This week Patti asks us to explore what inspires us personally. Of course, I could simply say Nature, however I made myself dig a little deeper. What in nature pulls that cord of imagination, what stirs me to delight?
Light ~ natural light…
…bright light, diffused light, blue skies.
Colors ~ all colors…
…intense shades, tender tones, happy hues.
Water…
…cool fresh streams…
…roaring waterfalls…
…bracing ocean waves…
…gentle splashes.
Birds ~ in the wild…
…and at my feeders.
In conclusion, I am also inspired by human kindness; a hand when needed, a smile and wave, a warm hello hug. In the absence of human contact, I am comforted and encouraged by Beagle love; a wagging tail, gentle eyes, a nudge to go for a walk.
Please mask-up again, even if you are inoculated. It’s hard to go through this upsurge after the hope the virus was under control. Wishing everyone safe travels – be kind and stay safe.🐾
In years past, whenever Creighton and I traveled we’d make a point to send postcards to family and friends – postcards with images that reflected the spirit and beauty of the places we were visiting. Selecting the postcards was part of the fun!
Lake Tahoe Sunrise
Postcards with images featuring the natural beauty of the place, still are my favorites. Above is a shot I took a few years ago on a quiet morning walk on the western shore of Lake Tahoe.
North of Cour d’Alene, Idaho
Another kind of postcard image tells the history of a place, like this one of Silver Beach Resort at Spirit Lake, Idaho – well off the beaten path.
Washington Monument Reflection
Then there are monuments and buildings – structures that define a place. A lovely winter sundown provided the soft tones for this shot of the Washington Monument, taken from the Lincoln Memorial.
Astoria – Megler Bridge
A marvel of human engineering and cooperative financial planning, this bridge spans the mouth of the Columbia River, connecting Astoria, Oregon to the Long Beach Peninsula in Washington State.
Wizard Island – Crater Lake, Oregon
When I first saw the above image captured on a visit to Crater Lake, I thought to myself this is Picture Postcard Perfect!
Doe Bay Vista
Orcas Island, Washington was our vacation destination for over thirty years. We bicycled all the San Juan Islands that were accessible by ferry, and visited state parks, found places to get the best cinnamon buns and ice cream, and waited for hours at Lime Kiln (San Juan Island) to see if the resident pod of Orca Whales would pass by.
Beach Haven Sundown
Sunsets over Waldron and Saturna Islands almost always are stunning. A paddle boarder silhouetted in the glow added another dimension of perfection to this scene.
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I hope you enjoy this virtual visit to some beautiful sights in the USA. Thanks to Ana at Anvica’s gallery for suggesting this fun challenge!
Wishing everyone safe travels. Please be kind and stay safe.🐾
Clinging to the edge of Orcas Island, Washington this old growth Douglas fir may no longer be there, as this photo was taken ten years ago.
Douglas fir roots
The beautiful bark and twisting branches of Arbutus menziesii or Pacific madrone are a striking part of the landscape of Orcas Island. Commonly called madrona in the US and arbutus in Canada, this broadleaf evergreen tree is native to the western coastal areas of North America.
arbutus ~ madrona
The dog park Jello and I frequent has a nice stand of pine trees. The shadows on this particular day were so lovely I snapped this photo, my final offering to Becky’s square tree challenge.
Wishing everyone safe travels. Please be kind and stay safe.🐾
This lovely blown glass paperweight mirrors a window with a view outside and a plant in front of it. So much movement – the magic of reflections!
A view out the observatory windows of North Head Lighthouse at Cape Disappointment State Park. Notice how the vertical lines of the window panes behind me, are reflected on the glass in front of me.
Long Beach Sunset
With many dramatic shots of sunsets in my archives, I chose this one because of it’s subtle and muted tones from the clouds and light in the sky reflected upon the receding tide.
Wishing everyone safe travels. Please be kind and stay safe.🐾
Thanks to Nancy Merrill for another fun challenge!
Washington State Route 103 extends 19 miles north from the city of Seaview, along the western side of the Long Beach Peninsula through Long Beach and Ocean Park, to end at the northernmost tip of the Peninsula, Leadbetter Point State Park. Sandridge Road borders the eastern side of the Peninsula, runs from Ilwaco (just south of Seaview), skirts past Ocean Park and ends at Oysterville.
When I head north from Long Beach, I take whichever route fits my mood and mission! This trip was to photograph sights and check out local businesses. This small farm is on Sandridge Road, just south of the juncture to Ocean Park.
Gentle goats – expecting treats!
Weathered but still standing – Oysterville Store sign.
At this crossroad, one can continue north on Sandridge Road to the Oysterville Sea Farm…
…or turn west, to connect with state route 103, the road to Ledbetter Point Wildlife Refuge.
Western Snowy Plovers (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosis), classified as a threatened species, live here year round. To protect and enhance the species, at Leadbetter Point their nesting areas are closed to public access from March 15 to September 15 each year.
Trail in Leadbetter Park Wildlife Refuge
Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosis)
Wishing everyone safe travels. Please be kind and stay safe.🐾
Thanks to Beth at wanderingdawgs for this fun challenge!
Always, my favorite places to get away involve wilderness, nature, water, and the sense of tranquility I feel when I am away from cities, traffic and jostling crowds.
Long Beach Peninsula, Washington State ~ USA ~~~ Bald Eagle – Haliaeetus leucocephalusMiller Lake, Central Oregon – USACape Disappointment State Park – Ilwaco, Washington ~ USAOdell Lake ~ Willamette Pass, Oregon ~ USAFull moon setting – Long Beach Peninsula, Washington ~ USA
Wishing everyone safe travels. Please be kind and stay safe.🐾
Walking With Eagles is a collection of original poems and photographs by Lindy Low Le Coq. A lifelong naturalist, amateur photographer and bird enthusiast, Lindy’s verse, composition and photographs open a window into the essence of her subjects. Her poems and photography reflect the rich natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest.
Bald Eagles mature over the course of five years. Walking With Eagles invites the reader to take a poetic and visual tour of this odyssey.
view ~ Walking With Eagles ~ in top menu bar for a preview, though the folio is much nicer!
Lindy Low LeCoq 