Winter Lace

Moss and lichen putting on a show. This amazing branch is gracing our southeastern border on the Orcas land. The shape of the white looks very coral-like to me.

Bringing the Photos Up to Date

I love this stand of trees. It's down on the waterfront at Golden Gardens at Shilshole, in Seattle. I love the space between the trunks. I'd like to swing, monkey-like, through these trees. 

One disappointing thing about photographing dawn in the city is that the mind can ignore the signs of civilization when you're simply observing, but it's impossible to block out the roofline and wires in a picture. Nevertheless, isn't this a spectacular sky to be seen off our side porch?

Get used to it--there are going to be many portraits of Spackle-dog. Here he is in a contemplative moment at Mom's house. 

And here he is in action, fetching a tennis ball, which is Spackle's delight. 

Early in January we had a visit from Tessa and Sadie, the Jerome Creek dogs. It was like having friends stay over. Licky, goofy, willful friends. Tessa was on her best behavior and ate nothing she was not supposed to. Sadie slept on the people bed in the guest room instead of on her bed, but Spackle has slept on the people bed at her house. 

Tessa, portrait by Ian Taylor.

Sadie, caught in a moment of repose. 

Oooh--exciting! Evening piddle walk in the city! With leashes!

Still life of dining room window display. 

What appears to be a massive explosion, but is actually a late-January sunset, as seen from our living room. 

Same sunset, playing with focus. This is the dogwood Friend S gave me as a bridal shower gift. 

One of the joys of living with Ian is that he occasionally spends a weekend creating something delicious. He's recently begun baking bread again, after a several-year hiatus. First loaf back: baguette! Cutting board decorated by Friend S.

Father and Dog, snoozing in the basement. 

Bat-eared Spackle getting ready for a nail trim. Photo taken by Ian Taylor. 

Spackle breaking in our new Persian rug. 

I took several pictures of him rolling around, rubbing his back and his jowls and his ears, and maybe someday I'll figure out how to turn them into a video. Or Ian will, if I beg. 

Dog and father.

Dog and Muzzer. Photo taken by Ian Taylor.

Adolescent bald eagle seen at Discovery Park.

Artistic shot of flowers in winter.

Spring is on the way!

Spackle has a new name tag!

I love, LOVE all the bare branches at this time of year. 

Last year's cones, and this year's cones. 

Video Chat? That's so old news. BO-RING.

 Turns out, when Ian goes away, I stay up WAY TOO LATE into the night. This conversation ended at 9pm. These are about 1/20 of my yawns. I'm going to bed.

Picture, Please

For Christmas Ian bought me a fancy new camera, a Canon Rebel Ti4 (I think. I know it's a really cool camera). I've been taking pictures, and plan to post some here, with, of course, pithy captions. So, I maybe won't be writing quite as much, but I will be, I hope, more of a presence in your life again, Joel. 

You may not be surprised to find out that the pictures featured here were NOT taken with the fancy new camera but are, rather, screen shots from Ian's and my first successful international Google Video Chat (Ian's in Canada). 

It may not be a communication method we're willing to try again. Considering.