ2dYADNM310YEYsYwo5tKg2A_hnvhGyXdf-r75oiX4ySyvRMJOVgyKhN5GFaREHJuMDrsJGcxT08kt4zGFxryWu8XHx8/w640-h434/DSC04272+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> I didn't get on the sourdough baking bandwagon that was a craze early in the pandemic. But I've expanded my repertoire, saved $$ on eating out, occasionally indulged in too many sweets, eaten healthfully, and generally enjoyed eating better.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">How about you? Have you been cooking more the last year? Trying new foods? Would love to hear in a comment below!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><i><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i> </span><span face="Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div></div>jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-22959513404099564622021-01-08T23:06:00.005-08:002021-01-09T21:47:19.735-08:00Tashi & Me: Feline Love and Loss<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZN0J7kd_kKLB9TxGx5jYn7TUS-4zevBPyi9y7h_bGyLFIQepWj19s6VLP_1guBU9CwpztsaVoH1EGX9eT7LBNCAoaZl8HIFAY9FJnLKzh39VZOpxuCatIpJ6qVn60Jfq1r6cytvqtyg/s2048/20190803_115903.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1511" data-original-width="2048" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZN0J7kd_kKLB9TxGx5jYn7TUS-4zevBPyi9y7h_bGyLFIQepWj19s6VLP_1guBU9CwpztsaVoH1EGX9eT7LBNCAoaZl8HIFAY9FJnLKzh39VZOpxuCatIpJ6qVn60Jfq1r6cytvqtyg/w640-h472/20190803_115903.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">On December 30, 2020 delivered a final insult with the loss of my cat Tashi. Here's my tribute to this formerly feral girlfriend.</i></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It all started back in 2007, when I noticed several black and white cats suddenly hanging around my yard. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">One tuxedo cat of the bunch caught my eye. During a downpour one afternoon, I saw it perched delicately and resolutely atop a fence post outside my kitchen window, seemingly oblivious to the drenching rain.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Reasoning that if they were well fed, they wouldn't hunt and kill birds (I was wrong), I started leaving dishes of food out for the feral cats on my back patio. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">One day while sitting on my back steps, I noticed that little tuxedo cat was willing to come feed within a foot of where I sat. When her head was down in the dish, I slowly reached out my hand and gently scratched the top of her head. She didn't flinch!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So began years of Tashi slowly moving inside and becoming my loving, funny, feisty pet. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtYOZh1RNBdLy1EsF2BXyms4GjPnEv_djTu2W6-hnkbKh4f90rdOuDgeQQs3jTDr-wWWh_l4QM3Hlwo8M9jKZfbhq244DRFDJbSL-uHSEVsCm4JrD9B2S_cyW0QF9RB2s_6ndy6-Cyp4/s2048/DSCF1702c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1556" data-original-width="2048" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtYOZh1RNBdLy1EsF2BXyms4GjPnEv_djTu2W6-hnkbKh4f90rdOuDgeQQs3jTDr-wWWh_l4QM3Hlwo8M9jKZfbhq244DRFDJbSL-uHSEVsCm4JrD9B2S_cyW0QF9RB2s_6ndy6-Cyp4/w640-h486/DSCF1702c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The gaze.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When I say years, I mean <i>years</i> of slowly building her trust. By 2009 she would come inside and sit on the corner of my sofa. But only if the backdoor was open, and I was sitting silently on the other corner. I could give her pets and scratches, and when she decided it was time to retreat, boom, she was gone.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After a couple more years, she was comfortable being in my house (she made a beeline to the heat vent in the living room) and would even would do sleepovers on the couch. But I could never go outside, pick her up, and bring her inside. Nope. It was all on her terms.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopmTiG6WTYy8rJ0PYaMxf_Xm9oIh_zP5Y8A597tbD-tUlWAXeCrMfA-uqPapYCT2F_kiFHCSgUCghuUJTqqjgTDBu6pCOKfV0c_sFZSXacZy5cKPMtjJZ0oO6Dn-_y1Ur0B-3zhBD2io/s1413/IMG_0495.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="1413" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopmTiG6WTYy8rJ0PYaMxf_Xm9oIh_zP5Y8A597tbD-tUlWAXeCrMfA-uqPapYCT2F_kiFHCSgUCghuUJTqqjgTDBu6pCOKfV0c_sFZSXacZy5cKPMtjJZ0oO6Dn-_y1Ur0B-3zhBD2io/w640-h548/IMG_0495.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tashi not coming inside at night when I called her.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">By 2013, she was decidedly my pet, and we had our routines. She became my alarm clock, set a little too early, when she jumped on my bed each morning asking for pets and breakfast. She was very bossy to the other feral cats (there were about nine at the peak) and let them know my house and I were her property.</span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVPy7CDW8YeKkHe5l2fWkG7oXeRvAb6YQ3t35UqdnTvBNjI0O480Ddkn-6yjW5HHbg9Oioh_4F0PNbLjNGf8sFmjxLb09ygUOPTkWqFY9gJ9LuTe8O33IJT9_0KtZ6Lvxa8T0FsCrlo8/s1824/IMG_0199.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1824" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVPy7CDW8YeKkHe5l2fWkG7oXeRvAb6YQ3t35UqdnTvBNjI0O480Ddkn-6yjW5HHbg9Oioh_4F0PNbLjNGf8sFmjxLb09ygUOPTkWqFY9gJ9LuTe8O33IJT9_0KtZ6Lvxa8T0FsCrlo8/w640-h480/IMG_0199.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Getting comfortable.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I knew I was in deep when I went away for a long weekend (my neighbor would leave food out for the cats), and I got worried sick when I heard there was a cold snap with night temps down to 13 degrees in Seattle. I did a web search and read that domestic cats can die with prolonged exposure to that cold.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But of course Tashi was okay when I got home, and she gratefully came inside and found her way to a heat vent, then my bed. </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzH1yq5sXGQwmdcJo4a8yX8pD-T8grMDTScVZv7sGXFz9cv0rm4xMlvb2uf7vkFmxLcBaO6b7uD7LgeN-G0C7jSjRB2mSm9B_YJYohkHb6w3sHso_TLt7rWaeCO1NJ9Xl-E2N8YolRa8/s1930/IMG_0258.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1863" data-original-width="1930" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzH1yq5sXGQwmdcJo4a8yX8pD-T8grMDTScVZv7sGXFz9cv0rm4xMlvb2uf7vkFmxLcBaO6b7uD7LgeN-G0C7jSjRB2mSm9B_YJYohkHb6w3sHso_TLt7rWaeCO1NJ9Xl-E2N8YolRa8/w640-h618/IMG_0258.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">By 2016, I kept her inside when I went away for a week and paid to have someone come in to feed her and give her meds. As the vet said, better an angry cat than a dead cat. By this time I was aware there were coyotes in the 'hood.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just like people, the longer you're with an animal, the more the layers of their personality peel back. Tashi had many layers. She had street smarts, but was caught more than once swatting and chasing huge racoons quadruple her size. She was affectionate, trained me to serve her purposes, and made me laugh out loud the more talkative and chirpy she became. She HATED getting pilled and let you know loudly.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-qgqYpt-ZSFjgZKu1iDhUi_71blYQkb8aNCzcywIBH8I5ptnMsUDXs-tawO4ckxR6VSvR6hwCQeslFmI445HIybvijJ6NUFtH0H0AQhxN5hk-K57RDUWJtHdmsnVIjXCHVEz7FI5w0I/s1280/DSC00745+%25281280x935%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="1280" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-qgqYpt-ZSFjgZKu1iDhUi_71blYQkb8aNCzcywIBH8I5ptnMsUDXs-tawO4ckxR6VSvR6hwCQeslFmI445HIybvijJ6NUFtH0H0AQhxN5hk-K57RDUWJtHdmsnVIjXCHVEz7FI5w0I/w640-h468/DSC00745+%25281280x935%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> As she had more health issues the last few years (chronic kidney failure, common in older cats), Tashi finally settled down and became mostly an indoor cat. She showed her affection with lots of head butts and face rubs and kitty kisses. She sought my company, followed me down to my office, and slept on a pillow beside my desk while I worked.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugDeAkGXz28r_xGbCmM5T7YrYIoZA5e51rIcuSrERlCBsAacU4J1JkYDImoDPCo7yxJNaOoLljKO6pOqBF7O9vyLiNV1udrcH-dwsVJZpqWdALohVuGocty1Cq37z86zrMKOJUsHk11k/s2048/20200507_170908%257E2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1525" data-original-width="2048" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugDeAkGXz28r_xGbCmM5T7YrYIoZA5e51rIcuSrERlCBsAacU4J1JkYDImoDPCo7yxJNaOoLljKO6pOqBF7O9vyLiNV1udrcH-dwsVJZpqWdALohVuGocty1Cq37z86zrMKOJUsHk11k/w640-h476/20200507_170908%257E2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">After a couple hospitalizations with pancreatitis (most expensive pet ever) a couple years ago, I didn't think she'd last through 2018. But she bounced back. Wow this little cat was a fighter.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkVMkIW9Qy_6NSGeAHrfsR1DoC9iMZ8WnpblKEVSFLTyosJeEB-dKweuMpO26JdsZT0Ol0Tkk_Yasu5Vjh0fKMt6mS5lZ6fs2jjzFwdMf_MOOg8Lv05Do3N8HLMdlaIG32sFfl1u9QXk/s2048/20191125_205051.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkVMkIW9Qy_6NSGeAHrfsR1DoC9iMZ8WnpblKEVSFLTyosJeEB-dKweuMpO26JdsZT0Ol0Tkk_Yasu5Vjh0fKMt6mS5lZ6fs2jjzFwdMf_MOOg8Lv05Do3N8HLMdlaIG32sFfl1u9QXk/w640-h480/20191125_205051.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She knew tabletops weren't for cats. Did she care?</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tashi had a pretty good 2019 after a series of urinary tract infections. She gained back weight, and we managed to stay away from the vet for over 6 months. Meanwhile, she had finally become comfortable with a few friends who spent time in my home too. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But in 2020 the infections returned, one after the other. She bounced back, but not as strongly with each one. The antibiotics started being less effective. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">In October I received a package from a good friend that now has extra special meaning. Suezy had commissioned our mutual <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Don-Leon-Sandoval-Spanish-New-Mexican-Art-102528534446643/">artist friend Don</a> to paint a <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retablo">retablo </a></i>(in traditional New Mexican folk art style) of St. Tashi, Patron Saint of the Catless.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">So that's why Suezy had asked me for photos of Tashi!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpj7IV7psxLNk7NPTA0Riw05tWc_nwN_oIXkoxEAGN-XEHYWyzwysioGnw23kusNbJA4JtyF9GBovUJ0i0_ykPeBL0bgJ312Esvtq__M_nuJq-fToLEc6QCsDkp1p_cmxOaj5DBy5i0sY/s1920/20200504_145324_HDR%257E2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1882" data-original-width="1920" height="628" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpj7IV7psxLNk7NPTA0Riw05tWc_nwN_oIXkoxEAGN-XEHYWyzwysioGnw23kusNbJA4JtyF9GBovUJ0i0_ykPeBL0bgJ312Esvtq__M_nuJq-fToLEc6QCsDkp1p_cmxOaj5DBy5i0sY/w640-h628/20200504_145324_HDR%257E2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsZu2rLrgrEp6bZLW6MkfVzpjDbfRPP6hyPqnrJURE9JPbB4Qg2oFK4sZMky7vytHNiEDxHoXIXkffkQblt6hFIQprWS4snzIgWDojWZwR2Jf6AchwshRIrznOnte0rjMfK75gUWQhb4/s2048/20210108_215236.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1545" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsZu2rLrgrEp6bZLW6MkfVzpjDbfRPP6hyPqnrJURE9JPbB4Qg2oFK4sZMky7vytHNiEDxHoXIXkffkQblt6hFIQprWS4snzIgWDojWZwR2Jf6AchwshRIrznOnte0rjMfK75gUWQhb4/w482-h640/20210108_215236.jpg" width="482" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"St. Tashi" by Don Sandoval</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">So the beauty of this gift is that now <i>my Tashi</i> is my patron saint! This is of course tongue in cheek, but still, it gives me comfort. Because this complicated, sweet feline spent 13 years burrowing deep into my heart. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And me? I sadly don't have any decent photos of Tashi and me together. But I leave you with this little clip below, with me calling and trying to cajole her to come inside. She basically did what she wanted to do. Fortunately for me, for years that was being my entertaining, insistent, cuddly companion.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hhHRuQmFW5g" width="320" youtube-src-id="hhHRuQmFW5g"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12.61px;"><i><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12.61px;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">Have you lost a beloved pet in the last year, or perhaps adopted a new pet? Would love to hear in a comment below. And think about donating to the<a href="http://www.feralcatproject.org/"> Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project.</a></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12.61px;"><i><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12.61px;"><i><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i> </span><span face="Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12.61px;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><i></i></span></p><p><i> </i><br /></p></div>jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-61616501439626337972020-12-29T23:00:00.011-08:002020-12-31T09:50:52.791-08:00 2020, A Year Outdoors in Photos<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKihSKrRxH_C4P4aSmXvykW4Zks_b6m5YMdBkxzVqv0hlk2qCanCpULEgEyDeA2vMhLRh0Ud3k1UwBkkGpZ9pSByvRmdxGZFcN-M-Y1V0xhkxtDm2jSrbPvXNS2nm0rqw8Zz5S4KsB9_E/s2048/DSC03965+%25282%2529.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1382" data-original-width="2048" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKihSKrRxH_C4P4aSmXvykW4Zks_b6m5YMdBkxzVqv0hlk2qCanCpULEgEyDeA2vMhLRh0Ud3k1UwBkkGpZ9pSByvRmdxGZFcN-M-Y1V0xhkxtDm2jSrbPvXNS2nm0rqw8Zz5S4KsB9_E/w640-h432/DSC03965+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What a long and strange year 2020 has been. How many of us foresaw our world changing so dramatically?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This afternoon I thought of how different last holiday season was compared to 2020. In 2019, there were dinners out with family and friends, a getaway to a bustling seaside town, a few parties, and shopping and walking in crowds. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Between the pandemic, racial justice protests turned violent</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">, devastating wildfires, crazy political and cultural divisions, and the loss of a friend and a beloved pet, well, I'm glad to see 2020 take leave. It was an intense year.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But the good times were equally intense in contrast. Everybody seemed to take my #getoutside motto to heart. I didn't stray more than 80 miles from Seattle all year, but I still managed to see and discover plenty of beauty outdoors. Here's a sampling of a northwest Washington year in photos. <br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>January</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After a shoulder injury on my first and only day skiing of the season, I began the first of many weekly plunges in Puget Sound in late January. While it's always a shock to hit that cold water, it also generates a sense of exhilarating euphoria. <a href="https://oceanfit.com.au/education/everything-you-need-to-know-about-swimming-in-cold-water/" style="background-color: white; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00aeef; cursor: pointer; outline: currentcolor none medium; text-decoration-line: none;">Cold water swimming</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c0c0c;"> can help you feel instantly more alive and energized.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGJNuv_TWBWPEFcrhI4WP0KBRXvS37w8hC74YTeoUqb97SS5482ckhAyGKPsKq9lkzvGCarHnxhnuRUhvHxHeI2x_HMUi-i7OflBKGQKzjplMKRV_y2REYlZdwkmg46iUppwiL6cyZTQ/s707/polar+plunge+2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="685" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGJNuv_TWBWPEFcrhI4WP0KBRXvS37w8hC74YTeoUqb97SS5482ckhAyGKPsKq9lkzvGCarHnxhnuRUhvHxHeI2x_HMUi-i7OflBKGQKzjplMKRV_y2REYlZdwkmg46iUppwiL6cyZTQ/w620-h640/polar+plunge+2.jpg" width="620" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first plunge. Puget Sound.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>February</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ah February. When we still went out for meals with friends outside our household, went to parties, and were just vaguely aware of a new virus in China. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Early in the month, I went to <a href="https://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2020/01/">Port Townsend</a> and had a <a href="https://www.restaurantfinistere.com/">wonderful brunch</a> while sitting across the table from my aunt and a friend. Looking back, it seems so carefree. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Each February I go down to a park near my home to find the delicate snowdrops that bloom in the forest, an early sign of spring.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgheRwEzSZpdfDeyNkMtLB1pQWMGXz-GJRA5XI6gZOA5R9VUu-i0YUJu0P-Dnv7_FCW8Oa77ZY9JmHkjd3fvnySVw7OWQkEd_jhuhHoiHAV_3KaKubRaptWOHzCRlIMbFYK5lPu3XVnw/s2816/IMG_5434.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2112" data-original-width="2816" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgheRwEzSZpdfDeyNkMtLB1pQWMGXz-GJRA5XI6gZOA5R9VUu-i0YUJu0P-Dnv7_FCW8Oa77ZY9JmHkjd3fvnySVw7OWQkEd_jhuhHoiHAV_3KaKubRaptWOHzCRlIMbFYK5lPu3XVnw/w640-h480/IMG_5434.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowdrops in Carkeek<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>March</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And then it all hit the fan. Thus began a spring of long walks and bike rides exploring my corner of Seattle. I didn't leave the city or fill my car's gas tank for over 2 months. A good friend was parked in my guest room from November 2019 until June, so it was nice to have a companion to walk home with in the dark after some outstanding sunsets at sea's edge.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PCbomGMvI0A9NHs8yPv0368lEsUtvCeIz-HIeUtSzO9pMzQ4I2-PCF57aShs_LFV5rj2z2nWAwH4NEQks8-XKcLzoCm9SdQvIDUy6hzG4zFqbvAc7G73wiK33-oeydoyN_CL_FGlRBM/s2048/DSC03060c.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PCbomGMvI0A9NHs8yPv0368lEsUtvCeIz-HIeUtSzO9pMzQ4I2-PCF57aShs_LFV5rj2z2nWAwH4NEQks8-XKcLzoCm9SdQvIDUy6hzG4zFqbvAc7G73wiK33-oeydoyN_CL_FGlRBM/w640-h426/DSC03060c.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salish Sea sunset, Olympic Mountains beyond</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>April</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Unlike many, I actually lost weight in the first few months of the pandemic from all those walks, bike rides, and not eating out. A bike ride to see the sunrise on a chilly Easter morning was extra special.<b><br /> <br /></b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmazc-_uFRDIqsae97lmCm-dQakZ3Z4vJOKRnj9HDvqh9sheCu7GorLRP1HJTgUbianEHHJzibV03LrS-pWwppQ0_vDw59gj12JXVEPtETZhqlFCUqt8HS0xb63YWDtGYAdf2Qc9QMxG4/s2048/IMGP4168c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1340" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmazc-_uFRDIqsae97lmCm-dQakZ3Z4vJOKRnj9HDvqh9sheCu7GorLRP1HJTgUbianEHHJzibV03LrS-pWwppQ0_vDw59gj12JXVEPtETZhqlFCUqt8HS0xb63YWDtGYAdf2Qc9QMxG4/w640-h418/IMGP4168c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Union predawn</td></tr></tbody></table><b>May</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With May came the full lushness of a western Washington spring. Looking back at my hundreds of photos, I took almost daily walks down to a forested park near my home. It was a pleasure to see the forest unfurl and ripen with the richness of the season on a regular basis. There were also more sunset bike rides.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQF2fcZFLbPT-CyPRFkZZSlyrMR-q6OsB1t5nhyphenhyphenSyjAzd4ntwXwmdo8lq_AB-tYmQrFZaWHxDKZp7vt1d0Tp8PLSMPRLuFm9N_zTAVS7xAP9EFmDZEM6AUYQgcC5aRhiOn_67rLgQRas/s2048/IMGP4439c.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1308" data-original-width="2048" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQF2fcZFLbPT-CyPRFkZZSlyrMR-q6OsB1t5nhyphenhyphenSyjAzd4ntwXwmdo8lq_AB-tYmQrFZaWHxDKZp7vt1d0Tp8PLSMPRLuFm9N_zTAVS7xAP9EFmDZEM6AUYQgcC5aRhiOn_67rLgQRas/w640-h408/IMGP4439c.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Gardens sunset</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>June</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Come June, we seemed to "flatten the curve" a bit, and I left Seattle for some hiking and drives for the first time since February. I must say, while it was good to drive less, it was also wonderful to do a "real" hike through a healthy forest in the Cascade foothills.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPebMZLp87Mx_ySSHR5qCVN2LlGZ02BYqxxxF3tEz_RBw5MnWGpB1NycdduPD2tusTgb1faOf2waOXKUd-oz5tesgFMfRfPbNh1O-Vns_Dk01wR3Z-VAPllHxdYZUR9O3_4Ur_QqvVjKA/s2048/IMGP5152c.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1485" data-original-width="2048" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPebMZLp87Mx_ySSHR5qCVN2LlGZ02BYqxxxF3tEz_RBw5MnWGpB1NycdduPD2tusTgb1faOf2waOXKUd-oz5tesgFMfRfPbNh1O-Vns_Dk01wR3Z-VAPllHxdYZUR9O3_4Ur_QqvVjKA/w640-h464/IMGP5152c.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountains to Sound Greenway</td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>July</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With the fullness of summer, I pulled out my sea kayak for more kayaking than I've done in several years. Plus it's one of the best sports for distancing. Some friends and I had a brilliant day paddling to some small islands up in Skagit Bay.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /> </b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrM-9eIfnWb6qHnEmn2H2h2YUiAcLKVmK47zeKnJZ0FkBfYX6BdfeyZcSHETLPNmeEQXYQCf9LAztN_ilciskYe7gWLqQjLK4XkCK9BiRprPRMII_D9kcm6SGe31AjVEPmn9oVmWKXZck/s2048/IMGP5451.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrM-9eIfnWb6qHnEmn2H2h2YUiAcLKVmK47zeKnJZ0FkBfYX6BdfeyZcSHETLPNmeEQXYQCf9LAztN_ilciskYe7gWLqQjLK4XkCK9BiRprPRMII_D9kcm6SGe31AjVEPmn9oVmWKXZck/w640-h424/IMGP5451.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skagit Bay</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> August</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was wonderful getting out more than earlier in the year. Late August hiking with a friend and her daughter was another highlight.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b><br /><b> </b><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFhlIG2O-UsXVtmqFWvhlLXKYvNJz117c6mP-IoS7Kf2WQkc8S0INnZEQD6fHhL_WkPACmimwx0igmPnNgVO_Qr-WE2KcAKhPXn48azFfY7F3BNCmeozh-l_TcL4w2NdLGQFsC3PRqbI/s2048/IMGP5941c.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1362" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFhlIG2O-UsXVtmqFWvhlLXKYvNJz117c6mP-IoS7Kf2WQkc8S0INnZEQD6fHhL_WkPACmimwx0igmPnNgVO_Qr-WE2KcAKhPXn48azFfY7F3BNCmeozh-l_TcL4w2NdLGQFsC3PRqbI/w640-h426/IMGP5941c.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Rainer in the distance from Mason Lake Trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>September</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our prime outdoors season was abruptly halted Labor Day with shockingly heavy wildfire smoke. Half the Northwest seemed to go up in flames at the same time. It was truly distressing. Things cleared up by the end of the month, and I enjoyed a brilliant fall hike with the Alpine Trails Book Club. We spent some time in the stretch of huckleberry shrubs packed with berries ready for picking.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSk7EmjUQ7RSbD1CCaEe2gY-MGPtKCG9-sIRRS7oJVgRDBbB2zRdGeOsoBugXWMgV2v8aDRnabO7JhQUO9fG6Smesa0H1uT2i9QlFzQifvY96rvcGkhfdVk84VceK9bxvR9YzJWb9Uv74/s2048/DSC03822.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1392" data-original-width="2048" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSk7EmjUQ7RSbD1CCaEe2gY-MGPtKCG9-sIRRS7oJVgRDBbB2zRdGeOsoBugXWMgV2v8aDRnabO7JhQUO9fG6Smesa0H1uT2i9QlFzQifvY96rvcGkhfdVk84VceK9bxvR9YzJWb9Uv74/w640-h436/DSC03822.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarlet huckleberries in the foreground, Tonga Ridge</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>October</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I always say October is my favorite month. This year it lived up to that again, with some marvelous fall hikes over near Leavenworth and Ingalls Pass, farther east than I strayed all year. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodt5zcSdTjEWxnnCMNXUfFJemrMkCf3sTBC2mWVz0h7oK9kVH53GuGZvyw68oI7A6UJftnHTmDR9gx6dQBNhO1WH9fwOl4w2zH6-oYdikSjdqzvazZgEOnmOBFwNxYONi13yl67mRAlM/s6104/DSC04119c2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4124" data-original-width="6104" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodt5zcSdTjEWxnnCMNXUfFJemrMkCf3sTBC2mWVz0h7oK9kVH53GuGZvyw68oI7A6UJftnHTmDR9gx6dQBNhO1WH9fwOl4w2zH6-oYdikSjdqzvazZgEOnmOBFwNxYONi13yl67mRAlM/w640-h432/DSC04119c2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Stuart <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">November</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While Thanksgiving dinner was quiet and solo, a first, I got in some good long walks and hikes over the holiday weekend. This year, my connections with friends and family were all outside.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vaGYO_VbylcawSwrpVWyyYqq8StloQWSL6KqfdW5JLbqxO1weutCDEZq3gbXvvd8ASETEwEHqN6vdFYjPCUDy7TvSvYARhXAJfydXCkmVPFvIJNGS9iSeLd94DQUfUoaT5WzG2FZ8Ms/s2048/IMGP8354+-+Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="2048" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vaGYO_VbylcawSwrpVWyyYqq8StloQWSL6KqfdW5JLbqxO1weutCDEZq3gbXvvd8ASETEwEHqN6vdFYjPCUDy7TvSvYARhXAJfydXCkmVPFvIJNGS9iSeLd94DQUfUoaT5WzG2FZ8Ms/w640-h436/IMGP8354+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Si</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>December</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I write this, the month and year are almost over. It has been a tough holiday season without my usual events and connections. But I've done some nice hikes with friends. And there's always something indefinably clarifying and uplifting about a ferry ride across Puget Sound. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93DYGsDyXg36rj56yMU_vKRpqghC5Ije2Xb6icEwaQ13cFlj9bRLQNhtRc3CzEJABohNO529Z_YBQYfvjUk2k-eWVuv8OfNyNxconb65GbPD1seYGxNFq9zvAVvZ12bWQ4fZ0UqRe15U/s2048/DSC04349.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1298" data-original-width="2048" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93DYGsDyXg36rj56yMU_vKRpqghC5Ije2Xb6icEwaQ13cFlj9bRLQNhtRc3CzEJABohNO529Z_YBQYfvjUk2k-eWVuv8OfNyNxconb65GbPD1seYGxNFq9zvAVvZ12bWQ4fZ0UqRe15U/w640-h406/DSC04349.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bainbridge ferry</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So to wrap up, I'm still processing 2020. It was just too big to neatly tie up. Our world has shifted. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span> <br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Looking back, I really did get out a lot. Probably as much as any year from summer onward. The sea and mountains draw me out, as always.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">How about you? Did you get outdoors more in 2020?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12.61px;"><i><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i> </span><span face="Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12.61px;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-69569085533050378632020-11-23T23:05:00.008-08:002020-11-24T14:35:52.807-08:00Thanksgiving 2020: Gratitude in the Time of Covid<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5uq2pXHJ7bw15Pa7FplP375O6eeDYpIfggdYRe_0yBhtmrwIWcSVaw-Y2OHW8JWoHQrfauZbvMKnv1o6kaUA4npht08F1FTa-4PX0IoFk51ErBNxyOea4QAeDQIvJ29oZLb6soRkVhQ/s2048/DSC03786.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1366" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5uq2pXHJ7bw15Pa7FplP375O6eeDYpIfggdYRe_0yBhtmrwIWcSVaw-Y2OHW8JWoHQrfauZbvMKnv1o6kaUA4npht08F1FTa-4PX0IoFk51ErBNxyOea4QAeDQIvJ29oZLb6soRkVhQ/w426-h640/DSC03786.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Every year I sit down to write a Thanksgiving post, and some years it's harder than others to come up with a list of gratitudes. But this year...it's 2020.</span></div><div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And despite environmental concerns, unprecedented wildfires, political and social conflicts, a global pandemic, and not being able to hug friends and family...yes, there is still much for which to be grateful this year.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For starters, I'm grateful to live where I do, near a perfect sandy beach on the <a href="https://www.seadocsociety.org/about-the-salish-sea">Salish Sea</a>. In late January I started doing almost weekly plunges in the sea within about 10 minutes from my home. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">While my nearby beach is not a warm, tropical spot, it's thrilling to wade in offshore, then plunge into the chilly sea. It makes me feel like I've done something epic, even though often I'm swimming for less than 30 seconds. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's the ultimate Zen experience, being completely in the moment, shocked and exhilarated by the cold saltwater. I highly recommend giving it a try if you can.</span></p><p></p><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vEtV4iyKPchFOLo6MbQ-v6iTdmebGIhmREMSglOPvs5yk1iTnDYIDXI9Gs6lc5x7ibTGHoaPEBLD4zzM6WlM3EblvkJ1QWsU8Db0h3v72s9_zJeQohC3xjSrxFl8gPBqOhnMz4-nm9M/s1146/March+1+plunge+GG.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="980" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vEtV4iyKPchFOLo6MbQ-v6iTdmebGIhmREMSglOPvs5yk1iTnDYIDXI9Gs6lc5x7ibTGHoaPEBLD4zzM6WlM3EblvkJ1QWsU8Db0h3v72s9_zJeQohC3xjSrxFl8gPBqOhnMz4-nm9M/w548-h640/March+1+plunge+GG.jpg" width="548" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Plunge buddies</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As a self-employed business owner who works out of my home, I'm grateful to have several projects to work on this year. And honestly, working from home is not a change or adjustment for me. I've made my living out of my home office for over a decade.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I miss weekly mornings working at a few local coffeeshops/teahouses, where a friend often parked at the table beside me with his laptop too. It eased my cabin fever and was nice to be around others. I'm grateful all my favorite spots have managed to stay in business during this difficult time.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl7LdvG7w7SprjcNOHULFqUti0rccIp74DF8zO9vYg_rM84qEqZIEQhiwAIyuKq9xlqqL1_maNWQwaR03_nmIVlWNuBahTaDAY4Md_whqKwN_7CoyJg62y10rfNrJP5oSKLa7n31V6xo/s2048/DSC00767.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl7LdvG7w7SprjcNOHULFqUti0rccIp74DF8zO9vYg_rM84qEqZIEQhiwAIyuKq9xlqqL1_maNWQwaR03_nmIVlWNuBahTaDAY4Md_whqKwN_7CoyJg62y10rfNrJP5oSKLa7n31V6xo/w640-h426/DSC00767.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Thursday mornings at <a href="http://mirotea.com/">Miro Tea.</a> Next year again?</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm grateful that (so far) most of my friends and all my family have stayed covid-free. One good friend suffered from covid-19, but she was never hospitalized and is doing better after several months struggling to regain her breath and energy. For her improved health, I'm grateful.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm grateful for the friends I've gotten out hiking and kayaking with this year.<br />And for the power and joy of being out in nature here in the scenic Pacific Northwest. All that forest bathing and expansive landscapes and seascapes have been a strong balm to help ease the stresses of this year.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13zHw0lb9FP1g24x5Zvqm9GJRvQcWsc8ATziHg4zlfd8CN-v3v8xPdVMP8r6g2GAPdGVrVfjuvuQkW-eZ-dJ_lW5xSJsl2pHWXNX_Gj3h8aXIRD3hJvBkZMiGK7JQ33BS9CDiVyWsBl0/s2048/DSC03790.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1456" data-original-width="2048" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13zHw0lb9FP1g24x5Zvqm9GJRvQcWsc8ATziHg4zlfd8CN-v3v8xPdVMP8r6g2GAPdGVrVfjuvuQkW-eZ-dJ_lW5xSJsl2pHWXNX_Gj3h8aXIRD3hJvBkZMiGK7JQ33BS9CDiVyWsBl0/w640-h456/DSC03790.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnK6Bw2qJkgH1Uf0rE-w7aW3rwhCVsjtxVPCzMoXUP_8KQn_0_YMBXUSj8AZ0iAVQSswMwg7LWIofT0XGmWud294S5ONftdvf5fZimm7QFZd-5x3acellk6DwwDFauHgCSQ_LPEOD-vUQ/s2048/IMGP5979+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1277" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnK6Bw2qJkgH1Uf0rE-w7aW3rwhCVsjtxVPCzMoXUP_8KQn_0_YMBXUSj8AZ0iAVQSswMwg7LWIofT0XGmWud294S5ONftdvf5fZimm7QFZd-5x3acellk6DwwDFauHgCSQ_LPEOD-vUQ/w640-h400/IMGP5979+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And I've caught myself in moments recently just feeling grateful for the precious gift of this life. In my office today, it hit me again. There was nothing extraordinary about sitting at my desk, but I felt gratitude for the everyday, of being here to experience life in all its imperfect, messy beauty.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8KEXEUAn01p8HboHilfiFAf6QhmMi6Pk4XCqVw3j_Be48LQwyTrZguloojT3xnRvpHaIXXGpPaYMDzcAd7bKmNRUboGAeZ_Hs85k0jsVAdTdwYBgtYlSndjExt4V_XhvJCJTtqounNs/s2048/DSC02876.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1314" data-original-width="2048" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8KEXEUAn01p8HboHilfiFAf6QhmMi6Pk4XCqVw3j_Be48LQwyTrZguloojT3xnRvpHaIXXGpPaYMDzcAd7bKmNRUboGAeZ_Hs85k0jsVAdTdwYBgtYlSndjExt4V_XhvJCJTtqounNs/w640-h410/DSC02876.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">So while I'm at it, here are few more things I'm thankful for:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">-New friends<br /><br />-Poetry, which is so apt this year to capture the ethos of this time<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">-Acts of kindness and compassion, to which I aspire<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">-Zoom and other video conferencing and livestreaming. I know it's not perfect, but it has been calming to see people's faces while catching up and "attending" book clubs, on-line events, and more.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">-The joy of cooking. I've had some fun experimenting this year (although no sourdough yet). And also the joy of take-out to support some of my favorite local cafes and restaurants.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2iMLZiLCTzyAA30gfsPrWtTfytDg2MzCQvEhLeYNVJrO_RvzorOF_dJQdqFBhO79bgaKqEf1Cfzzt4VWNB-sGf73iNUCkrnbPjCgf_u3SdrYk4JXdtFBmKNzBGeONe2c7eJHdzFtm73M/s2048/covid+meals.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2iMLZiLCTzyAA30gfsPrWtTfytDg2MzCQvEhLeYNVJrO_RvzorOF_dJQdqFBhO79bgaKqEf1Cfzzt4VWNB-sGf73iNUCkrnbPjCgf_u3SdrYk4JXdtFBmKNzBGeONe2c7eJHdzFtm73M/w640-h480/covid+meals.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French toast a la Brewster</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">-The<a href="https://rescue.ocean.org/"> Marine Mammal Rescue Centre</a> and <a href="https://www.vanaqua.org/">Vancouver Aquarium</a> up in B.C. for rescuing orphaned baby sea otter Joey this past summer and then livestreaming his growth into a healthy, happy otter meeting new otter friends at the aquarium. The volunteers are upbeat and diligent, and people all over the world have been watching.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1dRT79L-IiR-VXUKwj9_T0qKAKl2EkOmI3337I3GVYPjTU2JTBrPoD7khvgRp_gLSUU1gUXou53horxifVWF-hZEpjtyLy0Q9lykSTZuvO1pdgk58yCuM461mMHOwetqqiuB_rH0_oQ/s710/Screenshot_2020-10-27+Twitch%25281%2529.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="710" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1dRT79L-IiR-VXUKwj9_T0qKAKl2EkOmI3337I3GVYPjTU2JTBrPoD7khvgRp_gLSUU1gUXou53horxifVWF-hZEpjtyLy0Q9lykSTZuvO1pdgk58yCuM461mMHOwetqqiuB_rH0_oQ/w640-h416/Screenshot_2020-10-27+Twitch%25281%2529.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Joey napping</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So here's to giving thanks, even if at times this year it has been hard to feel it. I write this partly to remind myself, too. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">May you have a safe, happy holiday season. I'd love to hear some things you're grateful for, too, in a comment below!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHc1l8XmwyjIFGMKXZhU5WL8M_YP_yhfEtZp4Abmx1Qes0XBhTKFJ742pQBTYIq5UnVbxwZJxKPTQ5pjEbmFdp49l9TwESEL-M-GdoYcUdqAdF_LhAtNQivczg9c9fDZaF4_NXHVnE6k/s2048/IMGP6842+%25282%2529.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1361" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHc1l8XmwyjIFGMKXZhU5WL8M_YP_yhfEtZp4Abmx1Qes0XBhTKFJ742pQBTYIq5UnVbxwZJxKPTQ5pjEbmFdp49l9TwESEL-M-GdoYcUdqAdF_LhAtNQivczg9c9fDZaF4_NXHVnE6k/w640-h426/IMGP6842+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i> </span><span face="Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> </span></p></div>jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-47462769800957270412020-10-20T00:11:00.013-07:002020-10-20T19:48:50.198-07:00Autumn in the Pacific Northwest: Huckleberries, Larches, and Good Rain<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrh0WwFU7lVTnbk2-dD8gT0HItoTfEePCge0i_37CjqzyV-zW2QIrv9_NjL54yxrt04648Zr3m5a8LSkjS94SS-Hb7f1FgnDrC8JDZS-ah6r7elLx7_jIy_-5YUbKYOiZa0wZeZuKXn2k/s1280/IMGP9839+%25281280x916%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="1280" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrh0WwFU7lVTnbk2-dD8gT0HItoTfEePCge0i_37CjqzyV-zW2QIrv9_NjL54yxrt04648Zr3m5a8LSkjS94SS-Hb7f1FgnDrC8JDZS-ah6r7elLx7_jIy_-5YUbKYOiZa0wZeZuKXn2k/w640-h458/IMGP9839+%25281280x916%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">There's something indefinably magic about autumn that makes it my favorite time of year. And this year, we all can use some magic, right?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">While it's a drippy rainy evening here in Seattle as I write this, we've had some brilliant fall color and weather. Our first frost is expected in a few days.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">People this year are flocking and recreating outside in our forests and parks like never before. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">So today's post is about getting outside and celebrating late summer/autumn beauty in this splendid region.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Early Autumn<br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">By late August, you can usually feel a hint of autumn at higher elevations in the Cascades. The sun travels lower across the sky, <a href="https://green2.kingcounty.gov/gonative/Plant.aspx?Act=view&PlantID=47">vine maples</a> are starting to show a hint of color, and pesky bugs are no longer an issue.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just before Labor Day weekend, I joined a friend and her daughter for a weekday hike near <a href="https://www.expedia.com/Snoqualmie-Pass.dx55002">Snoqualmie Pass</a> in the <a href="https://mtsgreenway.org/">Mountains to Sound Greenway,</a> less than an hour east of Seattle. We got an early start and felt a morning fall chill that later transitioned to mellow warmth. <b> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Within a couple hours we made it up to tranquil Mason Lake, where huckleberries were starting to pop out on shrubs around the lake. While sitting on the shore of this mountain lake in the soft warm sunshine, all that 2020 anxiety drained away for a spell.<b> <br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmUJZ3O7PwAl_ceGXFbwssRp0f7wgWpl6GfvW_i41BzY1Lzu61xPjfK8hmmkmN3QcpoGq3y50yAlgS5PY7sn08lXmIlDDnwjPzdDMv230IDbhfFqUJCJcuF_EinriKyEkGHTCpPD3C7Q/s2048/IMGP5913c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="2048" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmUJZ3O7PwAl_ceGXFbwssRp0f7wgWpl6GfvW_i41BzY1Lzu61xPjfK8hmmkmN3QcpoGq3y50yAlgS5PY7sn08lXmIlDDnwjPzdDMv230IDbhfFqUJCJcuF_EinriKyEkGHTCpPD3C7Q/w640-h380/IMGP5913c.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b> </b> <br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But this being 2020, heavy smoke from the raging West Coast wildfires kept us inside for almost 2 weeks starting Labor Day weekend. I was lucky to get out a day ahead of the smoke to kayak off <a href="https://www.experiencewa.com/cities/vashon-island">Vashon Island</a>.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsknK8KK6-662v2PydMF-NVxCBtFnKPPJYE9k4rCtzrdBecdZ9mn7oovyJPNCf8aixbIAXyK9a2Z4qd_s05pPuZECPhcp29kudYPovKDPgAN8NsRwqpvGJPFz-2xAd48yoPZtSGpAhW4/s2048/IMGP6225.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1332" data-original-width="2048" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsknK8KK6-662v2PydMF-NVxCBtFnKPPJYE9k4rCtzrdBecdZ9mn7oovyJPNCf8aixbIAXyK9a2Z4qd_s05pPuZECPhcp29kudYPovKDPgAN8NsRwqpvGJPFz-2xAd48yoPZtSGpAhW4/w640-h416/IMGP6225.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwRO-t0CAvjZ2fVh580EqKfsugB1YRZsk7lDE6GYSlzbWnHRvl0Diy5C8MgUJRHv2of7iVJtcmFw4YolBYJAramfekWK8N_F2p8dOXJjTtZqng6RA6PZTWLcHZiwkbv7FjfItmHlwcQCM/s2048/IMGP6271.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1375" data-original-width="2048" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwRO-t0CAvjZ2fVh580EqKfsugB1YRZsk7lDE6GYSlzbWnHRvl0Diy5C8MgUJRHv2of7iVJtcmFw4YolBYJAramfekWK8N_F2p8dOXJjTtZqng6RA6PZTWLcHZiwkbv7FjfItmHlwcQCM/w640-h430/IMGP6271.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Early sign of fall on the beach</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When things cleared up later in the month, I caught an early morning ferry to meet my aunt and friends for morning coffee at <a href="https://fortworden.org/">Fort Worden</a> in Port Townsend, Washington. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSb4ioOuwT7lKt3sG-HLc9Vn-d-IYZeupaoRi4FmX7HaWnsrzHFxY_eJz-QE3vkiHBScftvILnGBRFIbilRMXW2SPwSXRnW88fLDunTo-jBxPThqk9TPK2yxeVYXX3UbK8JqkwWtk5Kbk/s2048/c.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSb4ioOuwT7lKt3sG-HLc9Vn-d-IYZeupaoRi4FmX7HaWnsrzHFxY_eJz-QE3vkiHBScftvILnGBRFIbilRMXW2SPwSXRnW88fLDunTo-jBxPThqk9TPK2yxeVYXX3UbK8JqkwWtk5Kbk/w640-h426/c.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Olympic Mountains, predawn</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">After an hour sitting outdoors in distanced chairs, sipping hot drinks, and enjoying excellent conversation, we walked around <a href="https://parks.state.wa.us/511/Fort-Worden">Fort Worden State Park </a>on what was an absolutely stellar, crisp early autumn day. I kept exclaiming out loud, "This is a perfect fall day!"</span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZsecOXhLTbzHSyLx_h9UJOAvdSDnFFmN1D1CiScxbA4yMj8y2WlOBjdxVphInNtcAgawHaFC-8fJk1zgZNwxp0T3hTFCctO_7bPZFrnZfl1Qlg3Vzj-HCpaQwZmSFU87KzDEeP-tiSk/s2048/DSC03933c.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1346" data-original-width="2048" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZsecOXhLTbzHSyLx_h9UJOAvdSDnFFmN1D1CiScxbA4yMj8y2WlOBjdxVphInNtcAgawHaFC-8fJk1zgZNwxp0T3hTFCctO_7bPZFrnZfl1Qlg3Vzj-HCpaQwZmSFU87KzDEeP-tiSk/w640-h420/DSC03933c.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7pUbxYgTTdQLAD8erfIm88PWVbDWr4gcy04YU23_GHw1u5ogGWsXMqpd79rO_49czRn4XiZzxywuY5LpX8HV_6F8CGp3Vlc8Kb8yMKjyeiO-aFFpx3vffkhURYC883AxBKvX-SNaNgg/s2048/DSC03924c.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1341" data-original-width="2048" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7pUbxYgTTdQLAD8erfIm88PWVbDWr4gcy04YU23_GHw1u5ogGWsXMqpd79rO_49czRn4XiZzxywuY5LpX8HV_6F8CGp3Vlc8Kb8yMKjyeiO-aFFpx3vffkhURYC883AxBKvX-SNaNgg/w640-h420/DSC03924c.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Historic Fort Worden building</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">And then there were huckleberries. I joined a small group of lovely women for a book club hike into the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mbs/recarea/?recid=79416">Alpine Lakes Wilderness</a> to discuss <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/201215.Twelve_Moons">Twelve Moons </a>by the late great poet Mary Oliver. Although the trail was plenty busy, we managed to spread out and stayed mostly masked. <br /><br /></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDA0R-2n0navmcYSzSmyFiJPd_TGLIMN9dIbhjvL8qUL83Xi9Vc6NP21o7v5B4KqdKqEZGhSV56ygdJzrU8XVKletzYjn0BIEAFWFJ1mVQOrpSfvokIf338Xi2rh23dQ8X4cNMp4FQklg/s2048/DSC03821.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1326" data-original-width="2048" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDA0R-2n0navmcYSzSmyFiJPd_TGLIMN9dIbhjvL8qUL83Xi9Vc6NP21o7v5B4KqdKqEZGhSV56ygdJzrU8XVKletzYjn0BIEAFWFJ1mVQOrpSfvokIf338Xi2rh23dQ8X4cNMp4FQklg/w640-h414/DSC03821.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Near the top of <a href="https://www.mountaineers.org/activities/routes-places/mount-sawyer-tonga-ridge">Mt. Sawyer</a>, we filled emptied water bottles with huckleberries after discussing the lyrical poems. With a clearing sky and all that mountain fresh air too, it was another perfect fall day. (And the huckleberry tarts I made later were pretty wonderful too.)</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZVKMOqWbdvE2-4QtF0DBCiLlPBVP2SfbWw48gYKH_hyWlN5VuH3MPno8F1GzxJyaX3iiUr1-Mw6Vxuqg51ZAQkOLK4fNkjveX43MoHCch3qc55xbpINV8HpbnWL4QPbYsCn1lnauUiQ/s2048/DSC03843.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1373" data-original-width="2048" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZVKMOqWbdvE2-4QtF0DBCiLlPBVP2SfbWw48gYKH_hyWlN5VuH3MPno8F1GzxJyaX3iiUr1-Mw6Vxuqg51ZAQkOLK4fNkjveX43MoHCch3qc55xbpINV8HpbnWL4QPbYsCn1lnauUiQ/w640-h430/DSC03843.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Evergreen state</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <b>October</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And then there were <a href="https://www.wta.org/news/magazine/features/the-science-of-larches">golden larches</a>. I'm addicted to seeing these deciduous conifers each October at their peak brilliance. This subalpine species only grows in a limited range, between elevations from 5,800 to 7,500 feet on the sunnier eastern crest of the Cascades.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDr8RXHyJJOHXl1_l3PbOuS9hsp33FqZwFhJR28nnHiX_q5F_Wxjuz6tkgm6BfLCB9M1DwXDxdW2AFTWwYtxTtzSe7loiKoHbuIv6E2SQQb25YvY6yuqUScWLmA8nOLLWuenfMAeynGc/s2048/DSC04146.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1376" data-original-width="2048" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDr8RXHyJJOHXl1_l3PbOuS9hsp33FqZwFhJR28nnHiX_q5F_Wxjuz6tkgm6BfLCB9M1DwXDxdW2AFTWwYtxTtzSe7loiKoHbuIv6E2SQQb25YvY6yuqUScWLmA8nOLLWuenfMAeynGc/w640-h430/DSC04146.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p>On a midweek hike to <a href="https://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2016/10/autumn-hiking-in-pacifc-northwest.html">Ingalls Pass</a> in the Teanaway region near <a href="https://www.discovercleelum.com/">Cle Elum</a>, Washington, I met up with my high school backpacking buddy Alice. Many years had passed since we tramped together along a trail, so it was a special day for me.<br /></p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04clOQ1sXBRwi4VVR6caOxcVS6OUUIEdvskkaxJ11lafRPdjqsOw6nGFcfxaSukeKg1PQv3aFlJVBZOE5X9u3rYIg6vJDL-go8WbDnvNF410GwjbvNcLc0J7Ysz8qaXlxm4-UMUQTnNo/s6295/DSC04092c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4585" data-original-width="6295" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04clOQ1sXBRwi4VVR6caOxcVS6OUUIEdvskkaxJ11lafRPdjqsOw6nGFcfxaSukeKg1PQv3aFlJVBZOE5X9u3rYIg6vJDL-go8WbDnvNF410GwjbvNcLc0J7Ysz8qaXlxm4-UMUQTnNo/w640-h466/DSC04092c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Mt. Stuart</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">In early October, even on a Wednesday trail traffic was steady. We both felt the elevation as we trudged upward a few thousand feet. But as soon as we topped out at the pass, </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">glowing golden</span> larches appeared everywhere and any dragginess we felt disappeared.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">We hiked onward through and past groves of vibrant trees in the basin below. Just an awesome day!</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHg_ugdGCDaSf1VshmdDPYWsiH0QK-7ZpBNGKANc3JWult7u0xsADjLENi5SGQozSQeGRBMP0I6tjstDZXcLDJ4XOHcNkg5HoVwVj-ttbnYkOGo0PvVSk68cX0thQvFTcCN-BV3bUzBs/s2048/DSC04174.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1354" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHg_ugdGCDaSf1VshmdDPYWsiH0QK-7ZpBNGKANc3JWult7u0xsADjLENi5SGQozSQeGRBMP0I6tjstDZXcLDJ4XOHcNkg5HoVwVj-ttbnYkOGo0PvVSk68cX0thQvFTcCN-BV3bUzBs/w640-h424/DSC04174.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Closer to Seattle, a couple girlfriends and I snuck out for a </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">chilly, misty </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">morning hike recently on a <a href="http://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2013/06/hiking-cascades-greatest-hits-annette.html">popular trail </a>west of Snoqualmie Pass.</span><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRZl91dhF4z6hTjvdlCYnN3RT2lQxTnjVArFzl_61C-ZaMAa7kfMwnyeh9IwuatOQWCqam-K7O7TQy_O6uEt97Z-0zRMlObBXft3yjB9QW6D_DTpgn77T-m59F6PaiLiWHqH0z-xgxc8/s2048/IMGP6697c.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1395" data-original-width="2048" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRZl91dhF4z6hTjvdlCYnN3RT2lQxTnjVArFzl_61C-ZaMAa7kfMwnyeh9IwuatOQWCqam-K7O7TQy_O6uEt97Z-0zRMlObBXft3yjB9QW6D_DTpgn77T-m59F6PaiLiWHqH0z-xgxc8/w640-h436/IMGP6697c.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHRmXWNxnc0b6PH6Skm0_zVKVAntTCzoRZGWnBAPyRrK6pWEXv-FNVG-10VZQf_in8PjwitAyYfeRCgakehKifBGLD7xSyBrh3uPJEjHJ9O47TOTTsBcu-MkaOIYOKJVrkaQ_vI2SOmE/s2048/IMGP6744c.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1326" data-original-width="2048" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHRmXWNxnc0b6PH6Skm0_zVKVAntTCzoRZGWnBAPyRrK6pWEXv-FNVG-10VZQf_in8PjwitAyYfeRCgakehKifBGLD7xSyBrh3uPJEjHJ9O47TOTTsBcu-MkaOIYOKJVrkaQ_vI2SOmE/w640-h414/IMGP6744c.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">While it didn't rain on us that morning, by afternoon the next storm arrived. Our thirsty plants and forests throughout the region soaked up the much needed moisture. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is what we call a good rain. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I write this, snow is predicted even in the lower mountain passes later this week.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb77HhcptPZp8svPzdQJEmuliUxawZw7h9extz5Z8vUhyphenhyphencKZvmpvXK09dPzsiNhuZN9BE1NQTReIssKhdDi5JGwBP34EtlpqsudxKg3h66hA7QYoIcAk-ctbre_WXGUJbO_tm-aLxWJ9I/s2048/IMGP6810c.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1338" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb77HhcptPZp8svPzdQJEmuliUxawZw7h9extz5Z8vUhyphenhyphencKZvmpvXK09dPzsiNhuZN9BE1NQTReIssKhdDi5JGwBP34EtlpqsudxKg3h66hA7QYoIcAk-ctbre_WXGUJbO_tm-aLxWJ9I/w640-h418/IMGP6810c.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">But where I physically feel the change of seasons most is during weekly brief open water "wild" swims in <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/Water-Shorelines/Puget-Sound">Puget Sound</a>. When my plunge buddy and I started in January, the air and water were downright frigid. Then this past summer, we'd sit in the warm sun on the beach afterwards.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">With October, we've been greeted by wind, rain, and sometimes fog, like in the</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> short clip below right before our plunge yesterday. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And yes, I think standing in the rain before plunging in the cold sea is actually pretty wonderful. :)</span></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y-W5a7kw7QQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="y-W5a7kw7QQ"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>I hope you, too, can get out and revel in the changing season. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> </span></span><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12.61px;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-60220848175873061502020-09-14T00:34:00.012-07:002021-09-15T14:47:40.124-07:00In the Pacific Northwest: Fire and Rain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2rjKmPiuJgVqF_F2LV5YSR8D88kSUtW5ki9Td4OHjmP2KNBy1w2gCUgZ1uxChaH7om4mSRUbDFovk2bJHuUqtaA1whwStUkDA5-1hnuD_sIS6fDq8SwTFOWADtSrfvErPEsnVr1UJMk/s4374/DSC03170c.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3409" data-original-width="4374" height="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2rjKmPiuJgVqF_F2LV5YSR8D88kSUtW5ki9Td4OHjmP2KNBy1w2gCUgZ1uxChaH7om4mSRUbDFovk2bJHuUqtaA1whwStUkDA5-1hnuD_sIS6fDq8SwTFOWADtSrfvErPEsnVr1UJMk/w781-h608/DSC03170c.jpg" width="781" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I write this, the air outside is tinged with a smokey fog that smells like a campfire here in Seattle, where there shouldn't be campfires. Yesterday the sky was tinged orange, although it's slightly improved today. Our air quality is still considered unhealthy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is not the Pacific Northwest of my youth or even young adulthood. Big fires happened sometimes, but absolutely nothing on the scale of the last few years and this past week. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Most of us here are grieving for the loss of lives, homes, and many special wild places. Right now one of my favorite trails is burning; some of our last remaining old growth forests and wilderness areas have burned. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Turns out there's a word for what I'm (we're) feeling:</span> <span><span style="background-color: white;">“solastalgia.”</span></span></span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">Coined by Australian environmental philosopher Glenn Albrecht, solastalgia </span><span style="background-color: white;">is “manifest in an attack on one’s sense of place, in the erosion of the sense of belonging (identity) to a particular place and a feeling of distress (psychological desolation) about its transformation.” In other words, it's “a form of homesickness one gets when one is still at ‘home.’”</span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_YVPPzOb7CpUDY9rHVcC930uNv3J6VqAy10DYJJFNUpVq_IZl5AqJatvFUjcQ2lJgSzzXIOsjw4Vgw9tIK9eJxTAbOFPtPquFKMnaMNCfgoUi1_OT59pyl_3fEihDwRV2oWoBTDlUHE/s7145/DSC03167c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4576" data-original-width="7145" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_YVPPzOb7CpUDY9rHVcC930uNv3J6VqAy10DYJJFNUpVq_IZl5AqJatvFUjcQ2lJgSzzXIOsjw4Vgw9tIK9eJxTAbOFPtPquFKMnaMNCfgoUi1_OT59pyl_3fEihDwRV2oWoBTDlUHE/w781-h500/DSC03167c.jpg" width="781" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>This term came about from distressed people who<span style="background-color: white;"> had remained in place, even as the landscape that had once brought them solace became unrecognizable. </span></span><span><span style="background-color: white;">It’s a word that has started to be </span><span style="background-color: white;">used in the context of climate change.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Before I read the article in the L.A. Times about solastalgia, I was basically trying to come up with words to convey this feeling, which has been exacerbated by the fire maelstroms here in the Pacific Northwest this past week. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some of of my most treasured places, such as trails through lush forests carpeted with moss and ferns, have burned or are burning. I read that <a href="http://nativeplantspnw.com/western-red-cedar-thuja-plicata/">western red cedar</a> will eventually become a victim of changing climate. I can't imagine a world without these magnificent cedars in our forests, where I feel the most at peace in the world.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgll5Z5tmN0aq330xjkK0FGh7DEF54EoO6b20O5yo9Tvw7oTuf4Lg_rD9G51KJ6_9KK70Tbf-dUG4WO2Dy9fAq_UJudIc-r9pLA-btM99kZRRhX5PWNJekhFzH-VrJl-g1b7F6e-V2DeRQ/s2048/DSC02853.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1384" data-original-width="2048" height="529" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgll5Z5tmN0aq330xjkK0FGh7DEF54EoO6b20O5yo9Tvw7oTuf4Lg_rD9G51KJ6_9KK70Tbf-dUG4WO2Dy9fAq_UJudIc-r9pLA-btM99kZRRhX5PWNJekhFzH-VrJl-g1b7F6e-V2DeRQ/w780-h529/DSC02853.jpg" width="780" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p>As quoted in the <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-13/solastalgia-climate-change-induced-despair?fbclid=IwAR0ME7wc1ohShM6mnyNQ5Da0CDJZcFwLnqJlqXwmQby03iRZoMe5vKm9q0E">L.A. Times article</a>, <span style="background-color: white;">“We have relationships to places,” says Dr. Susan Clayton, a professor of psychology and environmental studies at the College of Wooster in Ohio. “They’re very significant to our history and our sense of who we are.”</span></p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was nurtured and shaped in ways I didn't recognize until midlife by woodlands thick with western red cedar. I can't explain clearly the visceral way I'm drawn to these trees.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So here I'm posting shots of places that might have burned (like <a href="https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=151" target="_blank">Silver Falls State Park</a> east of Salem, Oregon, where we're still waiting to hear the extent of fire damage). But I also hope to convey a sense of a changing region, and what's being lost.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjOP7ggWNaAXffX86qat8IMPoVr79id1a5sV195SyvXt1WmFC-7zsjKfcmHMGPPtIm9AepDwF1_fU5DF889VmYSiFRPYutsLdMGRMsKKt02LPWIlDSLwb_OuTDh_oqP8N8Yo9k094iQc/s2048/_IGP3673c.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjOP7ggWNaAXffX86qat8IMPoVr79id1a5sV195SyvXt1WmFC-7zsjKfcmHMGPPtIm9AepDwF1_fU5DF889VmYSiFRPYutsLdMGRMsKKt02LPWIlDSLwb_OuTDh_oqP8N8Yo9k094iQc/w781-h518/_IGP3673c.JPG" width="781" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FHjIfMpLnsUUmjwnjkPOJAt6ArUO0Y5_LWflWdgbzaoHC4L5B0_uOjyunAMCJoFd8tFD_7qOBmyFrHlYADkEzyD0MlJ85nnCrACTCN1VU3kKX0L0tMBeti7TqexMaiYTzK-5lNmcZRs/s1024/IMGP8562+%25281024x678%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="1024" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FHjIfMpLnsUUmjwnjkPOJAt6ArUO0Y5_LWflWdgbzaoHC4L5B0_uOjyunAMCJoFd8tFD_7qOBmyFrHlYADkEzyD0MlJ85nnCrACTCN1VU3kKX0L0tMBeti7TqexMaiYTzK-5lNmcZRs/w781-h518/IMGP8562+%25281024x678%2529.jpg" width="781" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FHjIfMpLnsUUmjwnjkPOJAt6ArUO0Y5_LWflWdgbzaoHC4L5B0_uOjyunAMCJoFd8tFD_7qOBmyFrHlYADkEzyD0MlJ85nnCrACTCN1VU3kKX0L0tMBeti7TqexMaiYTzK-5lNmcZRs/s1024/IMGP8562+%25281024x678%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiedtv2Fgpy0a00rHz2LC8-wQ6_GqG4YMcGVScE7WDQmcLgqjxAGn3DsCWk8cjmVbureq3MRQ_ZzoZnuvuwc-BHXp_ulZF1i99ycERuA60xdiOOAb4yYyte4AaFgWTUM_5dFK4eUl704/s1280/IMGP2160+%25281280x848%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="1280" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiedtv2Fgpy0a00rHz2LC8-wQ6_GqG4YMcGVScE7WDQmcLgqjxAGn3DsCWk8cjmVbureq3MRQ_ZzoZnuvuwc-BHXp_ulZF1i99ycERuA60xdiOOAb4yYyte4AaFgWTUM_5dFK4eUl704/w781-h518/IMGP2160+%25281280x848%2529.jpg" width="781" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our forests westward of the Cascade Mountains crest are <a href="https://www.treehugger.com/facts-about-north-americas-temperate-rain-forests-4869747">temperate rainforests</a>, which are home to one of the highest levels of biomass on Earth. They harbor a richness of life that needs a good dousing of rain off and on, even in the summer, to thrive. Instead the trend is higher temperatures and longer, drier periods that allow the underbrush to dry out and serve as fuel for fires.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Granted, it's not just a changing climate that is contributing to our increasingly record-breaking fires. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Historically there were burns, but it was part of the natural regime. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fire suppression and profit-driven forest practices in the last century have played a role in exacerbating bigger and more extensive fires. <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDRAgxj0TKahMufSE1JLMkRcH7Ut68fwtYdAwRQug6gKkaQUo2gE14_EecO6_EZ5GJsl8_MTd1slbM8jvjNDVPK50Eym4X3THKLdyDUe7hKO8ZAITZqPKp63zEPLKx7Q77U3mZAK6Z_8/s2048/IMGP2183c2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDRAgxj0TKahMufSE1JLMkRcH7Ut68fwtYdAwRQug6gKkaQUo2gE14_EecO6_EZ5GJsl8_MTd1slbM8jvjNDVPK50Eym4X3THKLdyDUe7hKO8ZAITZqPKp63zEPLKx7Q77U3mZAK6Z_8/w781-h518/IMGP2183c2.JPG" width="781" /></a><br /><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">After a week of fires and hazardous/unhealthy air quality casting a pallor over the region, rain is predicted for tomorrow night. We're <i>supposed</i> to have rain in September. When I was a teenager, I remember getting rained out on a couple week-long backpack trips in the Cascade Mountains the week before school started in early September.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Let's hope (and dance or pray) this rain really comes as forecast. (Monday night update, it did rain a bit although not enough to make much difference in the air quality.)<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFX62kX381DqCnziZEKe_IdcXbsT-oNq7X5PPVsxUC8rxb0SxMt0JCuHr5fY8FuW1GGhlorZfaBCFFKcL1GuWn8J3KQQveeTOGxbBPkPcmPB3Lr19DTBExLFVLpGM7klmZkEyvcVxDPw/s2048/DSC00713+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="2048" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFX62kX381DqCnziZEKe_IdcXbsT-oNq7X5PPVsxUC8rxb0SxMt0JCuHr5fY8FuW1GGhlorZfaBCFFKcL1GuWn8J3KQQveeTOGxbBPkPcmPB3Lr19DTBExLFVLpGM7klmZkEyvcVxDPw/w781-h508/DSC00713+%25282%2529.JPG" width="781" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's to a predicted La Nina winter, with cold</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">er temps and heavier rain in the Pacific Northwest. Even if it staves off the inevitable for while longer, we'll take it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">How are you faring or feeling this past week if you're on the West Coast USA? Have you been directly affected by the fires? We'd love to hear in a comment below.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"><i style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons!<br /></span></i></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"><i style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;"></span></i></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black; line-height: 17.12px;"><i style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span></span></span></p></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2NFaAOqG-_RRgbZN2EJPr50XHwTFnuda68bFJTzoaD0UvM2fHPMvs43kdC5Cv4MeNo6pYZrG8Sm2lfSx9TpUDhv4PNyQYnq7KyZeePcbXztnOjNcvEkKWvjGqRER1ovWwSXpoL_pdVU4/s1280/IMGP1367+%25281280x868%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVJm9t3Dph3DEScwzwzdhOgDZ9mNpQ4z9On3PHULn-3w-BEiUloTSPiMo_2bbjwG48svCHHm60oOlhJqATFc8RwaC-I4Hy8YtItUrCE0YeS6L-o4r_pHdgfolhE1074QkPc4-pWqrI-U/s2048/IMGP8599c2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1329" data-original-width="2048" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVJm9t3Dph3DEScwzwzdhOgDZ9mNpQ4z9On3PHULn-3w-BEiUloTSPiMo_2bbjwG48svCHHm60oOlhJqATFc8RwaC-I4Hy8YtItUrCE0YeS6L-o4r_pHdgfolhE1074QkPc4-pWqrI-U/w781-h508/IMGP8599c2.jpg" width="781" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br />jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-641649023350258692020-08-01T21:03:00.012-07:002021-09-15T14:47:50.462-07:00The Power of Rituals
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="3"><span></span></font></span></p><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="3"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Wo2eXxdUlGIRWJHWgHqe3daIWq5u-xNTKcO6JRhG-OINng25Q5L4bvrp6sFy8HB9PZujMg143EOyjtq4cEoXaJnlhaUa72PXnQKeIP1a1VFQWf59tF66qW1A6TyUdPvjHcyuTe9dPK8/s1024/IMGP8648+%25281024x678%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Wo2eXxdUlGIRWJHWgHqe3daIWq5u-xNTKcO6JRhG-OINng25Q5L4bvrp6sFy8HB9PZujMg143EOyjtq4cEoXaJnlhaUa72PXnQKeIP1a1VFQWf59tF66qW1A6TyUdPvjHcyuTe9dPK8/s640/IMGP8648+%25281024x678%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>With<span style="color: black;"> 2020 bringing an unprecedented series of challenges, it's
a hard time to feel settled. </span></span></span></font></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><font size="3">
</font></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><font size="3"><span>As the year
lurches along, many of us have stepped back from the news and sought solace in
rituals, like long daily walks.<br /> <br /></span></font></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><font size="3">
</font></span></span><p class="xparagraph" style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black;">Studies have shown that rituals help us feel in
control when there are a lot of unknowns in our world. For anxiety-prone people
(shooting my hand straight up in the air here), rituals can be calming. <br /></span></span></font></span></span></p><p class="xparagraph" style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p class="xparagraph" style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span>While rituals have their roots in ancient religions, they can be anything we do with regularity, with a sense of purpose, just because. <b><span style="color: black;"><span>Rituals provide an
ongoing way to structure our lives. </span></span></b></span><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black;">The ritual process provides a sense of stability and continuity
amidst the ever-changing world. Like that daily walk. Or that morning cup of
tea or coffee, savored slowly.</span></span></span></font></span></span></p><p class="xparagraph" style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></font></span></p><p class="xparagraph" style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span class="xnormaltextrun"></span></span></font></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4N9VqGybCmKXUODmu6UepI_B5t19Ksium434HsMvMifMd6_g-7v1mp_1J8hhTI2n4kzeFOpjyErxfyoZoOkYDPbAVlNiv7OzRjGG-R50qwChyaQ2OPxnCZsMfuFcD0dDxbNPYl4eZm8/s2048/IMGP1281.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4N9VqGybCmKXUODmu6UepI_B5t19Ksium434HsMvMifMd6_g-7v1mp_1J8hhTI2n4kzeFOpjyErxfyoZoOkYDPbAVlNiv7OzRjGG-R50qwChyaQ2OPxnCZsMfuFcD0dDxbNPYl4eZm8/s640/IMGP1281.JPG" width="640" /></a></font></div><font size="3"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></font><p></p><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="3">
</font></span><p class="xparagraph" style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>My friend Andy's morning ritual involves brewing a cup of coffee
just so, then sipping it while doing one game of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudoku">Sudoko</a> before starting her day. <br /></span></span></span></span></font></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><font size="3">
</font></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><font size="3"><span>For me, it’s a
variation. During a </span></font><font size="3"><span><font size="3"><span>museum</span></font> internship in London many years ago, the art department where I worked took a 10-minute break together for tea
and biscuits, twice a day. From the department director to the janitor, they all took
turns bringing biscuits (cookies) to share. <br /></span></font></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><font size="3">
</font></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="3"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>So although I
work at home alone, around 3 p.m. I break and have a fresh pot of <a href="https://taooftea.com/product/silver-needle-jasmine/">silver jasmine tea</a> and a buckwheat fig bar, reheated until just crispy. It’s a cozy and calming few minutes. (And sometimes I think about those heady days as a student in London.)</span></span><br /></span></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="3"></font></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxD-DgG8rxzjJEJOq3O76C_aSVFLmqQcpCjUFBQZ2WhRiv2fyBCZ5C-hzYA2r6Awaqbgha8c4FTcEmsIupP2gZ0I8fti67gkuPI_7mqrzKbaHdpsCTl9XTWHiZtXr_R7bFEGV2vgjQqRk/s2048/IMGP5436c.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxD-DgG8rxzjJEJOq3O76C_aSVFLmqQcpCjUFBQZ2WhRiv2fyBCZ5C-hzYA2r6Awaqbgha8c4FTcEmsIupP2gZ0I8fti67gkuPI_7mqrzKbaHdpsCTl9XTWHiZtXr_R7bFEGV2vgjQqRk/s640/IMGP5436c.JPG" width="640" /></a></font></div><font size="3"><span><br /></span></font><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="3"><span></span></font></span></p><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="3">
</font></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black;">In a <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-flux/201508/10-ways-rituals-help-us-celebrate-our-lives"><i>Psychology
Today </i>article</a> on rituals I read while prepping for this post, some really resonated with me. They say </span></span><b>rituals
connect us with nature and the seasons. </b> By watching the constant shifts
and turns in nature, we recognize our own cycles of life, our own rhythms as
humans. Rituals remind us of the interconnectedness of all of life. </font></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><font size="3">
</font></span></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><font size="3">While I don't have such lofty thoughts when out hiking/walking in nature, walking throughout the seasons
does make me feel more connected to the places I pass through. I especially
feel this connection on silent meditation hikes that I occasionally lead, where we walk in silence.</font></span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0lSJSgKoJ1Bq2ROzV3H6qlGCtyUotnsMMcuOeGxim-XXmZnmdrPnDI2P-bCnbGzghysoQ4sSkAdklJZAi7NteJ0Nm0wYoDL_kEFMS5YGwRUN-3EBDCdy2gGEoJZh77sogsMXz4-cdGY/s2048/IMGP9565.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1375" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0lSJSgKoJ1Bq2ROzV3H6qlGCtyUotnsMMcuOeGxim-XXmZnmdrPnDI2P-bCnbGzghysoQ4sSkAdklJZAi7NteJ0Nm0wYoDL_kEFMS5YGwRUN-3EBDCdy2gGEoJZh77sogsMXz4-cdGY/s640/IMGP9565.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="3"><br /></font></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="3"></font></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxBsJO0RoSs3vtUtIT0YR6ewXLKF49tiVZQ4IFaMR6pXxsnM49yNhoL8onaCwszOa6tvbFjpIYB9fc4gXmh5bYTybxbZa8bvSIGwvbF3uqQvI7NVHww1MykYVPJevOrFxCEwzKqdin5o/s2048/DSC00725+%25283%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1373" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxBsJO0RoSs3vtUtIT0YR6ewXLKF49tiVZQ4IFaMR6pXxsnM49yNhoL8onaCwszOa6tvbFjpIYB9fc4gXmh5bYTybxbZa8bvSIGwvbF3uqQvI7NVHww1MykYVPJevOrFxCEwzKqdin5o/s640/DSC00725+%25283%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></font></div><p><font size="3"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="3"></font></span></font></p><font size="3"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Every autumn, I also watch for the peak of golden larch season in the North Cascades and head out for <a href="http://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2016/10/autumn-hiking-in-pacifc-northwest.html">a hike to catch the glorious display</a>. (Now they call it "Larch Madness" or a "Larch March.") My autumn wouldn't feel quite right without a ritual walk amongst those shimmering golden trees.</span></span><br /></font><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDps4DGyD6xkLno8YOmun4xJr4rboGw7VoCaURWRrZbBJmfV-vxYSlM1lR52_rkNnXNEneN8aHq7BZ1DOqd9Kk7eh1XA2OsrlDB4MB3NBCm1tsklSsidSmhqG3V0i3VJazz0z_I2BXj8/s1024/Cutthroat+Pass+Oct+2018+232+%25281024x683%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDps4DGyD6xkLno8YOmun4xJr4rboGw7VoCaURWRrZbBJmfV-vxYSlM1lR52_rkNnXNEneN8aHq7BZ1DOqd9Kk7eh1XA2OsrlDB4MB3NBCm1tsklSsidSmhqG3V0i3VJazz0z_I2BXj8/s640/Cutthroat+Pass+Oct+2018+232+%25281024x683%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><font size="3"><br /></font><p></p><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="3">
</font></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><font size="3"><b><span style="color: black;">Rituals
provide us with a sense of renewal. </span></b><span>They offer us a time-out from our everyday
routine, habitual existence. Metaphorically, rituals can provide a time to
rest, replenish, and restore our selves.</span></font></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><font size="3">
</font></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><font size="3"><span>My morning
meditation practice, which has its roots in centuries old rituals, is lovely way to start the day. I don't hit every day, but
when I do, sitting silently, focusing on my breath, trying to "stay in the
room," in the moment, instead of letting my mind wander all over, is calming
and balancing. This year, that's gold.</span></font><br /><br /></span><font size="3"><span><font size="3"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">My meditation is
done via Zoom, with my laptop propped in front of me while I sit with people
in the Seattle area, Michigan, California, sometimes Florida, and Georgia. Maybe there are people logging in from more locations too.</span><br /></span></font></span></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="3"></font></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWo8Dg7cS_1N1eEhPCk2rNBKcqFvGQLWSf6nhe4ym6Btmc0sYW_LLti76zfccCutFdHA7CKrDZVDNvtRwI1vrH243UUzgrtmk4tCUBhOxi97DzdPZKh0XLr9v5sx1P3uraQmhr0BwC-_k/s2048/2013-01-01+00.01.21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWo8Dg7cS_1N1eEhPCk2rNBKcqFvGQLWSf6nhe4ym6Btmc0sYW_LLti76zfccCutFdHA7CKrDZVDNvtRwI1vrH243UUzgrtmk4tCUBhOxi97DzdPZKh0XLr9v5sx1P3uraQmhr0BwC-_k/s640/2013-01-01+00.01.21.jpg" width="640" /></a></font></div><font size="3"><span></span></font><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="3"></font></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">And then there are rituals I've been doing for years, for no particular reason. Every time I walk on a beach, I go down to the sea's edge and dip my
fingers in the salt water.</span></span></font></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"></span></font></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDH5ov_0x9-CkyrWyTAUgRO-VxqmDcCerKGUf9QIVyWbTTI3Ati27OGm29mk1F03h-tI8z-NITnH8wi1W3bWmV7ib3x2FjqMj12sSPSPoROlO6boLJEIcf1dbbnQx2TQakgv3U9Z9A0s/s640/DSC00548.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDH5ov_0x9-CkyrWyTAUgRO-VxqmDcCerKGUf9QIVyWbTTI3Ati27OGm29mk1F03h-tI8z-NITnH8wi1W3bWmV7ib3x2FjqMj12sSPSPoROlO6boLJEIcf1dbbnQx2TQakgv3U9Z9A0s/s0/DSC00548.jpeg" /></a></font></div><font size="3"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></font><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Before COVID-19, a loose group of us met most mornings at a local bakeshop when it opened at 7 a.m. for coffee/tea and pastries. This </span></span></font><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">diverse </span></span></font>collection of people, from an economics instructor, a professional photographer, an insurance company owner, a former chicken farmer, a software engineer, a retired Boeing engineer, a cook-chef, to this writer/editor, was anchored by our matriarch, artist Carolyn.</span></span></font></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">This morning ritual offered a dose of camaraderie, often laughter, and friendship as we gathered around a table and traded stories before heading off to our respective days. It went on for over a dozen years, with people coming and going, until the pandemic. And fittingly, Carolyn chose a perfect time to move on to the next realm, whatever that may be, with her passing in March.</span></span></font></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Here she is at her 95th birthday party we threw for her last year. Wasn't she beautiful?</span></span></font></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="3"></font></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrtVDOGkbEDr9bmxCWNJQdNgAIv1vKBnSMb-_sFAYS95nPb4-VAi4MDMSXr-7WuZ_oqZd8vdo2VC3ugFcJn69Ncwk1pwBSKweiUb2sTflJIIjMODiqdh3sgoJsHfVadj2kjoGmN0nysw/s2048/20190518_071533c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrtVDOGkbEDr9bmxCWNJQdNgAIv1vKBnSMb-_sFAYS95nPb4-VAi4MDMSXr-7WuZ_oqZd8vdo2VC3ugFcJn69Ncwk1pwBSKweiUb2sTflJIIjMODiqdh3sgoJsHfVadj2kjoGmN0nysw/s640/20190518_071533c.jpg" width="640" /></a></font></div><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></font><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">We all miss Carolyn and mourn her death, but she lived a long, fascinating, often whimsical, and productive life. <br /></span></span></font></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">So we create new rituals as others fall away. They anchor us, give us solace, and maybe connect us to something beyond.</span></span></font></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Have you relied on rituals more than normal during the pandemic? I'd <i>love </i>to hear about any of your rituals in a comment below.</span></span></font></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! <br /></span></i></span></span></font></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><br /></span></span></span></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"></span></span></font></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZqNcP2iSvypYanuMKZd0v7cGbTLO_UBPOmEoSHt_zbmBBuVLi-sH06HRPlgmZlVAEMpxbMAbvYQSo8bONUMhYXxXliEmhCWRa7OGTERkXJ-0gdgvdBAjr6wxozq7i6kcCU5MVfJXZpI/s2048/_IGP6988.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZqNcP2iSvypYanuMKZd0v7cGbTLO_UBPOmEoSHt_zbmBBuVLi-sH06HRPlgmZlVAEMpxbMAbvYQSo8bONUMhYXxXliEmhCWRa7OGTERkXJ-0gdgvdBAjr6wxozq7i6kcCU5MVfJXZpI/s640/_IGP6988.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Labyrinth walking, another ancient ritual.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "arial";"><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWuqb2jd9NCV42jGQTMEKHCdX8Wnyh5xp1mjz9x9xf6ICxyfAuHehdOTOWA0mq7p-aptvLNnfLVHOhj3nRdcu52_H4AjNdCX1XRaaK8Ryfuz1RX00nV0jWlwVmD4xr5w-KyhVJjm9Gck/s640/IMG_0369+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWuqb2jd9NCV42jGQTMEKHCdX8Wnyh5xp1mjz9x9xf6ICxyfAuHehdOTOWA0mq7p-aptvLNnfLVHOhj3nRdcu52_H4AjNdCX1XRaaK8Ryfuz1RX00nV0jWlwVmD4xr5w-KyhVJjm9Gck/s0/IMG_0369+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zen rock garden, translated to "ritual space" in ancient Japanese<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></font></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><font size="3"><span class="xnormaltextrun"><span style="color: black; 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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
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<![endif]-->jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691739068295652166.post-70691457142571185442020-06-29T23:07:00.016-07:002020-07-01T13:45:14.396-07:00 Pandemic 2020: Re-emerging, Getting Outdoors, and Recreating Responsibly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAKicrA5286kN5uxECfZwNkBkdi8oRtuVri0KgiyK9hDCs1IPHghoYyLnABMuwf1-r0fAKBQ8uFF9UNyVzv-qHyHbC4Sg2iAGPFIuKYt01LoM_BTsV43dWKo0YFbtQ5mUylQbZF7Xh_U/s2435/IMGP5193cc.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1642" data-original-width="2435" height="423" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAKicrA5286kN5uxECfZwNkBkdi8oRtuVri0KgiyK9hDCs1IPHghoYyLnABMuwf1-r0fAKBQ8uFF9UNyVzv-qHyHbC4Sg2iAGPFIuKYt01LoM_BTsV43dWKo0YFbtQ5mUylQbZF7Xh_U/w625-h423/IMGP5193cc.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> With national parks and forests, state parks, and city parks closed for a couple months this spring, many of us urban dwellers were pining to get outdoors for real. Although things started reopening in May, I decided to re-emerge even more gradually.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana";">While Washington was in lockdown for over 2 months, I did a lot of <a href="https://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2020/04/social-distancing-and-sometimes.html">walking/exploring close to home</a>. I didn't fill up my car gas tank from late March to late May. But in June, well, Juneuary weather or not, I finally started to stray farther afield.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana";">It has been beyond wonderful to see some favorite places/trails again and explore a few new places, while striving to recreate responsibly (physical distancing as much as possible and masking up around others). And honestly, these outings are a shred of normalcy in these strange days. <br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><b>The First Escape from Seattle</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana";">My first foray outside the Seattle city limits in over 3 months was a trip to the <a href="https://www.summitpost.org/issaquah-alps/442785">Issaquah Alps</a> on a rainy, stormy (thunder and lightning) morning. With the sometimes scary weather (one bolt of lightning was so close it sounded like three gunshots in quick succession overhead), we only saw a couple other joggers in two hours on the trail.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9l7hpODtPgN5Ny4tj-fbr12aE6tctIixy2lQkFUsSurS_yJGWlGOwfFBfz0MSfq1FRb-QpZMKo2gwUckAHD5ds9EtV3rzueo6a3Etsvx4alajayMMusMVPNryhpy5Z0qNc3K3KmiTn9w/s1833/101037195_10158443992963966_4264683692049301504_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1227" data-original-width="1833" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9l7hpODtPgN5Ny4tj-fbr12aE6tctIixy2lQkFUsSurS_yJGWlGOwfFBfz0MSfq1FRb-QpZMKo2gwUckAHD5ds9EtV3rzueo6a3Etsvx4alajayMMusMVPNryhpy5Z0qNc3K3KmiTn9w/w625-h419/101037195_10158443992963966_4264683692049301504_o.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana";">The vivid spring green was a welcome dose of Vitamin N.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></div><div><font face="verdana"><b>The Birds and Me in the Rain</b></font></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana";">A week later I took a solo trip up to the <a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/skagit-river/">Skagit River Delta</a> for another walk in a driving rain. The marshy river delta was rich green with late spring, and I walked along levees in solitude, passing a few birds hunkered down (a great blue heron, swallows, and red-winged blackbirds are what I could identify). <br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana";">I reveled in the escape from traffic noises and the wide open, rain-soaked space. An occasional distraction were a few jets from nearby Naval Air Station Whidbey Island passing overhead.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2Nr_grgc3_4JsS29BIVLvAmdQvN8h2TwnuyGKOj78NHr1xE00A4UgI9v7LZ0o759OqZgP-LouQ3NOl00uzjA34kCfvg9d9YrwK5AY6veD4j4Cg3nLHTO90UjLpu7cZzc-oSHevBpkoU/s2528/DSC03070c.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1581" data-original-width="2528" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2Nr_grgc3_4JsS29BIVLvAmdQvN8h2TwnuyGKOj78NHr1xE00A4UgI9v7LZ0o759OqZgP-LouQ3NOl00uzjA34kCfvg9d9YrwK5AY6veD4j4Cg3nLHTO90UjLpu7cZzc-oSHevBpkoU/w625-h391/DSC03070c.JPG" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNE1ywLPxlzlpJUoY6r8dVdX8-RpeBdvrhfPyAAyaN4Z39OLO-xGfSM6Zj9q848tak8QMm6phsxWXKzJBrDXhsuv_Z9purKKUP4yYmamfAgm-A818fahWx7lDrNkTxLeFhCIUoCiB90i0/s6527/DSC03099c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4271" data-original-width="6527" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNE1ywLPxlzlpJUoY6r8dVdX8-RpeBdvrhfPyAAyaN4Z39OLO-xGfSM6Zj9q848tak8QMm6phsxWXKzJBrDXhsuv_Z9purKKUP4yYmamfAgm-A818fahWx7lDrNkTxLeFhCIUoCiB90i0/w625-h408/DSC03099c.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><b>The Scenic Drive</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana";">About a week later I drove even farther north to Bellingham to take my kayak for repairs. On the scenic drive home, I stopped for a hike off lovely <a href="https://www.scenicwa.com/chuckanut-drive">Chuckanut Drive</a> that winds along the sea. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "verdana";">This bluebird day was much needed. The view shown below is reason #237 why I love living in my home state. I also stopped at Snow Goose Produce on the way home for <a href="https://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2011/08/northwest-flavors-wild-spot-prawns.html">fresh wild, local shrimp</a>.<br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1ix65jgFv3L-iQG9gdZBdOFH1YHqCH3rmg5jF9S9WiUY4OLESD9cXL1z3OqT_zQgxrQMpT6HmCNzRNw2ZihcF1jEJSge6gRA_JBdssIEaSMtgG48GRaCO5o2NCf9eeivLLkS065VPLQ/s1810/104711402_3390704760940082_1171066941597113698_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1243" data-original-width="1810" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1ix65jgFv3L-iQG9gdZBdOFH1YHqCH3rmg5jF9S9WiUY4OLESD9cXL1z3OqT_zQgxrQMpT6HmCNzRNw2ZihcF1jEJSge6gRA_JBdssIEaSMtgG48GRaCO5o2NCf9eeivLLkS065VPLQ/w625-h430/104711402_3390704760940082_1171066941597113698_o.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><font face="verdana"><b>The Getaway</b></font></div><div><font face="verdana">Just a couple days later, my first overnight away from Seattle since late December was way overdue. I returned to Port Townsend, where I walked in the woods with friends and helped my aunt celebrate her birthday (all outdoors of course). Although Anderson Lake south of Port Townsend is closed, I snuck in a 30-minute walk skirting the south lake shoreline.</font></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AOSXlyeLnN5ETdaSalKE4CtRF1d0gPETSgaBaXGVTvoGnIhwG8s4kQ6DJHgHoGj_BIJCupC2J4ek7xhFt68Uqm1NvF0wkapHRKMLItCG3VfFA8tEy32SQUBnjhdCmhRO4-oPUuTDOZs/s4574/IMGP5043.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3104" data-original-width="4574" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AOSXlyeLnN5ETdaSalKE4CtRF1d0gPETSgaBaXGVTvoGnIhwG8s4kQ6DJHgHoGj_BIJCupC2J4ek7xhFt68Uqm1NvF0wkapHRKMLItCG3VfFA8tEy32SQUBnjhdCmhRO4-oPUuTDOZs/w625-h424/IMGP5043.JPG" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><font face="verdana">Around Port Townsend, it was quieter than it would normally be nearing peak tourist season. </font><font face="verdana">My lodging for the night was the historic and comfortable <a href="Palace Hotel ">Palace Hotel </a>on Water Street, where I had a view of the Keystone ferry to Whidbey Island skimming across the Salish Sea o</font><span style="font-family: "verdana";">utside my window. I brought greens from my garden and other provisions to share with my aunt in her back yard rather than trying to dine out.</span></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana">There were definitely people around town, but it wasn't crowded by any means. Sunday morning, however, when I stopped for tea and a late breakfast from <a href="https://www.cafetenby.com/our-story">Cafe Tenby</a> (formerly <a href="https://pacificnwseasons.blogspot.com/2017/01/port-townsend-afternoon-discovering.html">Pippa's Real Tea</a>), a line gathered outside. And on the drive back to Seattle Sunday evening, there was definitely a wait for the ferry.</font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana"><b>The Real Deal</b></font></div><div><font face="verdana">And finally, for the first time since...last fall, a <i>real</i> hike this past weekend. We strayed farther east up the I-90 corridor toward Snoqualmie Pass for a 2,300-foot grind upward through thick, mossy second-growth forest into sub-alpine old-growth forest with raindrop-kissed wildflowers.</font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oy1ZJrAY0CoJKgBB3xM2MiHWkivqpy7MF3SDR56uPv562XPm-KVxzqF__ZzntHZ6rUZhgg06rBuXL8AUmIhbxGhdUKPDwkYgZUsCGaRxOxJABXhEinDrDWTg1XltW7Mu8Vo7iU5NnMM/s1919/105362988_10158530973153966_3768078475622279182_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1214" data-original-width="1919" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oy1ZJrAY0CoJKgBB3xM2MiHWkivqpy7MF3SDR56uPv562XPm-KVxzqF__ZzntHZ6rUZhgg06rBuXL8AUmIhbxGhdUKPDwkYgZUsCGaRxOxJABXhEinDrDWTg1XltW7Mu8Vo7iU5NnMM/w625-h395/105362988_10158530973153966_3768078475622279182_o.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYL5CH4o5OKIOz4kJreL_RFXJe4qU_pvx-JenELDh887s1340v6ybKDTaPrzPzde3wNUDXF58mQLGvJgYtM3UnMTa38-u_Pe_ApceFC1Ez2wT9Sg562QHB1FNFZHf0pKd90o7zRZ8Cdvk/s1818/106353153_10158528467928966_9176468738164050826_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="1818" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYL5CH4o5OKIOz4kJreL_RFXJe4qU_pvx-JenELDh887s1340v6ybKDTaPrzPzde3wNUDXF58mQLGvJgYtM3UnMTa38-u_Pe_ApceFC1Ez2wT9Sg562QHB1FNFZHf0pKd90o7zRZ8Cdvk/w625-h426/106353153_10158528467928966_9176468738164050826_o.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana">As we ascended higher through the rain, the foggy/misty forest was especially magical. In the background, silhouettes of trees hovered like benign ghosts.</font></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaXVa9GffwKmRGjd2IFZ44VqpGWcC36lm2Yc_6L70E6mbr0-dDtLVJZNnyBoR_bQnhaEahLDJQruA6S2ur9AU71lkRZ9_HCKV1ENTUeGm1abqNUxPR57Ljlj2Et76etLvL5IVfMy_jdw/s2464/IMGP5163c.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1622" data-original-width="2464" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaXVa9GffwKmRGjd2IFZ44VqpGWcC36lm2Yc_6L70E6mbr0-dDtLVJZNnyBoR_bQnhaEahLDJQruA6S2ur9AU71lkRZ9_HCKV1ENTUeGm1abqNUxPR57Ljlj2Et76etLvL5IVfMy_jdw/w625-h413/IMGP5163c.JPG" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><font face="verdana">When we came to a dicey snow bridge crossing an avalanche gully, we decided to call it a day and head back down. It was 4.5 hours of hiking, with almost 5,000 feet of elevation gain and loss, which was fine for three rusty hikers.</font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yoBdIEklsoEKb0gowBbGfj7_XMtbjxkLQFvrEEfFGNXgB4-3TjlwEemc7fvUd5_X_uOPLJdg-JNzmfNyrhhqyqaUAsLiZhqx0oYIpYuoCxKtdmcheMpk4NWPN-GjD8npx-oX6oIANhY/s2313/20200627_110437.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1729" data-original-width="2313" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yoBdIEklsoEKb0gowBbGfj7_XMtbjxkLQFvrEEfFGNXgB4-3TjlwEemc7fvUd5_X_uOPLJdg-JNzmfNyrhhqyqaUAsLiZhqx0oYIpYuoCxKtdmcheMpk4NWPN-GjD8npx-oX6oIANhY/w625-h468/20200627_110437.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div></div><div><font face="verdana">Thankfully the rain kept the crowds down on the trail, and most everyone we passed was thoughtful about distancing. (It was the seventh weekend in a row here with rain, which a true Mossback doesn't mind.)</font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana">So it's not completely back to normal, but it's good to be back outdoors. Next up, a great way to get outside and distance: kayaking.</font></div><div><br /><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPjtZTdM1cCRHypc5ud-4al4jIye93tocH1BYIDtulZajiCkUcBqAVqHOxck7EJR90HdEaxLVIyXHy8gszL-9Q8U9OJKL-4b_M6l3M9m7PVakdT7JwXgglB9ebDtHC05nfVUPmXKbrMM/s2382/20200627_115755c.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1678" data-original-width="2382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPjtZTdM1cCRHypc5ud-4al4jIye93tocH1BYIDtulZajiCkUcBqAVqHOxck7EJR90HdEaxLVIyXHy8gszL-9Q8U9OJKL-4b_M6l3M9m7PVakdT7JwXgglB9ebDtHC05nfVUPmXKbrMM/s320/20200627_115755c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Always trying to get the shot.</span></font><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><font face="verdana">How about you? Are you getting out and being/feeling safe?</font></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><font face="verdana"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 13.4927px;">Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Seasons/276198082390781" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">FaceBook</span></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nwseasons" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Twitter</span></a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/pacificnwseasons/" style="color: #048994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #d41506;">Instagram</span></a> for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.</span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> <br /></span></font><br /></div><div><font face="verdana"><br /></font></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558847401371871909noreply@blogger.com4