In retrospect...

Although we chose not to take a road trip this year, in favor of getting some big projects done around house and cabin, we made up for it by taking a few short trips around our beautiful state. And somewhere along those back roads, I managed to capture images that made it into my favorites list for 2017. I hope you enjoy the look back.

January | a beautiful old farmstead on the Enumclaw plateau




February | Frosty mornings took me out several days with my camera. On one frosty morning on the way to breakfast before a hike, I found this lovely barn.

March | A few days in Port Angeles for our anniversary, hiking in Olympic National Park, and walking the beaches. We stayed in a cute little cabin on a rushing stream, swollen to overflowing from all the snowmelt. On our way to Sol Duc falls one early morning, we drove past Crescent Lake when the air was still and the water was calm, and there was snow on the hills.

April | The month was spent whipping the gardens into shape and mowing the pastures, bookmarked by day hikes whenever we could get away. On one hike on the Landsburg trail, we came across a bobcat track in the mud. This blue snail was much less threatening.

May | A visit with friends in Ellensburg, then a week in Sunriver with our Leavenworth friends. We geocached and they golfed, we had another go at the Bend Ale Trail, and did lots of back roads exploring. Winter hasn't let go of the Oregon cascades yet; it snowed!

June | Mount Rainier beckoned, still surrounded by snow and ice, but the roads were finally open. Three times we made the drive, to enjoy the snow and the views, and explore. Once the snow leaves the high meadows, we hope for more hiking in my favorite national park.

July | We volunteered at Suntop Lookout again this year, sitting up late to read by lantern light, and waking by 4:00 am to watch the day break, camera in hand. The wildflowers were spectacular, especially the beargrass. With a 360-degree view of the mountains (and two other fire lookouts), this is a supremely magical place. (Sorry... it was impossible to choose just one photograph.)

August | More mini-road trips, including the family camping trip (on Whidbey Island this year). It was a pleasure to wake early and take off for a solo drive around the island with my camera, and watch the sun come up. Hydrangeas coming into bloom, deer in the meadows, old barns, and a solar eclipse were highlights of our weekend.

September | The Northwest was on fire this month, a horrible sight to see. Our skies were filled with smoke for weeks, and tens of thousands of acres burned. We spent my birthday on top of Crystal Mountain, hiking and enjoying an early dinner overlooking the mountains, and staying to watch the sunset over Mount Rainier. Later in the month we headed back to the salt water again. A few days in Sequim was just what we needed to escape the smoke from the wildfires.

 

October | More hiking, taking advantage of a break in the weather. We visited Windy Ridge, overlooking Mount St. Helens. We climbed Mount Margaret, in the central Cascades north of Lake Keechelus, to find the oldest geocache in Washington. A few days later, we hiked to the ghost town of Monte Cristo. We also spent a few days in Bellingham and on Whidbey Island.

On a "let's turn here" road in the Skagit valley, we stumbled upon a hundred acres of snow geese, just arriving for the winter. They're early this year, and I didn't expect to see any until November. DW squeezed the Pilot into the shoulder of the road, and I stood at the fence, in the cold wind, for nearly an hour. Corn grew in this field all summer long, and the geese were so busy feeding, they didn't mind my being so close.

November | In early November, we went out to our lakeside cabin to do end-of-autumn chores, and close it up for the winter. We had some of the most beautiful sunrises at the lake that weekend. Then we headed over the Cascades for a wonderful, relaxing visit with friends outside of Leavenworth. Good food and wine, visits to town to shop and watch the Christmas lights being hung, wine tasting, snuggling under the bear quilt, and getting acquainted with their new puppy. We drove home in the snow, the first of the season. 

December | A return to the cold brought early morning hoar frost to the pastures, and gave us a white Christmas for the first time in a few years. We spent a weekend at the ocean with friends, had lots of family time, and there was time to spend in the sewing room, finishing up some quilting projects. A very fun, relaxing month!

 

I hope your 2017 was grand... I can hardly wait to see what 2018 brings!