Have I mentioned how much I love camping? A tent, in the woods, the whole thing. I just love the air outdoors, the oxygen. And what could be better than a campfire? Just the quiet sounds of the flames whispering, the logs snapping, the crickets. I could stare at this for a long, long time.

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On the way back from our camping trip last week as we crossed the Puyallup River, our local volcano, AKA “the mountain,” was out and glorious. Taking lots of photos from the car window sometimes lucks out. This one is SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), not even cropped. Not bad!

Visit Skywatch Friday, Watery Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday, Weekend Reflections, Blue Monday, and Thursday Challenge (theme is Blue). Do see what else is fun around here first! Click on the tag of “scenic” perhaps?

Camping! Can you just smell the woodsmoke? We love to get out in the woods for a few days and smell actual fresh air, day and night. Even a trek through the campground to the facilities can be a lovely experience. A warm day in August in the Pacific Northwest is like no other. I love the range of light to darks, with the blue sky peeping through, and I’m calling this my Best Post of the Week.

Visit Shadow Shot Sunday, Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, and this week the theme of Unique Exposures Weekend Challenge is 100 Years Old (or more). It’s pretty close to qualifying for SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera) but I did adjust the curves just a tad, so it doesn’t. But take a look there anyway. Remember, if there is only one photo below, click on Sara’s Fave Photos for the others. Thank you for visiting!

This is from last year when we went camping at the Dungeness Recreation Area campground in the Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest. To me, the water and the pinkish, foggy air is even more beautiful than the big flying bird, but it was quite a moment in any case.

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Last minute reminder: If you are in Seattle tomorrow on Thursday, August 4 at 6-8pm, please come to the Conservatory’s free Open House and book signing for my new book, Flowers of Volunteer Park Conservatory: Blooming Month By Month. Take a tour and meet the author (me!). You can find more info about the book on the home page here, or order at pre-launch prices with free shipping on the Book Order page. Thanks for visiting!

Visiting my friend and web developer Marsha Perry of Perry Internet Consulting (hi Marsha!) in Silverdale recently, we strolled along the water at a cute little waterside park. Sunshine, barbeques, kids, the works. I didn’t know what water it was and had to look at a map to learn that we were viewing Dyes Inlet, part of Puget Sound. You can actually see the tiny tip of Mt. Rainier right behind that boat, if you squint.

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Oh, it was a glorious Fourth! In addition to everything else, the weather was PERFECT and warm and totally sunny. We were at a party on the shore of little Lake Burien in Washington state, near Seattle. Dusk and calm and trees and water make for a happy scenic-photo person like myself.

Like many of us, I’m a sucker for sunsets and am calling this simple photo my Best Post of the Week.

Visit Wordless Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Watery Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, Skywatch Friday, Pink Saturday, Shadow Shot Sunday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), and Weekend Reflections. Click on the banner above, Sara’s Fave Photos, to see the latest photos here. And thanks for visiting!

My neighbors had a party last week, and even though they have a great deck and yard, it rained. Not ideal for a party, but for those of us who ALWAYS carry a camera, it had its compensations. This evergreen clematis armandii, I believe, is very happy twining about his deck railing, even (and perhaps especially) in the rain.

You might check out Watery Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday, Macro Friday, Macro Monday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Scenic Sunday, and Ruby Tuesday for more photo fun. Do click on the banner above, Sara’s Fave Photos, to see the latest photos here. And thanks for visiting! 

Bleeding heart, or dicentra, is one of those great aquaphobic leaves that give lady’s mantle a run for their money when it comes to pretty raindrops. I put one in a newly-cleared shady part of the garden and it seems to be very happy, which makes me happy.

Visit Watery Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Macro Friday, Macro Monday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera) and Wordless Wednesday for more photo fun. Do click on the banner above, Sara’s Fave Photos, to see the latest photos here. Thanks for visiting!

I think it’s so neat that you can see the white cloud reflected in the water. I don’t remember seeing that before, although I must have, mustn’t I? This taken just the other day at my favorite overlook over Puget Sound, looking south. Hope your day is a blue sky and puffy clouds type of day.

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I hope you are not tired of water droplets on leaves. It’s a theme around here. I keep getting excited and get out there right after a rain to get a good photo of those raindrops decorating everything. I’ve gotta have something to keep me going in this weather.

Visit Watery Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Macro Friday, Macro Monday, and Wordless Wednesday if you like memes, or photos with a theme. And if you use the search in the right corner, you can find all sorts of interesting photos here. Maybe try raindrops? Do click on the banner above, Sara’s Fave Photos, to see the latest photos here. Thanks for visiting!