Time flies...

A big and heartfelt Happy New Year!

That's what beaches are for...

Watching the wild surf...

In the sun...

Sharing today with Mersad's Through My Lens

Most of me is down below...

A Pelagic Cormorant rises like a submarine...

Landing at the beach...

Calm... Peace on Earth

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!

It is with gratitude that I wish bloggers and visitors the best of the Holiday Season--- and wishes for a peaceful, happy new year.

Together...

Glorious...

Mt. Adams...

The heron and the crane...

Sharing with Mersad's Through My Lens

Snow line...

And then a shower moves across the valley...

Well! Just who does she think she is!!!

No place to go...

A December evening at the wetlands...

The clouds clear-- for just a moment.

The Toutle River is nearly 2000 feet below.

Softly...

Keeping watch...

Sharing with Mersad's Through My Lens

Winter in the wetlands...

Cold, wet, but still beautiful...

It's going to be alright...

Looking right into the crater...

Mt. St. Helens--- looking southeast.

The Eagle, heading home...

Flying free...

A Bald Eagle soars over the wetlands in the last light of day...

As the sun goes down...

Sharing with Mersad's Through My Lens

Sunday morning...

Heading home...

This westbound BNSF freight is dwarfed by the quickly rising hills on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge.   Our "dry side" trip this year was very rewarding.

Still doing the job...

Surprise!

No, not the train, but the surprising thing is that a very good winery is located in the building on the far right, just above the train. 

Amazing view...

...and an amazing place to see it.  Vista House at Crown Point has been beautiful for nearly a hundred years.

Heading downriver...

Here she comes...

Sharing with Mersad's Through My Lens

Faces...

Nature's own sculptures--- faces in the basalt cliffs.  The more you look, the more faces you see.

Simple beauty all around...

Got a carrot?

Thankful...

Mt. Adams, the Moon, and Mt. St. Helens at sunset.

I'm thankful that we're together and that we live where we do.  I'm thankful for my friends and family.  I'm thankful for the people who make my attempts at telling stories worthwhile.  

Stretch...

At the end, they were still reaching for the sky...

His house...

The romantic in me says that the tree will stand as long as the house does-- then they will lie down together.

Sharing today with Mersad's Through My Lens

Forever...

The dark ridge that bisects the picture is where the Columbia River flows--- about 1000 feet below.

The cows don't care...

...these old buildings are still good for shade.

Out of Gas...

Vineyards, orchards, trains, and the river.

Like part of the landscape... shaking the ground, creating its own wind.

One last burst of Fall...

Just needs a little paint... maybe a motor and some tires...

This old truck dates back to the 1930's.  

Fly on...

My mind and heart are still full of Paris--- 

We'll always have Paris...

Forgive me for using Bogie's line, but it was the first thing that came to me when I heard the news.  There are three cities in the world that I consider to be MY city:  San Francisco is one, because I was born and raised there.  Even though I've never been to the other two, I still consider them to be MY cities-- New York, where it's always Autumn and Christmas.  And Paris, where it's always Spring, and love and beauty are always in the air.  To all Parisians and to all those who love Paris; especially to Marty, Arnaud, and Babzy, Je suis tellement desole.

Hiding in the oaks and pines--

Uh.... Why are those people looking at us?

Just two weeks to Thanksgiving...