Skywatch Friday: Deception Pass

We're Back!

Since all contributing members to Bellingham Daily Photo were relaxing on the Olympic peninsula at Ford Worden State Park this week, we've been a little lax about our posts.  We rented one of the officer's houses at the park and spent four days kicking back with family and friends enjoying good company, good food and great times. 

We stopped at Deception Pass State Park on the way back for a little lunch and beach time just as the fog was lifting off the water.

Weekend Reflections: Waiting for the Keystone Ferry

I'm not sure what exactly this is for-- it looks like the ferry officials have repurposed pilings as a sort of watchtower, or maybe a monitoring station of some kind. The seagulls have repurposed the grass growing on top of the pilings to be their nests. So this collection of pilings is not only rather pretty, reflected in the still water off Whidbey Island, but apparently useful too.

Weekend Reflections: Fairies in the Forest

"Oh my goodness, did you see Starflower's new wings? So last century!"

"I know! What was she thinking? Doesn't she know it's all about pink this season?"

"Well, you look marvelous, dear."

"Thank you, darling. As do you."

Skywatch Friday: Rays of Light

The setting sun shines its light on the beach at South Whidbey Island State Park.

Sun, oh sun, it is so nice to see you again!

Weathered Stone, Weathered Wood

On the beach at South Whidbey Island, someone had decorated a huge old driftwood stump with various shells and stones. I liked the way this stone was placed, its marbled swirls and whorls echoed in the aged lines of wood behind it.

Meerkerk Gardens

This last weekend we went camping at South Whidbey Island State Park. (We lucked out with the weather, as you can see-- apparently it was raining in Bellingham all weekend. Yessss!) Along with the usual camping activities of hiking, beer-drinking, beach combing, fireside storytelling and s'more-making, we visited this magical place called Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens.  

Meerkerk Gardens is a not-for-profit rhododendron garden, with acres upon acres of beautiful rhodies like these... 

...and these...

...and these!

The Rhododendron is Washington's state flower.

Frosty Morning

I took this frosty, peaceful picture a couple weeks ago. It's particularly nice to look at today since we're having quite the opposite weather right now. It's been unseasonably warm again and raining heavily for days (although yesterday we had a few brief, fantastic hours of sunshine, which my girls and I took advantage of with a picnic at the park. In DECEMBER.) and rivers all around us are flooding. Just a few minutes ago, a thunderstorm kicked up. If it doesn't let up soon, someone's going to have to build an ark.

P.S. I just came back inside from letting the dog out, and it's hailing like crazy. And MAN, that lightning is getting close!

Skywatch Friday: Sunrise at Deception Pass

Last Saturday I drove from Bellingham to Hedgebrook, a women writers' retreat at the south end of Whidbey Island. It was a fantastic day, but one of the best parts of it was that I got to drive over Deception Pass at sunrise. It was a beautiful beginning to a glorious day!

Weekend Reflections: Stephanie Kallos' Still Life

Yesterday I went to the first annual Women Writers Salon at Hedgebrook, a retreat for women writers on Whidbey Island. It was a day of communion and adventure as we ate fantastic food, talked about the issues women writers face, and took workshops on a variety of topics. Best of all, for me, was making new friends.

This selection of items was on a wicker table at my morning workshop with Stephanie Kallos. The tableau was so enchanting with the streak of morning light across it, I took a picture of it as soon as I got the chance. The little mirror is reflecting a sprig of evergreen in a pottery vase, and the fabric bowl is filled with folded pieces of paper with our hopes for the day written on them. The letter tiles were for us to play with if our fingers got fidgety. Luckily, my fingers were busy writing most of the time... because after all, that's what I was there for.