DUNGENESS RIVER - Just off the Road

Not far from our home is the Dungeness River.  Over the past year it's played host to rock skipping, jumping from a rope swing, wading, hiking, gazing, and just plain awe!  This river hosts a myriad of fish, birds, bugs and people, but its beauty lies in the variety that each season brings. 

 One of its most famous features is Railroad Bridge.  It's at the beginning of a wonderful trail that we've explored on several occasions.  We've walked the dog, dodged bicycles, avoided horse droppings, sweated while cycling on a too-warm day, and generally enjoyed this natural feature of our neighborhood.  What a special place we live in!

TOTEMS - Just off the Road

We're blessed in this area to benefit from the beautiful art of the Jamestown S'klallam Tribe.  People heading into Sequim on Highway 101 marvel at the amazing totems that adorn the tribe's main complex.  These colorful poles tell the tale of legends long past, but I'm always drawn to the individual faces, which seem to be staring into the past with all-knowing gazes.

This figure seems to be looking down at me, staring right into me.  He has knowledge about things that I can only imagine.  He's not smug, but rather, he's wise.

On the other hand, this figure helps me to know that life isn't to be taken too seriously.  He's obviously got some mischief in mind, and I think that he wishes some mischief for my life as well.  Once in a while it's a good idea to stop and check out these figures, invent stories for them, and let your imagination run wild.

BRRR - Just off the Road

It's getting chilly here in Sequim.  Not nearly as cold as Alaska usually is (though not this year), but cold enough that we're forced to turn on our new propane fireplace.  I wasn't so sure about giving up the woodstove, but this new unit is clean and when I want some heat, I simply throw a switch.  I like that!  Not one to miss an opportunity, my camera-toting husband spent an evening this week lying on his stomach, gazing though his lens, and snapping away.  The result is something both beautiful and interesting.  I like the blue glass on the bottom of the fireplace, since it adds an unusual quality to the flame.

More interesting still is the single tongue of flame that he caught.  It looks lonely in this picture, but it was doing its part, along with its mates, to warm up our chilly November evening, while adding art to our living room.
 

FORMS - Just off the Road

While wandering around Sequim, my husband has come across some of the most interesting forms.  This one, for example, is a simple park bench, but with an artist's eye, he was able to make it into an artistic shot which leads the eye and the brain to wonder what in the world he was looking at.

In our home, he found one of my favorite collectibles - a glass paperweight.  This one is in the shape of a crashing wave, but this close up made me wonder how his mind works.  Art and beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder.

We just finished a kitchen remodel, but leave it to my loving spouse to think outside the box.  He took one look at this cabinet with its handles and next thing I knew, he was setting up the tripod, placing a sheet of blue poster board on the floor, and snap - a form that blew my mind.

The lesson in all this is that we often overlook the obvious in our daily journey.  We're so busy scanning the big picture that we fail to take the time to see what's right in front of us.  My husband is learning that lesson well.

WEBS - Just off the Road

Who knew that spiders were artists?  As I take my morning walks, I often stop to marvel at the ethereal beauty created by the arachnids of Sequim.  They pick the most beautiful, the most unlikely, the most annoying of places to spin their magic.  It's not unusual for me to end up with a web stretched across my face... and how did they manage to put their web where there is no visible anchor?

 My husband finds art is the most unlikely places, and the best times are when the dew is wet on the grass and glistening on spider art.

These spinners of art seem to have an unerring sense of direction as they turn in circles, around and around, to create their lair.  That's the unappealing part of their work.  These lovely, artsy, photogenic creations are traps for the unsuspecting.  They've done their work well, since they trap us into stopping a while, admiring the gift that nature has bestowed on them. Who knew that something so deadly could be so amazing!

BEARS - Just off the Road

"There's bears in them thar hills!"  Possibly true in Alaska, but who knew that it could be the case in little ole' Sequim? 

Part of the charm of this lovely place is its diversity.  Cows in the middle of town, lavender everywhere, our own Costco, and now BEARS!  For instance, there are the waving bears to be found at the Olympic Game Farm.  Leftover, I read, from the days of the wonderful Disney nature movies, they perform on cue for a little slice of bread - wheat only.

But being Sequim, I naturally expect there are other types of bears, and I'm not surprised to find my niece cozying up to the more benign type found everywhere at a popular local restaurant.

I love Sequim.  It never ceases to amaze me.  Just when I think I've figured it out, it comes up with something that surprises and delights.  I'm so glad we moved!

DUNGENESS LIGHTHOUSE - Just off the Road

DUNGENESS LIGHTHOUSE – Just off the Road

A few weeks ago my family and I decided that it was time!  We’d lived in Sequim for nearly a year, gazed across the water at the light blinking in the distance, walked along the first mile of the Dungeness Spit, but never had the courage to go the distance.

With pedometer on my belt, hiking boots on my feet, backpack full of lunch, snacks and water on my back, we set out.  My spouse is the photographer in the group, so he hiked with his “large” photo pack, full of lenses, filters, batteries, water, rain gear, first aid kit, etc. (he likes to be prepared), while my grandson went pack-less so he could move more easily, since moving is everything to him.  My daughter went with her essentials – mainly sunscreen, a sun hat, sun glasses, and a sun shirt since she’s pretty allergic when overexposed.

It seemed so far away, but the distance melted away as we discovered the many interesting things to be found on the spit.

First up was the wonderful rock cairns scattered everywhere in one section of the beach.  We could have lost a lot of time there, since the grandson wanted to build and rebuild each one. 

He settled for the discovery of a Canadian flag washed up on the beach, with which he roused the seagulls from their lethargy.

The discovery of a huge barnacle was worthy of a few minutes of photography to my husband.

For my daughter and me, the randomness and beauty of the driftwood caused us to stop often just to explore.

When we arrived at the light, we enjoyed a tour, ate lunch on the lovely green lawn, and contemplated the 6 ½ mile hike back to our car. 

The end result of our adventure was a vow to return as lighthouse keepers for a week.  What better way to experience the ocean than being a part of this time-honored tradition?  As the sign says:  “”Welcome to Serenity.”