Skywatch Friday: Dawn at Broadway Park

When I saw the pink-tinged clouds this morning, I piled on the layers and ran down to Broadway Park for some sunrise pictures. Dogs were rushing after the balls their people were throwing for them. I hovered at the edge, trying to dodge tennis balls, trying to not get run over by enthusiastic retrievers, and trying to stay warm in the 23-degree morning. My fingertips were starting to freeze after about thirty minutes in the cold, so I didn't quite make it to actual sunrise, but I did get some pretty shots anyway. Plus, I made some new doggie friends, and isn't that even better?

Happy Last Day of 2010!

P.S. Look, Chad! I didn't use "sunset" mode!

Feeling Squirrelly

Different

The little girl felt bad for him,

the different one.

She called out from the shore

stories of aberrant characters,

told him about Rudolph

and the Ugly Duckling.

Startled by her shouting,

he swam to join his darker brothers

and noticed

for the first time

he was different.

One Shot Poetry Wednesday

"B" is for Bellingham

No, this graffiti isn't mine, despite my blog header. This was painted on a dumpster lid in the alley behind the YMCA. It sounds so seedy when I put it that way... but still, something about it is beautiful to me.

Walk-Up Window

This being the Pacific Northwest, you can find a coffee shop just about anywhere-- even in the middle of a park. There are lots of Woods Coffee locations in Whatcom County. This one is in Boulevard Park, and I find myself frequenting it no matter the season. In summer it's a great place to stop after a jog, get a cool drink, and sit on the patio with the breeze and the view of the islands. In the winter the girls play on the playground for about five minutes before they say "I'm coooooold" and then we go inside Woods for some hot chocolate by the fireplace.

Weekend Reflections: Ripples

I was walking in Bellingham's newest park and came upon two reconstructed ponds with stunningly blue water. There were no obvious feed to the ponds, but I didn't think much of it at the time. Reading about the park this morning , the area was known to native Americans as Wh-mahl-ut-choo (place of many springs). Amazing that I can live in a place for 30+ years and not know there is spring field in the middle of our town!

Merry Christmas!

Skywatch Friday: Waiting for St. Nick

This chimney, silhouetted against a wintry sunset, waits patiently for Santa Claus to come visit.

I took this picture on Wednesday, December 22, at 3:55 PM. The sun sank below the horizon at 4:16 PM, but gave us 2 more seconds of daylight than the previous day, the shortest day of the year. Longer days are already here! ;-)

Sisters

She could play but nothing is ever more interesting than what big sister is doing.

Two Leaves

two abeyant brother leaves

faded and frail as old men

suspended still though fall has ceased

when one releases

so will his friend

One Shot Wednesday