And Ending and a Beginning

 

 

The photographs above were all taken in various parts of Virginia - mostly in historic gardens, though a few in wild areas.  My sisters and I were there for a while during September, visiting both historic and natural sites.  I was delighted and amazed at the variety of butterflies we saw.  (There are many that I wasn't able to catch up with to photograph - the swallowtails were especially difficult!)

I discovered once I returned home that I seem to be at an end with this particular project.  I love going outdoors with my camera - I spend lots of time appreciating things that are beautiful - but my life is becoming busy enough that it's difficult to keep up with the regular maintenance of a blog.  So...from here on out, a new beginning.  I think from time to time I will post collections of photos on a theme, as you see above.  But less often - much less often - and perhaps I'll spend a bit more time on the commentary.  In other words, like that caterpillar photographed above, this is going to turn into...something else.  I hope it will still be something that reflects the beauty of the world we live in.  That is still my intent.  But I may put more of myself into it, as well - reflections, thoughts, musings about where the day, the week, or the month has taken me.  I hope you'll join me, responding to those thoughts and musings.  Blessings, and thanks to those of you who have taken the time to follow me thus far.

September 10, 2013 - A View from a Plane

Mt Rainier, just before sunrise

Ripples on the Arid Lands Ecology Reserve

In a very short period of time, the Missoula Floods have entered the imaginations of many of us who live in the Columbia Basin.  Unleashed thousands of years ago, these ice-age floods left ripples that can be clearly seen only from the air, as vast areas were inundated by flood waters, most likely on a repeated basis.  This is now accepted as scientific truth, but for a lengthy time was considered the hare-brained idea of a single scientist.  He has now been vindicated.  Throughout our region, you can find explanations of the Missoula floods and markers that depict its depth.  (Curious there aren't numerous markers, as there was more than one flood.)

 

The view of Mt. Rainier is my favorite from the air.  Unfortunately, we flew past just before sunrise, and had to shut off electronics as the mountain began to glow pink.  Maybe next month...

September 9, 2013 - It's Still Summer

Tomatoes still ripening

Basil ready for harvest

This watermelon just reached prime picking today

Gypsy pepper

Jalapeno pepper

Armenian cucumber

Sunflower in the midst of pollen harvest

Late roses are the best

Today I spent time harvesting cilantro, jalapenos and tomatillos for salsa verde.  (The garlic needed is already harvested.)  At the end of the day, I have 17 pints of salsa in the freezer...and lots of tomatillos, garlic and jalapenos left.  (The cilantro got used up completely.)

 

I was out in the garden a couple of times, and am amazed at how much is still bearing with great enthusiasm.  There are lots of new blossoms on most of the plants, and lots of bees busy pollinating fruit and flowers.  The butterflies are still thick - I saw another skipper today, one I rarely see.  It's more enjoyable, now that I know what they are - which is a butterfly with a very "un"butterfly look to it.

 

I also love the light at this time of the year.  The angle of light gives a richness to everything I photograph, especially when out early in the morning or late in the evening.  Those rich colors soothe my soul in an inexplicable way.  "If God has thus clothed the lilies of the field..."

September 8, 2013 - Sunset and Contrails

Today summer returned, and with it, another beautiful sunset.  It was warm, clear and just slightly breezy most of the day.  The butterflies and bees were out in profusion, and more things are blooming after last week's deluge.  I lost a few things in the vegetable garden, but not too much...and I'm expecting a bumper crop of winter weeds after all that rain!  That said, I'm not inclined to complain about extra water in the desert.

 

Dinner tonight was fresh sweet corn, fresh cantaloupe, fresh green peppers and fresh cucumbers.  We opened a bottle of wine, broke a loaf of bread, and enjoyed time on the deck.  Sometimes the simplest things are indeed the best!

September 6, 2013 - Two Days of Weather!

Day1 - Sunrise

Day 1 - Storm coming in

Day 2 - Everything washed clean

Day 2 - More storms forming

Day 2 - Sunset and quiet

We had quite the thunderstorm and deluge yesterday.  There were flash flood warnings activated in numerous locations, a tornado touched down in one spot, and the power was dicey at best.  The winds were strong, the rain came down in sheets, and the lightning was frequent, close and loud.  A friend and I were driving back home from Portland.  We had to pull over for a while to let the storm pass - there was just too much water on the road.  We were over 100 miles from home...and home was being visited by the same storm.  My husband has photos of standing water all around his shop, which simply doesn't happen here!

 

The good side of all this?  My friend and I and my husband all love watching storms!  Always have, probably always will.  It was fun to have a front-row seat!

September 4, 2013 - Water and Weather

Morning storm over the gap

Three loons, joining two kayakers

Another storm rolls in

American white pelican

Damselfly on kayak cords

After the evening storms...

More of the same

Today was defined by water.  Some of it came from the sky, some of it flowed through the Columbia, and some of it, even now, is being roasted out of my tomatoes.

 

The kayak trip, the first since returning from vacation, began with perfectly placid water in which we could watch the small fish dart about the vegetation.  There was a pair of great blue herons making quite a racket, a number of snowy egrets, and the three loons pictured above.  (Along with the requisite gulls, terns, and cormorants, of course.)  Later the wind came up, the river began to whitecap, and we watched a storm form off to the east...but too far away to be trouble for us.  Upon returning to shore and loading our 'yaks, we discovered the bottoms of them were covered in tiny snails, that were rapidly dropping off and landing on the roof of the car!  One never knows...

 

Later in the day we had storms right where we live, losing electricity briefly a couple of times, and watching a fire that started, only to be put out by the more than ample rain.  And thank goodness for that rain!  With the way the wind was blowing, those lightning strikes could have been problematic otherwise.  But...I do love watching weather, so spent a good deal of time on both the front and back decks, and simply watching out the windows.  My husband spotted the rainbow through the kitchen window, when it was barely visible to my eyes.  A lively, lovely day.

September 2, 2013 - The Colors of the Day

Tan coyote on brown river rock

Tan hills above Hole 31

The white of snowy egrets

Together with the blue-gray of great blue heron

And sunset to the north...

To the west...

and to the east.

Today my husband and I took two friends salmon fishing in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia river.  The bird life is getting more and more varied, as autumn nears.  We did hook one salmon, had it up to the boat...and it got free.  (We later discovered a faulty reel...so that was obviously the difficulty.  Our technique was perfect!)

 

Later, after returning home, I enjoyed the beautiful sunset pictured above.  There are only a few more days left of summer, and I intend to enjoy the longer hours of daylight while it is here. 

 

I should mention that yesterday we threw a party for our church community that has supported us over this past year, as both of us have been recuperating from serious injury or illness.  Over forty people came - that in itself being yet another blessing!  Good fellowship, good friends, good help, and the joy of being in one another's company - I am thankful for the beauty of the community called "church"!