November 25, 2008
Thanks are given
Homecoming.
I aim to please. And anytime I aim my camera out the window of a little puddle jumper up here, it pleases me greatly. I hope it does you, too. I’m delivering on the reader requests placed in the last posting’s comment section, with a small offering of some of the joy I feel up in the air. Along with being accompanied by one of my many music clips, you’ll just have to imagine the drone of the engines and propellers.
First: Mt. Baker, my gift for Doug. Normally a bright white, this time the western face of the glacial snow reflects the setting sun. It was only 3:45 p.m. when I snapped this, and yet twilight was fast approaching. We still have one more month of ever-darkening and mysterious afternoon skies.
Well Pat, welcome to my corner of the blogosphere, and on behalf of Kenmore Air I apologize that my flight pattern did not take me over lovely little Frost Island. As a nifty consolation prize however, I hereby give you James Island, the fascinating trio of small humps off the shore of Decatur Island, just to the east of Lopez Island. With it’s rather phallic layout I actually find it more interesting than Frost. Extra bonus points: Mt. Baker in the distance, upper right.
I searched in vain for the top of Glenn’s head, but he must have known I was on the hunt and stayed indoors to avoid the kelparazzi. I did find where the top of my dear Charles’ head resides, though: on a peninsula in the far middle of this window seat-framed shot that skims across Lopez, west to San Juan Island. Home.
I have a humbling, long list of things for which and people for whom I give thanks in my life. Far too lengthy a tome to begin to publish here. But gazing at these photos and realizing that this is the place I’ve chosen to call home, eloquently sums up much of the joy and good fortune I’ve been so lucky to stumble upon. I’m deeply pleased to share what I can of this magic with anyone who stops by these pixels. Thanks, thanks, thanks.
Barry said,
November 27, 2008 @ 11:39 am
Welcome home and Happy Thanksgiving Alex,
Always grateful for your pictures. Thanks.
Hope your day is wonderful. Mine is so far. My son actually cleaned some of the house! Thanks to modern pharmaceuticals.
I have a beer and a cup of coffee going as I blog around.
I’m looking forward to excellent veggies today. I think Sarah Palin ruined me for even a nibble of turkey. (Oh, sorry to bring that image up.)
I didn’t get in on the photo of isles requests…but I do have a photo request. We kelphistas haven’t had a self portrait of the composer for a while. So, I propose to you lookers, lurkers and regulars to submit photo requests for Alex here or there and see what she comes up with.
My request is on the beach with a fire (if law allows) or just on the beach.
Barry
Alex Shapiro said,
November 27, 2008 @ 2:05 pm
Yes, Ms. Palin actually did a great service for all the animal rights organizations and vegetarians out there! Ha! I do not eat turkey (I am a pescaterian and eat only fish, no meat or birds). So it’s just the vegetables and desserts that are threatened by my presence at the dinner table!
I don’t come across many beach bonfires, but I am on any number of beaches regularly, so I will post something. Yesterday I was standing on the beach across from Turn Island, and Mt. Baker, looming right across the water, was just huge because of the great refraction and lack of clouds. I might post one of those next if any came out well.
As for a portrait of the artist as a not-so-young blogger, well…. we’ll see if there’s anything…. I never point my camera at myself. It could break! But I’ll see if there are any new pics from others that are of interest.
I loved what you wrote in your earlier comment regarding following the trail of links from meme to meme. That’s exactly the fun of these things and I’m so glad that you discovered some groovy people and music!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Pat said,
November 27, 2008 @ 9:37 pm
Alex,
Thanks for the photo of James Island… it is indeed a lovely image. I understand Frost was out of range but perhaps you’ll spot it on a future flight. I am familiar with James Island although have not yet visited it. I do visit Cener Island quite often though, so if by chance you look down and see Center pleas snap a shot for me… it’s just west of Decatur and east of Lopez, laying in Lopez Sound.
Thanks and I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving :o)
Pat
Glenn Buttkus said,
December 1, 2008 @ 7:51 am
Welcome Home you composing comet:
Actually it was mineself that requested the shot of Mt. Baker, and it was Doug that requested the shot of the top of my head. We have a small plane airport in Auburn, so the sound of small plane engines drone over Sumner a lot. I went out onto the back deck several times and waved, but alas, no pontoons on those buggers.
We had 2 out of 3 daughters and two grandsons and 1 son-in-law at our digs for Thanksgiving. I am a carnivore and proud of it. I dove into the white meat (yes, I am a breast man for sure) and gobbled it fiercely, along with several salads and two kinds of taters. My youngest daughter brought her three dogs too, so there was a lot of children’s laughter, barking, hugging, and masticating going on.
I think Barry is right. We are all hot for another photo of Ms. Shapiro. You must have a few dozen of those “professional resume'” shots around, but we would be happy with just an unvarnished natural shot as well. Thank God the fires are out in California.
Glenn
Glenn Buttkus said,
December 1, 2008 @ 7:57 am
In terms of “thanks”, we, the loyal kelphistos, are so very thankful for the peek into your office, your studio, and your heart. Your island amblings, your artist’s eye view of orca, llama, foxes, mushrooms, birds, deer, racoons, cats……the list is endless, as is your imagination and sense of wonder. Rarely is someone in love with their surroundings the way you are. You “loved” southern California, of course, but you seem to “adore” your island, and your new reclusive and island-bound privacy. We click in daily to check your latest insight, frustration, or joy. Thank-you, Alex, for being you–and for allowing so many of us to join your cyber-family.
Glenn
Alex Shapiro said,
December 2, 2008 @ 2:40 am
Thanks for these comments! And my apologies, Glenn and Doug, for swapping your names and confusing Mt. Baker with the top of anyone’s head, let alone either of yours. 🙂
Lane Savant said,
December 2, 2008 @ 11:30 am
Well, my goodness, the Mt. Baker was for Glenn. and I’ve gone and thanked you for it on facebook.
I’m keeping it anyway.
The top of my head, as I’ve seen it in several security cameras does resemble
somewhat the top of a denuded snow=covered peak .