Beyond compare.

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes - Home

I truly believe
in the power and beauty of the seasons
and in living completely within in each one
as it takes its place
at center stage.

Because of this attitude,
my blog here
becomes
quite cyclical.

I like that, myself--
as a way to reflect on what has changed
and what has stayed the same,
since last Summer's ending,
for example,
or the Autumn beginning of a few years past,
and I hope that you do not mind
the revisiting.


I have quite a few photos to share
in the coming days
from our annual trip
out to the ocean.

Finally got around
to making and posting
the labels I made for
lovely Vanilla Peach.

Amazingly,
this jam was made
on the exact same date this year
(8/14)
that I made this exact same flavor
last year!

August 14th must be a good date.

I think this might be
one of my favorite photos
from the whole summer.

Our last trip across the mountains
for this summer.

Next time we visit this place,
we will be married.
!

I don't often post the details
of my personal life here,
but I am too overjoyed not to share
that my boyfriend and I
have gotten engaged!

After 6 1/2 years,
we're having a party
and making it official.

We'll be growing the wedding
all this Autumn and Winter,
so it can hopefully bloom
next Spring or Summer
and I am ecstatic
already.

In the evening,
as the sun was going down.

We walked back in the dark.

I could not get enough of these little guys!

Hiking down off the mountain,
it seemed like every time we rounded a bend
there was another green, shadowed glade
sprinkled with avalanche lilies
and shot through with sunshine.


And speaking of avalanche lillies...

Back again
for our annual visit
to my beloved mountain:
Rainier.

Each year,
the scene is different.
Sometimes it's so snowy
we can barely hike at all.
At other times,
the meadows of lupine and paintbrush,
buzzing with bees,
wash the view with so much color and sweetness
that they seem unreal.
I am always inspired by something different there,
though the mountain's looming presence
is a constant.

This year,
can you guess
what would not stop pulling
at my lens?

Avalanche lilies!

More to come.
I went a little crazy.

From a walk
on a visit
to the other side of the mountains.

Now that fireweed
in the third photo
is all burned up
(as I like to say)
to its white fluff.
I love how you can tell
how far along Summertime is,
by how far up the stalk
the fireweed has flamed.

Bat for Lashes - Laura