BUMBERSHOOT

“Bumbershoot”! Seattle’s answer to New Orleans’ Mardi gras, and now I have a whole new interpretation of the term. The title fits, for obvious reasons. And Northwest rain, traditionally, is a good thing to celebrate because of the richness of green beauty it produces; the temperate climate; the ‘ooh/ahh” factor of all surrounding landscapes.


I had my own Bumbershoot yesterday! But my private celebration reads “Bumber Shoot”: a time to photograph umbrellas! I remembered that a friend has a collection of deliciously-colored golf umbrellas; the colors of rainbow sherbet, intensified. This next week our grandson is getting married and his fiancé has chosen the colors of gerbera daisies for the wedding. Gerberas are the life of the garden party themselves! Well, I fairly itched to take photos of those gerbera-colored umbrellas in order to make M’s bridal shower gift card.

My friend was more than accommodating! Not only did she offer the umbrellas, she welcomed me into their paradisiacal property on a private lake! I was there alone; I felt like the woodland fairy version of Mary Poppins, running here and there with “my” bouquet of umbrellas. I have never “staged” photos before. I am usually the one moving acrobat-like and getting into awkward positions to frame and shoot the picture I want.

I call this one "The Gossips":

 I didn't think of captions while I was running about.  That came later, with the download.

"You go first!"  "No, you go first!":

I took advantage of a charming weathered plant holder:

"Wheeeeee!":

"Did someone remember the sunscreen?":

Debussy composed a little prelude he titled “Morning Mist”. The lake was unruffled as the sun came up, trying to punch its way through the steamy vapor, and now whenever I hear or play that piece I will have a mental image of this enchanting morning at the lake. And – yippee! – the sun back-lighted the umbrellas.

The intensity of colors changed as the sun got more brave:

Morning fog cleared and there also was Mt. Si:

Thanks again, dear friend, for your gracious hospitality!



ISLAND-HOPPING

Island-hopping, Northwest style!  And I don't mean going from one island to the other, but staying on Camano Island, hopping for joy every moment!

Photo buddy Pat and I picked the ideal day and destination.

When I downloaded my photos, I did more jumping for joy at having made all the right settings.

They all looked like I had photo-shopped for the intense color, but I do not

believe in that, and never, ever do it.  It was simply, a "saturated" day, by nature!

We also found the perfect beach; part sand, part combing-conditions, with a view of the Cascades.

I did not use my telephoto, so Mt. Baker is very distant:

All my growing-up years we had property on Makah Bay.

I was free to roam the private Pacific beaches, taking only my sense of adventure and imagination.

This driftwood beach was reminiscent, adding another dimension to the "perfectness" of our outing this day:

It was also warm enough, even in the morning, to be in short sleeves.

Mt. Baker:

This old fallen sentinal was large enough to stand in.

I wanted to be a child again!

Clear jellyfish magnify the rocks:

MOVING ON

We knew how lucky we had been to have the endless beach and view all to ourselves

(except 2 locals on their morning walks) the entire morning.

The first sign of "encroachment" sent us scampering elsewhere, though I did see

this nice photo composition on our way out:

(We admit we are beach snobs!)

The exit route we took was beyond the marshes, through old growth

forest and cool breezes.

Our "Hobbit Trail":

 Sunbeams  and wild Nootka roses:

Okay, spotting the first eagle validated the day!

King of all he surveys, including the Olympic mountains:

We found a rather isolated picnic table on a different beach and hauled out our picnic lunch.

This eagle was not far away, and he allowed us to get closer.

When he focused on me, personally, it was quite disconcerting.

Now I know what getting the "eagle eye" really feels like:

 Cama was once a fishing village, and the old cabins have been restored.

This kind of "beaching it" is definitely not for me, but

they did make for a nice geometric composition:

HEADING HOME

Ever on the hunt for photo ops, even when off the island, both Pat and I knew an

opportunity when we saw the cluttered antique shop.

It had an outside display - more cluttered than the inside.

But what a fun challenge!

"Color spots" were everywhere, but I just had to do acrobatics

to get the shots composed in order to minimize the background junk 'n stuff.

"Red, white 'n blue":

 Crab a chair!

 Wanna' hang out with me?

We visited a wooden boat center.

These canoes are hanging from the high ceiling. 

"Old and new".

The ones in the background are ancient; made from Maine woods,

and are called "Old Town":

Farewell to the perfect day on Camano Island: