We were at the Normandy Park, WA cove and saw a huge bunch of birds (common murres?) on the water. This photo shows only a small portion of them. They were sitting out there and then, whoosh, they all went into the air at once and settled a ways away. Quite beautiful to see them fly like that.

Visit Outdoor Wednesday, Skywatch Friday, Watery Wednesday, Weekend Reflections, Scenic Sunday, Wordless Wednesday and Blue Monday. Before you go, try a new tag or category (Waterscapes, perhaps?) or just click Sara’s Fave Photos for the full blog here.

Some of you may remember a similar image from last year. Up at Anacortes, WA, our friends took us out on their boat in September, crabbing among the San Juan islands. The weather was changing, but here was a spot of calm weather, and how scenic can you get?

Visit Outdoor Wednesday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Shadow Shot Sunday, Scenic Sunday, Skywatch Friday, Watery Wednesday, Weekend Reflections and Wordless Wednesday and Blue Monday. Fun! Remember, you can always click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to return to the full blog with my latest post on top.

Each year I buy a string of peppers at the farmers market. They are so beautiful, and I hang it up in the kitchen and the peppers dry out nicely. Then I first take the seeds out of one (I’m a pepper lightweight; not too spicy for me!) and put it in a soup or stew I’m making, then take it out later like a bay leaf. I only wish I could actually use up the whole string each year. Time to make some chili!

Make a little visit to Blue Monday, Macro Friday, Color Carnival, Macro Monday, Mellow Yellow Monday, Ruby Tuesday, and Outdoor Wednesday. Why not? While you’re here, browse around, clicking on the Sara’s Fave Photos banner to view the complete blog if you see only one photo below.

Highline Garden just north of Seattle’s SeaTac Airport has a lovely Japanese garden which, amazingly, was moved from another location not that long ago. Here is one view of it in August. Don’t you love seeing the blue sky and puffy clouds, even if it’s just reflected?

Visit SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, Skywatch Friday, Watery Wednesday, Shadow Shot Sunday, Weekend Reflections and Wordless Wednesday for lots of fascinating photo fun. And you can always see the complete and up-to-date blog by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos, here or on the curly lettering on the banner above.

That overlook near my house means a lot to me. I love scenic photos but it’s so challenging living a regular life with buildings and telephone wires always getting in the way of the sky. This blessing of a place has yielded several peaceful images of dusk over water, and I am grateful.

For you Seattle locals, there’s going to be a Bookfest in Kirkland this weekend, and I’ll be there signing my book at booth #20 AND giving a talk and slideshow at noon on Sunday, Room 2 at the Community Center. Please come and say hello!

Do visit Blue Monday, Pink Saturday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, Skywatch Friday and Watery Wednesday. Please click on the banner above, Sara’s Fave Photos, to see the latest photos here. Thanks!

This being the Pacific Northwest, it’s not so totally surprising to find a big totem pole at someone’s house, overlooking Puget Sound. But still pretty darn unusual. I like it very much, especially on a day like this one.

Visit Skywatch Friday, Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, Weekend Reflections, Watery Wednesday, and SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), for fascinating photo frolics. Browse around here first, why don’t you? Clicking on the Sara’s Fave Photos banner will always bring you to the latest post here.

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!

Highline Botanical Garden is so worth a visit. Just north of SeaTac Airport, south of Seattle, this small but lovely garden only becomes more beautiful with time. Those gardeners and volunteers must work very hard!

Visit Skywatch Friday, Shadow Shot Sunday, Outdoor Wednesday, Ruby Tuesday, Scenic Sunday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), and Today’s Flowers. Returning to the latest post (if you’ve arrived from a link) is easy: just click on Sara’s Fave Photos above or here.

Garden flowers that come back by themselves, like bulbs are perennials, make gardening so much easier. But annuals that reseed themselves are perhaps even more welcome, as they have a long flowering period and can be moved around, when they are small, for a good effect. And I love the abundance of them, having planted dozens and dozens around the garden for a very good show. For free!

Visit Pink Saturday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Macro Monday, Macro Friday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Color Carnival and Today’s Flowers. You might try a new tag or category here before you go, though. Click on Sara’s Fave Photos to get to the newest post here.

And please come to the Open House at the Conservatory Aug 4, 6-8pm, to launch my new book!