Those of us who live in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. spend a great deal of time complaining about the weather. Hey - it's our right, almost our duty to complain. It rains a lot around here, so we gripe. But when the stars align and we get some good weather, then we smile and know why we endure all those battleship gray days. Because when it's nice around here, it's a slice of heaven.
This evening it was like that. Dragonflies and bees buzzing, hummingbirds zipping around us, a magnificent eagle up in a tree, three big bull elk wandering through - and there we were enjoying dinner out on the grass. Oh yes, there were smiles all around.
Yes, our weather can suck for weeks or months at a time. But when it's nice...it's sweet.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Ghost Rabbits
Out for a walk at dusk. Heard some scurrying in the bushes. Just barely managed a couple of shots of our diminutive furry friends that share The Orchard Compound.
We see these guys running on our road sometimes, but rarely see them while walking. And with the approaching darkness and the dense foliage this time of year, it's hard to spot them. They're like tiny, furry ghosts.
I love how they blend in. I could spot them with my eye, but by the time I got my eye focused in the viewfinder it was very hard to make them out again. Clever little guys.
I call them wild rabbits, but are they really a type of hare? Do we even have hares in the Pacific Northwest? They have short ears and never grow very big. Whatever they are they're fun to watch.
We see these guys running on our road sometimes, but rarely see them while walking. And with the approaching darkness and the dense foliage this time of year, it's hard to spot them. They're like tiny, furry ghosts.
I love how they blend in. I could spot them with my eye, but by the time I got my eye focused in the viewfinder it was very hard to make them out again. Clever little guys.
I call them wild rabbits, but are they really a type of hare? Do we even have hares in the Pacific Northwest? They have short ears and never grow very big. Whatever they are they're fun to watch.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Gated Community, Grudgingly
It's a sad day on The Orchard Compound. We've been forced to start locking the gate again.
We installed this gate almost a quarter century ago. At the time it was to keep our livestock IN. Now it's to try to keep humans OUT.
A recent burglary was the first hint of crime in our little patch of paradise. Now, after several days of strange cars pulling in and out of here quickly very early in the morning, we decided something has to be done. So, the gate is closed again.
The Orchard Compound is only 30 miles from Seattle, just 11 miles from downtown Issaquah and about seven miles from Maple Valley. But once you get inside the gate you feel a million miles from civilization. We thought, naively, that we were immune from all the troubles everyone else has been dealing with. Uh...so much for that.
Folks who live out here have to deal with a bunch of crap: high taxes, zero representation in government, sanctimonious city dwelling environmentalists, and more. Now this.
God, I'm feeling like a survivalist. Excuse me while I tweak my motion sensing cameras and oil up my shotgun.
We installed this gate almost a quarter century ago. At the time it was to keep our livestock IN. Now it's to try to keep humans OUT.
A recent burglary was the first hint of crime in our little patch of paradise. Now, after several days of strange cars pulling in and out of here quickly very early in the morning, we decided something has to be done. So, the gate is closed again.
The Orchard Compound is only 30 miles from Seattle, just 11 miles from downtown Issaquah and about seven miles from Maple Valley. But once you get inside the gate you feel a million miles from civilization. We thought, naively, that we were immune from all the troubles everyone else has been dealing with. Uh...so much for that.
Folks who live out here have to deal with a bunch of crap: high taxes, zero representation in government, sanctimonious city dwelling environmentalists, and more. Now this.
God, I'm feeling like a survivalist. Excuse me while I tweak my motion sensing cameras and oil up my shotgun.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Hummingbird Patriot?
This Memorial Day weekend started off sunny but turned battleship gray on Sunday. I was trying to capture some of the colorful hummingbirds that swarm around our feeders this time of year. Instead, the colors of the flag came through while this little guy remained in the murk of the day. Maybe he didn't want to upstage the flag just now. Is that a salute?
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Boys Rock, Naturally
Kelton and I hiked down by the pond on The Orchard Compound today. He's three. He immediately started picking up rocks and throwing them in the water. Nobody taught him. He's never seen anyone do it. He just knows that's the way it's supposed to be. His father did the same. So did his grandfather. Why is it like this? Do little girls do this? We only had one child. He now has a one-year-old daughter in addition to Kelton. She and I will hike down by the pond next year and see what happens. If it's not a gender thing, then what compels us to want to throw rocks at water? Some primal urge? Gotta love it.
New Camera
We now have a brand new Nikon D40 on The Orchard Compound. I've been using a D40 and D40x at Pacific Science Center and like them. Good price, good quality, easy to use. Nice. Got the kit with the 18-55 mm lens as well as the 55-200. Highly recommended. If you want more info about this great camera, check out Ken Rockwell's outstanding D40 resource. He is the one who convinced me to get this camera rather than a higher priced model. The picture seen here was shot through our less than clean kitchen window on a typical cloudy, drizzling Northwest day. Love it.
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