Textures and Elemental Sounds

The three great elemental sounds in nature are the sound of rain, the sound of wind in a primeval wood, and the sound of outer ocean on a beach.  Henry Beston

Regular readers know I like to start these WordPress photo challenges with a quote that leads to a small story related to a favorite photo and I build the post from there.  It usually takes me a few days to find a quote that both catches my interest and matches a picture but 9 times out of 10 it all comes together.

Every once in a while though I start the process at the end deciding on a picture first and sometimes I don’t quite make it through the full circle of quote with challenge word, story and images.  Today’s post is one of those exceptions where I hit 2 of the three marks but that elusive third is not quite complete.  Oh well.  I feel a connection to the quote, it works with my photos and it’s a good intro to this weeks story.  The fact that the word prompt, textures, isn’t in the quote will just have to be ok because this primeval wood is full of texture.

I started nodding my head as I read this quote for the first time and when I called Ryan in to read it he looked over and said “Mom, you say those things all the time.”  My words don’t quite match Henry Beston’s but these are indeed the three natural things I enjoy most about this part of our country.  I pick remote hiking and camping locations just so I can hear the uninterrupted sound of wind through the trees and the mesmerizing rhythm of waves rolling onto an otherwise quiet beach is something I seek out often as possible.  I even find ways to enjoy the sound of rain and find comfort in the pitter patter of wet drops on the roof while trying to fall asleep.

As luck would have it Ryan and I found all three of these elemental sound textures during our latest hiking trips through the islands and forests of Washington state.  I’ve included a photo of a small waterfall to illustrate the rain because we’re in the middle of what may turn into the longest rain-free stretch in Seattle area history but take my word for it, a small trickling waterfall sounds a lot like rain.

 

Lisa15 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Searching For Inspiration

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We’ve reached the middle of the hottest summer on record here in the Pacific Northwest and the soaring temperatures combined with our home’s lack of air conditioning are making me long for cool forest pools and fresh waterfalls.  Thank goodness it’s time for vacation!

This year we’ve decided to shake things up and instead of traveling for a destination holiday we’re planning a series of day trips designed to get us out of the hot house and into some of the beautiful scenery we live with but can’t appreciate fully during the work week.

If all goes as planned we will board the Washington State Ferries, visit Pt. Townsend and Fort Warden, hike to Wallace Falls, visit the Seattle Aquarium and ride the Great Wheel, hike two more days around Snoqualmie Pass and finish with a final trip to Whidbey Island.  Mixed with these adventures are some stay home family nights with BBQ dinners, party lanterns and movies in the backyard.  A true staycation!

Tomorrow’s “Shake It Up” post will be my last here until August 9th but I won’t be vacationing from all my social media accounts.  If you’d like to follow our adventures through the beaches, forests and mountains of Washington State I’ll be dusting off my neglected Instagram account and increasing postings on Facebook. Everyone’s welcome to come by for a visit, peek over our shoulders and hike the trails with us!

Posted as part of the Weekly Photo Challenge:  Inspiration.

Lisa53 Comments