Winter Along the Carbon River Road

Fresh snowfall blanketed the mountains in Mt Rainier National Park. It was a gorgeous day! Cold, light snowfall at times, it was wonderfully invigorating for hiking. We stopped for lunch at a little cafe in Wilkeson then headed up the mountain.

The Carbon River Road is currently unmaintained due to a torrential flood that wiped out sections of the road a few years ago.

It has been turned into a hiking-biking trail, off-limits to vehicles.

Streams from upper reaches of the mountains flow down to the Carbon River. Snow and ice storms which ravaged our area earlier this winter caused lots of damage to trees throughout the area. Splintered wood and deadfall was strewn throughout the forest.

We hiked upwards, towards an old abandoned coal mine. We had difficulty using the trail from time to time, as so many tree limbs had blown down in the storm.

Hiking poles would be impossible in this kind of terrain - they would sink through lots of debris and get caught. It was difficult hiking and a bit precarious coming back down.

The Carbon River will be raging with snow-melt in a few months.

Hiking in the Skookumchuck

We spent Sunday hiking in the Skookumchuck.
A road like this was used for trucks pulling lumber out of the forest.
The top of the mountain.
The fresh fragrance of the earth, a wondrous experience.
Someone had arranged rocks into a circle, so I added sticks.
Didn't need it, but I carried counter assault to be on the safe side.
Little streams, elk trails through the woods, the embrace of solitude. My kind of place.

Hiking Lake Isabella State Park

Slight rain, but delightful hiking through open meadows, woods.

Shine Tidelands and Head Island

First canoe paddle of 2012! Calm water, brilliant sunshine! Flickr set here....

Quiet Mornings - A Blessing

We spend mornings here with our coffee, warmed by the fire. On this morning George reviewed his music selections for an upcoming project, and I read. Then George is off to work and projects, with evenings serving the needs of the Baha'i community. I make a list of 'things to do', which always include cooking projects, reading, an afternoon walk, and home maintenance/painting projects.

Hiking in Winter

So far this winter we've done a hike in the Banner Forest, one at Seabeck, and the latest one at Twanoh State Park, on the Hood Canal, where we camped several years ago. Then, I actually hiked this trail alone, singing loudly to warn the bears ("If you're happy and you know it clap your hands..."). About an hour in duration, the hike goes through patches of fern, salal and kinnikinnick, old cedar stumps, wet nestings of lichen and moss, and clusters of rhododendron. Flickr set here...

King Celebration Luncheon

As always, a wonderful afternoon visiting with friends! George's photo set on Flickr here...

Martin Luther King Celebration - Tacoma Dome

George filmed keynote speaker, Ester Nicholson, who spoke about forgiveness and moving forward with a positive spirit: Flickr videos here. More on the Tacoma MLK Celebration here.

Reconnecting With An Old Friend

A luncheon was held after the Martin Luther King Celebration, and it was there that I met a dear friend from 20 years ago. She and I had lots of catching up to do, and we laughed at the challenges of 'growing old'.

Walking the Nisqually Boardwalk in Winter

This delta preserve is a favorite - open spaces, wonderful hiking, old barn, and a nature center. Wonderfully invigorating, brisk, solitary. The sound of geese and wood ducks, the patter of rain. We enjoyed the afternoon and coffee at Starbucks, then headed over for a recap of the Intensive activities held that weekend.

Tea and Jazz at Mandolin Cafe

It was a snowy evening, hardly a soul around, but we decided to check out the music at Mandolin Cafe three blocks away.
Our friend Tom played electronic bass.

Exploring Switzerland by Google Earth

Just go to ground level, and start driving.

Enjoying The Warmth At Lisa's

Most of the time I just shop for treats or provide a main-dish for the Book 1 Study Class at Lisa's. But on this night I accompanied George, to see how the class is doing.
Always lots of kids, it was enjoyable to hunker down on a winter's night and just enjoy the warmth and camaraderie.

Tuesday Night Study Circle

Our study classes have resumed, for Book 4 on the lives of the Bab and Baha'u'llah. Children, both named Liam, played quietly while we enjoyed our class.

Friend Kay Asks A Question

Well, yes, I selected the most inexpensive window coverings I could find - vinyl blinds and a patterned valance from the sale rack at Fred Meyers. I had to shorten them just a few inches and then resew the little beaded trim on the curtains.

Kay is a fabric artist, so could appreciate the choices I made for sofa pillows, which were sewn from fabric I got on sale.

Walking Through My Neighborhood

One day while walking my route around the University of Puget Sound I went into the bookstore and browsed, coming upon this textbook for a class on currant agricultural trends - Fatal Harvest: The Tragedy of Industrial Agriculture. We all know the lessons of this book too well, and I'm curious to know how things will change for the better. All one has to do is check the growing medium we call 'soil' in eastern Washington, and know that without chemical additives it is almost non-productive soil.

I headed over to the Kittridge Art Gallery and enjoyed the paintings and photographs, greeting a student I know who is a Baha'i. The artwork featured natural images of holes in nature, and of the press of urban development on the natural landscape.

Walking along Alder, another friend drove by and honked his horn, waving a greeting. He is a professional photographer, and shares his photos with us on Flickr.

I posted a comment about my neighborhood on my son's Facebook today. He wrote about a dog that would visit the neighbor's home every day for an afternoon nap, to get away from all the little children that would pester him in his own home. My comment to Rue was "....On my daily walk I sometimes find an old dog, Bailey, resting out on the boulevard strip next to his house. As soon as he sees me he struggles to get up, walks over to me wagging his tail. I ask Bailey how he is doing, and give him a good scratch and hug. He and I are both in agreement, that only a moment is sufficient for this, and he ambles back to his place on the boulevard strip, waiting for the next person who cares to stop and remember his name."

Did I Mention That We Had Snow?

Out in my apron, sweeping a path to the car...George missed two days of work, and we were happy nesters!

Project At Hand: Organizing My Workbooks

Six large binders full of projects, cooking experiments, photos of food grown in the garden, or cooked on camping trips, and served for guests. I'm photographing the layout of backgrounds with photos and recipes.

It is a way of remembering all the hard work, and the food grown in my garden.

I cannot fathom how we got so much done... and turnips, rutabagas, parsnips and kale still wait to be picked and put into soup.