For Bella

Recently I was in need of a hug, and Bella, the sweetest golden retriever, gave me a two hour hug, and 

let me take photos in her owner's yard, both of which were much appreciated ;-) 

Hiking photography ~ Patapsco edition

I've gotten some good hikes in during the last several weeks, and it's been mostly about the hikes 

with quick photos along the way.  But last month I enjoyed an outing with a 

hiking photography group (i actually found one!) where we hiked to different spots and

 then had blocks of time to set up the tripod and take the time to shoot.  

 The waterfalls off of Cascade Trail in Patapsco Valley State Park 

made for a nice subject, as did the railroad tracks in the park, and the 

soon-to-be-closed Bloedes Dam (being removed in the not too distant future). 

Capitol Hill's blooming

The trees and gardens around capitol hill were showing off during a late afternoon 

walk with friends on a cool but sunny april spring day.  

hometown tourist

If it's the beginning of spring in washington, dc, it's cherry blossom time.  So, from the other evening, three cherries and, for good measure, a tulip shot too.

foggy forest

In the space of a few weeks, it's gone from feeling summery to wintry.  Over the weekend we had one cool, foggy, misty day - which I enjoyed while traipsing through shenandoah national park - and then a day that started out feeling like April and ended up feeling like, well, January.   The hike was led by a natural history expert so in addition to stopping to catch my breath, I stopped to learn about my surroundings.   There were some amazingly beautiful rock formations in this part of the park.

  

Potomac Heritage Trail

In the last two months of the year, completed two hikes and approximately 25 miles of the Potomac Heritage Trail -- "an evolving, 710-mile network of locally-managed trails and routes that embraces both sides of the Potomac, from the mouth of the river at the Chesapeake Bay to the Allegheny Highlands in the upper Ohio River basin."   So says the National Park Service.











Hike number one was in November (right after getting over the first of three colds in an eight-week span).  We had some beautiful fall foliage that day.

  

The second hike was two days after Christmas (right after getting over cold # 3 of 3).  

And it reached nearly 70 degrees.  Go figure.  

Amazing to find so much beauty in nature so close to the city.

Wishing all a happy 2016.

Giving Thanks

Taking a moment to give thanks for the things that keep me sane, such as exploring a new trail in an old park with friends, both old and new.  For streams and leaves and colors and trees, and the joy of photographing it all.

Gateway Trail ~ Catoctin Mountain Park