Lawstruck

Summer Travels: Casablanca

2011-12-17T21:57:00.000-08:00

Despite our guidebook's somewhat negative impression, one of our favorite cities in Morocco ended up being Casablanca. We did find the city industrial and modern, without the same old world charm as Fez's medina; however, we were free to wander without constant pestering by salesmen, and therefore enjoyed the food, architecture, and people-watching more than anywhere else in Morocco up to this point. Plus, the drive south leaving Casa (as the locals call it) to our next destination of Essaouira, was breathtaking, as you can see from the last handful of photos this week. Enjoy!


Funny Casa "Magix" Billboard

Fruit Vendor

Casa Style

Fish Market

Beautiful Post Office

I Want to Live Here

Boy Cleaning Grill Outside


Delicious Street Tagine

Casa Palm Trees

Street "Market"

Beautiful Courtyard Restaurant

Colorful Juice Store

Boy Riding Donkey (on our drive south from Casa)

Father and Child

The Craggy Moroccan Coast

The Atlantic on a Beautiful Day

Melon and Squash For Sale on the Roadside

Farming by the Sea

Arabic Stop Sign

Colorful Temple

Nearing Essaouira

Tagines For Sale in the Hot Moroccan Sun

Summer Travels: Fez

2011-11-12T13:12:00.001-08:00

Fez is one of the most beautiful cities we encountered in Morocco, but also one of the hottest (!) and one of the most infuriating in terms of pushy merchants. After a day of endless annoyances, we were forced to hire a guide on the second day to drive away the hagglers. Luckily, we still enjoyed maneuvering the maze of the medina, and I took hundreds of photos. Here are my favorites.

The Beautiful Fez Medina Sunlight

No Vehicles Allowed in the Medina!

Intricate Tile Fountain

Paintings for Sale

A Busy Covered Alley

Fascinating Antique Shop

The Dirty Underbelly of Fez (sewage)

An Arched View

The Medina Square

A Packed City Bus

Sign: No Donkeys Allowed

Beautiful Glimpse

Random Mickey Graffiti

Mosque Archways

The Incredible Leather Dying District

Leather Drying

Spice Shop Spices

Graceful Alleyway

Summer Travels: Tangiers

2011-11-09T17:23:00.001-08:00

At long last, the first glimpse at my Morocco photos! After about an hour-long ride on the ferry from Spain across the Med, we landed in Tangiers, and spent two days there wandering the streets in awe of the other-worldliness of North Africa. Looking through my photos after being home for over 3 months, Morocco looks even more exotic than I remembered...

First Glimpse of Tangiers from the Ferry Parking Lot

One of Many Tangiers Medina Gates or "Babs"

The Blues and Greys of the Medina Streets

Interesting European Style Architecture

Pink and Green Shutters on a Street Corner

Looking Toward Spain

A Boy Runs Along the Medina Wall

Alas, We Never Ate At "Ray Charly"

Our First Mint Tea (one of many)

A Beautiful & Delicious Lunch

Intricate Wood Work

A City Square With Gangly Palm Trees

A Cute Building

Unknown Industrial Work on the Outskirts of the Medina

Rue de La Casbah!

The Medina Wall, With Rugs Airing Out

An Amazing Row of Medina Doors

More Irresistible Doors

A Dramatic Building Facade

A Glimpse Down an Alley

The Boyfriend--Through the Thick Medina Wall, Looking North

A Sprig of Yellow Flowers Adorns a Beautifully Aged Building

Summer Travels: Gibraltar

2011-11-09T17:22:00.000-08:00

Dear Readers,

Here are my favorite photos from our relaxing few days in Gibraltar, a country of only 30,000 people! After weeks of exploring French and Spanish speaking countries, it was wonderfully bizarre to step into a land of English, Irish, and Scottish accents. Between cooler weather and friendly people, we left feeling refreshed and eager for our upcoming trek through Morocco.

View From a Train Window--From Madrid to Algeciras (en route to Gibraltar)

Funny Office in Algeciras Bus Parking Lot

The Magnificently Gloomy Rock of Gibraltar (with tiny airstrip)

Our Hotel

Picturesque Street Sign

Grand Casemates Gates--Approaching the Old Town

Beautiful Gibraltar Day

British Style Pub Sign

Old Rock Wall, With Red Phone Box

View from the Cable Car Going Up the "Rock"


One of the Many Resident Barbary Macaques (he just finished eating)

A Cute Macaque Family Overlooking the Water

The Breathtaking View From the Top

Water All Around

Buses on a Cargo Ship (on a ferry back to Algeciras)

Our First Beautiful Glimpse of Morocco (by bus)

Summer Travels: Madrid

2011-10-30T22:10:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

After a long delay, I have returned to the web to continue posting photos from our fabulous five-week summer adventure. After leaving Portugal, we spent about four days in Madrid. I wasn't able to explore as thoroughly as I had hoped because of two days of terrible allergies and an eternity of scorching hot sun and 100 degree weather. But I loved the architecture and people watching, and would go back to Madrid in the WINTER in a second to check out the museums, restaurants, and parks I missed this time around.

The Easy Seat (one of my favorite photos)

Cooling Umbrellas at Famous Plaza Mayor

Madrid Life

Alley Shopping


QuirkyMantilla Shop Plaque (where I bought a beautiful shawl)

Prado Museum

"Bus Turistico Madrid"

Madrid Colors

Tiny Church

Cafe in Courtyard, with Romantic Spanish Light

Wonderful Old Door

Indian Street Performer Outside McDonald's = Irony

A Common Sight in Madrid

One of Several "Headless" Madrid Street Performers

The Lost Marx Brother (he was a comedic genius!)

A "Self Portrait"

Police Strolling in Style

A Dangerously Beautiful Pastry Shop Window Display

Market Ceiling

Chocolateria Since 1894!

The Madrid Coat of Arms

Picturesque Street Scene

Surprising Trompe L'Oeil Wall

A Madrid Avenue

A Horse and Rider Dwarfed by a Lovely Old Building

Palacio Real de Madrid

View Through the Palace Door

Colorful Striped Cathedral Ceiling

Almudena Cathedral

Summer Travels: Leaving Portugal

2011-09-26T21:23:00.000-07:00

After an extended stay in Sintra, we only had a couple of days to finish exploring Portugal before we needed to be in Madrid. We spent half a day in Ericeiras, a small resort town on the Atlantic, and half a day in Mafra, a nearby town famous for its grand palace. We wanted to spend more time in Lisbon, but the terrible summer heat kept us away from the big city until the last minute. Unfortunately, between high temperature and limited time, we were left without much of an impression of Lisbon. We'll have to save the real Lisbon for another trip.

Looking West from Ericeiras

The Rugged Portugese Coast

Roundabouts Do Not Always Work (view from our hotel window)

Colorful Ericeiras Street

Palacio Nacional de Mafra

Palace Courtyard

Entrance to the Palace Basilica

Grand Hallway

The Basilica (a wedding was going on!)

A Scrumptious Palace Room (one of about 1,200)

Marble Hall

Rare Library

Basilica Ceiling

Portrait of Boyfriend Leaving the Palace

The Gritty Side of Lisbon

Endless Lisbon Stair

Random Western Tiling Outside Defunct Establishment

Lisbon Street

Summer Travels: Sintra

2011-09-19T07:57:00.000-07:00

We left Porto on a 4-hour train to Lisbon, where we immediately switched to a local train bound for Sintra, the famous local romantic hot-spot. Although the hostel conditions there were less than ideal (a terribly uncomfortable mattress and residual cigarette smoke, despite the non-smoking signs), we loved exploring the ancient Moorish castle, seeing the over-the-top colorful buildings built by Portugese royals over the years, and admiring the cork convent in the middle of the woods. At the convent, the monks slept and prayed in four foot high rooms (no photos of these allowed)--ingenious for their bowing-required-at-all-times architecture.

The Cork Convent Courtyard

Convent Chapel

Cork Convent Entrance Room

Bathroom, With Tiny Tub (on the right)

Convent Gate

Nature's Door

The Purples and Yellows of Pena Palace

Mysterious Palace Statue, Looking Down on Sintra

Palace Wall Detail

Palace Walkway

Ornate Palace Window

Palace Architecture

Sign Painted on Stone Between Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle

Standing on Top of the Moorish Castle Walkway (my favorite photo this week)

Moorish Succulents Peek Around a Boulder

The Moorish Castle Defense Wall, High Above Sintra

Purple Flowers and Orange Lichen Give Life to an Ancient Wall

Looking Over Sintra Toward the Atlantic Ocean, Both to the West and South

Closer View of the Wall, the Primary Surviving Moorish Castle Component

Sintra National Palace (we never made it inside)

The Small Lane Next to Our Hostel

Sintra City Hall, at Dusk

Beautiful Moroccan Inspired Sintra Fountain

Cute Couple Below Our Hostel Window

Summer Travels: Porto

2011-09-05T08:05:00.000-07:00

The Continuation of Our 5-Week Summer Adventure:

After we left Coimbra, we took the train a few hours north through Portugal to Porto. Famous for its bridge (built by an apprentice of Eiffel), Port wine, and azulejos (painted tilework), the entire city is a World Heritage Site. Our favorite discovery was white port and a traditional local multigrain bread as dense and heavy as a brick, but delicious. Yep, we're foodies.

Las Vegas

2011-08-29T08:04:00.000-07:00

PRESENTING: a brief interlude from posting international vacation photos for my shots of our 5 days in VEGAS! Hottest temperature: 117 F. Alcoholic beverages consumed: 2. Money lost/won gambling: $0/$0. Items of outlet store clothing purchased: 6. Shows watched: 1 (Cirque du Soleil: Mystere, which was amazing!).

The beautiful Chihuly glass on the lobby ceiling of the Bellagio.

Hot air balloon decor in the Bellagio.

The Bellagio fountains dance to Frank Sinatra, with the miniature Eiffel Tower at the Paris Casino in the background.

The baby Statue of Liberty at NY NY.

The NY NY Casino "skyline."

Inside the Paris casino on a strangely eerie fake Parisian street....

A Vegas strip view.

Gondolas waiting at the Venetian.

An ornate ceiling in the Venetian over the escalators.

The Forum Shops next to Caesar's Palace (the first spiral escalator I've ever seen).

Typical statuary at the Forum Shops.

Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the US, seen as we drove to Hoover Dam. I love the desert colors.

The view upriver at Hoover Dam.

Massive bridge and a long way down at Hoover Dam.

Summer Travels: Coimbra, Portugal

2011-08-22T08:21:00.000-07:00

Our overnight train from Spain to Portugal took us straight to Coimbra, a lovely Portugese town with one of the oldest European universities (over 700 years old). For the first time this summer, it was HOT, but we still enjoyed exploring the colorful city on a hill and practicing our first bits of Portugese.

Summer Travels: Bilbao, Spain

2011-08-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

After Paris, we traveled to Bilbao, Spain, on our way to Portugal. Although Bilbao is most famous for the architecturally amazing Guggenheim Museum, I also loved the series of fantastic modern bridges along the town's river, the charming narrow cobblestone streets, and the surprisingly beautiful train station. Overall, a perfect introduction to Spain.

P.S. The two photos at the end were taken in the nearby city of Vittoria, where we caught an overnight train to Portugal.

Summer Travels: Paris

2011-08-08T08:10:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

Our five weeks of travel been over for a few weeks now, and I have been busily pouring over my photos, re-living our adventures and carefully selecting my favorites to post here. For the next couple of months, stop by to see shots of a different city or region each Monday morning. Today: the City of Light. Sights seen: covered shopping arcades, Pont Neuf, Eiffel Tower (from a distance), Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie (where Marie Antoinette was beheaded), the Rodin museum, Jardin des Plantes, the Pantheon, and lots and lots of gorgeous architecture.

Hiatus

2011-05-16T22:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Internet,

I apologize for the belated notice, but I am taking a hiatus from my blog to plan and depart on our trip overseas! New photos will start being posted again in late July/early August. Have a wonderful summer, and see you before you know it!

~Sophie

Photos: Week 92

2011-04-25T08:57:00.000-07:00

Fiery Sky. Using my new powerful zoom, I was able to capture this photo of sunset over the Canadian islands to the west.

Mirrored. Blue above, blue below.

Pooch Portrait 1. The boy, looking handsome and charming.

Pooch Portrait 2. The girl, looking ecstatic as she gnaws on a stick, her favorite delicacy.

Tip-Top. Another zoom experiment--the tip of Mount Baker (with tree-tops on Portage Island in the foreground), shot from our house.

Swirls of Grey. It's been very wintery around here this April, but I still love views like this.

Legoe Bay Color. Another beautiful sunset over the Bay (whoever lives in the house in the center of the photo is very lucky).

Photos: Week 91

2011-04-18T08:09:00.000-07:00

The first photos taken with my new camera:

New Life. A delicate bud outside our front door.

Hungry. A hummingbird swinging on our feeder--it was hard to capture this fast-moving critter!

Duck Family. These guys were spotted paddling by our house in the bay.

Good Morning, Sunshine. Gorgeous yellow daffodils against a brilliant blue sky.

After a Spring Storm. This murky green-brown water is caused by the rushing river pushing mud and silt along into the bay.

Blue Upon Blue Upon Blue. Looking north from our beach on a gorgeous day.

Beach Grasses. I liked how delicate the grey-green grasses looked blowing in the wind by the grey morning water.

Photos: Week 90

2011-04-11T08:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers:

This is a momentous week. The following photos are the last photos taken with my old camera! In anticipation of our international travels this summer, I have a new Nikon I've been playing with that I already love. I'll post my first island photos from the new camera next Monday!

Ferry Tilt. Bright, ominous sunlight looking south from the Whatcom Chief.

Sunrise. Island morning colors.

All in a Row. Buoys neatly lined up against the pink and blue.

Parking Limited. I think it's cruel that parking is limited to 24 hours at the ferry dock, when I could sit in my car and appreciate the view for much longer than that!

Spring. A tiny pink bud rests against sleek dark-green leaves.

Wooden Art. A Lummi carving seen on the reservation.

Photos: Week 89

2011-04-04T10:48:00.000-07:00

Over the River and Through the Woods. Driving into town on a bright, cloudy day, I took this cool photo through the windshield of a ring around the sun, looming over Mount Baker.

Attack! This seagull circled the heron many times peacefully before suddenly deciding to fly mere inches overhead squawking loudly! The indifferent heron didn't even budge.

Skunk Cabbage. Despite such an ugly name, I thought the field of these plants I stumbled upon on the island was quite pretty.

UFOs in the Clouds. Suspiciously oval shapes linger over Baker...

Maritime Center. In town--includes a "salmon life cycle facility" (yum)...

Blue Sunrise. Unexpected colors in the morning seen from our porch.

Textures. Puffy, bumpy clouds glide over the islands.

Photos: Week 88

2011-03-28T07:48:00.000-07:00

Streaming. Lines of light through grey clouds.

More Signs of Spring! Closeup of beautiful blossoms.

Local Talent. Artwork (albeit slightly drippy) on the retaining wall at Legoe Bay.

Takeoff. A moment before he was perched on top of one of the bird houses (which are much too small for him to inhabit).

Lone Pink. One pink cloud was the only reward I got for waking up early to watch the sunrise!

Big City Alley. Sometimes it's fun to throw an urban photo of Bellingham into the island wilderness mix.

The Road. Taken from the car while driving toward the west side of the island.

Photos: Week 87

2011-03-21T08:28:00.000-07:00

Something special this week!

7 Skies: Views From Our Porch

Photos: Week 86

2011-03-14T08:23:00.000-07:00

Pink and Perfect. Two clumps of clouds linger over the San Juans.

Driveway? A friend of ours on the island owns property here--this is the only way in (you can see their dog playing in the mud).

Made by Hand. Our friend's handmade outhouse... it's really quite cute!

Fiery. A beautiful bonfire on our beach at night.

Evening Pinks and Blues. Sunset looking East from our beach.

A Taste of California. The first Korean food I've had in Washington!

Sunshine. Light shimmers over the bay by the ferry dock.

Photos: Week 85

2011-03-07T08:23:00.000-08:00

Two More Beautiful Weeks of Winter. Delicate ice feathers connect over our creek.

Ice, Wood, Water. Driftwood frozen between the creek and the bay.

The Windy City. Snow blows across the freezing beach.

He's Tame, I Promise. Kulshan patiently waits for me to stop taking photos and throw the stick.

Snow Queen. Gypsy sits in a drift, snow dotting her forehead (her tail is slightly blurry because it was wagging!).

Icy Sculptures. Nature's art, formed as the creek rushes under our driveway.

Muted Colors. A wintery dusk.

Photos: Week 84

2011-02-28T08:13:00.000-08:00

Mock Tidelands. A very flooded field (NOT the tidelands) containing a warning sign. This is the same location on the reservation where I photographed the Fourth of July fireworks booths last July!

Stripes. Pink and grey clouds at Legoe Bay.

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane. Someone has a beautiful view of Mount Baker and the Sisters.

A Strange Morning. Ominous light over the Canadian mountains.

Tow Zone. A cute sign outside a cafe in town.

Stormy Weather. There are usually no serious waves in the bay East of the island, but during a recent wind storm, I snapped these crashing in front of our house.

Always Gorgeous. Sunset on the West side of the island.

Photos: Week 83

2011-02-21T11:40:00.000-08:00

My Birthday Present (I Wish!). A tempering machine jam-packed with chocolate at the chocolate store we toured for my birthday!

Wall of Wonder. Some of the molds used to make cute chocolate shapes (my favorite was a set that included an owl, log, and other woodland shapes).

Birthday's End. A full moon lights up the water, illuminating a bush at the edge of our yard.

Misty Morning. The view from the house one morning last week.

Ahoy. A lone boat wanders through the islands.

Moo. Cows nibble under a fantastically foggy Lummi Mountain.

More Impossibility. Another sunrise with hard-to-believe colors.

Photos: Week 82

2011-02-14T08:10:00.000-08:00

Unloading. The ferry pulling into the island dock at dusk.

Food. The pretty sign at one of our two island restaurants.

Lurking. A heron trying to blend in with the rocks beyond grasses on the bluff.

Classic. Mountain reflections.

Island Animals. Horses grazing in a field below Lummi Mountain, in black and white.

Wild Sky. Sun behind clouds looking south on the ferry.

Delicate Fog. Portage Island appears covered in lace on a foggy winter day.

Photos: Week 81

2011-02-07T07:55:00.000-08:00

In Flight. The awesome sculpture overlooking Guemes Island near the Guemes ferry terminal in Anacortes.

On the Diagonal. A pebble-strewn beach in Anacortes.

Peek-A-Boo. A barely-there sunset over an interesting unknown building.

You Know It's the Pacific Northwest When... A beautified trash can.

Repairs. One of the last privately operated ferries in this area, which runs from Victoria to Port Angeles, undergoes routine maintenance.

Birds of a Feather. The geometry here inspired me to publish it in black and white.

Don't Be Blue. A view of the industrial and the wild at twilight on an Anacortes ferry dock.

Photos: Week 80

2011-01-31T08:07:00.000-08:00

There's No Place Like Home. A dilapidated structure built over a creek for unknown purposes.

Going Down. Stairway to the rocky beach north of the ferry dock.

Foggy Crossing. The ramp onto the ferry.

Picturesque. Another beautiful setting for a barn.

Layers. A foggy view of Portage Island, looking more like a watercolor than a photograph.

Naughty Boy. Our pooch perches on the couch with paws daintily crossed.

Westward Ho. Dreamy, stormy view.

Photos: Week 79

2011-01-24T08:01:00.000-08:00

Cutting Lesson. On Saturday, we helped other islanders cut and can tuna--lots of fun, with as much tasty tuna sashimi as we wanted!

Caldron Bubble. Pressure cookers containing the jars of tuna at work.

Pretty Firescreen. At the island Grange Hall.

Twilight. Looking west, wanting to explore those other islands!

Foggy Day. The beautiful shoreline south of the ferry dock.

Clear Strip. Another instance of this stunning phenomenon, looking over the water from our house.

Vancouver. We spent a day in Canada last week, and I snapped this fabulous photo of downtown.

Photos: Week 78

2011-01-17T08:20:00.000-08:00

Steamy. Two plumes of steam rise from Mount Baker.

More Snow! A field in front of Lummi Mountain.

Ducks in a Row. The Canadian Mountains, as seen from the ferry dock.

Victorious Light. The sun resists setting over the reservation.

Vertical and Horizontal. Standing on our bluff.

Delicate Clouds. A pretty day looking East.

Legoe Bay. Grey water meets grey sky at one of my favorite spots on the island.

Photos: Week 77

2011-01-10T08:24:00.000-08:00

I just got home from 10 days visiting family for the holidays... more photos next Monday! Happy 2011!

Photos: Week 76

2011-01-03T08:06:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Leftovers. A photo taken the day after Thanksgiving at my boyfriend's uncle's cherry farm.

Farm Fantasy. I want to live here!

Abstract. Sunset heading into Seattle.

The Eagle Has Landed. Seagulls perching by the ferry dock.

Cloudy Days. Dreamlike view from near the island restaurant.

Purty. Eggs from the bison farm on the mainland!

Driving Home. Evening sky colors.

Photos: Week 75

2010-12-27T19:02:00.000-08:00

Part 2 of my week in NYC:

Fun Statue. Duke Ellington with piano, just north of Central Park.

Danger. Chilly Central Park warning.

Quack. Wondering where the water went.

Funny Subway Suggestion. The editor in me also found it interesting that both of the first two sentences are missing subjects.

The Hudson. The pink-tinged view from The Cloisters.

The Cloisters. One of many magnificent rooms in the museum.

NYC Christmas. A pretty firetruck.

Abstract. Individual legos for sale at the lego store at Rockefeller Center.

Rockefeller Center XMas Tree. Nestled between skyscrapers and silver and gold flags.

More Holiday Spirit. Trumpeting angels and dancing snowflakes.

Times Square Baubles. For a very big tree...

Times Square. Some of those famous neon signs.

A Blue Christmas. An eye-catching ad posted on the side of a hotel!

LOVE. I was happy to stumble upon this famous statue in the middle of a busy NYC street.

That's Grand. Possibly the most famous NYC subway stop.

Grand Central Station. Beautiful!

Off the Beaten Path. I went to Brooklyn Heights to find this: the restaurant (now closed) featured in "Moonstruck," my favorite film of all time!!

Brooklyn Flea. In winter, the market is held on the weekends at the Williamsburgh Savings Bank on the beautiful first floor. (I had a lot of fun browsing, but didn't buy anything.)

Colorful. More fun graffiti.

The Guggenheim. I actually think the blue crane complements the architecture!

Happy Holidays. Unexpected decorations around trees lining streets on the Upper West Side.

The Heavenly Rest Stop. The hilariously named coffee shop in the church near the Guggenheim.

Heading Home. Flying West over snow and ice.

Sea-Tac. Interesting Christmas decor at baggage claim in Seattle.

Photos: Week 74

2010-12-20T08:07:00.000-08:00

Days 1-3 of my week in New York City:

Bye-Bye San Juans. Flying to NYC on the redeye.

Pink Morning. Starting our descent into the city.

Happy Hannukah! The view front the front of our friends' building.

Clever Sign. The Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum.

Central Park. A classic view of the city.

More Park. The view looking north from Belvedere Castle.

Brrr! Skating in the park in 20-something degree weather.

Classic. An Eloise Christmas in The Plaza.

Subway Art. The tiling at 96th St.

A Historic Moment. The theater where I saw David Duchovny in a play... and met him in person afterward and shook his hand!!!!!! (imagine a million more exclamation marks there)

Too Cool for School. Graffiti I liked north of Central Park.

St. John the Divine Cathedral. A gorgeous building (although the fountain in the foreground featuring lobster claws, a huge moon, an angel caressing a giraffe, and more was somewhat disturbing).

Massive. The cathedral doors.

Poor Pim. A poignant prayer candle in the cathedral.

Stained Glass. I like the way the lanterns hang within the light of the stained glass window here.

Interesting Synagogue Facade. The roof, columns, and banister are all decorative!

NYC Gargoyles. The one on the right is watching us!

Week 73

2010-12-13T09:21:00.000-08:00

No photos this week, since I am busy, busy, busy in the midst of a visit to New York City!!! Lots of photos of the Big Apple starting next Monday.

Photos: Week 72

2010-12-06T07:59:00.000-08:00

Ice Cold. The rusty culvert that feeds our creek dumps water between bizarre ice formations.

Frozen Solid! The creek was hard enough to stand on last week (everything is melted now).

Tucked In. Driftwood on the snowy beach.

Slippery. A snowplow leaving the dangerously icy store parking lot.

Stripes. Our beach, with snow.

More Stripes. The wind blew the snow into dainty lines on the trees in our yard.

Winter View. Looking south from our driveway.

Photos: Week 71

2010-11-29T08:17:00.000-08:00

Blue and White. The first time I've ever seen a beach covered in snow!

Sculpted. A curvy drift of snow (we got about 3 inches in the days leading up to Thanksgiving).

Farmland. Snow must have driven the critters into the barn.

Our Street. The view turning out of our driveway.

Cold Mail. Our mailbox weighted down!

Fun in the Snow. The boy loves this weather!

Home Sweet Home. The house is pretty in the snow, but when it's 16 degrees outside, I'm just eager to get inside it!

Photos: Week 70

2010-11-22T08:02:00.000-08:00

New Moon. Seagulls snoozing, seemingly unaware of the gorgeousness above them.

Get It? A genius named this place (I haven't been yet).

Moo? A bison on the mainland eats corn stalks and watches me. He is the only male, amidst several dozen females!

'Tisn't the Season. I like the seasonal melancholy here: a sign promising tasty summer offerings reflected in a muddy pool of chilly-looking water.

Land of Coffee. My amazing double espresso con panna, daintily topped with a coffee bean.

Soft. The ever-changing sky and water looking south from the island.

Winter is Here. Clouds reflected in a gravel parking lot puddle on the reservation.

Photos: Week 69

2010-11-15T08:35:00.000-08:00

Snowy Predictions. They're saying it's finally going to really snow here this winter!

Family Portrait. Pooches under our bright red fall tree.

Dock at Dusk. Pretty sky waiting for the ferry.

Warm and Cozy. A tree bundled up for the coming winter outside the knitting store in town.

Abstract in Blue. Although you can't see the actual streams of rain on the skylight glass, you can see the silvery reflections.

Mushroom Craziness. We dumped a load of woodchips in this spot last January, and these mushrooms suddenly took over this week! I wish I knew if they were edible...

Dappled Sky. Looking West over Lummi.

Photos: Week 68

2010-11-08T08:58:00.000-08:00

Crazy Clouds. Drama over Portage Island.

Moon Over Pastels. I think a wall-sized copy of this photo in a kid's bedroom would be so much fun!

Whatcom Museum. One of my favorite buildings in Bellingham, this once was city hall.

Water Greeting. My boyfriend's uncle swung by our house in his houseboat on a trip to Canada!

Squalicum Harbor. Night falls over the water at the Port of Bellingham

AC. Fun wooden sign in a local coffee shop.

Luck. When we head to the West side of the island to check out the sunset, sometimes we're met with something amazing, sometimes with something tame (but still pretty).

Photos: Week 67

2010-11-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Ross Lake: Part 2.

Black and White. Boats in a row in the early morning.

Peek-A-Boo. Mountains poking through morning fog.

Our Heat Supply! Each cabin has its own woodpile and hatchet.

Ross Lake. We explored by boat for most of our second day at the resort.

Billy Goats Gruff. Boating under the bridge into "Devil's Creek."

Bluebeard. Devil's Creek was freezing and damp, with strange grey-blue water and dripping rocks on either side. Very creepy and cool.

Back Into the Sun. Looking south across the water.

Waterfall. Feeding the lake.

Goodbye. A royal purple morning sent us on our way.

Crooked Lookout. After leaving the lake, we drove East for a little exploring, and stopped at this spectacular viewpoint.

Spiral Wood. I love the patterned trunks of these dead pines.

Winthrop. We had lunch at "Jack's Saloon" in Winthrop, a hunting town with a humorous Wild West theme.

We Both Use It!! An old-fashioned ad painted on the side of the restaurant cracked me up.

Hunting Humor. A great retirement gift, perhaps!

Heading Home. Beautiful Washington.

Photos: Week 66

2010-10-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

We took a 4-day vacation to Ross Lake Resort last week. Here is Part 1 of my photo tour. Part 2 will post next Monday. Enjoy!

Small Town Humor. On our way to Ross Lake Resort, we passed through the tiny town of Concrete, where I appreciated their welcome sign.

Diablo Lake. The very cool bridge we crossed before parking to wait for the ferry.

Retro. The small Diablo Lake ferry had an awesome color scheme going on.

Through the Looking Glass. A dizzying reflection on the lake.

The Resort! The only floating cabins in North America.

Our Bedroom. Very cozy.

Woodstove. Our cabin's source of heat.

Mainland. The only path from the resort to land.

Glow. The cabins at night.

Morning Mountains and Ross Lake Dam. Water here provides about 30% of Seattle's power!

View from the Top. We hiked along the Big Beaver Trail, and came to this lookout, where you can see the dam and resort (on the right).

Mushroom Family. The Ross Lake area is full of mushrooms, and these three were the cutest.

Ross Dam Trail. Beautiful fall colors.

View from the Dam. The cabins stretched out below the trees.

Geometry. A section of the dam.

Red, Yellow, Orange. Reflections in the lake.

Moss Bumps. A Dr. Seuss rock wall covered in fuzzy green polka dots.

Man, That's Steep. The terrifying view from the top of the dam.

Magic Tree. A tree growing out of a rotten stump in the middle of the lake.

Swiss Feeling. The combination of cozy wooden buildings, snowy mountains, and woodsmoke made me miss Switzerland!

Hourglass. Mountains and clouds, times two.

Photos: Week 65

2010-10-18T09:04:00.000-07:00

Fire and Sky. Drama over Lummi trees.

Boat Part. A piece of the ferry I find interesting.

Mmm, Coffee. The menu at my new favorite coffee shop. The French Toast Latte is delicious!

College View. Looking out the window of Western Washington University's campus.

Rays of Light. The skies open up over a barn just past the reservation.

Our Big Project. We built a compost bin!

Raft. Floating under a beautiful sky.

Photos: Week 64

2010-10-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

Because other photos would pale in comparison, I'm featuring my new favorite photo as the solo act this week:

Island Beauty. The setting sun.

Photos: Week 63

2010-10-04T09:15:00.000-07:00

Explosion of Pink. This amazing little flower (about the size of a silver dollar) is growing in our front yard. It looks like hundreds of tiny roses.

My Favorite Tree. I've photographed this tree before (in the fog with a heron perched on top), but decided to post it again on a clear, blue-sky day.

Fall Driftwood. The driftwood is piling up again where our creek meets the pebbly beach.

Just Dandy. A dandelion on a 2-foot long stem thrives between the rocks on the beach.

Reefnetters. A row of fishermen wait for the salmon to swim into just the right place.

Hi Neighbor. A fishing boat in our cove.

Teeny Tiny. A minuscule mushroom in the yard.

Photos: Week 62

2010-09-27T09:22:00.000-07:00

Candy Stripes. The Canadian Mountains, from our front yard.

Shake, Baby, Shake. The boy squints through the girl's spray of salt water.

Better Than Georgia. We canned amazing peaches last week from Eastern Washington.

Newbie. While driving home on the island, I was stopped by this little guy refusing to move out of the road. He was curious, and cute!

Sleeping Under a Heart. I didn't notice the heart-shaped cloud over the seagull until I tried to think of a title!

Bellingham. A church I've always loved in town.

Blue and Boats. A particularly fine day to take the ferry.

Photos: Week 61

2010-09-20T08:03:00.000-07:00

Fish For Dinner. A seagull eagerly watches a fisherman's catch near the ferry dock.

"God Light." Rays of sun stream through branches in our yard.

Seattle Visit. Dusk reflected in windows outside my hotel room.

Shipyard View. Space needle on the far right!

Major Food Groups. A cute eatery near my hotel with a sign that reads, "Bread, Madeleine, Dessert."

The Beginning of Fall. My first foggy ferry ride of autumn.

My New Addiction. Now that the weather is rainy and grey, we've decided to start grinding our own coffee beans, and the results are delicious.

Photos: Week 60

2010-09-13T10:12:00.000-07:00

Perched. B&W, looking down at our island church, surrounded by the wild.

Blackberry Season! A car (hopefully no longer in use) slowly being strangled.

Hydrangeas. Next to our front porch: my favorite shade of purple.

Poodle Parade and Playdate! This sign was posted on the store window, and I couldn't resist showing off the cuteness.

Blue Moon. A perfect full moon rising over Bellingham.

Our New Boat! Our sailboat, waiting for a little bit of work before being seaworthy.

Mother of Pearl. I like the iridescence of these delicate pinks and blues.

Photos: Week 59

2010-09-06T09:26:00.000-07:00

Purples and Pinks. A blooming bush outside my boyfriend's brother's house.

Cloudy Days. Another in my planned Mount Baker series!

Green Abstract. Moss and vines wrap around a log in the woods.

Basin. Sunset on the bay.

Rowing. Sailboat + no wind/no motor = oars.

Pretty Evening. Looking south-east from our house.

Reflection. A photo of the living room window reflecting the mountain and the boy, sitting on the deck table.

Photos: Week 58

2010-08-30T09:04:00.000-07:00

Seal Rock. Seals to the north-east of the island.

Golden Silver Lining. I took this photo while stopped on the highway during rush hour.

Perch. Our neighborhood heron surveys the bay.

Moon on Water. You can see the tiny lights of Bellingham to the right as well.

Pirate Ship. This beautiful thing was hanging out around the ferry dock a few weeks ago.

Seafoam Blue. Closeup of an old shed door.

Chillin'. The boy loves napping on our deck table, especially when there's sun in which to bask.

Week 57

2010-08-23T08:02:00.000-07:00

Dear Lawstruck Fans,

After a long out of town visit, I am taking a week off from photo posting to recuperate! New island photos coming up next Monday morning.

~Sophie

Photos: Week 56

2010-08-16T08:49:00.000-07:00

1941. A curious metal survey mark at the northern-most tip of the island.

Bouquet. Flowers and herbs given to us by a sweet neighbor.

The Perfect Room. Amazing tomatoes grow floor to ceiling in a neighbor's greenhouse patio.

Spiral. Baled hay smelling delicious in the sun.

They're Back. Reefnets waiting for their fisherman in Legoe Bay, with beautiful foggy Lummi mountain behind.

Party. The sign for the island garden tour weekend, decorated by flowers from the community garden.

Watching the Waves. A gorgeous pooch waits with his owner nearby for the ferry to dock.

Photos: Week 55

2010-08-09T09:44:00.000-07:00

Very Fresh Seafood. We bought some prawns a couple weeks ago for dinner.

Subtle Sun. A salmon-colored glow over Portage Island in the evening.

Noble Barn. The barn behind the library containing the used-book sale books. I like to think this is where B&N got its name!

Water, Trees, Fog, Rock. Some of the basics rolled into one scene, looking wild.

Our Otter Family! See the 3 cuties swimming together in the center of the photo? We think these are babies, because we've seen them together with 2 larger otters.

Best Boyfriend Ever. This was just the chocolate part of my presents from Scandinavia! The red, black, and white bar is licorice filled chocolate... and it's actually delicious.

Geronimo! On a warm day, a brave kid jumps off the top of the mainland ferry dock into the water (while the ferry was on the island side).

Photos: Week 54

2010-08-02T08:22:00.000-07:00

Too Early. When the pooches get me up before 6 AM to go out, I often see this early morning sunlight reflecting blindingly on the water (I had to frame the sun behind the branch so I could see to take the photo!).

Pink Bow. Another huge rainbow, this time against a pink sunset sky!

Ivy Man. A tiny foot-high garden ornament on the island that I always think looks quite soulful.

Think Outside the Box. I always like photos of directional signs that aren't being followed.

Purple Pause. As I was holding my camera to photograph the ferry dock, the sky and land unexpectedly turned purple. I took a photo--10 seconds later, all traces of purple were gone.

Tiny Books. The island library, in all its cuteness.

Trespassers! Kayakers in front of our house enjoying the perfect weather.

Photos: Week 53

2010-07-26T09:21:00.000-07:00

Forgetting Where You Parked. Exiting the mall, we briefly panicked when we couldn't spot our truck, until we looked more closely...

Cove Closeup. I love how the water looks pixelated here.

Snack Time. Our pooch takes a break from eating his stick to look cute.

Purple and Blue. These little flowers popped up suddenly, and the hummingbirds seem to love them.

Checking In. Gypsy, making sure she gets her photo online, too.

Ice. Mount Baker, looking particularly grand.

Succulents! I could say that word all day long... And how pretty is the yellow fading into red?

Photos: Week 52

2010-07-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

Shortcake, Please. Fresh strawberries for sale on the reservation at the cutest shack ever.

Silhouettes. On the ferry at dusk.

Pot of Gold. A surprise in our front yard after the rain.

I Want One. Island neighbors had a litter of 8 adorable golden puppies! Here a few hang out on a board covering a hole the mischievous pooches dug in their yard.

No Sand Here. The sculpted, rocky beach on the west side of the island.

Here's Lookin' at You. A glorious poppy opens wide in search of the sun.

Cherry, Cheri? We canned cherries from Eastern Washington! This one waits on the counter to be dropped in a jar.

Photos: Week 51 Part 2

2010-07-12T20:00:00.000-07:00

Dozens of booths are set up on the reservation every July selling fireworks. Each person or family names, paints, and decorates their own booth in an attempt to attract the most customers away from the stiff competition. I wasn't able to get photos before the 4th because of the crowds of people, but I stopped by after the weekend and found some of them still standing. The booths were closed, but I like the photos better this way: a firework booth ghost town.

Photos: Week 51 Part 1

2010-07-12T08:04:00.000-07:00

In honor of the 4th of July: firework photos PLUS a later posting of firework booths (please come back at 8 PM to see them!).

(Blogger wouldn't allow me to upload the firework photos in a larger size, so please open them individually in a new tab or window if you want to see the details.)

Photos: Week 50

2010-07-05T07:51:00.000-07:00

Buttercup Bounty. Our cheerful, yellow-dotted yard.

Down Goes the Sun. A pink-horizoned sunset.

Lummi Mountain. Looking at our island from the reservation.

Island Talk. A suggestion from the truck in front of us on the ferry.

Salmonberries. These grow wild all over the island (this was in our yard), and are edible, although they are not as flavorful as the raspberries or blackberries here.

Chocolate Sunset. A tasty tinted sky over the north end of our island.

Ferry Royalty. Our regal neighbor, crossing to the mainland.

Photos: Week 49

2010-06-28T07:54:00.000-07:00

Stommish. We attended the annual gathering of Pacific Northwest canoe tribes over the weekend. Here, a ferris wheel turns on the reservation, with the Island in the background.

All Washed Up. A war canoes waits its turn to race.

Hidden Butterfly. One of the participants in the Pow Wow.

Colorful Blur. Dancers compete at the Pow Wow.

Proud as an Eagle. My favorite Pow Wow ensemble.

Crouching Man. Staircase decoration at the hall, where dozens of drumming groups were pounding up a storm.

Guess Where We Are? From left to right: Lummi Nation, USA, Canada, and interestingly, POW MIA below.

Tradition. The moss-tinted roof of the canoe storage shed.

West Coast Canoe. An incredible sight to a once landlocked Kentuckian.

Photos: Week 48

2010-06-21T08:13:00.000-07:00

We're Not in Washington Anymore. Actually, we were just in California for a week, where I took this cloudy photo of Stanford's campus.

Portugese Water Dog. This cutie belongs to the owner of the house we rented in CA.

Whatchoo Looking' At? Jays built a nest right outside the window of our rented house, so I was able to capture this priceless expression without disturbing the babies!

Delicious Attorneys at Law! The perfect celebratory cake now that the 4 friends are all official!

Hunny. Among her other talents, our rented house owner has her own bees, and we got to enjoy all the honey we could eat.

Unexpected Rose. Amidst a huge thicket of vines and purple flowers, I discovered this delicate creature.

Our CA Patio. California weather does have its advantages....

Bee Hotel! This made me wish for an x-ray machine to see what they're all up to inside.

Going Home. Goodbye dry hills of California, hello wet mountains of Washington!

Photos: Week 47

2010-06-14T08:42:00.000-07:00

Art Show. The island's one restaurant doubles as an art gallery--here, portraits by the island's 5th and 6th graders in the style of Picasso.

Streak of Color. The second rectangular rainbow I've seen on the island!

Mossy Bricks. Moss loves the pacific northwest, and has crept between every one of the bricks lining the path by our house.

Horsetail Surprise. A few weeks ago, this pipe was sticking out of a pile of sawdust, with only the fern and trees in the background for greenery!

A Lovely Day for a Sail. A maroon sail passes in front of our house on a blustery day.

New Camera! I have a new (albeit used) camera with a much better zoom than my old one, resulting in the sharpest Mount Baker photo I've ever taken!

Island Handicrafts. An islander makes these baskets from dried kelp and driftwood she finds on the beach. I bought one of the tiny palm-sized baskets in the front!

Photos: Week 46

2010-06-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

Urban Approach. Taken from the passenger seat driving into Seattle. I like the accidental inclusion of the graffiti-covered "Right Lane MUST" sign, with the space needle in the background, of course.

This is Seattle. The space needle and white arches (to the left): world fair remnants.

The Best Hotel View Ever. If you visit Seattle, stay here and ask specifically for this view!

Inner City. Seattle is full of tiny brick alleyways containing everything from quirky coffee shops to this gaggle of bright yellow trucks.

SAM! Not actually a tribute to my younger brother, but a very cool sign for the Seattle Art Museum.

Hellooo. In the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, clever critters perched here out of the rain and watched the humans watching them...

Meow. Shown here in black and white to eliminate the glare of the glass that (happily) separated us (and because "Junior" looks handsome this way).

Photos: Week 45

2010-05-31T09:27:00.000-07:00

Feeling Blue. Actually, it's hard to feel blue with a view like this.

Bloomin' Rhodies. We have bold white/pink, red, and purple blossoms all around the house, but these delicate pink/yellow ones are my favorite.

Fruity. We planted 6 apple trees! The dogs seem to approve.

Purple Pillar. The beautiful bud of an iris waiting for sun in our backyard.

Health Hazard. On the rare occasion that the dogs are invited upstairs, they love to watch us like this, but don't worry: the bars are too close for them to fall through and too far apart for heads to get stuck!

Working on the Ferry is a Tough Job. The view to the south on a silvery blue day.

Dogwood Blossoms. I never realized that dogwoods blossomed--I like how the petals are framed with this interesting red hue.

Photos: Week 44

2010-05-24T09:52:00.000-07:00

Smooth as Silk. The view from our porch on a particularly calm day.

Neighborhood Watch. Our local bald eagle perched on a branch right above our driveway, allowing me to get this close!

Purple Clouds. Sunset over our island from the mainland.

"Cornflower" or "Bachelor's Button." An exotic purple pinwheel of a flower.

Pretty in Pink. Found in our yard--I love the long stem and sweet yellow button center!

The Best Get Well Gift Ever. A delicious (and photogenic) present from my best friends!

Gold Horizon. I love these pacific northwest sunsets.