IN THE DEAD OF WINTER ...

... Not everything outside is dead.

These leaves are as brilliant in the snow as they ever were at their peak; 

just a little worn around the edges now:

A young holly tree sprouts from the middle of a dried-out hydrangea bush:

DIE-HARDS

I find there is just as much beauty in the single survivors as in a whole tree-full

of autumn color.

I am charmed by pictures created by growing things that show stick-to-it-ive-ness, literally!

From our front yard:

 Winter food for birds and other creatures: 

WINTER WHISPER

Most of Autumn's leaves are moldering on the ground.  Winter is tiptoeing in with gentle frosts and the occasional foggy morning or evening.  It is not coming fast and hard enough for me, being a cold and snow-lover.  But a couple of mornings ago when it looked like there could be dense fog in places, I called Pat and we went on a short ramble.

It turned out to be a wild goose chase, as the fog dissipated before our eyes every place we went.

 While headed back home, we drove along the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River on a favorite wooded route.  

Moody fog gave eerie dimensions and colors:

  

 We were close to Snoqualmie Falls, and habit had us going to check it out.

Too much fog and heavy spray from thunderous run-off obliterated the Falls.

On the way back to the car, I turned around and made these quick 

photos into lighter fog:

Waiting now for heavy frost or snow!

RANDOM RAMBLE

Yesterday was mild and lovely, so I grabbed my camera when heading out

for a local errand.

Everything looked the same to me; the same as things I have photographed lately in the Snoqualmie area.

But, I went around the backside of a few blocks,

and came up with these two bright spots in front yards:

 Well, this was more like a back yard.

I am frustrated that the photo won't post vertical, but

I put it here anyway, to show the wonderful color

of the old outbuilding's  siding, and

the moss on the shingled roof.

There was actually more tree ivy than moss.

I wish I had this abundance at my fingertips, 

as tree moss is what I use for filler in holiday arrangements:

Well, what do you know?  Somehow, on our way home from the Olallee outing,

Pat and I ended up at Rattlesnake Lake!

It looked different than just a week ago (see recent post);

the atmosphere was much more end-of-season, and sort of tired-looking:

We were there so late in the day that the 

colors in the atmosphere changed from minute to minute.

There was a sort of "sepia" feeling in the air for one brief moment.

This is the very same perspective as the photo above the stump pic:

We debated about staying until sunset, but we 

also figured that would be at least 45 minutes, and we

had to get back.

Almost sunset:

FRESHETS

After I had enjoyed the exhilarating Autumn air all to myself, I decided

to call Pat to see if she was up to a spontaneous ramble.

We headed up to the Olallee Forest area not far away.

For too long, our woods have been so dry, but with the onset 

of rain recently, the forest floor is reconstituted and dry stream beds have become freshets: 

 I love that nature is back to normal in the woods!

I am also upset that my best waterfall photos will only post

sideways here on this blog!  Most waterfalls are, after all,

more vertical than horizontal.

I really wish I could post the other shots!

 I drove further up the dirt road, and suddenly the road ahead

was canopied in pale green.

Everything up to this point was dark and damp and lush,

but here was a scene that really

looked more like a pastel colored pencil rendering:

(Again, the better perspective of this is a vertical photo.)

Late un-bloomer:

There were more freshets before we turned around:

PLAYING BRIDGE

This bridge is over the river just above Snoqualmie Falls.

I thought it looked especially picturesque today, surrounded by fading autumn colors.

One side of the bridge, leaving the town of Snoqualmie:

The other side, returning from the Falls:

Making photos on a walk across and back:

SNOQUALMIE FALLS

The rain had stopped on my way home from errands this morning, and since I had seen the fullness of The Falls on the news recently, I was compelled to stop by to experience it for myself.

But first, a stop to view the river before it tumbles.

"Still waters run deep" - really, really deep:

At last, The Falls is re-hydrated!  We had no rain for too many weeks, and it was 

down to an embarrassing dribble until recently.

When the Falls was not producing much, the nearby millpond (one of my favorite subjects)

had stilled completely, allowing grunge to grow on top.

It was my hope that with so much water now in the river, there would be the invisible but needful

undercurrent in the pond.  It has indeed cleared considerably:

Mt. Si has a more clear reflection now, 

and I am glad I stopped by, as the "colors" are all now burnished, fading

from vibrancy.

I love Autumn!

GRABBING AUTUMN BY THE TAIL

I joined some friends for lunch at the local golf course. 

This view of Mt. Si from that place is different from

our front-window view:

What a day it was!

After lunch, I checked out a close-by waterway.

I was all alone, relishing the freshness of what was our last sunny day.

Here, I was leaning right over the pond to catch the reflections:

Ducks' wakes put a nap to the water's surface, but I like the rippled look of this reflection:

This is not great photography, but to me it represents all that is exciting about

this season. Wild things at leisure, brilliant colors, still waters, and (what one can't get from a photograph)  most importantly: the feel and smell of the air in a completely private place. 

I think I am going to have to have a talk with my new Fuji.  It gives back colors that are so blatant it looks as 

though I have "duded them up".  I do not like an artificial approach!

On the other hand, Fuji is right on, because this is what I saw with

my eyes, so I will be grateful.  There are other weaknesses with the camera, but they are mine, not Fuji's.

Again, from the golf course:

This may be it for autumn ramblings, as the wind and rain storms have started in earnest.

We even have our first "winter storm watch" for tonight.