Sara’s Fave Photos

We went to Salty’s Restaurant at Alki at my favorite time of day. The weather was unusually clear and lovely, and the view couldn’t have been more perfect.

For more skies around the world, visit Skywatch Friday.

Recently Seattle was blessed with two warm, sunny days. I was so happy to be able to be outside and in a garden space. This was at the Highline Botanical Garden, and yes, that is the blue sky reflecting in the water.

Hubby has a new hobby, geocaching. He tramps around parks and other public places with his trusty GPS unit, and finds hidden geocaches. It’s sort of interesting, but mainly I tag along for the scenic things I might find. Lake Garrett Park was new to me, and even though the day was cool and quite breezy, the ducks seemed quite happy.

Happy Watery and Outdoor Wednesday! And visit Scenic Sunday and Weekend Reflections while you’re at it.

Now beginning the THIRD year of Sara’s Fave Photos. What a kick!

A little late for Shadow Shot Sunday, but still here with a shadow photo. That’s Puget sound in the distance, seen through the slats.

I really like this shot, and I can’t figure out why, really. Hope you do, too.

Here’s some spring pinkness for you. The upside of a traffic delay! I rolled down the window and took a couple of perfect spring photos.

Visit Pink Saturday for more pink of all kinds, and Blooming Friday more more flowers blooming.

In honor my my second blogoversary, I’m adding some extra pinkness for you today below that photo, both taken recently. Thank you all for your visits and comments, past, present and future.

Visit Today’s Flowers for more beautiful florals.

When I see good light and I have a few minutes, I can’t resist racing to the overlook of Puget Sound near my house to see the view. Yesterday there was a break in the clouds to the west and sure enough, it was beautiful.

Visit Skywatch Friday for more skies seen round the world. Weekend Reflections, Scenic Sunday and Outdoor Wednesday are worth a visit, too.

This view of Mt. Rainier was taken while flying to Arizona a couple of years ago. It fits the Thursday Challenge theme this week: HIGH or LOW (Photos from a different perspective, Photos from the top or bottom of Buildings, Mountains, Towers, Underneath,…).

Do you like this one or the previous post’s photo better, I wonder?

That overlook (elevation approximately 700 feet)  near my house is a view of Puget Sound and Vashon Island, but if you look sharply to the left, there is Mt. Rainier in the distance, perhaps about 40 miles as the crow flies. I do prefer the water view, but sometimes the snowcapped peak of our favorite volcano looks pretty fine. This was a gray day yesterday, but I think it’s impressive, in a Seattle sort of way, anyway.

Visit Watery Wednesday for more water (or ice or snow) views. And try Scenic Sunday for more fascinating scenery.

I am trying a new meme today: Outdoor Wednesday. It looks great with some neat photos for you to browse.

The tulip display is only getting more so at the Pike Place Market’s North Arcade where all the flower sellers are. These are forced ones, but the weather is warmer than usual here in the Seattle area and the field ones will be a bit earlier than usual. I can’t wait for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival (about two hours away) in April. This year I’m sure some will be blooming at the very beginning of the month.

For more ruby redness, visit Ruby Tuesday, and be sure to check out Color Carnival while you’re at it.

We saw the sun for a few minutes this morning, but now all is gray again. In honor of the brief view of the happiness-giving orb, here are two studies in yellow, complete with shadows. Visit Shadow Shot Sunday for more interesting shadows. Go to Color Carnival for more brilliant color, and of course, Mellow Yellow Monday for you know what. Check out Today’s Flowers, too.

The lemons are SOOC, or straight out of the camera. As for the daffs, I couldn’t resist Auto Tone in Photoshop when I saw the neat purple-ish background it produced.

Remember: Now you can always get back to the latest entry here by clicking on the “Sara’s Fave Photos” title in the header, no matter where you’ve wandered in the blog. I invite you to click around, and hope you enjoy your visit.

On a recent visit to Seattle’s Volunteer Park Conservatory, I was impressed at the orchids, but really fell in love with the simple begonias. This kind of thing makes me want my own greenhouse.

Visit Pink Saturday for more visions in pink.

I really like this one, so I’m tagging it Best Post of the Week. Hope you agree.

Today I saw rainbows in three locations as I drove around and did errands. You’ve gotta be quick with rainbows; they just won’t wait for you. So while I was driving down this alley in downtown Burien, I stopped the car, leaned my head out the window, and took the shot. I actually like it, even though this type of urban shot isn’t my usual thing. Gotta love rainbows.

Visit Thursday Challenge for more Sky photos, and/or visit Skywatch Friday for even more skies around the world!

This overlook of Puget Sound near my house has been a photo op blessing whenever the clouds part a bit. I like the look of the late day light. You can just see the ripples on the water surface.

Visit Watery Wednesday for more visions of water in all its forms. And for visual reflections, some subtle and some not, visit Weekend Reflections. Don’t forget to visit Scenic Sunday for more scenery of all kinds.

This photo was taken at the NW Flower & Garden show, so it’s forced and blooming under indoor lighting, but still, isn’t it glorious? I think this kind with the frilly edges is a parrot type, but I could be wrong about that.

Visit Ruby Tuesday for more ravishing redness. And Color Carnival is where the other bright colors hang out.

We’ve had sunny weather for a week. I planted pea seeds (and nicked and soaked the sweet pea seeds to plant tomorrow) and took the usual stroll to see what has come up. Crocus!

For more flowers in general, you’ll always enjoy Flowers For Today, and do visit Blooming Friday when you get the chance. What about more macros at Macro Monday?

New navigation: Now you can always get back to the latest entry here by clicking on the “Sara’s Fave Photos” title in the header, no matter where you’ve wandered in the blog. I invite you to click on the categories or tags on the left, or whatever strikes your fancy today. Hope you enjoy your visit.

At the NW Flower & Garden Show in Seattle a week or two ago, there was a fabulous orchid display. I believe this is a kind of lady’s slipper, but I am not very knowledgeable about orchids. Enjoy its subtle pink coloration, and visit Pink Saturday for more photos with pink in them.

It’s cleared up and the sky was showing the change the other evening. This one is SOOC, or straight out of the camera. For more skies around the world, visit Skywatch Friday.

Navigation Note: Now you can always get back to the latest entry here by clicking on the “Sara’s Fave Photos” title in the header, no matter where you’ve wandered in the blog. I invite you to look at the memes or tags on the left, or whatever appeals to you today. Hope you enjoy your visit.

While it has been quite rainy recently, wetness does not necessarily a photograph make. I thought I’d show this one of a delightfully noisy creek in the Quinault Rain Forest, on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, taken last summer.

Visit Watery Wednesday for more cybermoisture. For fans of scenery, visit Scenic Sunday. And try SOOC, for more straight-out-of-the-camera shots.

I was at the Volunteer Park Conservatory, right near the Asian Art Museum, having a fine old time with my little Canon and the help of a monopod to help brace the shots. I actually hate shlepping and setting up tripods. I want to take too many shots from too many angles for them to work for me, except in special situations, of course.

I am trying to get the Conservatory to feature a wall calendar for 2011 with photos of their incredible plants and flowers, a calendar created by yours truly. When you visit a place like that, are you tempted by a photo calendar? (Assuming it’s wonderful.) What do you think of that idea?

Visit Ruby Tuesday for more photos featuring the color red, and SOOC for more straight-out-of-the-camera shots.

I was at the Pike Place Market and just adored the huge buckets of daffs as well as all the amazing dried flowers and tulips right now.

On this photo, I’ve blurred the background to make that center one pop a bit. Do you like the effect, or do you prefer the more realistic look? I’m very interested in your reaction.

Visit Mellow Yellow Monday and Macro Monday for other takes on those themes. And how about Blooming Friday, a bit early?

Happy Valentine’s Day to you! No matter how commercial, I love the holiday that’s all about love. And flowers!

To see more flowere all around the world, visit Today’s Flowers. And try Color Carnival for more cheerful, bright colors!

Navigation Note: Now you can always get back to the latest entry here by clicking on the “Sara’s Fave Photos” title at the top, no matter where you’ve wandered in the blog. I invite you to look at the archives of Flowers, Cloudscapes, or Water tags on the lower left, or whatever appeals to you today. Hope you enjoy your visit. Thank you, Marsha Perry of Perry Internet Consulting!

This quick bit of sunshine we saw last week was the last time I did see the sun, so I’m happy to post the brief reminder here. It’s been gray and rainy, typical for this time of year, but it does get a bit gloomy sometimes. Especially when I want to go out in the garden and get things done. Sigh.

This is a SOOC, or straight-out-of-the-camera shot, like most of mine. Visit Shadow Shot Sunday for more interesting shadows. See more windows (and doors) in Window Views. Visit Blue Monday for more things of all kinds in blue.

Navigation Note: Now you can always get back to the latest entry here by clicking on the “Sara’s Fave Photos” title at the top, no matter where you’ve wandered in the blog. I invite you to look at the archives of Flowers, Cloudscapes, or Water tags on the lower left, or whatever appeals to you today. Hope you enjoy your visit. Thank you, Marsha Perry of Perry Internet Consulting!

These pink tulips at the Pike Place Market yesterday were just scrumptious to me, all dreamy looking in their cellophane dresses. And so close to Valentine’s Day, men one after the other were forking over money for armfuls.

Visit Pink Saturday for more visions of pink.

Navigating Note: Now you can always get back to the latest entry here by clicking on the “Sara’s Fave Photos” title at the top, no matter where you’ve wandered in the blog. I invite you to look at the archives of Roses, Scenic, or Puget Sound tags on the lower left, or whatever appeals to you today. Hope you enjoy your visit. Thank you, Marsha Perry of Perry Internet Consulting!

This shot from the archives, taken on a sunny April day, just feels so good after the pretty relentless gray and wet we are having here, with more of the same predicted. We didn’t even get the promised sunbreaks this afternoon.

Des Moines is pronounced Duh Moynz by the locals, yes with the final Z sound, and I understand that it actually means The Monks, although why I do not know.

Hope you enjoy the view of blue sky and puffy clouds as much as I do. Visit Skywatch Friday for more skies around the world. Check out Scenic Sunday for more lovely scenery, too. Fans of blue, visit Blue Monday.

Thursday’s Challenge is “ROMANTIC” (Flowers, Chocolates, Hearts, Lace, Red, Pink, Sunset, Holding Hands,…) and so of course I have to post flowers. This bouquet also photographed at the NW Flower & Garden show in Seattle last week. It says Be Mine to me!

This also works for Color Carnival (the local gray skies make me crave color!) and is a straight-out-of-the-camera shot, or SOOC.