#Hiking and #Walking - 2017

Every year the director of the Auburn (WA) Senior Center opens his home for a hikers and walkers potluck luncheon. Isn't that nice? Our feast is followed by an award ceremony where we are given Certificates of Achievement. Believe it or not, I walked and hiked 171.5 miles in 2017. Pretty good, huh? Quite a few people covered more miles than I did, with some exceeding 1,000 miles as their grand totals, accumulated over years of outings with the senior center. Woohoo!

You'll find a list of the hikes and walks I've featured on my blog (including their locations, length, and difficulty) on the "Hikes/Walks" tab above. I'm looking forward to racking up even more miles in 2018.

P.S. The beautiful waterfall picture on the certificate's background was taken at Multnomah Falls, Oregon.

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads. 
To participate: 
Post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on West Metro Mommy Read's website (link: HERE) Photos can be old or new and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don't post random photos that you find online.

WEST METRO MOMMY READS

Ferries & Flurries - #SaturdaySnapshots

When the Auburn Senior Activity Center took the ferry to Vashon Island for a hike, we expected a few snowflakes mixed in with light rain. We got more than that! (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Since everyone dressed for cold and wet weather, we were comfortable and dry. The snow made our surroundings even more beautiful. 

Following our hike with a hot lunch in the town of Vashon made for a fun day. Luckily, the snow didn't stick to the roadways on the drive back home.

More Info: Vashon Center Forest

More info: http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/island-center-forest

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads. To participate: 
Post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on West Metro Mommy Read's website (link: HERE) Photos can be old or new and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don't post random photos that you find online.

WEST METRO MOMMY READS

Talus Rocks - #SaturdaySnapshots

Another senior center hike -- this one in the Talus Rocks area of Tiger Mountain.

Definition of talus. 
1 :a slope formed especially by an accumulation of rock debris. 
2 :rock debris at the base of a cliff. 

The aptly named Talus Rocks Trail took us to this accumulation of huge boulders. For scale: the wooden barricade is about four feet tall. Also, check out a few of the senior center hikers in the background.
(Click on photos to enlarge.)

A tight squeeze between those giant-sized rocks!

Taking a few minutes to grab a drink of water in a beautiful setting.

Altogether we covered seven miles with an overall elevation gain of 1,000 feet. Whew! My only complaint (besides being tired at the end) is that the trails were covered with a layer of wet leaves which hid slippery rocks. It would have been easy to turn an ankle on a hidden obstacle. It might be better to explore these trails in spring or summer when rocks on the path would be visible. 

We started at the hiking symbol on the map below (Tradition Plateau) and meandered along the trails in this order (as best I can remember): 

Bus Trail (there's an abandoned, rusty school bus by the trail - wish I'd paused to take a picture!)
Nook Trail
Talus Rocks Trail
Section Line Trail
High School Trail
Adventure Trail
Brink Trail (overlooks a deep ravine)
Bonneville Trail
Swamp Trail (alongside a boggy area)
Around the Lake Trail

FYI: The Swamp Trail (a 1/3-mile-long self-guided trail) features "Zoe and the Swamp Monster" with placards along the path that tell a story. My granddaughter would love it! (Link: Swamp Trail)

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.

To participate in Saturday Snapshots: post a photo that you 

(or a friend or family member)  have taken, then leave a

direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on the host blogsite. 

To enjoy a variety of beautiful pictures from around the world visit

 West Metro Mommy Reads.

Granbury, Texas - #SaturdaySnapshots

Inspired by a Southwest Airlines fare sale and a kind invitation from my life-long friend (and co-author) Sandra Allen (plus a reunion with high school friends), I recently made a quick trip back to my home state of Texas. During my visit, one of our adventures took us to the town of Granbury. According to the National Register of Historic Places, Granbury's town square is one of the most complete 19th century courthouse squares in Texas.* 
(Click on photos to enlarge.)

The centerpiece of the square is the Hood County Courthouse.

The beautifully renovated Granbury Opera House faces the courthouse entrance. We had a great time at the "Salute to Opry" concert.

There are certain foods I must have every time I go back to Texas: Tex-Mex (preferably tamales and enchiladas), chicken fried steak, and fried okra.  I had all those. But this time I had a bonus meal of delicious German food: pork schnitzel, red cabbage with apples, and hot German potato salad. Along with a warm dark-bread roll and a glass of pilsner, my meal at Ketzlers Schnitzel Haus and Biergarten was heaven. (FYI: Many German immigrants settled in Texas's Hill Country.)

I also had a fantastic reuben sandwich at The Fillin' station (also on Granbury's town square). A glass of local beer-- Revolver Brewing's "Blood and Honey" (American wheat ale) -- and freshly cooked potato chips made the meal complete. Forget dieting!

Back in Sherman, TX, we ate at MG's. Great burgers and car-themed decor.

Pegasus (AKA The Flying Red Horse) was a landmark in the Dallas skyline for many years and the symbol of Mobil Oil Company, atop its downtown headquarters.

How do you know you're in Texas? Longhorn cattle alongside the road!

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

Sources: 
Hood County Courthouse, TX
Ketzler's Schnitzel Haus, Granbury, TX

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.

To participate in Saturday Snapshots: post a photo that you 

(or a friend or family member)  have taken, then leave a

direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on the host blogsite. 

To enjoy a variety of beautiful pictures from around the world visit

 West Metro Mommy Reads.

More #Photo Tips - #SaturdaySnapshots

Want to know more about lighting in your photography? Recently I posted info from a YouTube video by photographer Peter McKinnon (HERE) with a couple of tips for improving our photos. Deb Nance at Readerbuzz left a comment and suggested I put together a post featuring more suggestions from McKinnon. So today's post is about lighting. 

In Tip #4 McKinnon suggests, "Move to a window."

I took this first photo using a flash.

I think the Rainier cherries look yummier in natural light from a nearby window.

McKinnon also advises, "Wait for the golden hour." According to Wikipedia: "In photography, the golden hour is a period shortly after sunrise or before sunset during which daylight is soft and even with a warmer color temperature."

Maybe this is what he had in mind.

I wish I could say that I'd worked hard to create these photos. Actually, I take lots of pictures, and sometimes I'm just lucky.

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.

To participate in Saturday Snapshots: post a photo that you 

(or a friend or family member)  have taken, then leave a

direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on the host blogsite. 

To enjoy a variety of beautiful pictures from around the world visit

 West Metro Mommy Reads.

Water Drums - Snoqualmie Valley Trail - #SaturdaySnapshots

Although my hikes and walks often feature similar scenery, there always seems to be one "something" that sets each adventure apart from the others. Recently, our group hiked five miles on the Snoqualmie Valley Trail. What made it memorable? The "rain drums" at the Cedar River Watershed Education Center.
[Click on photos to enlarge.]

After our hike on that rainy, windy day, we stopped at the shelter of the education center to eat our brown-bagged lunches. We didn't expect a symphony! Rain runoff from the center's roof had been directed into tubes and splashed down onto the drums. The rhythms created a delightful musical accompaniment to our meals.

Link for More Info:  Cedar River Watershed Education Center

Click on "Water Drum Video" on that page for a six-minute talk by the artist who created the water drums.

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.

To participate in Saturday Snapshots: post a photo that you 

(or a friend or family member)  have taken, then leave a

direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on the host blogsite. 

To enjoy a variety of beautiful pictures from around the world visit

 West Metro Mommy Reads.

Carpinito Brothers Pumpkins & Corn Maze - #SaturdaySnapshots

What's Halloween without pumpkins? We saw a gazillion at Carpinito Brothers and had a great time on a beautiful autumn day.
[Click on photos to enlarge]

There's more to this pumpkin patch than
just pumpkins! My husband and
granddaughter tackled the corn maze.

We went through the hay bale maze
more than once too.

Duck racing.

Slides are more fun when you
land in a pile of hay.

Most popular activity?
Playing in the corn bin.

How are you celebrating autumn?

More Info: Carpinito Brothers Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads. To participate: 
Post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on West Metro Mommy Read's website (link: HERE) Photos can be old or new and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don't post random photos that you find online.

WEST METRO MOMMY READS

Pioneer Farm - #SaturdaySnapshots

Recently I went on a field trip to the Pioneer Farm and Ohop Indian Museum (near Eatonville, Washington) with my granddaughter's school. Even with nonstop rain, we had a great time! Here's what we saw.
(Click on photos for a closer look.)

Imagine studying with children of all ages
in a one-room schoolhouse.

Native-American women told about local plants and
animals and how they were used by their ancestors:
for sleeping mats, medicine, food, clothing, tools.

A rapt audience learns about life in pioneer days -
churning milk into butter, making biscuits, spinning
wool into yarn, and hundreds of other chores. 

My granddaughter thought washing
clothes was fun. 

How do you sew without electricity?
Foot power!

A blacksmith demonstrated his art.

Not so sure about milking that giant cow!

Most fun of all? Jumping into a pile of hay.

More info: Pioneer Farm Museum

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.

To participate in Saturday Snapshots: post a photo that you 

(or a friend or family member)  have taken, then leave a

direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on the host blogsite. 

To enjoy a variety of beautiful pictures from around the world visit

 West Metro Mommy Reads.