Catching Up…

California Poppies on a Misty Morning

While scratching my head as to what to post for today, it occurred to me that several of you asked about California poppies and since we see them very frequently here, they deserve some attention as well.

Maybe, to you, the golden tones of their petals are a reminder of the golden state and fond memories of the home you left behind, or maybe a childhood memory of fields of them lighting up a hillside?

Whatever the reason or emotion, they’re beautiful and this particular grouping certainly captured my interest. Although I photographed it years ago, it’s a lovely reminder of my walk with a friend (from California!) on the levee trail here in Sequim.

I hope they bring back fond memories for you as well.

Seafood Anyone?

Pike Place Fish Market

Since we’ll be headed to Seattle in the morning to transport a friend to Virginia Mason, via the ferry, I got to thinking about the last time I was there. Another friend and I nearly choked when we saw the price of seafood offered in the market and as you can see for yourself, those prices are choke-worthy!

But to try and justify the price, I tell myself that this is/was fresh seafood, as fresh as it can get, and the market is a huge tourist attraction that commands huge crowds from all over the world, not only for the product offerings, but for the experience, e.g., the chance to see clerks throw fish at each other!

There’s value in throwing fish, I know, I tried it as a child and I’ll never forget the end result, but then, I was attempting to throw it in the trash without being detected. I did the same with my mom’s attempt at boiled okra but then the whole family did the same.

In the market, tossing fish is photo-worthy; people cheer and clap even if the fish falls to the floor. Then they shell out big bucks to ship it to family and/or friends while fully aware that those people have Costcos nearby!

But then if you should think about tossing fish about in Costco, I must warn you…they have a catch and release policy but you’ll still feel a hook!

In the Pink

Common Mullein

Because I’d forgotten the name of this beautiful plant, I Googled it, and for some reason, not everyone is as fond of it as me…some westerners actually refer to it as “cowboy toilet paper”!

Personally, I can only envision using it for that purpose when in desperate circumstances, with absolutely no alternative, but since the Sears catalog is no longer in print, I suppose that could happen…but where? Certainly not here in prim and proper Sequim!

But, I did find this lovely specimen in a local resident’s garden; mind you, it was far from anything that resembled a Sani-can though and the gardener never mentioned “the unmentionable”.

So with that said, I hope you find it as lovely as I did, and that you’ll appreciate its unique beauty and its “tissue-like” petals. Hmmmm….

Salt Creek Recreation Area

Low Tide at Crescent Beach, Port Angeles

Although Sequim beaches have their own unique beauty, I find that Salt Creek Recreation in PA offers a landscape I’m most drawn to as a photographer, and Tongue Point Marine Life Sanctuary and the tide pools to be a delight at low tide as well.

At less than 35 miles from Sequim, a day trip is entirely do-able and preferred, unless of course, you’re a camper and choose to take your rig or tent into the adjacent Clallam County Park, located on a former WWII military installation with campsites and spectacular trails with views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

But I prefer the beach, at low tide and low angle, to gain a perspective that many may never see. And on a warm day, to make the visit more memorable, I recommend removing one’s shoes and sinking one’s toes in the sand; then you’ll not only see it, but feel it – and you’ll never forget it!

Jamestown Beach

Jamestown Beach Driftwood Sculpture Echoes Mt. Baker

With Mt. Baker as a backdrop, many find it difficult to not love our beaches, and notably, the views on Jamestown Beach are one of the main reasons why.

While at times, the “aroma” can be a bit intense, this beach is a Mecca for not only scenery, but local residents, visitors, and their dogs of every breed, size and shape. And if you’re not accompanied by a dog, then you may be searching for agates, sea shells, driftwood, shorebirds, raptors, ducks, Dungeness crab, or maybe even clams.

Whatever your beach passion, you’re sure to indulge it here and take those memories home with you in a bucket, your back pocket, or maybe on camera’s SD card, or your phone. Regardless, it makes living on the peninsula so spectacular and life here so enviable.

Memorial Day

In Tribute to the Fallen

As veterans, Memorial Day is a tough day for many of us; for those of us who served in the military, and/or for those that had family members who served, or for anyone who has been touched by war.

As a child, I recall attending parades and watching as troops marched in solemn unison through the streets of my tiny military town while we all bowed our heads in respect and some wept. It was a sacred day, and for those who said, “Happy Memorial Day,” I often wondered why ‘happy’ since it was anything but.

Sequim didn’t disappoint in recognizing the fallen though and held a memorial tribute at the Guy Cole Center at Carrie Blake Park Friday afternoon, that I hope you were able to attend. If not, a visit to a local gravesite to express condolences may be in your plan.

But regardless, when and if you see red poppies blowing in the fields today, you’ll now know why (thanks to a quote from Google) they serve as a symbol of Veteran’s and Memorial Day and why they are so meaningful:

“After WW1 when the battlefields began to recover from their horrors, the red poppy was the first flower to grow and bloom. Its beauty of filling fields where death had taken place meant it came to represent rebirth and recovery and this is its symbolism.”

How to Tackle the Wind

Poppies in the Wind

To wrap up my “Painterly Picture Week”, I hate to be redundant, but I love poppies, and apparently I have a lot of company since I see them all over Sequim.

Easy to grow, hearty and full of color, they don’t disappoint, even in the wind. And since we’ve had more than our share of wind lately, that’s the time grab your phone and/or your camera and get outside to record the show. A slow shutter speed helps with the painterly effect by blending all those colors as if you’d taken a brush to canvas, but without the time involved and without dealing with wet paint.

I hope that at least one of my posts this week has inspired you to get a little creative yourself and to indulge your senses in the opportunity to capture the beauty that surrounds us, even in the wind!