The other day at the Normandy Park Cove, near Seattle, I looked outside and there was that pretty effect when the clouds in the distance look almost like cut paper. Then it went back to just plain old dull gray. We take what we can get when it comes to scenic in this part of the world. Did you know that the Seattle area gets only about 36″ or a little over a meter of rain a year, which is about what New York City or Santa Rosa, California gets? BUT it has far, far more cloudy days. Don’t tell me how many; I don’t want to know. So we get to be conoisseurs of gray skies!

Visit Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, Skywatch Friday and Watery Wednesday if you have a minute or two. If only one photo below, please click on Sara’s Fave Photos to view the complete blog here.

Happy note: Only 8 days ’til the solstice means just 16 days until days are lengthening and longer than today!

You have to love nice weather after a rain. Nothing makes a walk better than to come across a scene like this one, wandering around the neighborhood. This was over a week ago and by now those leaves are history, I am sure, but, like a flower in bloom, they were good while they lasted.

Visit Watery Wednesday, Mellow Yellow Monday, Scenic Sunday, Outdoor Wednesday, Shadow Shot Sunday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera) and Weekend Reflections for some fascinating photographic fun. If you have a moment to poke around here, I think you’ll enjoy it. Click on Sara’s Fave Photos for the complete blog. Thanks for visiting!

We had some big wind, and that means the pretty leaves are leaving. Sigh. They were so very lovely this year. Let’s give thanks for their show for us, shall we? An attitude of gratitude is the way to live life, all year round.

Take a peek at Ruby Tuesday, Scenic Sunday, Wordless Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Skywatch Friday and Blue Monday, if you can. Do browse here first, and hope you enjoy what you find. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

This was taken earlier this week in Seattle’s Volunteer Park at the Asian Art Museum, close by the Volunteer Park Conservatory, which loyal readers of this blog know that I love so much that I did a book on it. And by the way, since the holidays are upon us, the Flowers of Volunteer Park Conservatory: Blooming Month by Month book is on special holiday pricing! It’s a perfect gift for gardeners or anyone who loves flowers, and it’s so relaxing and soothing that health care professionals adore it for their waiting rooms. Read a full description and see sample pages on the home page here. And get a few copies today!

Please visit Ruby Tuesday, Scenic Sunday, Wordless Wednesday, Watery Wednesday, and Outdoor Wednesday for some excellent photos around this beautiful planet of ours. Perhaps you’d like to visit a new tag or category here, first? Just click on Sara’s Fave Photos to see the complete blog (so many choices!) here.

The days of the Viaduct in Seattle are numbered as they are tearing it down and boring a tunnel under downtown instead, but you can still see the most beautiful views of Puget Sound just by driving along. Let’s hope the proposed waterfront park replacing it (in 2016?) will be at least as scenic a viewpoint.

Please go to Scenic Sunday, Wordless Wednesday, Watery Wednesday, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Outdoor Wednesday, and Skywatch Friday, for photo fun in blogland. Remember, always see the latest photos here by clicking on the Sara’s Fave Photos banner.

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.

What can you say except wow? I think this neighbor’s Japanese laceleaf maple tree has green leaves in the summer, but I don’t really know for sure. Some late afternoon sun lighting up its glory now is just the ultimate in autumn leaves, for me. Hope you enjoy it.

This one is SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera). Also visit Ruby Tuesday, Scenic Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday and Outdoor Wednesday for more photo frolics. If there’s only one photo below, it means there are tons more for you if you click on Sara’s Fave Photos here or above.

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.

You’ve got to love shades of gray to live in Seattle. This is a little waterfront town, Redondo, right on Puget Sound, the other day when the sky almost looked like snow. It wasn’t all that cold, but it sure felt like winter was around the corner. Coming back to this after a few days, I really like the simplicity of the forms. I’m calling it my Best Post of the Week.

Visit Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, Skywatch Friday, Watery Wednesday, Weekend Reflections and Wordless Wednesday for more fun with photos. Please click on the banner above, Sara’s Fave Photos, to see the latest photos here. Thanks!

I’m still not ready to let summer go. In August we went on a brief camping trip on the Olympic Peninsula (Western Washington) and visited this little lake, Wildcat Lake. Boat ramps intrigue me. When I first saw one as a child, I didn’t know what it was and was mystified. A road into the lake? How strange. I still think they are evocative, you might say. Just waltz right in . . .

Visit Blue Monday, 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 more photo fabulousness. Remember, you can always click on Sara’s Fave Photos above to return to the full blog with my latest post on top.

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!