March goes out like a lion in this case...

A very unusual "November" style storm hit the Northwest in the past couple of days. Nearly 2" of rain fell in the Cascade Foothills in the last 38 hours. Nature seems to be helping me with my book, as I'm currently writing the chapter which talks about the devastating floods in 2006, which shaped Mt. Rainier's landscape forever. In that storm, 18" of rain fell in just 38 hours, and literally destroyed, and I mean destroyed the park.

It really makes 2" seem petty. But the rain was just part of the problem in this odd March storm. With it came what we know out here as the Pineapple-Express, which brings warmer tropical weather along with rain. So skiing is out as all the mountains are sliding down hill. A whopper of an avalanche hit Stevens Pass after 5am this morning and buried the road under 15 feet of slushy snow. The DOT today said on the news that if a car had been in that slide, the force of the wet snow would have crushed the vehicle. Now THAT would have been a bad day. The warm tropical air mixed with moisture feels a little like a terrarium and I can almost watch the weeds growing taller in the landscaping. Thanks a lot, Hawaii. I mean seriously...could you just ship over a little of that warm, dry and wonderful weather next time (oh yeah and perhaps a palm tree or two)?

It is interesting how water is nature's ultimate power tool. She uses her water chisel to craft some enviable art work and gets to decide the outcome for her masterpiece. I threw Pup in the car tonight and headed down to Snoqualmie Falls for a front row seat to the power of water. Such a site! The Snoqualmie River is also flooding over many roadways, including the second picture here which, yes, is a road. The stairs here are to the Snoqualmie Valley trail, a frequent haunt of mine.

Lastly, I ran into the ladies at dusk. They were enjoying their dinner and told me that the salads were divine. Nothing like new fresh, chewy spring buds to tempt a palate!

Poster Child

When I was in Bellingham, I got word from the Washington Trails Association that one of my photos was chosen in the Hike-A-Thon marketing for 2011. I had submitted several entries to a photo contest called "Northwest Exposure" back in November (the contest is the same one where my pygmy owl photo was honored). So, this year, I've won with this photo which I named "Heading into Indian Bar." Ironically, it was taken on the Wonderland Trail- how timely!

This photo is really special to me, as it represents our fantastic trip last summer. We'd had a great day and I'd spent much of the morning photographing this area and the area above here called the Cowlitz Divide. We had continued down the trail into this magnificent area which was so beautiful that my head is still spinning. Each time I've come through this area on the Wonderland I've felt like it was a gift from God. The emotion and beauty of this photo, must have struck them also.

I also found out recently that I'm going to be a contributor for WTA(Washington Trail Association) magazine! That's giant for me and I can't wait until I get some articles published in that periodical and continue to build my writing resume.

This mock-up poster arrived in todays mail as a copy of 'what will be'. Of course, where it says "sponsors" will be filled in with the sponsors of the event for 2011, which are still being determined. The poster is set to appear in many places including in the WTA magazine and on marketing all around the State. This is a scan, so enlarged it's grainy and shows the fold. The real mccoy will be much clearer, of course and will also have my photo credentials.

So she shoots...and she scores. I'm overwhelmed and grateful, again.

Scenery Saturday

Each day, a gift. The day awakens.

Hikers on the ledge enjoying sunshine.
Mailbox Peak reminding us that winter isn't too far in the past.




This one must be the 'early bird'...

Green!

Bellingham

Mom and I just got back from a little weekend getaway to our old stomping ground of Bellingham. It was a memorable and enjoyable trip. My sister and I were both born there and we lived there until I was 12 years old. It's funny how my 'little kid head' thought buildings and streets were so much bigger. Turns out, there are lots of changes, but so many things remain the same.

One thing that I was happy to see was the toy department of Yeagers Sporting Goods Store. Wee-Tami would get giddy traipsing down those long colorful stairs to arrive at the shrine of endless isles of weaving looms, dolls and tea sets. The smell and colors took me right back to being 6 years old and I eagerly anticipated seeing the changes.

We had a fun time having lunch at an Irish Bistro on St. Paddy's Day and got treated to a bagpipe band. The local improv is where Ryan Stiles (Who's Line is it Anyway) performs on a regular basis (he's a local) and we got some good laughs watching the talent one night. No Ryan sightings, but it was great comedy.

The town still has my heart.

Vil's Little Airplane

Catching Up

The first day of spring and it feels like winter and spring are having it out. The snow is fresh and pretty on the top of the mountains and the sun is trying to shine. My bike ride yielded a coyote (I only had my little tiny camera), and a heard of elk, and some skunk cabbage! It was nice to be back on the bike after cold, rainy and snowy winter.

The latest...

Yesterday was my unofficial last day from work. Technically, it's next Tuesday after I spend two days training the new hire, but for the sake of letting the community know, we've called it yesterday. It felt really odd carrying my things out of the building. After all that time, my desk was full of personal effects, inspiration, and senseless stuff that has followed me around from job to job such as my ugly Mickey Mouse business card holder. I was able to sneak out of the building without having to face any goodbyes. Next Tuesday will be harder, but I hope to do the same. I'm terrible at goodbyes, just terrible. My boss was conflicted about a proper goodbye party as he didn't know what I would prefer and something like a cake in the break room may have been insufficient, he felt. I told him, just let me quietly walk out the back door...but then again, dinner with a few close co-workers would be nice. We figured we'd do it in a couple weeks so that we can all catch up after things settle back down for everyone.

I was torn on feelings as it's so odd to think that after next week, I won't be going back to that desk and the life I've know of 'work' all these years. At the same time, there are stirrings of greatness, and a whole new exciting future everywhere I look. The writers block that has plagued me for a week finally hit the road and I spent one full day this week with words flowing from my brain to my keyboard as fast as water over the falls. It was pure magic and reading it back I amazed myself at how nicely it all came together. I'm learning how writing is a mood-inspired career and when you are on- you are 'on'! I have my check in with the editor on the 23rd and want to make sure my ducks are all quacking nicely in their perfect row. Speaking of which, I received my first official check from my publisher, which places the hat of authorship firmly on my noggin.

In other news, spring is only a few days away and the monsoon season has arrived. It's been pouring rain, simply pouring. I've decided that North Bend must be an ancient indian term meaning "Water from Sky". Last week the sun popped out for a few minutes and I could hardly believe my eyes- it had been raining for days and I figured before long we'd all be trading in our cars for canoes. "Finally, a break," I thought as I tied up my shoe laces to hit the ledge. I wanted to celebrate my writers block with a short hike to the vista for more inspiration. Not far off was a giant black cloud and I figured I could outrun it. No sooner had I hit the top when I felt rain drops starting. By the time I started down, it was raining so hard that I was sprinting as fast as possible to get to the car before I disintegrated into mulch. I had a souvenir of mud streaked up the back of my jacket, and my pants were stuck to my legs like a second skin. It took turning the windshield wipers on full speed just to make my way home. It's been raining ever since.

But spring is coming and the bear cam is getting really fun to watch. The babies are getting bigger and Mom and Hope are venturing out of their den now. They suspect they'll leave the den within two weeks. The researchers had a contest to name the babies and the names are "Jason" for the boy cub (named after one of their helpers that risked his life to go out in -45 degrees on a snowmobile and fix the camera)...and "Faith", which fit nicely with her big sister's name. Here is yesterdays' Youtube of the den action. Those cubs are so cute it makes me misty and always brightens my day. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT2uk1F6Zbc

Come n'get 'em!

The cupcake fairy was at it again, this time in dashing shades of St. Patricks Day (St. paddy, me laddy) buttercream. We're so close to spring I can count it on fingers and toes. Hooray, it's time to celebrate the upcoming season and warmer weather in the 'glen'.