FIRST RAMBLE OF THE NEW YEAR

First, the sun came out.  Second, Pat called!

Third, Out we went!

We just had to inhale the stimulating air and peruse our local woods:

And of course, visit Rattlesnake Lake, 

always a good destination when it is time

to check how local venues are faring during the winter:

At first I noticed the stump reflections, and then I saw that

the color changed and varied according to the gentle lapping motion of water around the stump.

I waited patiently for my favorite combination of blues and greens, which didn't show up very often:

And then the stump reflection itself became an abstract:

Rattlesnake Lake before sunset:

Always, always look down!

Late afternoon sun puts some life back into last Fall's weathered and broken leaves:

And frost defines a curious limb "rag":

IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER

After completing radiation treatments and getting through the holidays, I finally 

felt like picking up my camera again.

But the weather is a problem when, in winter,

it doesn't snow or even present a decent frost.

How about fog?  Good!

So, out to my go-to place at Snoqualmie Mill Pond I went yesterday in the heavy fog, hoping for an ephemeral-looking scene.

Nothing.  Complete white-out.

So, the pond-edge cattails were all I could see.

I kind of like the effect though.

Returning home, the fog lifted a little:

This weeping willow is one I watch during all the seasons.

Yesterday the branches appeared golden as they reached out of the fog: