Views of Sequim, the Olympic Peninsula. . .and beyond
We’ve had some spectacular sunsets lately with lots of people driving out to the Dungeness Recreation Area bluffs to take them in. Some pull up, hop out, take a picture or two, and drive off. Others linger. Part of this group even took a walk, something I heartily recommend.
Over three million people visit Yellowstone each year. Popular areas can get crowded by midday. But the park is so large it’s not hard to find solitude; early risers also can beat the crowds, have better wildlife sightings, and, of course, better light.
I enjoyed people-watching. This woman was just too cute to ignore.
At times I felt like I was the only one in the park who didn’t insert myself, DH, or both of us into our photos. Photographers, m-a-n-y photographers, didn’t take shots unless one, several, or all the people in their group were in it.
I like people. Really! But it did mean long waits occasionally until another photographer’s shoot/reshoot/another shot was done.
And then there were people who were just downright interesting. Like the couple next to us at dinner one night. First there were the selfies: her with a glass of white wine. Then a toast. Then both facing the camera. Then…what? A little bear dressed in a knit hat and jacket joined them at the table…don’t ask me…but it did smile for the camera.
It never ceases to amaze me what people do for fun.
I’m taking a short break. When I come back early next month I’ll share more of my idea of what’s fun.
Seen on a bench.
This may or may not be true. But it doesn’t mean one or two shouldn’t be there from time to time.
Who’s to say a little self examination is a bad thing?
I’m not a great fan of the hustle of a typical carnival. But they can’t be beat for sheer spectacle, eye candy, and people watching.
It can probably be argued that a county fair is a holdover from the days when agriculture was front and center in most communities across the U.S. and the business of agriculture — showing prized animals, stock auctions — was a community focal point. That’s less the case in many regions today, but the fair still has value. We need to remember — and children need to learn — where our food and fiber comes from. And maybe it’s because I’m an animal lover, but I believe that humans have a natural affinity for animals. Fairs give some of us a fleeting chance to touch skin to fur and feathers and see animals that aren’t part of our daily lives.
People line up to touch. They ooh and aah over softness or texture, snuggle where they can.
Children have a chance to see and learn, often with babies that are just the right size, without the typical “don’t touch!” warnings.
And the interaction goes both ways.
Loggers, of course, use chainsaws, so no logging show is complete without firing up a couple of them. At the Clallam County Fair two chainsaws were calibrated with matching RPMs and then competitors were timed at how fast they could blast through equally sized logs. The chainsaws are called “stock” saws because they’re standard, off-the-shelf models. It looks like this fellow is taking a moment to pray before he starts but the competition begins with both hands pressed onto the log.
Ready. Set. Go! Grab the chainsaw and start cutting.
It’s over fast. Pine logs were used. Pine is a soft wood. Douglas fir, a harder wood, is also used but I don’t know where or when.