Cheeky? Brash? Brazen? Saucy? Cocky?
All of the above!

Male Mallard Ducks

Canada Goose

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Male Malard Ducks
Cheeky? Brash? Brazen? Saucy? Cocky?
All of the above!

Male Mallard Ducks

Canada Goose

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Male Malard Ducks

Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge – Ridgefield, WA USA
At 8:30 Friday morning, Jello and I took our final walk to the beach for this visit. It was overcast and cool with a steady northerly wind, but no rain.

The pounding surf has stirred layers of sand into fascinating patterns. This one echoing the feather beside it caught my eye.

As I studied the photos – another image emerged – do you see what I see?
Angels are everywhere!
This morning I awoke early and made the mistake of turning on TV news. Within a half hour my frame of mind matched the grey skies outside, so I turned media off. Though my mood lightened, my senses had been tainted — even the morning walk with Jello started out with a tinge of sadness.

This afternoon we ventured farther north along the beach than we have ever gone before — to a root-ball that has been a fixture in the distance for months.

My goal was to take some shots framed by the tangle of roots — I believe it’s always healthy to see the world through serendipitous perspectives!
And sometimes the day has flashes of brilliance and silver-linings in store.

I’m just standing here with a camera that can capture it!
Our morning didn’t start out serene — quite the opposite! Around 4:30 a wild call from outside aroused both Jello and me. “Loon?” — I wondered — “not at this time of day!” Then the yips started — little barks between the cries — Coyote. Of course we couldn’t see it from the deck, but after satisfying our curiosity we both tumbled back to bed and sleep until our normal wake up and walk time!
Yesterday’s storm drove the tide close to the dune-berm, leaving behind wrack and sea-foam that looks like snowdrifts.

With no rain or wind to contend with, serenity filled me as I ambled up the shoreline trying to identify specific shorebirds that were working the surf.
Once home, before I was able to hang up my coat and hat, Jello was growling at the sliding door. “Hope it’s not the Coyote!” I thought. Happily it was a young Columbia Blacktail Deer — the first I’ve seen on the grounds since May. Notice how its coloring matches the meadow — and how calm yet cautious it seems.

Lucky for me, Jello forces me up around 7:00 to get her breakfast and take her out. Though the wind was strong and there was a light rain, we made it to the beach and back without getting soaked!

However, it wasn’t long after we returned when the storm began in earnest.

Downpour from the deck.
Soon, this meadow will become a wetland marsh!

By dinnertime the storm had passed.

Sunshine had crested the eastern horizon as Jello and I walked the quarter mile of Discovery Trail to the point where Clark’s Tree sculpture is installed. As we departed the macadam trail, a crow cawed into the coming day.

We climbed ahead over the dune-berm to the wide sandy flat that is Long Beach.

In the afternoon workers began what will be a year-long project at The Breakers — building a state-of-the-art indoor swimming pool.



Though sad to see the trees come down, I’m excited about how this upgrade will improve the experience of the many visitors who stay here!
We arrived Sunday afternoon to pelting rain, but that didn’t keep Jello and me from our ‘arrival’ walk to the beach — her reward for being a patient traveler and then waiting for her people to get our gear out of the truck and into the condo!

With my big umbrella to fend off the downpour, we trotted along the Discovery Trail. Just as we reached the beach it stopped raining! Jello streaked and romped while I drank in the beauty of the ocean breakers — light and sky — and breathed the fresh salty air. Sadly, we came across a lifeless harbor seal that had washed ashore, likely a victim of the stormy surf.

As we returned to our condo, the sunset reflected in ponds that are starting to form in the meadow grassland.

On Thanksgiving day (USA) I gather with my family around food to share memories, and make new ones.

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme

Savory seasonings for the feast, plucked from my gardens and served in a small pottery vase.
Inspiration to share from my garden comes from Cathy, at Rambling in the Garden.