I feel very lucky to live in this beautiful area. It makes me wish I was an artist. I believe there is an art to appreciating beauty though and I DO appreciate it. I took these sunset pictures a couple days ago.
I also love "storm watching' from my vantage point on the top of the hill. I can see storms moving up the river, inland from the sea. The clouds are sometimes steel gray or almost navy blue. White seagulls dot the sky as they seek inland shelter from the weather. On windy days the white billowy clouds pass by in their wondrous shapes and sizes. I love to sit on the deck and imagine giant animals and familiar objects that the wind creates of the clouds.
Sometimes a river of fog covers the town below.
Rain clouds moving in
Storm over the rivers.
Winter storm
Snow storm
Dogs in the snow.
Watching hawks and eagles.
Watching ships on the Columbia River.
I guess all this watching is one of the reasons I do not get a lot done during the days. When I lived in Southern California I thought a house with a view was highly over rated, especially when you looked at the price for maybe one little square of flat ocean view out of one window. After living here, with these views, I no longer feel that way. Every time I look out of my windows or off of my deck I marvel at the view and it makes me feel very rich. A view like this in California, (if you could find a view like this in California), would be a multi-million dollar view. Here in the Northwest it is not that uncommon, though it seems very special to me. .
Sometimes, on a gorgeous day like today I watch ships headed out to sea and wish I could go along. Other days when it is cold and stormy I sit on my couch all cozy and content, watching them head to sea when the sky and the river look fearsome..
Almost every day the Red Tail Hawks put on a show for us. Sometimes smaller hawks also hunt our landscape or ride the air currents above us. One spring a pair of Bald Eagles took up residence on our hillside. Usually the eagles stay down closer to the river so they can catch big salmon. In the spring and in the fall the Canadian Geese come and go with their wonderful calls that bring us outside to count them in their V formations. I once counted 104 in one V.
Occasionally a Great Blue Heron crosses the sky voicing a raucous cry. Near dusk or very early morning I have seen huge owls beginning or finishing their hunt for food.
As you may have guessed, I value these sightings far more than I care about the chores I don't complete. Some evenings it is just too pretty to go inside, so instead, I grab a comforter if it is cool, and the dogs and I sit out on the deck. They listen to sounds that I cannot hear and smell night visitors that I can only enjoy through their senses. We stay outside until the sunset is only embers ...
