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Category Archives: Autumn

Stops Along the Way

As Luna and I travelled from Deer Park (north of Spokane) to home, we made some stops along the way. I always figure there is no point in travelling straight through in the most direct manner if you have some time to spare. After two days of agility trials, Luna was ready for some ground-sniffing walks without leashes. We both enjoyed the fresh air of autumn in the woods.

 

Happy Dog

 

Beautiful Ponderosa Pine trees

 

Love those undulating hills

 

These mushrooms almost looked good enough to eat but I’m not one to experiment

 

Golden Western Larch needles carpet the trail

 

This is a nice boardwalk over a wetland that is probably teeming with birds in the spring and summer. We only heard a few chickadees and siskens.

 

And a cool bird blind but no birds were in sight

 

I wonder how long ago this tree was cut down

 

Near the summit of Sherman Pass, it was quite cold and silent.

 

At Home Yesterday

After several days on the road, it was nice to wake up in my own bed. It was a glorious morning – cold, crisp and clear. Views from the porch were outstanding.

Looking down valley before the sun came up

 

This fellow arrived with the sunrise. He was on the trail of some does.

 

One of the does had been bedded down next to the bee hive. He could smell her.

 

Soon the big buck was gone but the scene remained.

 

Today is much colder with a bracing wind and a threat of snow.

Fall Colors

Recently when I was complaining about the dreariness of the weather, a friend pointed out the lush colors of the season enhanced by the light and the moisture. She compared them to colors from the days of Fuji film – my favorite when I was shooting film – and she was right. During this season I can always see something to photograph and it’s challenging to get me to stop. Here are a few images from around our place.

Peony leaves

 

Sweet pea

 

Kohlrabi leaf

 

Dried sunflower still standing

 

Sunflower leaf

 

Bearded iris leaf

 

Maple leaves

 

Siberian iris leaves

 

Asters

 

The deer have eaten most of the aster flowers

 

Echinacea (cone flower) dried on the stem

 

Echinacea still blooming

 

More red leaves

 

Johnny jump up

 

Bearded iris pod

 

 

A Break in the Rain

It seems that we are already in November weather with cold gray skies, lots of rain and occasional snow/slush falling from the sky. It really is dreary. Luna and I did get out one afternoon last week when the fog dissipated and we had a nice walk along the shore of Patterson Lake. After the long dry summer the lake’s beach is much wider than normal. It’s water is used to irrigate nearby hay fields.

At this time of year, I really relish these days

 

Colors are really magnificent

 

Luna found a new/used tennis ball; probably lost by some other dog.

 

Luna loves tennis balls.

 

I saw several of these old bait jars. This one seems to be acting as a greenhouse for some tiny seedling.

 

Old fishing line like this is a hazard to birds and other animals. It can cause injury and even death. I gathered up what I found and disposed of it in the trash.

 

A broken fishing rod. This had to have been quite upsetting to someone.

 

A few dead fish littered the shore.

 

Beautiful light

 

Hard to believe it will soon be frozen.

 

 

Favorite Tree

Do you have a favorite tree? I have favorite tree species such as larch (otherwise known as tamarack), aspen, ponderosa pine; depending on my mood and the season. But a favorite individual tree? I’ve admired this tree as long as I’ve been driving up and down the Methow Valley. It is between Methow and Carlton. I think it’s a maple tree, standing alone, near the highway. In the fall it turns a kaleidoscope of colors eventually, all red. I know, it’s a non-native, ornamental but still it has a stately grandeur that I enjoy when I go down valley.

This is how it looked today.