My neighbor called it “Plaza Bianca”, I called it “Pena Blanca” and now they’ve posted a sign that says it’s called “Plaza Blanca” Whatever its official name this special place in Abiquiu, New Mexico is full of silence, beauty and peaceful feelings. Today we hiked, hung out, basked on rocks, talked, wandered, whiled away the day here. My partner, Alex, took the photos.
Chaco Canyon, New Mexico
The Washington Park Arboretum is on Lake Washington, east of downtown and south of the University of Washington. The park offers a network of paths through different tree groves - Birches and Poplars, Larches, Rhododendrons, Asiatic Maples, Magnolias, Oaks, Camelias to name a few. A wide green swath running down the middle of the park is called “Azalea Way” but there are many side paths that zig zag through the park. We were there on a beautiful Spring, crowded day and still found a quiet spot with a bench to hang out and enjoy the birds and trees.
Since I’ve spent a good portion of my adult life in New Mexico at 7000-8000 feet above sea level with snowy cold winters that last from November to sometimes late May - the idea of a full bush of flowers like these Lenten Roses appearing in mid-February is somehow miraculous. I was so surprised and very happy to find this plant growing in the yard before even the crocuses came out!
The Ballard or Hiram M. Chittenden Locks are a link between the saltwater body Puget Sound and the fresh water bodies; Salmon Bay, Lake Union, Portage Bay and Lake Washington.
Bellingham WA is a medium sized city just slightly south of the Canadian border. We luckily arrived (and left) before the major development boom brought on by the anticipation of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. Bellingham was a tranquil place to live largely due to excellent city planning. Open parks and intercity trails weave through the city from one end to the other. We lived in Fairhaven close by the Bellingham Bay - a really interesting and pretty part of the city.
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Blog by Kimm Wiens.
