Moss On Stone

“There is an ancient conversation going on between mosses and rocks, poetry to be sure. About light and shadow and the drift of continents. This is what has been called the “dialect of moss on stone – an interface of immensity and minute ness, of past and present, softness and hardness, stillness and vibrancy, yin and yan.”
― Robin Wall Kimmerer, Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses

From our hike to Mason Lake via the Ira Spring Trail in the Mt. Baker – Snoqualmie National Forest.  Preserving places like this is one more reason why we must protect our National Parks and Forests.

Lisa12 Comments

My Year In Pictures: March Week 3

Random is the first word that came to mind tonight as I clicked through this set of seven images.  Appropriate really since I feel like we’re just flying through each day trying to be present at every appointment and commitment while making time for a quick breath and moment to appreciate the world we live in.  If all I can squeeze in is a second to stand still and snap a picture of something random but pretty then I’ll do my best to make that image count. 🙂

Our week started with anxious Finn watching the door to keep track of every person and creature walking down our street.  At least he held still long enough for a portrait.  Monday Ryan and I walked past this sign in a shop window and it sparked a long conversation about what it means to have “freedom of speech”.  Tuesday is a shot of some pretty moss that looks like fern fronds and Wednesday I stopped to pick up a postcard about Washington State for a 1st grade project about the United States.  Thursday all I had time for was aiming my phone up toward the ceiling as I rode an escalator but I liked these pretty butterflies floating overhead.  Friday’s discovery was this cheery box of candy and Saturday night ended at the gym so John and Ryan could swim and I could get a good workout in the cardio room.

Coming soon I’ve got a great set of new photos almost ready to share here from our latest March adventures and if you’d like to follow along in real-time don’t forget I post my daily photos on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. If a once-a-week blog read is more your speed my weekly recaps will continue here along with caption notes containing editing information for each photo.

Lisa20 Comments

Nature in the Stimpson Family Nature Reserve

The summer of 2015 continues to be a season of extremes and while several parts of the country are experiencing floods and record rainfall the west coast is in the middle of a drought.  The entire Pacific Northwest is now under extreme fire watch and Seattle had the hottest 4th of July ever.  Last year we saw rain on the 4th but this year many communities cancelled firework celebrations and urged residents to save their “safe and sane” purchases for New Year’s Eve 2016.  With more than 60 fires burning across British Columbia and Washington state fires stretching from the Olympic Peninsula to the eastern border the air is full of smoky haze and the sun has taken on an eerie red glow.  I miss our blue skies.

Looking for a break from the heat and smoke we spent a lovely Sunday afternoon hiking through the Stimpson Family Nature Reserve in Bellingham and I took shot after shot of deep green moss, old and second-growth trees and acres of ferns.

iPhone Wednesday 7-8 Nature

Welcome to the Stimpson Family Nature Reserve.  This reserve protects wildlife, water, and a rich forest eco-system.  Please enjoy this opportunity to learn about nature and to care for the land that we share.

The Reserve includes the 138-acre Lake Louise Natural Resources Conservation Area owned by the Department of Natural Resources, 196 acres owned by Whatcom Land Trust and 34 acres jointly owned by the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County.  Whatcom County Parks & Recreation manages the Reserve, and Whatcom Land Trust maintains a permanent stewardship endowment for its upkeep.

The core of the Stimpson Family Nature Reserve was donated to Whatcom Land Trust in 2000 in memory of Edward K. and Catharine C. Stimpson by their seven children.  This donation continues the family legacy of giving generously to our community.

From the welcome sign at the entrance to the Reserve.

Posted today as part of Sally D’s Mobile Photography Challenge:  Nature.

Lisa21 Comments

iPhoneography Monday: 9-1-14

iPhone 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.

Lisa32 Comments