Year: 2014
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Goodbye 2014 and Hello 2015!
I’m back for a brief visit during my internet vacation to wish everyone a safe and happy New Year’s Eve! Regular posting resumes in a few days but I want to close the year with this fun collage of 1st day photos along with some exciting news about my participation in a…
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Phoneography and Digital Photo Challenge: Portraiture (Ryan and Finn)
“Never work with kids or pets” is a show business saying frequently attributed to W.C. Fields and while I’m pretty sure it refers to the fact that audiences ignore adult actors when cute kids and/or animals are around it should also serve as a warning to not attempt taking Christmas…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Yellow
The middle of the road is for yellow lines and dead armadillos. Jim Hightower I’m glad John and Ryan chose the side of the road for their summer walk. Posted as part of the Weekly Photo Challenge: Yellow.
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Twinkle
We are all of us stars, and we deserve to twinkle. Marilyn Monroe It’s always fun to window shop at Tiffany. Here we get a little glimpse of New York City while walking the streets of Seattle. 🙂
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Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Photo Challenge: Black & White (Post Alley)
While the tourist attraction part of this stretch of Post Alley makes me squirm (chewing gum stuck to the walls) I can’t seem to stop looking for new photo opportunities each time I visit Seattle’s Pike Place Market. Last Friday I was drawn to the bright winter light and how each group of…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Gone, But Not Forgotten
The remote beaches and rugged coastlines of the San Juan Islands are frequently mentioned as one of the top vacation destinations in the world but travel magazines rarely mention their history as a haven for turn of the century smugglers and rum runners. Famous privateers made and lost fortunes smuggling drugs, immigrants and…
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Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Photo Challenge: Macro (Summer Hydrangeas)
December in the Pacific Northwest means plenty of wet days and early sunsets. Today’s 8:33 hours of daylight passed far too quickly but these bright blue Hydrangea flowers remind me that summer is just a few months away. 🙂 Posted as part of Lens and Pen by Sally’s Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Photo Challenge: Macro.
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Converge
Converge: to come together and have one interest, purpose, or goal. Thanksgiving in my family is a logistical puzzle but any of us who can be in the same place come together for a meal and between our various groups we share phone calls and goofy texted photos of turkey dinners and happy tables. This year…
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Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Photo Challenge: Nature (Fall in my Backyard)
It’s hard to believe December is already here but it’s the first Monday of another month and time for Sally’s creative Phoneography challenge: Nature. I’m happy to be back from a busy few days filled with Thanksgiving visits, half-finished home projects and the general stuff that piles up when I try to do too…
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Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Photo Challenge: Portraiture (Ryan in the Hoh Rainforest)
While this isn’t a traditional forward-facing portrait I think it captures Ryan’s sense of adventure and his belief that nature is full of magic. If he has his hat, camera and a stick he’s prepared for anything and from my second-in-line trail place I’m ready to document our travels. This moment is…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Angular
“Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open.” Dali Lama Libraries have always seemed like magical places to me and the freedom to walk aisles full of stories and information is a luxury I never take for granted. Through my childhood, school years and now as an…
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Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Photo Challenge: Black and White (Heritage Park)
I’ve shared a few mushroom photos from my recent visit to Lynnwood’s Heritage Park but the real purpose of this park is to provide a safe space for the restoration and preservation of some South Snohomish County’s historic buildings tagged for demolition. This 1917 Superintendent’s Cottage and Water Tower was part of the…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Achievement
We have a small patch of wild strawberries growing in the backyard that are pretty to look at but the birds and squirrels always beat us to eating the fruit. Since I haven’t been able to taste one I don’t know if the berries are tart of sweet but this year the…
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Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Photo Challenge: Macro (Canna Leaves)
Some of you might recognize this canna from a mid-summer black and white photo challenge but I couldn’t resist going back for a new angle to take part in Lens and Pen by Sally’s weekly phoneography challenge: Macro.
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Minimalist
A few days ago I visited Lynnwood’s Heritage Park hoping to tour a vintage trolley car from the Seattle – Everett Interurban Railway and learn a little about the town’s pre-Depression era poultry boom as the second largest egg producing area in the country. This three acre city park is actually…
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iPhoneography Monday: 11-3-14
Usually fall in the Pacific Northwest means cool nights, warm afternoons and plenty of fall color flashing against bright blue skies. I hoped our beautiful summer would lead to another perfect season but this year has been anything but typical and now one of the wettest October’s on record…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Descent
Even though we hiked out to Sol Duc Falls during one of the driest summers on record the powerful sound of water rushing over the edge and down the canyon was something John, Ryan and I will always remember. After admiring this view from the center of the narrow log…
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Another visit to the 2014 Edmonds Scarecrow Festival
Yesterday’s beautiful fall weather was all the encouragement I needed for another walk through town to photograph a few more scarecrows decorating local businesses. Earlier this week I shared Jack Skellington relaxing by a bank and Salvador Dali looking for inspiration outside an art supply store. While I have one more art related scarecrow…
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iPhoneography Monday: 10-27-14
October in Edmonds means it’s time for the Edmonds Historical Museum’s annual Scarecrow Festival. Participants have two weeks to decorate and register their creative displays followed by two weeks of public voting before the winners are announced November 1st. The streets around town are full of some really imaginative scarecrows drawn from popular fiction, business themes,…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Refraction
Finding an image to suit this challenge has taken me all week and I’m still not sure I’ve really captured refraction but at least it’s given me the chance to share one more photo from Lake Crescent, WA. This crystal clear water is due to a lack of nitrogen which inhibits…
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iPhoneography Monday: 10-20-14
I always smile when I see small stacks of stones placed carefully along a trail so this old beach log on the Washington coast stopped me in my tracks. I don’t know if we are looking at the finished work of one artistic beachcomber or if several walkers left their markers…
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1 Day 1 World Project: 24 Hour Review
When I wrote my first post in the 1 Day 1 World Project series I hoped I wasn’t promising something I wouldn’t be able to deliver. Could I really write 24 posts documenting 24 real-life hours and still publish content that was interesting or worse, would it be like hosting the dreaded…
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iPhoneography Monday: 10-13-14
A few weeks ago our local beach was covered by a combination of slippery seaweed and clear jellyfish. Every step we took carried the potential for an unpleasant fall but I’m happy to report we returned unharmed and I have this photo to share as part of Lens and Pen by Sally’s Phoneography…
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1 Day 1 World Project: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
It’s hard to believe we’ve reached the last hourly post in my six month project documenting one hour each week for 24 straight weeks! Back in May I thought we would have fun watching the time pass through different seasons and countries but I never dreamed this series would inspire so many…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Dreamy
I close my eyes, then I drift away, into the magic night I softly say. A silent prayer, like dreamers do, then I fall asleep to dream my dreams of you. Roy Orbison – In Dreams Posted as part of the Weekly Photo Challenge: Dreamy.
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iPhoneography Monday: 10-6-14
This relaxed seagull walked over to visit while a some adventuresome kite surfers flew across the waves. Posted as part of Lens and Pen by Sally’s Phoneography and Non SLR Digital Photo Challenge: Nature.
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1 Day 1 World Project: 10:00 am – 11:00 am
One year ago this little corner space beside our driveway was buried under pieces of old asphalt, granite boulders, tree trunks and some pretty big excavation equipment. Bringing some life back to the bed has been an ongoing project and we’ve slowly filled in the soil with new plants that…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Signs
The test of an adventure is that when you’re in the middle of it, you say to yourself, “Oh, now I’ve got myself into an awful mess; I wish I were sitting quietly at home.” And the sign that something’s wrong with you is when you sit quietly at home…
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iPhoneography Monday: 9-29-14
Two Lucky Duck cousins ready to play for prizes at the county fair. Photo taken with iPhone 5 and edited in Oggl using the Lowy Lens and DC Film combination. Posted as part of Lens and Pen by Sally’s Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Photo Challenge: Editing and Processing.
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1 Day 1 World Project 9:00 am – 10:00 am
It’s hard to believe 22 weeks have passed since the start of this project but one look at our well used BBQ tells me loud and clear that summer is over. Maybe if we wait a little longer the fall rain will clean it for us… If you have a…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Nighttime
“How did it get so late so soon?” Dr. Seuss Long summer days are one of my favorite things about living in the Pacific Northwest but nighttime still comes far too fast. Posted as part of the Weekly Photo Challenge: Nighttime.
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iPhoneography Monday 9-22-14
Another full weekend and another happy party. I feel like September has passed in a blur of entertaining and schedules but at least the weather has been beautiful, the company has been great and we’ve enjoyed plenty of good food and drink on the deck. I sat down outside Saturday…
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1 Day 1 World Project: 8:00 am – 9:00 am
Last month I wrote a popular post about how we’ve made an effort to simplify our food choices and buy most of our fresh food from local farmers and suppliers. One of my favorite changes is our weekly visit from Smith Brothers Farms and our milkman, Josh. Four generations of Smith Brothers…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Endurance
“Few people know how to take a walk. The qualifications are endurance, plain clothes, old shoes, an eye for nature, good humor, vast curiosity, good speech, good silence and nothing too much.” Ralph Waldo Emerson We made it to the turn around point of our Klahhane Ridge adventure with nothing…
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iPhoneography Monday: 9-15-14
Regular readers know one of my favorite things to do is explore a new beach and Second Beach on the Washington coast has moved to the top of my list. I’ve posted a few photos from this visit and there will be more to come but today I have this…
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1 Day 1 World Project: 7:00 am – 8:00 am
In my 6:00 am post I mentioned one of the busiest parts of my week was planning John’s 50th Birthday party. I felt pretty good about finishing the shopping and cleaning by the night before but that meant all the cooking had to happen the morning of the party which is…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Humanity
My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together. Desmond Tutu Posted as part of the Weekly Photo Challenge: Humanity.
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Adventure
The mountains are calling and I must go. John Muir “Mom, this is the best day ever!” Ryan’s first steps on the Klahhane Ridge Trail in the Olympic National Park. Posted as part of the Weekly Photo Challenge: Adventure.
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iPhoneography Monday: 9-8-14
We finished our hike out to Second Beach in Olympic National Park just in time for low tide and easy access to some beautiful tide pools. Posted as part of Lens and Pen by Sally’s Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Photo Challenge: Macro.
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1 Day 1 World Project: 6:00 am – 7:00 am
What do you do with a favorite red wagon when your kid outgrows pull toys and spends his time with electronics and sports? Turn it into a planter. 🙂 This week has flown by in a blur of first week of school activities, a new home re-decorating project and big plans for my husband’s 50th Birthday…
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iPhoneography Monday: 9-1-14
Beautiful, green moss covers most flat surfaces in Washington State’s Hoh Rainforest even this old phone booth outside the Visitors Center at the entrance to the park. Posted as part of Lens and Pen by Sally’s Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Photo Challenge: Nature.
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1 Day 1 World Project: 5:00 am – 6:00 am
We’ve reached the daylight hours again, I’m feeling more like myself and Ryan is home from his late summer week with my parents. Put all these events together and it means another trip to the beach! This time John stayed home to get ready for an early morning at work…
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Travel Theme: Edge
There are several reasons I chose this photo for Alisa’s travel theme “Edge” but my favorite element is the line of Gulls patiently waiting their turn to stretch their wings and fly away.
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iPhoneography Monday: 8-25-14
I snapped this cute little bunny enjoying an afternoon snack outside the Lopez Islander Marina during our visit last month. Rabbits are everywhere in the San Juan Islands today even though they are a favorite attraction for the tourists the critters aren’t native to the area and are seen…
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1 Day 1 World Project: 4:00 am – 5:00 am
I guess a series of 24 posts coming together exactly as planned was too much to hope for and I should really be feeling lucky I’ve made it through the first 16 hours without anything going seriously wrong but I can’t help but be a little frustrated by this one……
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Fray
This lone surfer quietly watched the water from Washington State’s Rialto Beach for 30 minutes before he decided the time was right to grab his board and enter the fray.
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iPhoneography Monday: 8-18-14
A few days ago I posted a view from our way up the Klahhane Ridge Switchback Trail and today I’ll share our turning around point. It’s a beautiful hike but this was far enough for me! Posted as part of Lens and Pen by Sally’s Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Photography Challenge:…
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1 Day 1 World Project: 3:00 am – 4:00 am
I’ve been worried about this 3:00 am week since the beginning of the 1 Day 1 World Project and as of last Saturday didn’t have a single good idea for what to do but Mother Nature came to my rescue with the rare, simultaneous occurrence of a Super Moon and the…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Silhouette
Some of our best hours in the Olympic National Park were spent exploring Second Beach on the Washington Coast. The one mile forest hike to the beach from a small parking area is just enough distance to keep crowds away and the sound of roaring surf echoing through the trees…
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iPhoneography Monday: 8-11-14
We’re slowly unpacking after a fantastic vacation in the Olympic National Park and I can’t wait to start sharing photos from our hikes through the mountains, beaches, lakes and rainforests of the Washington State Peninsula. This week is devoted to macro mobile photography at Lens and Pen by Sally so I’ll start small with…
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1 Day 1 World Project: 2:00 am – 3:00 am
I thought it was pretty quiet around here after 2:00 am but look who I found hanging out with popcorn and late night TV… If you have a photo or story to share about your 2:00 am hour I’d love to see it! Please tag your post 1 Day 1 World Project…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Zigzag
This week, share a photo that foregoes the straightforward in favor of the twisting and winding. Ben Huberman – The Daily Post I’m using a loose interpretation of Zigzag today and sharing a photo of this small blue sailboat that has chosen to forego straightforward, nautical themed decor and try…
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iPhoneography Monday: 8-4-14
For nature week at Lens and Pen by Sally I have a close up shot of the Hens and Chicks on our front porch. I love how these plants thrive with little to no attention and this one has been happily residing its tiny pot for years. Posted as part of Lens…
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1 Day 1 World Project: 1:00 am – 2:00 am
It’s 1:00 am, do you know where your kids are? Saturday night found Ryan sitting on my lap insisting on a selfie to capture the rare moment when Mom is up after midnight. 🙂 The low light of one lamp behind us left some shadows under my eyes that I’m not…
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Weekly Travel Theme: Simplify
This week Alisa’s weekly travel theme asks everyone to share what comes to mind when they think of the word “simplify“. After a day of thinking about how we’ve tried to simplify one aspect of our busy days I settled on our food choices and a photo of this pretty yellow truck at…
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A Word A Week: Transport
It’s hard to pay a visit to the Puget Sound area and not see at least one green and white Washington State Ferry cruise by carrying commuters, tourists and travelers across the water. These large vessels serve the areas surrounding Puget Sound as well as provide vital and reliable transportation to…
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Travel Theme: Meeting Places
There’s nothing quite like the mix of summer weather, interesting beaches and kids with plenty of imagination and time on their hands. Driftwood forts are a common sight on Lopez Island and each beach we visited had at least one great structure ready and waiting for the next group to meet…
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iPhoneography Monday: 7-28-14
Today I’m taking Sally’s 4th Monday Challenger’s Choice prompt literally and posting a goofy family vacation shot as part of the Street Photography category. Walking back from a lazy summer afternoon at the pool can be just as much fun as playing in the water if you get to…
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1 Day 1 World Project 12:00 am – 1:00 am
How many of us have late night Diner stories ready to share with just a bit of prompting? John and I each have some fun memories of long hours spent with friends in the red vinyl booths of a neighborhood Denny’s. From High School study sessions to after bar closing time in college most…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Summer Lovin’
When I was a kid three activities ruled my summers: Root Beer popsicles, great books, and riding my bike as fast as possible. I’m a little afraid to try Root Beer popcicles today for fear they won’t live up to my memories but I always have a book to read and…
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Weekly Travel Theme: Purple
My sweet niece, Sophia checking out the amazing flowers on this Butterfly Bush. July 4th, 2014. Posted as part of Alisa’s Weekly Travel Theme: Purple.
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iPhoneography Monday: 7-21-14
I missed last week’s Macro post but apparently had macro on my mind while looking for a black and white image to post today. Our new front deck is the only part of the yard that really receives full, hot sun so I’ve happily filled one side with herbs and…
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1 Day 1 World Project: 11:00 pm – 12:00 pm
As we get deeper into the late night hours of this project I’m starting to worry a little about finding original material to share. I have a few things in mind for the seriously late hours but 11:00 pm is just not in my usual comfort zone and while the…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Containers
From “Don’t judge a book by its cover” to “Don’t look at the jug, but at what it contains” (an old Rabbinic saying), we’re constantly taught that the contents of things are more important than the vessels, wrappers, and boxes that hold them in place. This week, let’s give outer shells their due…
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Travel Theme: Decoration
I thought this cheery beach smile from Spencer Spit State Park on Lopez Island would be fun to post as part of Alisa’s weekly Travel Theme: Decoration.
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Relic
This International Boundary Monument sits on top of Iceberg Point on Lopez Island, WA and marks the 7th turning point of the US – Canada border along the 49th parallel. As part of my plan to see as much of this beautiful island as possible in a four-day vacation we…
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1 Day 1 World Project: 10:00 pm – 11:00 pm
I’m not really a night person so a good evening for me means lights out by 10:00 pm. Summers are tough because it’s not dark yet but our mornings still start bright and early so finding some interesting material to post over the next few weeks is going to be quite a challenge. 🙂…
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iPhoneography Monday: 7-7-14
The past week has flown by filled with long overdue family visits and way too much time at work but I want to slow down for a minute and share a photo from our 4th of July walk. Some of you might recognize this pretty landscape from a previous Wordless…
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1 Day 1 World Project: 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Everyone in the Pacific Northwest jokes that summer doesn’t really start here until July 5th. We usually have one or two warm days in June surrounded by partly sunny days mixed with some rain and clouds but the real heat and sunshine doesn’t come out until mid July. This year our…
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iPhoneography Monday: 6-30-14
Today’s iPhone challenge is to share a photo that’s processed using apps. Sally does a great job encouraging every participant in her weekly photo challenges to stretch the boundaries of their comfort zones and try new things with photography so today I decided it was time to finally explore one of the…
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1 Day 1 World Project 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
If you saw my iPhone Monday and Wordless Wednesday posts last week you’ll know I spent last Sunday evening with my parents watching Emmylou Harris perform at Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville, WA. The winery grounds are beautiful and behind the main tasting building is a natural amphitheater with a…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Contrasts
Light and dark, tall and short, happy and sad — this week, share a shot that captures a contrast. Michelle W. – The Daily Post I wrote a Word A Week post about Contrasts a few months ago so today I thought I would take a different approach and show…
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iPhoneography Monday: 6-23-14
The fourth Monday of every month is Challenger’s Choice at Lens and Pen by Sally and my June selection is night photography. It’s been a whirlwind few days (weeks really) here but last night was a great break from the usual business of home and instead of folding a mountain of…
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1 Day 1 World Project 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
One of the fun things about this 1 Day 1 World project is that it is pushing me to try new things while looking for interesting posting material each week. So far I’ve taken you with us to enjoy waterfront festivals, local beaches, neighborhood church signs and the streets of…
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Travel Theme: Shine
A sparkly evening water view for Alisa’s weekly Travel Theme: Shine. Happy Friday!
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iPhoneography Monday: 6-16-14
A warm September afternoon and one last chance to feel the sun before fall… Posted as part of Lens and Pen by Sally’s Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Devices Challenge: Black and White.
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The Virtual Blog Tour and NW Frame of Mind
Last week I received a lovely message from Sally at Lens and Pen by Sally extending an invitation to participate in this Virtual Blog Tour. The purpose of the tour is to introduce bloggers to a wider audience by answering a series of four simple questions related to their…
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1 Day 1 World Project: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Twice a week for the past seven years I’ve spent my 6:00 pm hour here at the Lynnwood Recreation Center watching Ryan in his Tae Kwan Do class. When he started I was simply looking for a fun activity that also taught focus and discipline and while he has definitely learned…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Extra, Extra
It’s been a busy week here filled with family activities, end of school projects, a band concert and a Wednesday birthday. Mine! I was lucky enough to have the day off but couldn’t fit everything I wanted to accomplish into the happy day and still try to relax at the same time.…
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iPhoneography Monday: 6-9-14
It’s Macro week over at Lens and Pen by Sally and my entry is this up close and personal view of a red pepper before adding it to our dinner last night. To see more fun Macro shots please visit Sally’s Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Devices Photo Challenge.
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1 Day 1 World Project: 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
The late afternoon/early evening hours are my favorite times of day and since we’ve had a stretch of absolutely beautiful June weather the toughest part of today’s post was choosing which photo to share. In the end I settled on this shot from Brackett’s Landing because even though Herons are a…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Room
Every time I walk past our local library I see the backside of a mysterious little house covered in moss and protected by a fern. Each week some new element appears and while I didn’t want to creep around the planting bed to take a closer look I finally gave…
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iPhoneography Monday: 6-2-14
My backyard view from the grass last night looking for a photo for today’s Nature post as part of Lens and Pen by Sally’s weekly challenge.
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1 Day 1 World Project: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
The early hours of this project have been a lot of fun here at the Kennedy house as we’ve been able to go out and see some new things every week looking for new material to post. I’m still not sure how we will make the nighttime hours look interesting but…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Split-Second Story
Who can get the closest without a soaking? In the summer this fountain is full of happy kids but only the bravest are willing to face the random spray pattern in early spring. Posted as part of the Weekly Photo Challenge: Split-Second Story.
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Travel Theme: Cities
Alisa’s newest Travel Theme: Cities is a great excuse to post another photo from our recent visit to the top of the Space Needle. This view is looking south towards the Downtown area over Elliott Bay and one shot manages to show you a gray spring day, the Port of Seattle,…
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iPhoneography Monday: 5-26-14
The fourth Monday of each month is Challenger’s Choice at Lens and Pen by Sally’s weekly photo Challenge and I’ve selected architecture so I can show you one more view of the Experience Music Project Museum at Seattle Center. Gold is the last color in my series after silver, blue, pink…
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1 Day 1 World Project: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Ryan and I were at the end of our long list of Saturday afternoon errands when he announced he needed a long, thick stick for a Social Studies project due Tuesday. Of course none of our sticks at home would work, he needed a new one. From the beach. I’m…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Twist
In the winter of 1945 the USS Nereus left for it’s first voyage departing Pearl Harbor bound for Japan. Through it’s 25 year career the Nereus supported US submarines across the Pacific and as far north as the Arctic Circle. An Edmonds resident served aboard the ship in 1955 and in 2012…
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Travel Theme: Metal
For Alisa’s Weekly Travel Theme: Metal I have a small section of John Fleming’s Grass Blades installation at Seattle Center. The blades are actually segments of painted stainless steel stacked vertically to emulate the gently swaying movements of grass in the wind.
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iPhoneography Monday: 5-19-14
It’s time for Black and White photography at Lens and Pen by Sally’s weekly Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Devices Photo Challenge and today I have a view from inside the courtyard of the Pacific Science Center. The four pavilions which house the traveling and permanent exhibits surround these shallow pools and…
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1 Day 1 World Project: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Someone in this church has a great sense of humor… They are on a busy street close to our neighborhood and while one side of the sign always announces upcoming club meetings and service times the front is left free to share a message, a laugh or something to think about. We drove by this one last…
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Travel Theme: Blossom
For Alisa’s new Travel Theme: Blossom I have one more photo from our spring trips to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. This colorful display was filled with so many varieties it looked like an enormous bouquet!
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iPhoneography Monday
I’ve still got a few hours left in my Monday to post tonight, sorry to those who read this on Tuesday. 🙂 Sally’s challenge for the second Monday of every month is Macro photography and each time I have to admit it’s the week that gives me the most trouble.…
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1 Day 1 World Project: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
For the 1:00 pm entry in my new 1 Day 1 World Project I have this stormy view of Seattle taken from our Sky City table at the top of the Space Needle. The restaurant makes a complete 360 degree rotation every 47 minutes and John, Ryan and I recently spent a fantastic 2…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: On the Move
Regular readers know I’ve had fun posting small exterior images of the multi-colored Experience Music Project Museum in Seattle, WA. So far we’ve seen snapshots of the Silver, Pink and Blue sides but I haven’t had a good Red image to post until last weekend. Our manageable spring showers had just turned to…
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iPhoneography Monday: 5-5-14
Sally’s back from a wonderful vacation and her popular Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Photo Challenge begins the month of May with Nature as its subject. I’ve posted this view of Marina Beach Park before when the trees were at their height of fall color and I thought it would be fun…
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1 Day 1 World Project: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
To kick off my new 1 Day 1 World Project I have this noontime view of Westlake Center in Downtown Seattle. This photo actually represents a few first moments for me as it is also what I saw during my first break on my first day in a new job.…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Spring
I’ve posted a lot of pretty spring flowers lately so for this weeks photo challenge I’m going in a slightly different direction… This is a close up view of a fascinating kinetic sculpture at the Pacific Science Center and I thought the chrome coils looked like heavy, industrial springs. Posted as…
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Travel Theme: Close-Up
This week Alisa’s weekly Travel Theme: Close-Up is all the encouragement I need to post another view of the unusual curved sides of the Experience Music Project Museum at Seattle Center. This museum is dedicated to the history and exploration of music, science fiction and popular culture and its unique…
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A Word A Week: Water
I’ve been in a beachy kind of mood this week with lots of water themed posts so here is one more image from the same spring day as Bud’s Bait Shop and the “I wish I was on a cruise” Life Ring. Posted as part of Sue’s A Word A Week Challenge:…
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Black & White Tuesday: 4-29-14
I haven’t posted a new Black and White Tuesday photo for a few weeks but after our Sunday afternoon hike around Deception Pass State Park I’ve got plenty of new photos ready to share. In the spring of 1792, Joseph Whidbey, master of HMS Discovery and Captain Vancouver‘s chief navigator proved that it was not…
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iPhoneography Monday: 4-28-14
Sally is enjoying her last week of vacation but since I enjoy posting an iPhone photo every Monday I thought I would keep up with her schedule and choose Architecture for my week 4 Challenger’s Choice selection. Every time I walk by Bud’s Bait House on the Edmonds waterfront I think…
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Introducing the 1 Day 1 World Project
One of the things I enjoy most about this blogging community is the unique opportunity to experience snippets of daily life through someone else’s perspective. Some of you record and share these moments through photography while others paint pictures with your words but regardless of the format I always enjoy the time…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Letters
I really like this shot looking up from our table at The Yard in Seattle but since I cut off most of the sign trying to include more of the light fixture I’ve held back from posting it. Waiting for the right moment was a good thing though because this week Cheri has…
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Travel Theme: Glow
Maybe I’m just looking for another opportunity to post a tulip picture but I can’t stop looking at these glowing red tulips under a stormy spring sky. Yesterday I drove a very excited Ryan to Anacortes, WA to join a group of 18 middle school kids and 6 scientists for an…
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Happy Earth Day 2014
Our April showers paused just long enough for me to take a walk this afternoon and snap some photos of our spring blooming trees in honor of Earth Day. My fingers are crossed hoping these wet days really will bring more May flowers…
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iPhoneography Monday in the Skagit Valley Tulip Fields
I know I said Thursday would be my last tulip photos for a while but since Sally’s mobile photography challenge is on vacation until May 5th I thought I’d share one more post from the Skagit Valley. The annual Tulip Festival is a favorite with photographers as well as fun day trip for the family…
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Travel Theme: Round
We found this old wagon wheel just down the beach from the driftwood pirate ship I posted yesterday. The owners of the property have a knack for collecting and re-purposing old items and interesting pieces of wood but I think this wheel is at the end of its road… Posted as…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: On Top
On top can be a feeling, a perspective, or a physical location. The Daily Post – Sara Rosso This eagle perched on a weathered driftwood pirate ship had to feel like he was sitting on top of the world… Posted as part of the Weekly Photo Challenge: On Top.
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Skagit Valley Tulips – 3
I took hundreds of tulip photos last weekend but don’t worry, I won’t post all of them at once! After today we’ll take a break from the Skagit Valley pictures and tomorrow will bring something new to see and talk about.
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Skagit Valley Tulips – 1
I usually post a new black and white photo every Tuesday but after spending the weekend surrounded by millions of tulips my head is full of bright, vibrant colors and I thought it would be fun to spend the week sharing a few of my favorite views from the 2014 Skagit…
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iPhoneography Monday: 4-14-14
The second Monday of every month is dedicated to Macro at Lens and Pen by Sally’s weekly photo challenge. We were out-of-town again this weekend and while I took a lot of photos in the Skagit Valley Tulip Fields none of them were macro which left me thinking I might…
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A Word A Week: Sign
I know this is a change of pace from my usual photo style but Sue’s Word A Week Challenge is “Sign” and I don’t think I’ll ever have a better chance to post this shot of the back of a Seattle Metro Bus. It’s an advertisement for the Washington State Health…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Monument
In this week’s challenge, show us your take on a monument (broadly defined). It could be a fresh angle on a well-known tourist site, or a place nobody knows outside your community— anything can be monumental as long as it’s imbued with a shared sense of importance. Ben – The Daily…
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World Book Night 2014
World Book Night is almost here and I really excited to announce that we will be joining the 25,000 volunteers across the United States giving away free books on April 23rd 2014! Below is some great information from their website, Worldbooknight.org. What We Do World Book Night U.S. promotes and celebrates…
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Black & White Tuesday: 4-8-14
Today’s Black & White Tuesday post is a view of Seattle’s EMP (Experience Music Project) Museum’s silver side. If you missed the pink side you can see it again here and stay tuned for blue coming soon…
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iPhoneography Monday: 4-7-14
The Skagit Valley tulip fields haven’t quite reached their peak but early April is a perfect time to see the Daffodils. We drove through the valley yesterday afternoon and John was patient enough to stop the car twice while I tip toed through the mud in order to get a few pictures of…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Threshold
Crossing this threshold means entering one of my favorite shops in Seattle, Greenwood Space Travel and Supply. GSTS operates to support the amazing non-profit writing and tutorial center 826 Seattle and inside the shelves are full of an amazing assortment of science themed books, toys, equipment and all around cool stuff. Where…
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A Word A Week: Contrast
Ryan has a habit of picking up what ever electronic device is left lying around and secretly leaving his mark. I never know what to expect when I realize I haven’t seen my phone for a few hours but usually I discover new voice recordings, fun messages on my fitbit…
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Travel Theme: Misty
I love living by the waterfront with easy access to the beach but our proximity to Puget Sound also brings plenty of misty days . In the fall we can spend weeks at a time wrapped in thick fog and even though I know the trees are turning brilliant shades of red and yellow and that the sky…
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Black & White Tuesday: 4-1-14
I really hope this will be the last bare branches photo of our winter as April’s warmer air and longer days means it’s almost time for the Emerald City (Seattle) to live up to its nickname.
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iPhoneography Monday: 3-31-14
This week introduces a new element to Lens and Pen by Sally’s Non-Traditional photo challenge – editing and processing using apps. I’ve been wanting to try Waterlogue and as I expected it’s been fun seeing what my photos might look like if I had any talent with watercolor. My first attempt was this still…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Street Life
A place reveals itself on its streets, from pedestrians strolling during lunch time, to performers entertaining tourists on sidewalks, to the bustle of local markets, and more. Whether you’re shoveling snow from your own driveway or walking a familiar route to work or getting lost in a foreign city, a…
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Travel Theme: Statues
The Santuario de Guadalupe in Santa Fe, NM is the oldest shrine to our Lady of Guadalupe in the United States. I wrote a little about the history of this place in a Black and White Tuesday post about the Church here and today, as part of Alisa’s Weekly Travel…
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The Seattle Public Library
A quick post today showing a second view of the Seattle Public Library. My Reflections photo was taken below this point looking back along the face of the building and for this one I stepped out to the sidewalk and looked all the way up…
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Black & White Tuesday: 3-25-14
A fun moment around the International Fountain at the Seattle Center. This fountain, along with the Space Needle were designed and built as part of the 1962 World’s Fair and is a popular place to run, play and relax in all kinds of weather. The fountain sprays in varied patterns…
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iPhoneography Monday: 3-24-14
The fourth Monday of every month is Challenger’s Choice over at Lens and Pen by Sally. This week marks the debut of a new challenge title, Phoneography and Non-SLR Digital Devices Photo Challenge, encouraging all non-traditional photographers using a smart phone, digital music device like an iPod, tablet or even a…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Reflections
Yesterday John, Ryan and I spent a fun few hours walking through Seattle Center, peering up at the Space Needle and meeting family for a play at the Seattle Children’s Theater. I took plenty of interesting reflecting photos with this challenge in mind and even though you’ll still get a…
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Travel Theme: Pink
I know I’ve been very quiet this week but don’t worry I hope to spend some quality time with my reader as soon as tomorrow. I plan to be back to a more normal schedule by next week and can’t wait to see what everyone has been up to while I’ve…
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Black & White Tuesday: 3-18-14
A small portion of Bruce West’s untitled stainless steel sculpture at the City of Lynnwood’s Veteran’s Park.
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iPhone Monday: 3-17-14
I’ve posted a few photos of this beach log but I haven’t shown it from this angle before. Is it just me or does anyone else think the old roots look like fingers reaching into the ocean? Posted as part of Lens and Pen by Sally’s Phoneography Monday: Black and…
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Travel Theme: Garden
This isn’t a traditional garden picture but March in the Pacific Northwest is a challenging time everyone who loves the outdoors. It’s cold and damp 90% of the time with a few brief stretches of sunny weather that give us all spring fever but send pollen counts into the double…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside
So much of life happens inside something. A house, a car, a sleeping bag, a UFO… The Yard in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood is our favorite place to relax on a wet Northwest afternoon while Ryan attends a new debate workshop at the fantastic writing school, 826 Seattle. The school is a…
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iPhone Monday: 3-10-14
In response to Sally’s March Macro Challenge I have a second view of the spring flowers from my Nature post last week. I encourage everyone who is a fan of mobile photography to spend some time with the thoughtful posts at Lens and Pen by Sally. Her Monday photo challenges include valuable tips and insight…
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Travel Theme: Tempting
In honor of Alisa’s newest travel theme “tempting” I have a set of his and hers photos. Grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s is always full of tough decisions. This morning I stopped in the entry debating if I should get the Bunch of flowers or do I pick up the Bigger…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Perspective
Perspective is important to every photographer. With the creative use of perspective narrowed down through the lens of a camera, a bit of gravel can look like a barren desert landscape or a few trees can trick the eye into thinking you’re deep in a centuries-old forest. Who hasn’t seen…
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Black & White Tuesday: 3-4-14
After a dreary week of foggy October days Ryan and I grabbed our warm coats and headed to the beach. Late afternoon brought us the first touch of light in days and just as the gray lifted a flock of birds rose from their perches at the Marina and flew out to sea.
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iPhone Monday: 3-3-14
My husband surprised me with these lovely spring flowers Friday night and today I’m sharing them with all of you as part of Lens and Pen by Sally’s Phoneography Challenge: Nature.
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To Live Forever by Andra Watkins
It’s been a few months since I’ve posted a new entry in my Favorite First Lines series but today I am thrilled to share a fantastic first novel by one of my favorite bloggers, Andra Watkins (The Accidental Cootchie Mamma). March 1st is the official release of To Live Forever:…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Abandoned
Bandelier National Monument is a 33,677-acre National Monument in New Mexico preserving remains of homes of the Ancestral Pueblo People. Human presence in this area can be traced back 10,000 years but permanent settlements in Bandelier date from two time periods – 1150 to 1600 CE (common era). By 1550…
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A Word A Week: Frame
Sue’s latest challenge in her popular word a week series is “Frame“. I’m pretty sure I could find a new scenic image framed in an interesting way to share but instead decided to post a photo of this old wooden rowboat living its last days as part of a children’s play area on the Edmonds waterfront. The boat frame is tipped on its…
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Black & White Tuesday: 2-25-14
The only reason I stopped to take this photo was because of how much I liked the leafless branches against a vibrant blue winter sky yet here I am on a black & white Tuesday removing all color. The original brown and blue palette was striking but after viewing it in monochrome I can really appreciate the organic structure of this great…
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iPhone Monday: 2-24-14
The 4th week of each month at Lens and Pen by Sally’s phoneography challenge is devoted to Challenger’s Choice. There are several categories participants can use for inspiration including Abstraction, Animals, Architecture, Food Photography, Night Photography, Objects, Portraiture, Still Life, Street Photography, and Travel. This week I’ve selected Street Photography so could post this image of a happy couple strolling through…
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Travel Theme: Work
Fresh flowers are scarce during Pacific Northwest winters but the hardworking families at Seattle’s Pike Place Market use creative combinations of fresh and dried flowers to keep their stalls full year round. Christmas Eve in front of the Original Starbucks. Inside, customers enjoy hot beverages in bright red cups while the street musician wears a…
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A Word A Week: Atmospheric
Summer fog rolling across Heather Meadows in the Mt. Baker – Snoqualmie National Forest. Posted as part of Sue’s A Word A Week: Atmospheric.
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Three
Michelle’s latest photo challenge asks us to use a three picture posting style to tell a story through images. This is a technique I’ve enjoyed in the past and when you have a son with a flair for the dramatic composing a visual story is a fun way to pass the time. Today, with three images,…
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Black & White Tuesday: 2-18-14
I have another summer beach photo for this mid-February entry in my Black and White Tuesday series. Ryan spent an hour filling his pockets with rocks for sling-shot ammunition while I relaxed on driftwood logs snapping pictures of the day.
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iPhoneography Monday: 2-17-14
Without fail, by the time February arrives with its mixed bag of wind, rain and snow I can’t help dreaming of warm afternoons spent at the beach. There aren’t any tropical vacation plans in my near future but I do have plenty of photos from some fun summer days by the water to share and…
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Weekly Travel Theme: Romance
As part of Alisa’s Weekly Travel Theme: Romance I’m sharing a well-loved photo my husband’s Grandparents as a young, engaged couple in the early 1920’s. They married soon after and had four children starting with my father-in-law and followed soon after by three beautiful sisters. I’m sorry I never got a chance to meet Joe and Bess but…
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A Word A Week: Violet
One of the things I love about Heather is its determined nature, blooming right on schedule no matter the conditions. This little plant flowers in my front yard every winter providing bright spots of color in a season filled with green, brown and white. Posted as part of Sue’s A Word A Week: …
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Black and White Tuesday: 2-11-14
This close view of a totem pole is from one of two popular 50 foot cedar poles at Victor Steinbrueck Park near the Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA. Seattle Architect Victor Steinbrueck is credited with spearheading the preservation movement to protect both the Market and Pioneer Square districts in the 1960’s and twenty years…
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iPhoneography Monday: 2-10-14
Our latest snowstorm was perfectly timed, starting after we returned home Saturday night and melting by Sunday afternoon. We had just enough snow to walk around the neighborhood and throw snowballs Sunday morning and safe roads for grocery shopping before the new work and school week began today. Posted as part of Lens and Pen…
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Sunday Stills: Graffiti
I always enjoy reading posts linked to Ed’s Sunday Stills challenges and today’s prompt fit perfectly with a fall photo I’ve wanted to share. My dad is focusing on an urban waterfall while Ryan snaps a picture of him and I am behind both of them watching their choices. With graffiti on the…
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Travel Theme: Yellow
Alisa’s Yellow travel theme has me dreaming of spring days and a visit to the Skagit Valley Tulip Fields. I can’t wait for April!
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Issue Seven, an Apology and a Thank You.
Originally posted on The Paperbook Blog: Hello everyone. As you might have noticed, I have been appallingly absent from the WordPress halls. You might have also noticed that it is February 5th today. And I am four days late in publishing Issue Seven of The Paperbook Collective. Here is the…
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Black & White Tuesday: 2-4-14
I looked up at an old tree after parking my car and saw this man waiting for the bus on a chilly winter morning…
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iPhoneography Monday: 2-3-14
Saturday afternoon John, Ryan and I laced up our hiking shoes and set out to explore Southwest County Olympic View Park. This 120 acre parcel was owned and logged in the early 1900’s by Pope and Talbot before they transferred ownership to the University of Washington who eventually granted the property to the City of Edmonds in…
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Wishing my beautiful Grandma Emma a happy 96th birthday.
Last year my entire family and several hundred good friends gathered in Eastern Washington to celebrate Grandma’s 95th birthday and today I am thrilled to say we can wish her a happy 96. Her feisty spirit, good heart and caring personality have carried her through a life full of twists and turns with…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Object
Some photographs, like portraits, focus on individuals, while still-life moments capture the beauty (and often treasured stories) of belongings and found objects. The Daily Post – Cheri Lucas Rowlands I’ll bet this old basket ball has a few good stories to tell… Found during a walk in the woods and posted…
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Travel Theme: Dry
I’ve found the only sure way to enjoy home-grown Pacific Northwest flowers in January is to cut an extra bouquet or two and set them aside for drying. I have the best luck with late season Hydrangeas and if kept out of direct sun their deep purple, pink and blue pigments can last for years. Posted as part of Alisa’s weekly…
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Black & White Tuesday: 1-28-14
Since my last Black & White Tuesday post was all about holiday shopping and hot donuts I thought you might like to see our snack-time view looking over Seattle’s Westlake Park.
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iPhoneography Monday: 1-27-14
The fourth Monday of the month is reserved for challenger’s choice at Lens and Pen by Sally’s Phoneography Challenge and today I chose street photography. This strange little sign is one of a series posted on the side of Archie McPhee’s in Seattle, WA and if you have a quirky, strange, funny or…
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Travel Theme: Wood
This huge beach log is one of the most photographed spots on our favorite Edmonds beach and of course I can’t help stopping several times a year to try capturing a new angle. When the tide is out this section of the log is almost as high as my shoulder and the…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Juxtaposition
Wandering with my camera, I often find my eye drawn to strange bedfellows. Juxtapositions. Foils. Unexpected pairings. Michelle W. The Daily Post Growing up in the Pacific Northwest I was fascinated by stories of hunters and scientists finding possible Sasquatch tracks in the woods. There was even a TV show…
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Black and White Tuesday: 1-21-14
It’s hard to miss this hot donut stand in Seattle’s Westlake Park, the bright colors and happy customers can be seen from blocks away. Ryan insisted we stop for a bag of our own during a December trip downtown and while his mouth was too full of donuts and sugar for a wordy review, two thumbs up and a smile said it…
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iPhoneography Monday: 1-20-14
Today is the third Monday of the month which means it’s time for January’s black and white week over at Lens and Pen by Sally’s Phoneography Challenge. I wasn’t sure what I was going to post today until I came across this small trillium photo from last spring. While I like the…
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A Word A Week: Waiting
I think these two gulls were waiting for dinner to drop from the hands of the kids standing behind me… Posted as part of Sue’s A Word A Week Challenge: Waiting
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Weekly Travel Theme: Silver
Alisa’s weekly travel theme is posted every Friday and the newest prompt is the word “Silver.” I thought I would keep my entry simple today and show you these beautiful King Salmon from Seattle’s Pike Place Market. They are as fresh as you can get without stepping on a boat and…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Family
What is family? For some, family is defined by genetics. For others, it is simply those with whom you share a bond of love. Or maybe it is nothing less than an expression of the universality of human experience… Josh R. – The Daily Post I don’t know about you but…
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Weekly Travel Theme: Illuminated
I always look forward to Alisa’s weekly travel themes and this latest challenge has inspired some beautiful images of light from around the world. For my Illuminated post I hope you like this view of a fiery evening sky as seen from the top deck of a Washington State Ferry.
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Black and White Tuesday: 1-14-14
This fun piece of public art is located on the Edmonds waterfront and features three generations of a family relaxing at the beach. A few months ago I posted a photo taken from behind the piece showing three of the family members watching the boats and waves. If you missed it the first time around here is a link to…
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iPhoneography Monday: 1-13-14
Yesterday I sat down in our wet backyard grass and decided I wouldn’t go back inside until I found something interesting to photograph for today’s macro challenge. I’m happy I took a few minutes to look at things from a different angle because I had completely missed how pretty this little mushroom was…
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A Word A Week: Yellow
Looking through my archives tonight has forced me to accept that yellow isn’t one of my favorite colors. It’s not something I can wear successfully and it looks like it isn’t a color I photograph often. Actually I’m kind of surprised I don’t have more photos that feature yellow as I do…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Window
The Glacier Public Service Center on the Mt. Baker Scenic Byway welcomes visitors to the north side of the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest and North Cascades National Park in Washington State. The stone and wood Cascadian style Center was built in 1938 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and is listed in the…
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Outside
Tell us about the experience of being outside, looking in — however you’d like to interpret that. Photographers, artists, poets: show us OUTSIDE. My Black and White Tuesday post included the news that I was posting a color photo of the evening sunset from the same Ferry trip on my new Facebook page. Several of you clicked over…
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Black and White Tuesday: 1-7-14
Winter trips on the Washington State Ferries offer some amazing photo opportunities if you have a warm coat and don’t mind some extremely cold wind. John, Ryan and I took a beautiful trip on the Edmonds – Kingston ferry a few days ago and I left the comfy, warm bench to explore the top deck and…
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Starting 2014 with a Bang!
Originally posted on The Paperbook Blog: There wasn’t any fireworks in our city centre on New Years Eve. Any official fireworks, that is. At around a quarter to midnight, when I was sitting comfortably on my couch, gin in hand, a huge bang went off outside. I raced on to…
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iPhoneography Monday: 1-6-14
The first Monday of the month means it’s time to focus on nature as part of Lens and Pen by Sally’s Phoneography Monday Challenge. The Whatcom Falls beavers have been working long hours to bring this old tree down and even though there is a nice note from the park rangers attached to the side of the trunk asking everyone to…
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Weekly Travel Theme: Possibility
Seattle’s Pike Place Market is a fantastic place to shop for top quality produce, seafood and flowers and every film crew that’s ever visited town has shown the fish sellers tossing their latest catch under the main entrance. Each year millions of people walk through the upper level of this Seattle landmark each but not everyone realizes some of the really fun…
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Beginning
Beginning. Hello, 2014. And hello and happy new year to our readers, old and new. This week’s theme might be obvious, but I couldn’t help it — it’s a simple and common word, yet can evoke very powerful, emotional images. Cheri Lucas Rowlands – The Daily Post As many of…
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Our Landscaping Project: Progress Update
Writing an updated post about our big landscaping project has been on my to-do list for several weeks (months) but hey, life is busy and I rarely make it to the bottom of a list. I didn’t think I would be posting anything today but when I saw that the Daily Prompt was Progress I realized I was out of excuses. Here is…
Northwest Frame of Mind 