Oh my goodness that was a bright sunset! In late July the family that purchased a beach picnic and childcare for 5 children at the auction for the school where I teach, redeemed their purchase. Here I am with the two third graders, two first graders and an incoming kindergartner, all of who have known (or will know) me as their teacher. It was really great fun! First was the picnic dinner of hot dogs, chips, carrot sticks, fruit salad and chocolate cookies then down to the beach we trooped for stone skipping and walking on the logs and dodging the waves created by the wake from the ferry boat.
I have 7 hydrangea bushes. This is a hastily made bouquet from two of them. "Come for a walk ?" my husband asked as I was clipping the blooms. "Sure!" I responded and I plopped the bouquet into the wheelbarrow. Upon our return I realized that the composition made a pretty picture. So there you go!
Thank you so much to Donna at Quiet Life for encouraging me to try new blogging tricks like this! Just click on the photos if you want to see them larger and you can also look at my photo stream on Flickr. We went to Seaside Wed. through Fri. of last week. We stayed at a condo/motel at the very end of the promenade in Seaside called The Tides By The Sea. We have stayed at The Tides several times over the years, it is our favorite accommodation there. It is nice to be at the end of the 'prom' because all you have is beach in front of you (unless you get a court side room). We had planned on skating on the 'prom' but it was too rainy and windy; I guess it was the end of the typhoon that hit Japan. We had a relaxing time just the same. I had a couple good runs, beach walks are nice even in the rain, and I read the book Water For Elephants (which is an engrossing and fast read).
Can you see that tiny squiggle of switchbacks and the words: "You are here." That's where we are, that's a 2 mile hike, that's 50 minutes of up, up, up.
Yes, there is a shadow on my face but I was not about to take my hat off and expose my 'hat hair'!
I'm pretty sure this is Bitter Cherry; prunus emarginata. Interesting tidbit: the bark of the cherry tree could be cut into strips and polished to a rich red, adding color into baskets woven by the Indians.
This 'nurse log' has an unusual number of salal (gaultheria shallon) bushes growing from it's top and sides.
Devil's Club: tall, with exotic, maple-like leaves, and crowned with beautiful red berries, but beware of the stalks which are coated with wicked thorns.
We hit the trail head at 10:30. It took us only 50 minutes (including dinking around taking pictures) to get to the Ledge. While the temp was about 83 degrees, we were in shade untill we reached the top AND there was a cooling breeze and no humidity. Don't ask me why it is called Rattlesnake Lake/Ledge/Mount. As far as I have been informed there are no rattlesnakes west of the mountains and this place is a mere 45 minute drive east of Seattle on I 90. I certainly didn't see any snakes, only a flock of Canada geese. Ah ha! I just investigated the origins of the lake's name and I found my answer here.
Well, What do you think? I actually removed about 20 wheelbarrows full. But looking at this photo, I don't see much of a dent. Tomorrow Chris and I are going on a hike on Rattlesnake Trail (sounds inviting, huh?). It is across from Mount Si and he says it is not as rocky/ boring as Mt. Si. Keep watching my weather Pixie (thanks Ms. Booshay!). It is supposed to get up to 100 by Wednesday. Then you're gonna really hear me whine. I don't live in Seattle for those kind of temperatures!
