It was not as cold as it had been, before this latest rain cycle, so the other day I got out for a walk. There were some rhododendrons actually blooming. Spring is always so amazing. The thrill of the first one! Of course, as my sister says, “Somebody has to go first,” so I guess I shouldn’t always feel so surprised. Everyone else still sleeping, and this brave soul just blooming its little heart out.

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This is from December; we had so much unaccustomed snow here in Seattle. This is a view in my backyard of the neighbor’s barn. Even though the photo is almost black and white, there’s some color, too.

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Here is one of my favorite shots, of the Kent golf course, taken from a moving car! I love the bright yellow colors made by the late day sun against the dark gray sky. We surely have interesting weather in Seattle when the sun comes out.

For more shadows, click HERE, and for more scenic shots, click HERE. Post your own, too, why don’t you?

Here’s something a little different for Skywatch Friday. This was taken a few weeks ago in my backyard. It was cold, but yes, green and beautiful.

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On our trip to Astoria, Oregon on my birthday in April we stayed right at the river, which was wonderful. I took some good shots of the amazing bridge at the mouth of the river there, but these moss-covered posts, old pier supports, fascinated me. And I just saw that there’s a seagull hiding in the corner!

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Alert the newspapers, spring has been sighted! I saw these branches blooming in downtown Seattle a couple of days ago, while all else remains bare. As I circled the (cherry blossom? or flowering plum?) branch in full digital-camera-mode of taking LOTS to choose from later, a woman passerby said, “C’mon, spring!” and I couldn’t agree more.

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Today’s weather was in the high 40s at least, so I was able to be out in the garden pulling weeds, which I actually enjoy doing. I thought I’d show a snow photo from December as a bit of contrast. Snow could happen again, of course, but we wouldn’t have the pretty Christmas lights if it did. And I know they’re not really shadows, but so pretty anyway I thought I might get away with it as a shadow post.

For more real shadows, extremely artistically photographed, click HERE.

This was taken from a moving car on the way to Portland last spring. We never got to experience the rain that the skies promised since we were long gone by the time the deluge hit.

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I like this landscape and thought I’d post it just because. It was taken in Pierce County, Washington. It can be so very green here, under those gray, gray skies. You can’t everything, can you?

This was taken at a campground near Mt. Ranier in Washington state. There were floods later on which roared through this area and it may not be possible to camp here any more.

I’m trying something new. I took a video, my very first, of the creek because it sounded so wonderful and with these newfangled digital cameras, you can. I’m uploading a low-resolution version here so you can hear how wonderful it was. Click on the link below the still photo. Let me know if this is worth it.

For more watery wonders, click HERE.

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