~ Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #92: Going Back ~

For thirty years my husband and I vacationed on Orcas Island, WA – USA. Memories of the peaceful place we stayed would help power me through each year of counseling high school students. When I arrived, my body, mind and spirit all slowed to a quieter pace.

view from cabin 1sunset

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After I retired 9 years ago, we decided to go other places and have since settled into our condominium at Long Beach, WA for our get-away-from-it-all fix. Lately, I’ve been thinking a visit back to Orcas is in my future. How far in the future? Time will tell!

Thanks to John for inspiring a virtual visit to a lovely spot!

https://photobyjohnbo.wordpress.com/2020/04/11/lapc-92-going-back/

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~ Wordless Wednesday ~ Spring Wings ~ April 15, 2020 ~

 

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Savannah Sparrow – Passerculus sandwichensis

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Pair of Pine Grosbeak – Pinicola enucleator

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Male Pine Grosbeak

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Northern Harrier – Circus cyaneus – male with twig in beak.

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Male Ring-necked Pheasant – Phasianus colchicus

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House Finch Good MorningP1110294

Wishing everyone safe harbor as we navigate uncharted waters.

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~ Jello’s Report from the Edge of a Continent: April 2020 ~

My name is Jello and I’m a “blue-tick” Beagle. My folks adopted me five years ago when I was four and we have lots of fun adventures together.

Jello on beach

I got really sick to my stomach the other day. Not sure what it was that I ate in the dunes, but mom hopes it won’t happen again. 

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On our morning walks, I get to roam wherever my nose takes me. Scents of night-critters draw me along deer trails into the depths of the dunes.

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Before cresting the berm, Mom whistles for me and I race past her to roll in the soft sand.

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When the wind is strong, the sand hurts my eyes, so we don’t stay long. When it’s not windy, we meander along the shoreline lazily.

P1110311P1110312Back home I get a brush-down and a cookie, followed by a long nap!

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Wishing everyone safe harbor as we navigate uncharted waters.

🐾

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~ Report from the Edge of a Continent ~

White-crowned Sparrow

Easter morning is sunny and calm. White-crowned Sparrows call from trees along the Discovery Trail, and an immature Bald Eagle sweeps above me with a fish in its talons. As I crest the berm to the beach, low tide and swishing waves invite a stroll along the shoreline to a beautiful, large piece of driftwood that came ashore overnight.

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Drifting along with my thoughts, I note how disconnected from time I feel. Hours wash onward, as a daily routine develops.

geese at sun down

The marsh shrinks, large flocks of geese fly north, and the Harrier hunts above the dunes.

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Wishing everyone safe harbor, as we navigate uncharted waters. 

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~ Report From the Edge of a Continent ~

“A calm will descent and there’s peace at the end of the darkest night,

sometimes I cry sometimes I fly like a bird.”  Boz Scaggs

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The Darkest Night

The Worst Hard Time

Grapes of Wrath

The Day the Earth Stood Still

On The Beach

Exodus

 

 

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~ Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #91: Simplicity ~

“Smell the sea and feel the sky
Let your soul and spirit fly
Into the mystic.” Van Morrison

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Land, ocean and sky – essential elements of life – in a quiet moment between rainstorms. April 1, 2020. 

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In the hierarchy of animal life forms on Earth, Moon Jelly (Aurelia aurita) is at the “tissue” level, just one step up from the base or “cellular” level, on which it feeds. 

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“What other body could pull an entire ocean from shore to shore? The moon is faithful to its nature and its power is never diminished.” Deng Ming-Dao

Wishing everyone safe harbor as we navigate uncharted waters. 

 

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #91: Simplicity

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~ Wordless Wednesday ~ A Breath of Fresh Air ~

 

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~ Report From the Edge of a Continent ~

In a recent NYT opinion piece, Thomas Friedman masterfully tied Donald Trump’s climate science denial with his willful ignorance and cronyism around the COVID 19 pandemic. Friedman quotes his favorite environmental teacher, Rob Watson:

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Ruffles along the edge of Mother Nature’s billowing skirts.

“Mother Nature is just chemistry, biology and physics. That’s all she is. You cannot sweet-talk her. You cannot spin her. You cannot manipulate her.”

Here’s the link:

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~ Lens-Artist Photo Challenge #90: Distance ~

Distance has several distinct, yet connected meanings. In its essence it is the space between two things or people.

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Wind turbines atop the Columbia River Gorge demonstrate visual distance and symbolize the conceptual distance between Washington State, and current Washington D.C. political reality.

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In the remote Long Beach Peninsula, on the western edge of North America, a massive thundercloud looms on the horizon over the Pacific Ocean, as our moon in space provides another perspective of a far off point.

Jello and Rainbow

The length of time this rainbow appeared before me was short, and it was bigger than would fit one screen shot. Thinking I might get more of it by backtracking on the trail, I had to laugh at myself when I realized it didn’t matter! One bright spot is that I captured sweet Jello, confused by my turning back rather than pressing ahead!

Thank you Tina and Lens Artists for a place to connect with others. In this time when Social Distancing is the new norm, Jello and I send you virtual hugs across the universe.

Lens-Artists Challenge #90 – Distance

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~ Wordless Wednesday ~ Wings ~

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“On Guard” Killdeer

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“Shelter In Place ”  Mallard Drakes

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First Ducklings ~ 2020

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