A Sunny Day at Dune Peninsula

Took advantage of the sunny, warm weather to spend an afternoon at Dune Peninsula, part of the Tacoma Metropolitan Parks. It’s a new park that was named after the science fiction novel “Dune.” There’s even sculptures in the park that are fashioned after the giant sandworms in the novel. The park setting is very picturesque with views of Puget Sound and Mount Rainier.  Here’s a few photos I took.

Welcome the Summer Dahlias!

With the global pandemic, I have not been able to get out much this year to do any traveling. I’m just staying close to home and visiting local spots that are open to the public. Our local city park (Point Defiance Park) just started letting visitor in last month. I’ve visited a few times and was quite disappointed that the city had not planted any of the seasonal, summer flowers that they usual do. I was very glad that at least the Dahlia garden was attended to by the local Dahlia Society. So here are a couple of short photo shows I put together of the many photos I took of the always show-stopping Dahlias. Enjoy!

 

All photo images property of Peggy A Thompson

40th Anniversary of the Mount St Helens Volcano Eruption

It’s been 40 years since the cataclysmic eruption of the Mount St Helens Volcano, located in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State. I was living about 80 miles north of the volcano and can remember watching the plume of ash from my residence on that day, May 18, 1980. There was no internet or social media back then. We had to watch TV or listen to radio to keep up on what was happening real time. All throughout that eventful day viewers were glued to their television sets to watch the event unfolding before their eyes. For weeks and months afterward, the volcano continued to steam, and viewers and scientists were able to watch a dome start to build within the crater. A Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument was eventually declared within a few years along with a visitor center and observatory built within a few miles of the volcano. Visitors from around the world continue to be awed by its looming presence, not knowing if and when it will erupt once more.

I’ve put together a few images I’ve taken over the years from the many times visiting the monument. The volcano is still an active one and will eventually, one day, erupt again.

Dome building event

Newly created Coldwater Lake from the eruption

Ash blown landscape

Destroyed hillsides of forests from the volcanic blast

Rising steam from the crater dome as viewed from observatory

Spirit Lake Memorial Highway

Return of abundant plant life to the area

 

All photos property of Peggy A Thompson

 

Thanksgiving Day Blessing

(Photo: Ginkgo leaves and fruit)

We Thank Thee

For flowers that bloom about our feet,
Father, we thank Thee.
For tender grass so fresh, so sweet,
Father, we thank Thee.

For the song of bird and hum of bee,
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.
For blue of stream and blue of sky,

Father, we thank Thee.
For pleasant shade of branches high,
Father, we thank Thee.
For fragrant air and cooling breeze,
For beauty of the blooming trees,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.

For this new morning with its light,
Father, we thank Thee.
For rest and shelter of the night,
Father, we thank Thee
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Have a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving Day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Autumn Color Part II

As promised, here are more photo images of the spectacular autumn leaf color we have been experiencing this season. They may be my last leaf photos of the season. Enjoy!

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All images property of Peggy A Thompson