Everyday Photos

Movin on

2011-02-06T08:48:00.000-08:00

Time for a change.

Future posts to My Everyday Photos will be found at http://myeverydayphotos.wordpress.com/

Wintertime Blues

2011-02-05T07:20:00.000-08:00

An airplane borne virus has infected the people in this house and even the dogs are depressed. Ken and I have moped and rested and sat in front of our computers most of the week in hopes of getting well soon. The dogs are restless and need some exercise and so do we. Cold temperatures early in the week burned my lungs when I tried to go outside. And to make matters worse, skate skiing and ice skating conditions have been as good as a person could want them to be, if she could go outside and enjoy them.

An African Violet to brighten the day

A slow walk.

Retro Droid

2011-01-29T17:30:00.000-08:00

Yes, I made these images with my phone and a free app. I like them. It's fun.

Small Winter Scenes

2011-01-26T17:36:00.000-08:00

lichen

grasses

yarrow

weeds

Random shots from a week of weather ups and downs

2011-01-22T10:53:00.000-08:00

This turned into another bluebird skies afternoon of skiing.

Hairy Woodpecker working the lichens on an MVSTA sign at Mazama.

Great skate skiing on the Community Trail

Goat Peak in my rear view mirror

Sam will swim any time of the year.

Winter is hard on mule deer

Skiing in Big Valley

2011-01-17T08:11:00.000-08:00

This was last weekend.

Things were different this weekend.

The nearly official insect of the Methow

2011-01-06T15:00:00.001-08:00

Everyday Winter

2011-01-05T11:22:00.000-08:00

Mazama

Goat Peak Lookout from Mazama

Beaver Pond Reflection

Female Downy Woodpecker

One feather found on a snowy walk

The snow has grown hair.

Goat Peak and Mount Robinson from our house

Sam says 'Is there food?'

The last light of another short day.

New Years Eve

2011-01-04T14:36:00.000-08:00

It was zero or below for New Years in the Methow. That didn't stop this party!

Luna, always ready for a party

I always wondered why they were called bottle rockets.

This had to be dug out of two feet of snow before we could have a campfire!

After midnight

The morning after

Scenes from the Bridgeport Christmas Bird Count

2010-12-15T19:57:00.000-08:00

Snowy Landscape near Dyer Washington

Gray Partridges

Ok, so it's not a bird, but there was a wing.

It's not even, officially Winter yet.

2010-12-12T11:35:00.000-08:00

A snowbow over Studhorse Mountain

Truckcicles

Snow management could become a serious issue in January

Digging a trail to the bird feeders

Small Winter Scenes

2010-12-03T15:40:00.000-08:00

Some scenes from an early winter

2010-12-02T14:43:00.000-08:00

Run Luna, run.

Kelly says, I don't have to keep up with her.

Pygmy Owl that Ken spotted near Eight Mile on the Chewuch

petroglyphs

Morning light on Patterson Mountain

Dogs walk

Luna in the studio

2010-11-22T06:25:00.000-08:00

After her recent haircut, she's been struggling to keep warm.

The first significant snow of the season

2010-11-21T07:28:00.000-08:00

A long wait til Spring

Holding on

Another hike to Aspen Lake

2010-11-16T16:43:00.000-08:00

Just me and the girls taking advantage of another gorgeous November day.

Sam above Aspen Lake

Kelly - she has bad cataracts and the sun makes her squint

Luna makes a big splash where ever she goes

These two understand the power of cookies.

Aspen Lake, Patterson Lake and in the far background Goat Peak

aspens

A short trip to Washington Pass to walk in the snow

2010-11-07T06:55:00.000-08:00

Two ravens called back and forth across the snow covered road.

This one responded by flaring its tail and making a loud purring sound.

Another short hike and a jump in a lake

2010-11-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

Trail to Patterson Mountain.

View of Mt Robinson (I think), Goat Wall, Goat Peak and the upper valley.

Mt Gardner and Patterson Lake

Sun Mountain, closed til mid December

Why is it pointing up? Am I missing something here?

Near the top of Patterson Mountain

Patterson Lake

Halloween day hike to Aspen Lake

2010-11-04T09:18:00.000-07:00

Susan and I and four dogs had a wonderful afternoon hike to Aspen Lake. Colors are still vibrant.

Grasses grew SO tall with the cool wet summer

More wet dog fun.

An afternoon on the Chewuch River

2010-11-03T10:48:00.000-07:00

Dogs and sunshine and a clear river in November. Pretty nice day.

Dogs just want to have fun!

Mushrooms so fresh they were dripping with moisture.

Aspen and Snowberry

The remains of a salmon

A Trip Over the Pass

2010-10-21T08:56:00.000-07:00

I am always amazed at how the wet climate affects everything I see over there

Landscape in a wall

Rocks that look like precious metals

The garden, September 23rd

2010-10-10T09:57:00.000-07:00

Still catching up.

Bean blossoms

Brussell Sprout leaves

Gourd

Gourd Blossom

Echinacea or Coneflower

Shaggy Mane mushrooms

Chewuch River, September 12th

2010-10-10T09:35:00.000-07:00

Still catching up.

October 1st hike on the trail to Grasshopper Pass

2010-10-10T08:31:00.000-07:00

I am pretty far behind on my personal work and hope to catch up in the near future.

a Pika

a surprising variety of wildflowers still in bloom

Glorious Larch Trees

Photos from the Winthrop Marathon

2010-09-27T15:42:00.000-07:00

What a great day for a road race! The Chewuck River Valley was the site of the 26 mile event! More photos are at my Flickr site.

James DeSalvo, local favorite with MVSTA trails and the eventual race winner. Congratulations James!

A couple of runners sported this interesting style of footwear.

James is off to a lead at Andrews Creek, the three mile mark.

Who knew running marathons was so much fun? Ask Wild Bill.

This lady was always happy.

Only two and a half miles to town.

Dana Lyons performs at the Confluence Gallery in Twisp

2010-09-11T08:48:00.000-07:00

Ken got to open for Dana!

Ken joined in with Dana on the ever popular 'Ride the Lawn'

Dana encourages audience participation

White-tailed Ptarmigan on the side of Slate Peak

2010-09-05T07:51:00.000-07:00

This is the mom. Notice the cryptic coloring on her back and how it mimics the licens on the rocks around her. In the winter she will be pure white to blend in with the snow.

These are the young. We counted five or six of them.

Some Wildlife I have seen in the last week

2010-09-03T16:02:00.000-07:00

A cricket, perhaps a Mormon Cricket or something closely related. These were at Chelan Ridge

Dusky Grouse observed at Chelan Ridge

A slow Racer that Ken was able to catch on a cool afternoon

Red-necked Phalarope at Deadhorse Lake

Black Swift, also at Deadhorse Lake. There were MANY of them

Chinook Salmon spawning in the Methow near the Suspension Bridge on the Community Trail

Maple Pass Hike

2010-08-12T21:41:00.000-07:00

This hike, starting at Rainy Pass on Highway 20 is a local favorite.

We did the loop clockwise.

That's the North Cascades Highway way down below us.

The last of the switchbacks behind us.

On top of the world

Glacier Peak is on the left, shrouded in clouds.

And down the other side

We were up there.

It's a dog cookie he was crunching.

Just one of the many views of Lake Anne.

Which way now?

Columbine

A parting view of Lake Anne. The high point of our hike is on the top left and then the trail followed the ridge and down on the right.

Yesterday

2010-08-06T17:52:00.000-07:00

Luna and Kelly got to go swimming in the river while Sam got to go to the office with Ken.

We've been seeing these too often the last week or so with all the lightning.

The haze from distant fires makes for pretty sunsets.

August Rainfall

2010-08-04T11:29:00.000-07:00

Goat Peak Butterfly Field Trip

2010-07-31T12:02:00.000-07:00

The Native Plant Society organized a field trip to observe butterflies at Goat Peak yesterday. Wildflowers were numerous as well as the colorful bugs. Unfortunately smokey skies dimmed the mountain views.

Catch and release butterflies

A rhododendron, native to the east slope of the Cascades - something new to me!

An unusual pink yarrow

Some scenes from yesterday's windy dog walk

2010-07-23T14:16:00.000-07:00

Mariposa Lillies - an amazing wildflower that blooms among the dried grasses during the heat of the summer

Another Morning on Patterson Lake

2010-07-15T10:04:00.000-07:00

Fourth of July in Twisp

2010-07-05T09:57:00.000-07:00

The City of Twisp had a grand Fourth of July Parade and that was followed by an exuberant Arts Festival in the park sponsored by Methow Arts.

Anticipation!

Practice!

Mayor Boosman

Moshi, gosh she is growing up SO fast!

The West African Dance group tossed flowers in instead of candy.

The dancers are my favorite!

Face Painting at Arts Fest

Making Copper Mirrors

Brothers from Different Mothers

A community built mosaic to go on the side of the Riverbank building

Captain Jack

2010-06-17T18:50:00.000-07:00

Whitewater on the Methow River

2010-06-14T09:24:00.000-07:00

Nice weather and high water brought out the rafters and other whitewater enthusiasts this weekend

Hummingbird research

2010-06-04T10:03:00.000-07:00

A hummingbird trap

A male Calliope Hummingbird. He weighs 2.54 grams.

Looking for fat on the bird

A Rufous Hummingird

Ken's dad gets to let one go

A Black-chinned Hunningbird

May Wildflowers after a rain

2010-05-31T18:20:00.000-07:00

buckwheat

penstemon

snowberry

lupine leaves

larkspur

yarrow

buckwheat

Thanks to Anaka for the name of this pretty little flower:
Phacelia linearis, line-leafed phacelia

Clouds in the Okanogan Highlands

2010-05-24T18:08:00.001-07:00

Trees in spring colors

2010-05-11T08:53:00.000-07:00

Waves at Birch Bay

2010-05-03T19:30:00.000-07:00

Orchid Cactus Flowers

2010-05-03T19:28:00.000-07:00

And now - something different

2010-05-03T19:06:00.000-07:00

Baker River at Concrete

Ferns

Mosses

Early Balsamroot and Lupine

2010-04-22T12:39:00.000-07:00

My favorite spring combination of wildflowers.

Spring in the garden

2010-04-21T09:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I got out for a short while with my macro lens and captured some of the new growth in our garden. Lucky to do it yesterday. Today the wind is blowing a gale and tomorrow is forecast to be worse.

Garlic

Radishes that need to be thinned

Fava Bean

Sugar Snap Pea

Ponderosa Pines at Pearrygin Flats

2010-04-18T20:21:00.000-07:00

This area was thinned 30 or 40 years ago producing these evenly spaced trees.

Public fishing at Patterson Lake

2010-04-18T20:19:00.000-07:00

Luna wonders why the lake is so far away from the sign. Perhaps Luna thinks too much.

Blue Sky Aspens

2010-04-13T12:37:00.001-07:00

Rainy days are good for the garden but I am wishing for more blue sky days like this one a few days ago.

Sam

2010-04-08T07:55:00.000-07:00

She had some teeth pulled this week and we have to try to keep her from eating strange stuff for a while.

A morning on recently thawed Pearrygin Lake

2010-04-07T16:27:00.000-07:00

Barrows Goldeneyes

A series of reflections

Floats waiting for swimmers

Spring wildflowers and April snow

2010-04-03T07:14:00.000-07:00

Clouds over Timentwa Flats

2010-04-01T16:37:00.000-07:00

Long-billed Curlews

2010-03-29T15:08:00.000-07:00

We saw this migrating flock of shorebirds in a farm field just south of Soap Lake on highway 17 as we returned from the Sandhill Crane Festival. They were all foraging or resting.

Sandhill Cranes at the Othello Sandhill Crane Festival

2010-03-29T14:59:00.000-07:00

Sandhill Cranes migrate through central Washington each Spring and Fall. Large numbers congregate along the Royal Slope area, feeding on spent corn in the irrigated ag fields. The small community of Othello celebrates these magnificent birds with a festival each March.

Open Merc

2010-03-26T05:58:00.000-07:00

An open mic event at the Merc Playhouse in Twisp held mostly monthly

An old abandoned ranch in the Methow

2010-03-16T08:02:00.000-07:00

This ranch was sold to the state for mule deer habitat and now the old buildings and fences and farm fields are deteriorating and going away.

Lichen and old paint

An organizer

Pine needles caught up in chicken wire

An old heater

It says something about not allowing it to freeze

I love this door

It's for you

What is solubor?

Don't forget to wash your hands

Early Spring Walk

2010-03-14T08:09:00.000-07:00

We walked in the hills above the Methow with our dogs and friends from near and far one day last week. We saw the early Buttercups - the first wildflowers of the year for me - and explored an abandoned house.

Looking west

The view down valley

Sagebrush seeds

Winthrop Hot Air Balloon Roundup, Saturday and Sunday

2010-03-07T16:32:00.000-08:00

Winthrop Hot Air Balloon Roundup, Friday

2010-03-07T16:23:00.000-08:00

Helium Cluster Balloons

2010-03-07T16:13:00.000-08:00

John Ninomiya brought his helium cluster balloons to the Winthrop Hot Air Balloon Roundup. Inflation began at 5 am on Saturday with liftoff around 7:30. He carries bags of water for ballast and pops or sets the balloons free when he wants to descend.

A ski trip to the Rendezvous Hut

2010-03-05T14:20:00.000-08:00

Six of us skied into the Rendezvous Hut, one of a series of wintertime huts in the Rendezvous area of the Methow, for a two night stay. Weather was not always good but a good time was had by all.

As seen from my kayak near the mouth of the Okanogan River.

2010-02-23T13:23:00.000-08:00

February and it feels like Spring.

A couple of lensbaby images

2010-02-23T11:57:00.000-08:00

Late winter, early spring, mud sesason.

The Methow Valley Doggie Dash

2010-02-15T11:11:00.000-08:00

An annual six legged race with a costume contest held at the Town Trailhead in Winthrop. There are divisions for kids and adults and big dogs, little dogs and very big dogs. Yesterday's snow conditions were less than desirable however it may have given the competitors a more even playing field, so to speak.

Starts are very exciting

A blue kangaroo

Kids have their own division.

Getting psyched up before the race.

It is required that dogs and people stay connected.

Ricochet even raced against the big dogs

The really, really big dogs raced in a division named 'Clydesdales'

Even with two dogs, this team came in last in its race.

Kristen and Sunshine managed to eke out a victory in this close finish.

Waiting for race time.

A disppointing finish for this well dressed pair.

MVSTA Fireworks celebrating the Winter Olympics

2010-02-13T12:21:00.000-08:00

Fireworks and Rain at the Ice Rink

Late Winter Early Spring

2010-02-09T16:00:00.000-08:00

Sam warms herself

Artifacts in the melting snow

Patterson Mountain

Bread making

2010-02-05T17:05:00.000-08:00

Making whole grain breads has always been a challenge for me. Recently I picked up Peter Reinhart's book on the topic and decided to try again. Using only Bluebird Grain Farms whole wheat flour, I came up with a pretty acceptable loaf and some good rolls too.

Reinhart says it's best to weigh all ingredients.

This is called a soaker. It was made last night.

This is the wild yeast starter, also made last night and incorporating a starter that took most of a week to get started using only wild yeasts.

Here the two batches are chunked up to go into the mixer.

I like my Kitchenaid mixer.

Here is the dough after the first knead, resting for five minutes.

And here it is after just another minute or two of hand kneading.

Ready for the first rise.

And after the first rise.

In the pans.

Ready to bake. It probably rose just a little too much.

And the rolls ready to bake.

Fresh rolls for dinner!

Well, there were six........

And the finished loaf!

Luna with a new haircut.

2010-01-29T13:00:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since she sat in the studio.

Musicians of the Methow

2010-01-23T18:11:00.000-08:00

Cascadia, the Methow Music Association Presented its annual

Musicians of the Methow on January 15

Noah Ashford, Emcee

Mark Wenzel sings Cole Porter tunes

Nate and Steve Hirsch

Nate Hirsch

Ken Bevis (aka Riley of Riley and the Dogs)

Egon Steinebach (one of the Dogs)

Sam Stockard (one of the Dogs)

Maggie Coon plays Sonate Pathetique by Beethoven

The Lazy R Pickers - Celeste and Kip Roberts

Michael Brady plays an Impromptu in E Flat

Greg Goad plays original compositions

Winter Sun

Mark Holm

Gudrun Brunot with the Downstairs Dungeoneers sings As I leave Behind Neidin

Egon Steinebach closed the evening

Super Tour Races in the Methow

2010-01-21T19:25:00.000-08:00

These scenes are from Saturday's Sprint races held at the course starting at Liberty Bell High School.
There were over 250 racers, some going to the Olympics, some hoping to go to the Olympics and some Future Olympians! It was exciting to watch.

Open Merc

2010-01-14T10:21:00.000-08:00

Twisp's Open Merc happens monthly, more or less at the Merc Playhouse. Here's a sampling from last night's performances.

A juried show

2010-01-09T05:30:00.000-08:00

These two images were selected for a juried show at the Moses Lake Museum and Art Center. Spring Surreal won an Honorable Mention and was sold on opening night.

Spring Surreal

Late Winter Aspens

Fun Times at the Beach

2009-12-09T10:24:00.000-08:00

The previous post has Images from the Beach.

Images from the beach

2009-12-09T10:15:00.000-08:00

The previous post has images from The Rainforest

The Rainforest

2009-12-09T08:34:00.000-08:00

One afternoon we drove over to the Quinault Rainforest. We were lucky to have good weather - it wasn't raining.

The previous post has images from Razor Clams on the Beach

Razor Clams on the beach

2009-12-09T08:20:00.000-08:00

We dug for Razor Clams three nights in a row and got our limit each time. Lucky for us, our friends Gary and Karlene in Ocean Shores took the time to coach us on digging, catching, and most importantly cleaning these tasty clams. And they loaned us lots of equipment to make it all so much easier. Many thanks.

The winter low tides happen at night so this is an adventure in the darkness on the beach.

Two clam shows

Many clam shows

Clam shell

The scene on the beach. Everyone has their own lantern or flashlight to locate the clam shows and chase them down in the wet sand.

One night's limit for two people.

The previous post has images from Birds on the Beach

Birds on the coast

2009-12-09T08:13:00.000-08:00

We went to the ocean for a change of scenery last week. Here are a few birds we saw around Pacific Beach, Westport and Tokeland.

I think these birds are mostly Sanderlings with perhaps some Dunlin.

Marbled Godwits in the setting sunlight at Tokeland

Least Sandpipers?

A late fall walk

2009-11-30T16:20:00.000-08:00

If it won't snow for skiing we might as well get out and enjoy the hillsides.

A Merlin on one of our 'planted' snags, Friday morning.

2009-11-29T16:31:00.000-08:00

Images from the Twisp River Ponds

2009-11-21T12:27:00.000-08:00

Pygmy Nuthatch

2009-11-19T17:28:00.000-08:00

This bird whacked on the window and sat stunned for a short time before flying off.

Thursday at Twisp

2009-11-06T10:20:00.000-08:00

A morning at Harts Pass

2009-11-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

Dogs Just Want To Have Fun

2009-11-06T10:12:00.000-08:00

The end of October

2009-11-06T09:56:00.000-08:00

October 19, a walk around the edges of Twisp

2009-10-25T10:12:00.000-07:00

An autumn hike

2009-10-13T15:54:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, Ken and I hiked the Maple Pass/Lake Ann loop route, starting at Rainy Pass. It was a brisk day with lots of sunshine and fall colors.

Lake Ann

Liberty Bell seems lost in all the other big mountains in this view

The cirque behind these larch trees is directly above Rainy Lake. Its tiny glacier cannot be seen here.

Remnants of summer wildflowers

That's the high spot

Heading up to that high spot

Looking down the other side.

That's Glacier Peak on the left surrounded by other glacier covered mountains. There are more glaciers in the North Cascades than in the rest of the lower 48. Well, that's what they told us at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center.

Heading down the other side with our high spot in front of us

Larch reflections in Lake Ann

Okanogan Highlands Barter Faire

2009-10-13T09:09:00.000-07:00

It was cold, windy, dusty, smokey and a great place for people watching.

There was an amazing variety of stuff for sale or trade.

Some people just came for the people watching.

Turns out, we have a mutual friend in Montana!

Lots of great drumming and drums too.

A bike powered blender, what could be cooler than that?

It was only Friday and they'd already had too much Barter Faire!

He asked me to make his picture with my 'image maker'

I didn't see any dragons. I was wary.

I always wondered where the fairies got their outfits.

A weekend at Diablo Lake

2009-10-12T16:16:00.000-07:00

Scenes from the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center. I was there for a class called 'Will Write for Change' put on by the North Cascades Institute.

Changing seasons

2009-10-12T16:07:00.000-07:00

Methow River near the Suspension Bridge

Larch tree near Harts Pass

Near Slate Peak

View from Washington Pass overlook

Some images from September

2009-10-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

The whole month went by in a blur

Falls Creek Falls

Chinook Salmon in the Methow, near the Suspension Bridge

Aspen Lake

The Thirty Mile Fire burned in 2001

Some color in a burned landscape

Wilson's Snipe on the edge of the Okanogan near its confluence with the Columbia

Turkey Vultures sunning on Cassimir Bar

This toy truck emerged when the Columbia was drawn down

Washington Pass Overlook

A Family Visit in the Methow

2009-10-01T07:47:00.000-07:00

Everyone has to go see Washington Pass when the weather is good!

JW doesn't really care for those high edges of the world!

Mae doesn't mind the drop off.

Rainy Lake was beautiful.

Sniffing Ponderosa Pine on the way to Falls Creek Falls. The bark smells like vanilla.

Falls Creek Falls

This surplus fishing net will soon be our garden fence. Ken and his brother stretched it out so we could how much we really have!

Yard Birds

2009-09-22T07:40:00.000-07:00

With fall migration in full swing, interesting birds might show up at anytime.
Here a group of Wester Bluebirds arrived to take advantage of the bird bath and perches in our backyard.

A Peregrine Falcon scouted the situation from the lower snag before heading off for points unknown.

And a Yellow-rumped Warbler hawked a few bugs before moving on.

Scenes from the Okanogan County Fair

2009-09-14T12:52:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a hot and dusty day at the fair.

Small Snake

2009-09-07T22:21:00.000-07:00

River Dogs

2009-09-05T08:10:00.000-07:00

Dogs in the Methow on a hot day.

Catch me if you can

Kelly may not be able to see very well but she can still swim.

Luna is mostly a blur most of the time so why fight it?

Hahahahahaha, I got it this time!

Fly fishing with Cheryl

2009-08-31T15:42:00.000-07:00

Ken took our friend Cheryl fly fishing to a small creek in the Methow with the promise that she would catch her first fish on a fly rod and indeed she did. And she caught her second, third, fourth, and quite a few more, it seemed! Lots of little Brookies and Cutthroats. What fun. I enjoyed the scenery and assisted as needed.

Toko

2009-08-27T09:44:00.000-07:00

Toko came to visit us from Wenatchee for a couple of days.

The Evolution of a Red Wall

2009-08-24T17:09:00.000-07:00

Ken starts by applying pink primer to the prepped wall

Dogs are no help

Now Progress seems to be Happening

There's that Bubble Gum Pink Primer

One of Ken's photos

Another one of Ken's photos

One Coat of RED

A Second Coat of Red

That's Better