Sunshine!

Here's proof that we finally have a little bit of sun in our lives. The high pressure dome that was holding in the fog and clouds has lifted and, for a day or two at least, I have a chance to walk about with worry about rain. And I can see things!

We are down to the skinny end of things with photos at the moment. As I'm sure you are aware, there is a time lag between when I take these photos and when you see them. When we are on a trip, this lag can be as much as a month as the images just keep coming on a nearly daily basis. At home in the winter, I aim for maybe a week but it is often less.

Sunshine Reveals that Color does Still Exist in the World

It is amazing what one can find lying on the ground if the sun will only come out so you can see it. Even though it is months since these leaves were on a tree, it remains possible to find color and texture in the low-angled light on a winter's day.

Down By the Stream

With a little sunshine on my shoulder, I headed out for a look about. Of course, there's the usual bare tree branches with colorful and detailed epiphytes to see. Can never get too many of these.

Exploring the Neighbors Plants

The epiphyte outcropping on this tree is filled with these small green moss fronds that always put me in the mind of the breathing apparatus seen on nudibranchs. Every time I see this, I wonder if the shapes are related.

A Break in the Bad Weather

One of the houses a couple blocks from us is a converted church. In front are a few trees in what is now the sidewalk and these are surrounded by metal frames to protect them. You know how those church going hooligans are about running over trees, right? The tops of these heavy metal frames have these eyes in them, I presume for lifting them into place. Like everything else outside here, these have started a crop of moss.

Epiphytes Galore

In between rains (yes, that does happen), I try to get out for a walk. Some days the only things that catch my eye are the lowly lichens and mosses.

Interesting Things on a Day with Poor Lighting

I find it interesting to see plants that, even in winter dormancy, retain their dignity and symmetry. Sure this flower was quite different when in full bloom and what is left is but a shade of its former self. Nevertheless, the "bones" of the plant still carry the message of grace.

Back Nearer to home

I started to make the title of this post be "Back on Dry Land" but then I realized that there is no dry land here just now. For the second time in as many weeks, there are reports on the radio of houses, built on hills of now super-saturated soil have slid off of their foundations and trapped people and/or pets inside. A new thing to think about if we are offered a house sit in the northwest in winter in a fancy house sitting on a hill. Yikes!

Mukilteo Beach - 5

Of course, we weren't just visit the beach to take photos of rocks and trees. We also came to play. The children were suitably clothed for the weather and enjoyed digging such sand as there was. Not how we normally think of dressing for the beach, is it.

Mukilteo Beach - 4

I find the abstraction of the wood and stone appealing. These organic shapes always display figures unexpected.

Mukilteo Beach - 3

You can tell that this is a rocky beach, not one of those sissy beaches all covered in sand like you find in warm places. This one is for those stout folks among us. If you get far enough from the water's edge, there is some coarse sand, but not much.

Mukilteo Beach - 2

There is lots of tree parts on this beach. I can't tell if these washed up all on their own or were hauled to give it the "PNW beach look" since this is how most beaches here actually look. If just doesn't seem like this part of Puget Sound has this many trees in it sloshing around. I don't know.

Mukilteo Beach

On what appeared to be a bright sunny day, we decided to head out to the beach. Since it was Anna's Birthday and she wanted to get out of the house for a little while, we headed to Mukilteo where is a modest but nice beach/public park.

Symmetry and Disorder

This walk took me out by the aquatic center (aptly named, eh?) where the playground and ball field next to it were mostly flooded. There is a small stream that flows just on the the other side of this field and it has clearly overflowed its banks. That is a stream I have photographed several times...most recently with long exposures. Today, however, I was interested in finding the symmetry brought by the reflection in the calm water of the flooded field.

Textures and Colors

There is much to see in the small details. Even the blurry background adds its watercolor mood to the image.

Finding Hints of Spring

As you can tell from the many images I've posted in my walks around the neighborhood, I really like the colors found in the epiphytes that grow on the trees here. Sometimes it almost appears that the trees are wearing parti-coloured clothes.

A Winter's Walk

I'm always happy to see the range of colors and textures one can find even on the coldest days of winter here.

Sun and Shade

The scenes I could find on this cold morning walk really depend on exactly where I stand. A few feet on way or the other determines if the sun or the cold air is dominant in setting the stage. This tree was, or had been, more in the sun so the water is melted.

A Frosty Morning

After the snow melted away, we had a few chilly mornings that left frost on the leaves and cars. With the sun out a little, I went for a walk.

A Little Light Dancing on the Wet Leaves

In spite of the fact that we still have not seen a clear blue sky since early in December, there is some sunlight to be found.

In Case You Live in a Drought Area, We Got Water...

We've really been stuck inside for what feels like forever. The week before Christmas it rained, like, a lot. Then it got really cold and snowed. then it stayed cold and the snow didn't leave. So, it snowed again. And finally it warmed up and started to rain because reasons.

So, once again, the sun has finally come out. For the first time weeks, I've been able to go for my morning run without being in a downpour or up to my ankles in snow/slush. This seems like a good time to find some hydrophobic leaves in the weak sunshine we have near the winter solstice.

By the Stream

Using the multiple exposure technique allows me to combine them in a way that preserves the relatively short exposure used. This way the moving water is not just a blur, but retains the detail while showing all the water that is in motion. I'll explore this more in the future.

Always a Few Things to See

This clump of grass with its strong light yellows makes a find complement with the dark blue sky behind it. The reason we find that blue and yellow complement one another is, no doubt, because nature agrees.

Another Snow Outing

Well, we had a second snow bringing us another ~5 inches about a week after the first one. It has remained her quite cold so we got another light and fluffy dusting.

The End of this First Look at the Snow

It is interesting, isn't it, to see how much snow will collect on such skinny limbs.

More Snow Views

A little bit of color really dresses up the view.

Boxing Day Storm

Although it had been cold for several days, the snow storm hit us on the 26th. We got probably 5-6 inches of snow. The hydrangea bush outside our bedroom window is filled with snow and, to me, looks a bit like cotton ready to harvest.

Down on the Ground

I spend so much time on my photowalks looking in trees and bushes, I thought that this time I'd look down for a change. I don't know what this is, but it seems to be budding out already for next year.

Shopping in Snohomish

It has been over a year since E and I wandered downtown to do a bit of window shopping. Many places have changed; most have not.

Christmas Morning: Snohomish 2021

Before the chaos of Christmas morning descended upon us, I got a few shots of battle field before everyone appeared. You may think that I'm out here at 5 AM or something since it is so dark. But no. Being at 47 degrees north means that it is dark pretty late. This was around 7 or a quarter til.