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Author Archives: Teri J Pieper

Island Field Trips

Our campsite at Odlin Park had plenty to offer however we did manage to drag ourselves away to enjoy some of the highlights around Lopez Island. It’s pretty small – only about fifteen miles long and maybe seven miles wide. That doesn’t leave much space for public lands and trails. There are several nice beaches and some require a healthy walk so that limits how many folks get out to them each day. Vistas from high bluffs have views from the Olympics to Vancouver Island to Mount Rainier and Mount Baker.

Lopez is one of the San Juan Islands. There are many tiny islands in this archipelago but only four of them – Lopez, Shaw, Orcas and San Juan – have ferry service. They exist in a rain shadow meaning they get very little precipitation, just sixteen inches per year. Water is a scarce resource on the islands so most folks don’t have green lawns and trails are dry. Weather is mostly quite pleasant.

Scene on the Chadwick Trail
Beth’s dog is getting old so she was happy to hold onto Luna’s leash as walked.
Watmough Bay from the Chadwick Trail
Black Oystercatcher
Harlequin Duck
Cattle Point Lighthouse on San Juan Island viewed from Shark Reef Park
Iceberg Point
Iceberg Point Reference Point
Escaped its mooring

Summer Vacation

Day 1

We hooked up the tent trailer and headed across the mountains, leaving behind hot weather and smoky skies and allergies generated by the smoke. At Happy Creek we all enjoyed a little walk and cool water before heading back out on the highway bound for Anacortes and the big ferry dock. While waiting for our boat, the girls enjoyed a walk on the beach and the scent of saltwater and seaweed. It was Sky’s first ride on a ferry and she overcame her fears of new things and enjoyed the trip to Lopez Island. We arrived to find two of our dear friends from Twisp camped right next to us! After setting up camp, I got out in my kayak for sunset and Ken joined our friend David in his boat just in time to pull up the crab traps! Dinner was served.

Happy Creek
Did you see that stick?
Maybe she ought to find a smaller stick?
Purple Martin boxes on the old pilings
Unusual jellyfish
Luna enjoyed the water
I found a stick!
Yummers!
First vacation sunset!

Mazama Summer Wedding

Last weekend there was a lovely wedding at the Mazama Ranch House. Lauren and CJ are avid rock climbers and have visited the upper Methow Valley numerous times during their courtship to practice their skills. The Ranch House is their favorite place to stay and it was a perfect backdrop for their summer wedding. Their family and friends came from far-flung locations, many visiting the Methow Valley for the first time.

I love to say that all weddings are unique – events celebrating two individuals coming together to share their lives. This one was no exception to the rule. For their wedding party, they chose their five nieces and nephews, ages one to five years old. It made for a delightful and fun ceremony! The bride was exquisite and the groom, so very handsome. The food and the flowers were perfect. The guests were full of joy for Lauren and CJ’s love. It was a perfect summer day.

Click on the first photo to see all the images as a slideshow.

This is not a regular post for myeverydayphotos.com. My website, teripieper.com is having some issues that I just can’t deal with during this busy time of the year. So you can expect to see more wedding photos here til I can get it resolved. Maybe by November!

Dog Days of Summer

No words needed.

 

Bree
How many dogs fit on a log?
Trip
Bree and Sky
Cubby
Cubby and Vera
Cubby is four months old.
Trip
Vera
Trip and Sky
Vera and Bree

North Cascades Hike

Yesterday the girls and I joined with Molly (remember Molly from last year?) and Mary for a nice hike, mostly above tree line in the North Cascades. We drove through a layer of wildfire smoke to get to the trailhead and found perfect blue skies with fluffy clouds. Ground squirrels and hoary marmots and pikas gave their warning calls as we walked by.  At the end of the hike we could see the smoke column from the Diamond Creek wildfire east of us. In the meantime we were treated to vast vistas of mountains in all directions. We all felt grateful to have this in our ‘backyard’. The dogs were most grateful for the last of the snow and a creek of snow melt leading to a clear refreshing pond for cooling off.

A few wildflowers still blooming
a pika haystack
Views and more views
Cool rocks
Sky tells Molly to stand still
Do it this way Molly
Molly remains defiant
Look! All five of us looking at the camera! Ok. So Luna wasn’t exactly looking at the camera, but almost.
Molly leads the way
We were over there!
Tatie Peak
Wildfire smoke to the left of center on the horizon