Feeling small in the North Cascades. #bigworld #humility #mountains #winter #hiking

Took my snowshoes (and my camera kit!) out for a pleasant wander in the North Cascades this week. #northcascades #landscapephotography #photography #hiking #snowshoe

Sunrise this morning over the Salish Sea (Puget Sound). No Photoshop, no AI. Just Mother Nature’s magic. #Salishsea #Sunrise #Magichour #PNW #mistymorning

I was in Ohio last week visiting family. Mother Nature created this scene and I responded by making a photograph. #ohio #sunset #autumn

My home-to-trailhead vehicle has been unreliable of late, so my “fall color” adventures have been local (image #1). Image #2 is from a hike in the Washington Cascades in 2021. #photography #landscapes #hiking #fall #autumn #pacificnorthwest

Several days ago I had a plan to head to the mountains to hike to a high and fairly remote spot I know to photograph fall colors. Unfortunately , mechanical problems with my truck kept me at home, but the very next day I was walking country roads near my home and this scene presented itself.

Images from a photographic walkabout this week. Ain’t Autumn swell? 🍁#autumn #nature #trees #photography

My neighbor’s pasture, looking spooky this foggy Pacific Northwest morning. #halloween #spooky #fog #photography #autumn

A beautiful evening to practice footwork. “Football is Life.” #soccer #football #sunset #fitness #calgary

Our son made this timeless photograph of me taking his daughter (my granddaughter) for her first lesson on her strider bike. #grandpa #family #memories #granddaughter #bicycle

A friend generously gifted me a kayak he wasn’t using and this week @leahwantstogarden.bsky.social made this picture of me on my first time out, paddling in a tranquil bay of the Salish Sea. #kayak #salishsea #pacificnorthwest #washingtonstate

It was a good week to spend time in Leah’s garden, habitat for all kinds of wee beasties, and, for me, a reliable retreat. @leahwantstogarden #gardening #solace #habitat #nature #photography #naturephotography #environment

Smoke in the atmosphere from several late summer wildfires made for otherworldly — even beautiful? — golden light at sunset last evening. Fortunately the air quality is not too bad (“moderate” is what the weather service says) and the forecast is for cool, rainy days ahead.

The Cascade Mountains of Washington and Oregon have been my playground for decades, but, because family has recently moved to Canada, I’m now beginning to set my sights on the Canadian Rockies. Oh my! #Canada #Canadianrockies #photography #landscapephotography #blackandwhite #monochrome

Sometimes she says she is a ballerina, while other times — like when she’s wearing a dress like this — I’d bet she is playing Princess. At all times, her Grandpa thinks she is a wonder and can be whatever she wants to be. #photography #granddaughter #childhood #imagination #family #diary #grandpa

Waiting for a ferry. #photography #blackandwhite #monochrome #salishsea #pugetsound #pacificnorthwest #seattle #everydaylife

For visitors to Seattle, a ride on a Washington State Ferry is a way to experience the beauty of the Salish Sea (Puget Sound). For some of us who live here, a ferry trip might be part of our workday commute, and also a time to look around, see, and appreciate.

I went to Leah’s garden, hoping to find a photograph or two, of what Wendell Berry called “the art of the commonplace.” @leahwantstogarden #garden #nature #hummingbird #dahlia #waterlily #photography

Two travelogue pictures from a roadtrip I did into last week with my fur buddy. We visited family in Alberta, Canada. #canada #roadtrip #sculpture #alberta #travel #dogs #sunset

A roadtrip this week to British Columbia and Alberta to visit family took me through the Canadian Rockies. Though I just returned home to Washington state, I’m already looking forward to many more trips north when I plan to take my mountain bike, hiking boots, snowshoes, and cross country skis.

A scene I happened upon last week on a road trip near Calgary, Alberta (Canada). #canada #calgary #wildlife

Adventures with Grandpa: My Princess and I went looking for treasure under the canopy of a Camperdown Elm. #pirates #grandpa #nature #princess #family #makingmemories

“It’s a big world out there, Frodo.” My friend @theklahini.bsky.social is that tiny human (in the patch of sunlight lower left) moving through a limitless landscape on a recent backcountry trip in the North Cascades. #adventure #northcascades #mountainlife #hobbits #feelingsmall

In Leah’s garden. @leahwantstogarden.bsky.social #garden #peaceful #nature #solice #hummingbird #macrophotography

A soul-healing moment I was fortunate to experience and photograph in Leah’s garden last week. Such a peaceful place to get away from it all. @leahwantstogarden.bsky.social #garden #hummingbird #peaceful #mothernature

Several years ago a friend and I were on our way to climb another, slightly higher peak, when our approach route took us past this incredible spire. Because we’re both photographers, we got it in our minds eyes to make a return visit sometime, hoping to photograph a sky full of stars over the spire.

A photographer friend who is also an experienced mountaineer joined me this week for a scramble up a snowy peak in the North Cascades. Mother Nature rewarded our efforts with a visual gift — Northern Lights! #Aurora #Landscapephotography

A friend and I are headed for the hills today with a plan to reprise a trip we did in 2021. Excited to see what lies ahead. #mountains #adventure

My neighbor’s horse, looking peaceful in the buttercups on Memorial Day. #MemorialDay #rurallife

Morning Meditations.

Looking closely at one of the zillions of ferns that grow wild in the woods that surround our house. Andy Warhol said: “I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art that anybody could ever want.”

Snowshoeing recently on Mt. Rainier, where spring kinda looks like winter.

Family and volunteerism (both good things!) have filled my days this spring, so I haven’t gotten into the mountains much. However, a free day and stellar weather presented an opportunity to play outside last week, so two neighbors and I headed to Mt. Rainier for snowshoeing and backcountry skiing.

Wild “bleeding hearts” are blooming in the woods surrounding our house. So. Nice.

Walking past Leah’s garden this week, I found that she had left this visual gift for any lucky passerby, and that happened to be me. Her Bluesky page is @leahwantstogarden.bsky.social

Just curious: Which do you prefer?

For those of us who live in the Pacific North-wet, knowing all about rain gear is an important skill set. My toddler granddaughter is learning the ins and outs of using an umbrella.

“Every day, think as you wake up…I am fortunate to have a precious human life. I am not going to waste it… “I am going to have kind thoughts towards other, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can” HH the 14th Dalai Lama (Photograph 2/25)

Thank you @emilyrandallwa.bsky.social for a great town hall! It was wonderful to see so many ppl turn out. And thanks for giving us an extra session since we couldn’t all fit! I am inspired, and feeling a smidge more hopeful. The respect, empathy, and determination you showed was appreciated!

Someday, when she’s older and if she’s interested, I’ll take her for hikes in high and wild places and maybe we’ll make our way to rocky or snowy summits and take in views from here to forever. For now though, an evening walk with her is Grandpa’s idea of perfect.

How quickly things change. In wetlands and ponds around us the spring peepers are singing their little green heads off, and crocuses and daffodils are coming up in Leah’s garden. Yet only four weeks ago I did a walkabout at a nearby farm and this scene presented itself.

A big windstorm left us with power for two days this week. Fortunately we have a wood stove for heat and a collection of oil lamps for light.

A week ago we got our first lowland snow of the season in our rural neck of the woods. Today @leahwantstogarden.bsky.social pointed me toward our first snowdrop.

A bluebird day in the mountains yesterday, perfect for a snow hike. The ramble with several longtime friends was good for body and mind, and I came home with this image for my newbie Bluesky page.

Snow in my neck of the PNW woods typically falls in the mountains, but this week we got white stuff in the lowlands. @leahwantstogarden.bsky.social made sure the winged wee beasties got some love.

Did a walkabout in our neck of the Pacific Northwest woods yesterday morning, photographing the beauty of snow that had fallen overnight. A neighbor’s outbuilding was one of the elements of this scene.

A journal picture from this morning’s walk. The coyote went one way, I went the other.