Free to be

If you haven't seen this video yet produced by the Great Whale Conservancy you're in for a beautiful video display of sheer joy, and even more evidence of how we are all part of one big family on planet Ocean.

 

Whatcom Falls revisited

August 29, 2011

On a leisurely hike on the interurban yesterday the water level along Whatcom Creek seemed about as low as it was going to get this year. The ledge on the left has been a popular viewpoint and photo stop for some time now.

But it wasn't so long ago, December in fact, that these cascading falls bordered on torrential, and were well worth a double take.

Perhaps to dream

                             When was the last time you got sleep like this?

There is no doubt that Stella’s got sweet dreams down pat.

Second time around

What a surprise today - the flowering purple clematis that was carelessly hacked nearly three months ago is now sporting a promising blossom after rising like a phoenix from its mangled stem while we hardly noticed.

With so much crap going on in the world – earthquakes, droughts, hurricanes, wars, economic calamities – it was really nice to see this “comeback kid” this morning. 

Obviously she’s got a ways to go, and harsher elements are just weeks away, but this girl is a survivor.

Don’t bet against her ushering in spring 2012 with a new array of lavender trappings.

June 6, 2011

A far cry from Hurricane Irene

Padden Creek estuary at sunset, where it enters into Bellingham Bay

Closing night on the Village Green

On a twilight walk through Fairhaven we realized it was closing night at the Village Green Outdoor Theater.

 






Tonight’s presentation, Rob Reiner’s The Princess Bride, packed the quad with a blanket or a rear end covering every square foot of lawn.




No doubt most of the patrons have seen this classic, but tonight, on the last Saturday in August, summer is in the middle of its swan song. And the weather, magnificent…much too nice to parrot Mandy Patinkin dialogue.

So before the opening credits we strolled through town toward the ferry terminal to catch sunset’s finale.

Where to now?

Casey near Chuckanut Bay

Just our favorite photo of the week, taken on a walk along Chuckanut Bay south of town. Casey had that look, wondering if we had a plan, or maybe a preferred route.
  

Hawkeye grieving

An unforgettable image has gone viral today, one that speaks volumes, and far beyond the grieving Labrador Hawkeye at the base of his master’s flag-draped coffin.

If you hadn't seen this moving photo before now, taken at the funeral of Navy SEAL Jon Tumlison of Des Moines, Iowa, killed in Afghanistan on August 6, it might be a comforting therapy to rub behind your dog's ears for a few minutes longer today. But you already knew that.

For daily Coalition casualties in Afghanistan, see
http://icasualties.org/OEF/index.aspx. 



  

Elwah, departing

A ferry ride on Elwha eastbound after a long weekend on San Juan Island is too often the culmination of a real approach-avoidance conflict. Leaving the San Juans for the mainland, or "going back to the USA" as some locals refer to this sailing, can either be a welcome relief, or the necessary first step in planning for an autumn return.

A color purple side trip

An eyeful, just five miles west of Friday Harbor, is the Palindaba Organic Lavender Farm.  And because our San Juan Island stays are usually off-season or early spring, this is the first time in years that we’ve been able to take it all in.

Coastal outlook

The San Juan island rain shadow didn’t come close to working for us today. We woke up to steady rain and it didn’t diminish to occasional rain showers until late afternoon.

 

But the locals had really needed the wet – it had been awhile – and the blustery weather near Lime Kiln Park made for some great shots. Surprisingly we didn't catch a glimpse of whales, or anything close, this time around. It's not uncommon at these viewpoints to spot pods of local orcas or at least Dall's Porpoises feeding en mass, thrilling throngs of visitors. 

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After moving a quarter of a mile south along the coastal path to Dead Man’s Bay, with Casey occasionally pausing to examine one sheer drop after another, we hung it up for the day and headed back to Friday Harbor.

 

Just so much see and so little time. Back to the mainland tomorrow, but always planning for the next ferry ride west…maybe early fall, maybe sooner.   

English Camp, San Juan Island

Sunset at English Camp, San Juan Island, Washington

There was barely enough Wifi on our latest excursion to the San Juan Islands, which has actually not been such a bad thing, but I did have a fleeting opportunity to post this sunset. We'll be heading home soon from an overnight stay at Friday Harbor in the San Juans, but in the meantime the sun's descent from this vantage point was just too spectacular not to share.

Running into Skeeter

You just never know who you're going to run into on an interurban trail. Today, it was Skeeter, our favorite 70 pound Border Collie, as he was running with his mistress Sheri.



He's an imposing guy, but what a gentle soul. According to Sheri, Skeeter is totally non-confrontational and would much rather keep his distance from most dogs, just like his distant cousin Casey.

But then again, they don't think they're dogs anyway.

Now where were we

After a couple of days of just not quite being himself, this morning Casey looks like he's going to be just fine. The bandage on his left leg is coming off today and what do you want to bet that Casey will be full tilt boogie in no time at all.   

  

Stop the Machine...Create a New World

Here's my first plug for an event that will take place in Washington DC on October 6th, a day that marks the 10th anniversary of the war in Afghanistan. Many of our brothers and sisters in Veterans For Peace, and many more peace coalition supporters, will be gathering on Freedom Plaza to mark this event.

I encourage everyone to check out the website www.october2011.org for more information.

;

Look who's back

The kid's back, maybe not at 100%, but he's no longer limping around the house. In fact Casey perked right up tonight when he noticed we were snacking on some chips.

And he only has to endure one more day with the bandage and he's home free.



Rough day

Our guy’s sure had better days. Yesterday afternoon in the middle of one of his Frisbee grabs, one that he probably shouldn’t have caught, Casey did the unthinkable. Somehow, on something, he snagged a dew claw – and let us know about it in no uncertain terms. We thought he broke a leg.

This morning Casey went under the knife to repair a split nail at Fairhaven Veterinary Hospital. Poor little guy. Now we just gotta hope he doesn’t blame it on the Frisbee. He’s got so much game.

  

A little less loopy after his power nap and on the mend.

Enjoyed it while we could

Marine Park in Fairhaven

It's time to "pay the piper" because we've been so spoiled for the last two weeks with mostly clear skies and temperatures in the mid 70s, and if we could stay up until the moon set we would have had great sightings of the Perseids.

Tomorrow though we deserve some weekend showers and from the looks of the high clouds to the west tonight, we'll probably wake up to some rain. Not much and not for long, but sunny scenes like these will be on hold for a couple of days.

But really though, what right do we have to complain. 

A day in the life

When it comes to efficient utilization of time and space, indoor cat Stella is the master of her domain and usually in a constant state of repose.

Telling stories with a guitar

Last week, Veterans For Peace held its 2011 National Convention in Portland, Oregon. Close to 500 members and supporters gathered at Portland State University for their annual anti-war conclave. Keynote speakers were a draw, but a particular favorite entertaining at the venue was Jim Page, a well-known folk singer in the Seattle area, but well-traveled as well, having toured internationally for over thirty years.

We want to introduce you to a couple of our favorite Jim Page numbers from this long-time Associate VFP member and one of our favorite peace movement troubadours. His I'd Rather Be Dancing, a composition derived from Rachel Corrie emails to her mother before she was killed in Gaza, is deeply moving. And The Singer and the AWOL Kid...well, just listen.