The mountain is hiding...

 

Mirror image...

 

I've seen huge formations of hundreds of geese this year-- some with ten times as many as this group. I think many from the north are wintering here, along with the ones we have year round. They make me smile with their "complaining' as they fly overhead.

 

The Amazing Mt. Rainier from the Toledo Highlands. Mt. Rainier is the tallest mountain in the Cascade Range and the second highest in the "lower 48" states-- only about 87 feet lower than number 1, Mt. Whitney in California.

 

Just a little rain on the thorns...

 

Sharing today with Mersad's Through My Lens

Calm, quiet, and cold!

 

Who knows where it goes...? I don't.

 

Looking grand-- head in for cargo on the Columbia River...

 

Mt. St. Helens from the Toledo Highlands. It's easy to see where the northern face of the mountain blew out nearly 42 years ago...

 

Sleeping under the cedar trees-- at the St. Francis Xavier Mission in Toledo. It was the first Catholic Mission in the State of Washington, dating back to the 1830's.

 

Sometimes we go up Headquarters Road to just see the log train tracks again. Nothing but ghost trains now.

 

Even in the winter, it's a nice place to sit for a while...

 

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Winter sunset highlighting the bare trees in a canyon next to the Columbia River.

 

You may be surprised to know that our area has a number of farms with cattle. Most of them are beef cattle, not dairy, We have a couple of pastures within mooing distance. They express a great deal of annoyance when it's cold.

 

Marvin and Maxine Mallard enjoying the quiet in the wetlands. She blends in-- he doesn't.

 

Calm winds and lots of water in the wetlands...

 

The best good boy ever! This was Wolfy, our larger than normal Sheltie. He made us smile a lot. I found this picture from 30 years ago and decided it was time Wolfy had a portrait. I think of him often.

 

Just a little crusty snow on the floor of the rainforest...

 

Some rain most every day means lots of little waterfalls...

 

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Superman never came back...

 

The mountain, resting quietly...

 

I got some questions about the cliff in the background of two of my recent beach pictures, so here's another shot from a different day. The Oregon coast is quite dramatic.

 

And at the end of the day, there's still time for one last look...

 

The girl stands on a log that washed ashore in a storm-- she can see over the top of some of the waves. The dog is just happy to be there...

 

Two walking as one as the waves begin to quiet down...

 

He seems to be searching for shells, driftwood, and maybe some answers...

 

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Four souls alone with the sea...

 

A bit of sunshine makes a big difference...

 

Total silence...

 

This is what it's like when it snows in the wetlands...

 

More...

 

Nature is amazing...

 

Traces of early morning fog in the wetlands...

 

The elk come down from the high country in winter. They're always fun to see.

 

Very quiet...

 

Winter beauty...

 

A break in the clouds and the mountain is peeking through...

 

Lots of rain!

 

A pretty moment...

 

There's more light-- things are getting brighter.

 

Sharing today with Mersad's Through My Lens

Even along the forest floor, nature is saying, "Merry Christmas!" The best of the Holidays with love and peace to you!

 

Late afternoon sun highlighting Johnston Ridge in the distance, and the Toutle River more than 3000 feet below.

 

Look!! We trapped Old Man WInter in the frozen waterfall! I think he'll be with us for a while...

 

The view at about 3500 feet elevation on the Spirit Lake Highway...

 

The heron keeps watch...