WPP2017 – Week 11 – Depth of Field
To View The World Through a Drop of Water
Tag Archives: Camano Island
After The Snowfall – 2017 WK 8 – Playing With Light
*WPP2017 – Week 08 – Playing with Light*
“After the Snowfall”
Celebration!
Sometimes a photo just needs its own post. This is one of those times.
Eagle Watch – February 2015
 People often think I was nuts to move so far from work when I bought my home. Granted, it is quite a drive. However, much of it can be very scenic if you get off at the right exit. And the long drive is worth it when you have young eagles taking their maiden flights over your head as you cruise along a country road. |
 Probably one of the most difficult things about living out here and watching these young sky sentinels is to try not to be too enraptured by them. Unless, of course, you pull over and break out the camera to get some pictures of them. Eagle gazing, I am sure, ranks right up there with texting while driving. |
 There were a total of 8 of them in the trees over the river when I took these shots. This one, though, was off away from the others. I suppose he/she wanted some alone time. Wasn’t even looking at the river. Maybe he/she wanted some red meat. |
 This is the Stillquamish River from the bridge on Pioneer Hwy between Silvana and Stanwood. We’ve had a lot of rain this year, so its a bit high. Not as high as a few weeks ago, but still impressive. Maybe that makes the fishing good and why there are so many eagles camped in the trees along its banks. |
 Yeah, I know, it looks like the other one, but this is on the other side of the river bank. |
 And this one “Is” looking at the river for some fresh seafood. Maybe they are working together for some surf-n-turf. |
 One of the youngsters is looking out from the branches of a tree. Its funny how few people see the kiddies. There was a father and son on the bridge that saw all the adults. Didn’t see either of the kids in the trees right next to the bridge. |
 Even without the white heads and tails, the juveniles are still quite regal and impressive. |
 And he had absolutely no interest in me at all! I tried very hard to convince him to take off flying, but he just pretended he didn’t hear anything. |
 Actually, that needs to be corrected. He heard everything except me which just goes to prove that it is not just human youngsters that have selective hearing. |
 There’s a part of me that wonders if the kids were near the bridge so they could get the easy roadkill lunch from the road. The grownups wanted the fresh salmon though. |
 Just one more shot, because you can just never get enough looking at these beautiful raptors! |
 Yeah, they had that whole length of the river covered. You could almost hear them gossiping amongst themselves. “I’m telling you Fred, the one I caught last week was THAT big!! I kid you not! We had to leave half of it for the damned crows. Not that they ever share with us. Greedy little bastards!” |
 And every once in a while, one of them strikes a pose and looks for all the world like Elmer Fudd doing Scrooge. |
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 Sittin’ in the mornin’ sun I’ll be sittin’ when the evenin’ comes Watchin’ the salmon roll in Then I watch ’em roll away again, yeah I’m sittin’ on the branch of the bay Watchin’ the tide roll away, ooo I’m just sittin’ on the branch of the bay Wastin’ time |
 Hey kid? What say we go down the river a bit and see if the farmer left us some leg of lamb? |
 Sure! There’s too many fishing here to day. They’re scaring them all away. |
 And the incoming sea gulls came gliding through the air towards the fields below. |
 And with them, came the other little birds, the doves and the blackbirds, the crows and the swifts. It was gonna be a fun time in the pasture this afternoon. |
 And they began to find a formation. All except Henry who never seemed able to get with the teamwork motto and always fell away from the pack. |
 And you thought they were a pop group! (Flock of seagulls, if you didn’t get it) |
 It seems that they just find the need to all take off every few minutes to a spot about 100 yards in some direction. Yup, all of them at once. I think that may be one of those co-dependency things. |
 We’ll just call it field hopping. See? They’re doing it again. |
 Or it could be a strange mating ritual of showing off their gliding technique. Not quite as dramatic as a peacock doing the shake your tailfeathers boogie, but I suppose its better than nothing. |
 But, in truth, its not completely without some Ohh-Ahh! moments. |
 And the sun begins to set over the bay, so a short stop at the wetlands. Could build a town with all the driftwood we get! |
 I do believe that is Rainier off in the distance. Very impressive considering how far north this is. |
 I needed a reflections for a photography group. Nailed it! |
 Yeah, I live in paradise. If I believed in heaven, it would be right here. |
 Yeah, I think its Rainier. Pretty sure. Not craggly enough to be Baker. |
Driftwood Shores – Camano Island 06/18/2014
 My dear friend came out for a visit for a couple of days. As we had spent the morning having breakfast on the way back from the airport and fussing around at cool little local stores, we finished the day by going for a wander at my beach. The entire beach seems to be a bleached graveyard for the trees and branches for at least a half dozen states and numerous islands. |
 Okay, so there are a few things that seem to resist the bleaching aspect of the beach, like this manzanita branch. We were fascinated with the knotted curls along the length like arthritic joints or maybe alien tentacles reaching out from the rocky blanket. Ooooh, “They Came From Below.” |
 And they insert their demonic spawn spores into the branches to wait for unsuspecting people to carry them home where they will mature and hatch and then possess the bodies of the people in the house, insert themselves into society and take over the world. They count on the fact that most people are looking to the skies for potential invasion, so are unsuspecting of what is below their feet. |
 Nature is just amazing in its ability to find a seat for new life in just about any place, on any surface. Such as a bleached out dead piece of wood that has washed up on the beach. |
 I do so like this house that just sits out all by itself on the bluff. |
 Its almost like a lifeless tree growing out of the pebbled beach on an alien landscape. |
 Quite the little battle of the goldfinches going on over the feeder. You would think there is more than enough to go around. It seems greed is not just restricted to humans. |
 It almost seems like it was an orchestrated plan to build such a linear, high tech building next to this particular sand of driftwood. Though, it seems there is one that is either rearing up in protest or celebration. |
 I was very proud of how well this one came out. I may have to work out the words of these three in their battle of the bulge. |
 Skeletal hands at the bottom of this sculpture beckoning you to look closer. |
A weeping figure.  |
Could be a moosehead on the right there. |
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Just cuz it was a cool little rusted thing. |
Then we had the clouds at the house when we got back. We considered calling SETI or NASA, but opted to just watch it. |
Painted skies in in the evening and morning are common. One would think they would cease to have the effect of taking your breath away after seeing them so often, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. |
BIRD DIVE!!!! |
I’m pretty sure they were in a movie I saw. War of the Worlds maybe?? |
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Clipped and Clean and New Babies To Put To Bed
 Well, hey there! I guess its time to go play in the garden again. Contrary to mom’s opinion, I think I would be most helpful out there lending assistance to the tasks at hand. I have looked out the window and seen all those feathered and furred morsels, uhm, I mean monsters, that are in need of my eradication of. I am far more capable that mom gives me credit for and just seek the opportunity to prove myself. |
Ooooh lookie! Squirrel! |
 Sometimes the universe just smiles on you and you are heading home from the store and catch the tail end of a plant sale on the island. You pick out a couple of plants and are told they have dropped the price on every plant there. Then they keep handing you more and more plants as freebies. And when you get to the final total for the overwhelming batch of plants, its $5.00. Wow!!! I do love this island! |
 Tada!!!! The front yard is now freshly mowed. Will save the raking for another day. All I have to say is all that time I used to spend at the gym has NOTHING on all of this! And then there is the additional payoff of the beauty of the land and gardens and your feet in connection with Mama Earth! |
That really is a lotta lotta space to mow! |
 A view looking in. And I am sure that her little flooferness self is looking out drooling all over her ruff and wishing she was out here with me. |
See? There really is quite a yard in front as well.  |
 And then there is my tiny forest trail. I think this was one of my favorite things when I looked at this house. I need to do some cleaning and clearing here when I get the expanse fully taken care of. |
 The flowers are gone, but its still such a beautiful tree. And I love the little cupie curl on the top of it! I will have to take care of that after fall and its bare. |
 Another interesting thing I am noticing here is that it seems plants with different blooming times are all over. Just when one bloom has ended and tipped its head in a final farewell another one opens up and spreads its petals in celbration. |
 Need to get some pictures next time round of all the bees that dance around these flowers. The neighbor was telling me that they had not seen many of them a couple of years ago, but they seem to be coming back in force. I wonder if that means that the people on this end of the state have paid attention and stopped using the pesticides that are attributed with killing bees. Would be an interesting thing to look into and see if that is the case. |
 The BACK YARD!!! Yes it really is that big!!! Oh, and the prodigal son is coming and I have his practice swords. I suppose if he promises to play nice, we can try and play with them while he is here. |
See? BIG!!! |
 The back gardens from the porch view. |
 Sooo? Was it good for you? Did you bring me a bird? Well did you at least bring me a squirrel? One would think that the least I should be able to expect since I am held prisoner in this place is that I can trust that the visitors will at least be considerate enough to bring me an offering after they have flaunted their ability to wander the wilderness that is denied to me. Okay, well can you at least toss me a treat on your way out?Y’all come back now okay? |
Sadness, clippings and cages
 May began with a sadness this year. A farewell to one of the most beautiful souls I have ever had the privilege to know. May your soul fly free now dear Julian, may you dance and sing, may you run like the wind, dive the waves like a dolphin and may what lies beyond be all you deserve for the beauty and light you brought to all who had the honor to know you. And don’t forget to sometimes visit to breath words of comfort into your dear mother’s ear. As she will miss you most of all. |
 And so mom’s idea of how to deal with the grief is to do massive amounts of work in the yard. Personally, I think she should stay inside and let me cuddle with her, but she doesn’t listen to my floofy wisdom. |
Yeah, I’ve decided I really don’t have a need for a gym membership. I figure I will be nicely trim and strong by the time I have this yard to my liking. Plus, there is always the potential for some running spurts in the instance of an unplanned game of eaglescat invaders! |
 I know, I did’t finish it. But, I got about 2/3 of it done. And a hot bath will be in order at the end of this day! |
Its a POTATO enclosure!!!! |
 And another enclosure for the compost pile. |
 Yup! That was a lot of work for one day! |
J ust an interesting piece of driftwood in the front garden. I’ll find some shapes in it another day. |
 Done already, are you? Well, I am sure mom will be right back at it very soon. Don’t forget the offering dish right over there. Just pull a handful out and set them on the chair here. |
Digging In The Dirt
 Well, it looks like its that time again. When my day gets disrupted and I have to watch from some vantage spot as humans get to run around the yard, giving not a care to the fact that I, the divine princess, would also like to frollick in the sun and maybe catch my own dinner. I think I’ll just sit here in my little cage that frames my exquisite beauty so very well. Have fun! |
 Okay, pit stop on the way out to look at the lovely colors in the basket on the back patio. |
 They may be a simple flower, but I do love daisies. They are daisies, aren’t they? Well, I know they aren’t poison ivy or those evil blackberry bushes that keep sprouting up everywhere! You literally have to dig to the root to grab them with out tearing up your fingers! |
 Its a sphere of trapped fairies crying out for some soul to harness the power of the West wind (or the East wind for that matter) to break them free of their bondage. “Its the Dryads that are into that bondage stuff, not us.” they whisper. |
Seems a thistle sneaked its way into the garden. Still trying to decide if I should move it. |
 Yeah, yeah, I didn’t get it all cleaned out. But, it was covered with plant life before I started. Now I just have to figure out what I will plant here. Maybe corn??? |
 The soon to be home of the new compost pile. |
 Don’t you just love the way the thready thingie just curlie-cued all around the top of the plant?? I did! |
 And they were pushing up Tulips. No, wait! Tis the season for tulip rising! Well, that does kinda work. I was never much of a fan of tulips before, but I have discovered the incredible beauty they have. I am a convert! |
 And the golden tufted crowns strain their heads to listen to the conversations coming from the bed of the more cultivated flowers. Prissy little things they are, and such high maintenance, they thought with much laughter. |
Shhhhh!!! Its beauty nap time. |
 Baby seedlings coming up in the herb patch. And I have identified the big leaf plant! Its rhubarb. Yeah, I know. Most people will find that surprising. But, I have never been a fan of rhubarb, so I don’t have any idea what a plant looks like. Its quite a pretty plant, so that presents the question. To keep or not to keep?? |
And even more babies coming up. Yay! Gonna have a nice little garden soon here. This will make the first time I have actually had a produce garden. A couple of tomato plants don’t really count. |
So many possibilities for this lovely stump. Still trying to figure out how much of that bush to remove. Problem is that it keeps wanting to make new starts all over the place, so its a bit of an invasive plant. |
And clearing out at the back of it, I discovered this other plant growing at its base. Yes, there are many possibilities. And there is a rock garden off in the corner as well. |
Just screams for a little fairy village under here. Gonna have to give some thought to this one as well. |
And the cranberries are doing very well! |
And the lovely Hellebores! I will probably have to add some more colors at some time. Unfortunately, they are not cheap. *sigh* |
Still thinking about what to put here. I’m thinking maybe the corn is a good idea. I do like corn. |
I need to dig these plants up and make them patio plants or bathroom plants. Very pretty. |
I think I cleaned it up very well!  |
“Little birdie, hear my call! Come to me, fly through the window and join me for lunch. Yes, yes, yes!” |
 Oh Hai! You’re back! No really, it isn’t what it looks like. I was only admiring the little birdies! There are a lot of them, aren’t there? And that is NOT drool on my ruff! Mom just over-filled the water dish. So did you enjoy your wander through the garden? Now, you need to make yourself comfortable so I can perform the ancient ritual dance in your lap of transference of the scent of the wild to my body. Hmmm? Might provide a cloaking device to get the birds a little closer. What? Oooh, that was my outside voice, wasn’t it? Well, I am glad you enjoyed your visit! |
April Island Shots
 When driving along the freeway, what to my wandering eyes should appear but a yard of rusty trucks and cars and trailers and such. This little beauty here, well, it used to be a rum runner taking the back roads from the wharves to the seamstress’ quarters in the university. |
 All you need is close your eyes for a moment and think of the Speakeasy, flappers, gangsters (the real ones with the Tommy guns and Zoot suits and fedoras with yet more flapper girls hanging off their arms) then open your eyes. Or, maybe little Dorothy Parker would have liked to drive around in this looking for the latest poetic inspiration. |
 Want to protect your interest in these pristine relics? Have no fear! There is a squad of ancient warrior trees that will watch over them for a nominal fee. Don’t let the rumors about the blood sacrifice deter you. It really doesn’t need to be a friend or family member. Then again, that may just be the answer to one of those prayers you are afraid to voice. And not to worry these talented trees show their appreciation by absorbing all of the offering, leaving no trace that could ever point back to you! |
 You know? I could be Bonnie and Clyde’s car. But, it isn’t because its lacking that unique embellishment of all those bullet holes. Of course, it could be their spare car! |
 And here we have one of those lovely guardian trees showing its appreciation for an offering it received by doing the solar dance of freedom. The supplicants are hiding in the little shack, as it has been rumored that these dances can bring about the dropping and flinging of branches and pine cones of most unusual size. Injuries and death have been known to result to unprotected supplicants and it has been proposed that there might be an intentional component in this as it would provide additional sacrifices to these ravenous creatures. |
 And as I drive onto the island, I take a turn on one of the side streets that I have been eyeballing for quite some time. It was a beautiful long stretch of road that ended at the coastline on the other side. I’ll save that area for another day. But, I had to stop for the clouds. And this one just looked like a storm God baring in for an assault on the ground below!! |
 Or maybe its a momma cloud Goddess chasing after its runaway offspring. Poor little thing! Oh Wait! No! Its dancing and chanting, “naner, naner, naner! Can’t catch me!” Ah, but we all know that mom will win this battle. And that light misty rain that followed? The little one with the paddled bottom! |
 Just looks more ominous with the hues changed, don’t you think? You almost expect a tornado to rear its body off in the distance! |
 Okay, all I have to say here is: Breathtaking, isn’t it? |
 I was seriously considering going over and knocking on their door to see if they would give me the ritual they used to summon their own cloud above them. |
 Ah yes, and we step again into that wayback machine to a simpler time, a time of Laura Ingalls and John Wayne and no electricity and not internet . . . . Yeah, maybe not. |
I do love the broken down, dilapidated structures!!! |
 Looks like they have more than plenty of room for guest here. And don’t have to worry about them being underfoot! And its nice there are windows so they can look out, or be watched! |
 And right close to the barn too! They won’t have far to walk to milk those cows on the way in for breakfast, |
 And one of my favorite trees on the island. Yes, you know its Spring as its getting in is lovely foliage! |
 And this was the last picture I got before my beloved camera got sick. Its now at the camera hospital and though I do have the point and shoot to keep me somewhat occupied, life will not be the same till my baby comes home. |
| Oh, and do note that I am now adding a slide show at the bottom of the posts where you can look at all the pictures, some of which are not shown above. Feel free to leave comments and there is a subscribe button if you want to see new posts as I write them. Thank you for stopping by! |
Island Home November 1, 2013
Its a very strange notion to look around yourself and realize that this is “your” home. It took well over 50 years for me to get to this point, a point I really never saw myself getting to. But, I am here and this morning I made my very first payment. Only 359 more to go! And the big question is, will I live to see the last payment made??? I do hope so.
 All new house stories should begin at the beginning and when you were first introduced. Granted, it wasn’t what I had in my mind as the choice of homes I thought to ever see myself into. But, as you walk through the front door, the very first room is big and roomy and lots of windows all around it. |
 Though I think I would have preferred if this window had been facing toward the backyard instead of the front yard. But, it would still do. |
 Love all the black built ins in the kitchen. And quite a nice amount of room in the kitchen. Lots of cupboards, storage, and even an island in the center. |
 Not a “wood” stove, but a propane one to look like a wood stove. I suppose its safer and maybe even more economical. I will still have to get myself at least a firepit to put up in the back yard so I can have the flamage thing when I need it. Plus, it will save on the trash take away if I can burn much of it. |
 Beautiful built in china cabinet. Somehow, I have a feeling what will soon be inhabiting the cabinet is nothing like it has held in the past! |
 The back porch. I can see that I shall be spending much time out here once I am settled and the weather allows! |
 Well, I have been in my new home for a month and a half now. I suppose the first couple weeks almost don’t count, as it felt like I was living in a storage unit. All the furniture plus the boxes in the house on the first weekend. The second weekend, in came all the books and things I was able to do without till moving day. |
 When the second load came it, it pretty much filled the rather large living room here. Cassie wasn’t quite sure whether to be disturbed by the box maze in there or if she had just gotten a giant new playground.She was trying to convince me that she was certain that this box contained her favorite toys. I think it maybe had a jar of catnip in it. I suppose that qualifies. |
 Day two of the box load. Nice dent made in it. Cassie thinks I am going to chase her through the box maze. |
 Another day of unpacking and the box count is way down. Bookshelves are beginning to fill up. Even though I realize how much I have gotten done, it still seems like there is so very much left to do. And work keeps calling me which is seriously slowing down the unpacking process. I have a feeling I won’t be able to get out and do the exploring I wanted to on my time off. |
 Shelves are almost filled up! And I look at the stack of boxes in the center of the room and realize what a large number of boxes that is! Woot! Course, I still have to come back later and put them in order. In my rush to get things unpacked, and clear the boxes, I just started stuffing books onto shelves. That’s okay. It will give me a chance to inventory them as I go. There’s been a lot of movement in what is there, so what I |
 The kitchen is also starting to take shape. It seems to be going back and forth between a state of mess and a state of coolness. This is obviously one of the mess moments. But, fear not. All the things laying on the counters will find at least a temporary home behind a cupboard door or on a shelf. |
 RABBIT!!! The squirrels were hiding at the moment so we must accept the rabbit substitute for the “squirrel” Intermission. Actually, this shot was taken before I moved in. But, it is still cool. The rabbit just froze. I guess it thought if it didn’t move, I could see it. It was actually quite amusing, as it allowed me to continue to take shot after shot of it. |
 Little by little, things are falling into place. The cabinet is filling. The Ladies and their menageries need at least a temporary home. The ones that don’t play will with others have found their own places in other areas. So, there is harmony and the house now has its guardians. The gardens will get their own in time. |
The den. Early stages. This is the comfort room. Right next to the kitchen. |
 The studio. Early stages. Well, at least the drawing desk and lamp are in place. We still need to find all the tools and colors and such. |
 I have a place to sleep too. |
 The studio is taking more shape. Books are finding their way in and in somewhat appropriate shelves and such. |
 And I even have my window seat in there with a reading/drawing/coloring lamp. And this window looks out over the back yard where the squirrels and rabbits play. The squirrels keep digging back there, so I think my yard is full of buried squirrel treasure. |
 Such a pretty back yard it is too. Deep breaths. Yes, I think it is a bit of a magical place. |
 Cloud gazing and sipping a cup of coffee. |
 Pretty clouds. Even better than squirrels. |
 See? The kitchen has been cleared! I think I forgot how much cooking stuff I had. Its been stored in a storage room for over 5 years. Time to get it back to work. |
 And there is Missy Herself Princess Foof! How did I wind up with such a creature? Ah well, she does provide much amusement! |
 Spider! And no, its not the Zombie Demon Spider from the Bowels of Hell that would NOT die. This is one of my friends and guardian spiders. They seem to be forming a fringe around the perimeter of the house. This one did the excited bouncy dance when I approached with my camera. “Here!” he bounced!! |
 And what is a home without tools? Found this lovely piece at a thrift store for a song!!! |
 House unpacked. Finally got a sunny day on the weekend, so its time to put the watersealer on the front porch. I figured the best way to get this done so I liked it was to do it myself. Took me a few hours and was quite the workout!!! But, I think it came out quite lovely. |
 See? Lovely! |
 Welcome to my new home!! |
 And then there was another of those wonderful thrift store finds. And yes, its an excellent tool. But, it was just irresistible with the bonus uses it is capable of!!! |
 And this one needs to stay as a larger size. It only has a couple of leaves left on it right now. I suppose that shall have to be in a new post. But, this is one of the lovely little trees I inherited with my property. |
