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It was recently decided that the Nisqually Tide Flats should return to their natural state and the powers to be tore down the dikes that held back the ebb and flow of the Puget sound into this area. One used to be able to explore this area on a trail, without fear of the incoming tide getting their feet wet. Now the naturalists have spurred this return to normal and this elevated trail to keep our feet dry. We paid out three dollars at the Game Reserves entrance into the area. Must be tax dollar subsidized I'm thinking to build this tail for me and I'm only shelling out three dollars. Anyway, on our way down the road to Nisqually, we stopped at Starbucks and I ordered a very, very large coffee with one splenda and then once we got in the Olympia area we decided to stop at Hopjacks for breakfast. It was a spectacular breakfast for me because it came with a very large draft beer. It was noon somewhere and Sassy was drivin'. After the large coffee, large beer and no restrooms in sight, I decided this would be my elevated trail experience..... a picture from the start.

Happy Hump Day!!!!

Nisqually Wildlife Refuge
Happy Sunday!!

We managed to drive all the way up to Paradise on Mt Rainier last weekend. This is a shot of Paradise Lodge in the snow. The lodge was built in 1916. It wasn't open so I didn't venture much closer this time. This picture kind of makes me think of watching "The Shinning" again. It's a stay at home and stay warm kind of day here in Seattle. Got up and it was cold, windy, and raining. Took the dogs for a walk and then made it to the beach to take some pictures. The wind down there was nasty enough to convince me that picture taking wasn't any fun, so I came back home and crawled into the hot tub to thaw out.
Happy Saturday!!

Last Friday I came home from work happy and excited to spend another weekend with my Sassy. When I sat down down after all my getting home from work rituals were performed, I reminded Sassy that NEXT Friday we would be on our way to Mt Rainier to spend the weekend at one of our favorite "get aways", a rented Deep Forest Cabin for two nights. This cabin has all the amenities, seclusion in the forest, hot tub on the deck with a view of the forested hills around the base of Mt Rainier, a jetted jacuzzi tub in the bath room, no cell phone service or internet to distract, deer walking by outside, a novel experience for us city folk. Sassy loves to feed them. She does a damn fine job of that with me so I'm not jealous. Any way we're all excited about this trip since it was a gift I gave to Sassy for Christmas. That night after a dinner and a few beers, I fell asleep in the recliner watching TV. Sassy turned off the tube and left me there. About ten, I wake up in search of a more comfortable spot to spend the night. On my way to the bed, Sassy says, " you got a call on your phone". Curious I pick it up and someone left me a message! Rare event. So I listen to the message and it's Janet from Deep Forest Cabins....." are you comming?" (To check in for our cabin.) I call her back and said I thought the reservations were for next weekend and she said....."noooooooooo". S _ _ _!!!!! I got the weekends mixed up. Damn, I was just on my way to bed on a Friday night and I got this major you F_ _ _ _ _ UP hitting me in the face. I love my wife dearly and this is why...she has made reservations before and did the same thing, and one other time we arrived a day early. Both times I didn't get upset and kept my mouth shut cause I knew .......there but for the grace of God go I.........in denial the whole time. Damned if I didn't do the same thing last weekend. Sooooooo, we got up early Saturday morning, a sacrilege, and drove to our little "surprise" getaway for the weekend. Turned out to be a fabulous weekend at the cabin, one night short. Nothing like surprises and spontaneity.

This is a shot of Alder lake on our way home Sunday. A two shot Pano using my four stop grad filter on my 17-35 wide angle.

Happy Hump Day!!

Sassy and I spent last weekend in the Mt Rainier National Park area. There's a bit of a story to it but being pressed for time I won't bore you with the details today. This is a little stream that caught my eye as we were driving back down the road from Paradise. I half expected to see little fairy's flying around among the ferns and moss. It had that enchanted look to it.

Thank God Monday's behind us!