~ Resource ~ WPC: Repurpose ~

A few years ago I resurrected the storage shed enough to call it the cottage!

This spring it was overdue for a facelift. I looked around at potential replacements,  but decided to use some old cedar fence-boards I’d saved — et voila — resource repurposed to cedar siding for the cost of a few nails!

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The outside decor also is repurposed: a grape crate, cider-press basket, and metal stays from wine barrels that had been converted to planters and disintegrated over time! My parents were game hunters and before Dad died, I adopted his/their collection of antlers — this seemed a perfect place to feature one.

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When we bought the Long Beach condo, this driftwood ball was the living-room lamp shade.

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It cast wonderful shadows, but just didn’t fit our aesthetic vision and desire for diffused lighting. Though we loved it as a work of art, it was a lousy lampshade! 

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Now it is a featured work of art in the garden. Every time I see it, I smile!

Repurpose

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~ Hidden ~ Cee’s Just For Fun Challenge ~

While walking the trail to the beach, I was chasing after red Damselflies that were everywhere — but kept moving out of camera shot quickly.  When I saw a stem of dune grass move, I leaned down to see what it was and found this beauty!

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Since my focus for learning right now is on birds, I’m not sure what specific subfamily this Mantidae (praying mantis) belongs to.  I always welcome information about specifics from anyone who knows!

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~ Song Sparrow ~

Who is this fledgling —

(its tail barely a hint of what it will become)

— pecking seed on my deck rail?

Dark and light streaked breast

white eye-brow

round — squat

— splay-footed —

English Song Sparrow! 

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Song Sparrow

In spring males perch on snags and fence tops

beaks open to the sky announce—

(in complex musical notes)

— a personal invitation to the ladies!

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Song Sparrow Silhouette

 

Posted in birds, nature, ornithology, pacific northwest, photography, Poetry, Thursday Thoughts | 4 Comments

~Shorebirds ~ Wordless Wednesday ~

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California Gull, Immature Heerman Gull, Sanderling

 

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Sanderlings

Posted in birds, nature, ornithology, outdoors, pacific northwest, pacific ocean, photography, Wordless Wednesday | 4 Comments

~ Where’s The Deer? ~ WPC: Waiting ~

At the crest of a knoll in the dunes, Jello stops, looks, sniffs and waits!

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White-tail deer reside in the area and Jello has encountered them on our walk through the dunes before.  Not this morning though! 

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Waiting

 

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~ Texture Of Life — Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge ~

Land Snail – Lewis & Clark Discovery Trail – Long Beach, WA – August 8, 2017.

Version 2

Since Cee likes more than one image in her challenges — I offer these extras!

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black-white-banner

Posted in Cee's Black & White Photo Challenge, nature, outdoors, pacific northwest, pacific ocean, photography | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

~ In A Vase On Monday ~

Roses seem to be the last of the lovelies blooming now.  Once again they are served up in the crystal vase with Hebe ‘variegata’ as background.

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Rosa ‘Graham Thomas’

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Rosa ‘Tiffany’

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Rosa ‘Memorial Day’

Rudbeckia is fading and Echinacea heads are drying — ready for migrating finches to feast.  Hydrangea still holds its mopheads in shades of green, though there are few bright blue and pink ones left.  I always feel a kind of sadness as summer wanes and autumn approaches.  Soon it will be time to put the gardens to bed, and haul in some firewood!

Thanks to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for providing space to enjoy creating with cut flowers!

 

Posted in flowers, Gardening, In a Vase on Monday, pacific northwest, photography | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

~ Anticipation ~ WPC: Waiting ~

Gardening is an act of faith –we plant, tend, nurture and believe.  

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July 27, 2017

Then we wait… 

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September 9, 2017

 …and we water, tend, inspect and wait some more!

 

Waiting

 

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~ Wordless Wednesday ~

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August 31, 2017 ~ Long Beach, WA – USA

 

Posted in Beagles, nature, pacific northwest, pacific ocean, photography, Wordless Wednesday | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

~ Natures Design ~ WPC: Structure ~

Why is this adult Canada Goose lingering at the edge of the reeds, and wherefore such a malignant eye on me?  Could there be a nest nearby?  

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Canada Goose tending nest ~ Long Beach, WA – USA ~ April 2017

This week we are challenged to “notice the structure of everyday things around us and imagine the biological blueprint that created them.”  

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April, 2017

This wetland marsh is re-created every winter and spring in front of The Breakers.  It hosts a diverse population of migrating (and resident) birds.  

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June, 2017

As the rains decrease and days grow longer in summer, the wetland recedes  transforming to meadow and dune. 

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wetland to meadow

biological blueprint

organic design

 

Structure

Posted in birds, haiku, nature, ornithology, outdoors, pacific northwest, pacific ocean, photography, Poetry, travel, weekly photo challenge, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments