IN THE MOOD

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As Father's Day is approaching I think of my Daddy. Daddy passed away in January of 2000. He loved music and Glenn Miller was a favorite. Sometimes he awakened us to "IN THE MOOD" playing on the stereo about as loud as it would go. I hated getting up, but I've always enjoyed the tune and I enjoyed Glenn Miller.

I hope this music gets you "IN THE MOOD" for a wonderful day.

Military Service -- What's Buggin' Me

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This is the only picture of Daddy in his uniform that I have on this computer. It was taken when he was on leave in Hawaii.

Daddy gave part of his life during WWII to serve his country. He was trained in the desert and was then sent to Attu. Daddy didn't talk much about his time in the Army. I think it was just too painful for him. Daddy was a medic. While at Attu he treated a lot of frostbite. He talked of soldiers losing some of their digits and sometimes their feet from frostbite.

This is what part of his military records states:

SURGICAL TECHNICIAN - Was in the Pacific Theater of Operations in a Medical Detachment with the 7th. Infantry Division. Participated in the Aleutians Islands, Eastern Mandates, Southern Philippines and Ryukyus campaigns. Advanced with the Infantry on all their landings. Treated men as soon after they were hit as possible. Performed first aid on all types of wounds. Was wounded carrying out his duties on Leyte in the Philippines.

My three brothers served their country by joining the Air Force. My brother Zarone spent 20 years in the Air Force.

Frank, my husband, spent 20 years in the Army. He served in the music field. He marched in many parades and played many concerts. The hardest part of his service was funeral services for our fallen soldiers.

Frank's Dad served during the Korean Conflict with the Marines.

I am thankful for their service to our country and for each man and woman that have served and are serving our country.

In between rain showers I took a few pictures of my favorite subject matter with my camera lens, insects. I know some insects are downright creepy and ugly. I find them interesting though and love going into their small world. My shoulder makes me a bit shaky and I find it impossible to take pictures of some insects with my camera on a tripod... so it takes me a few shots to get a photo that isn't very blurry.

Bee on Salvia

Bee on Salvia



Ladybug on Salvia



Ladybug on Salvia



Green Fly



Brown Stink Bug on Salvia



Long-Legged Fly.... blurry... sitting on a hydrangea leaf

Cape Flattery - Eagles

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Mildred over at Nalley Valley was tagged to go to her fifth file folder and choose the fifth photo and post it and tell something about the photo. I decided I'd play along. Play along if you would like to too.

Well... in the fifth folder there were only four photos, so I decided to try the fifth folder in my email folder :-)

The file folder is one from our long trip last year. This photo was taken at Cape Flattery in Washington State which is the most northwestern point in the contiguous states and is the home of the Makah Nation. It was named in 1778 by Captain James Cook for the point of land that “flattered us with the hopes of finding a harbor.”

Click on image for larger view.

The days before we arrived at Cape Flattery the skies were very overcast and there was drizzling rain. So we were not expecting good weather at Cape Flattery. We were surprised as we drove onto the Makah Reservation the sun came out. Our hike on the Cape Flattery Trail was beautiful! The hike is only like ¾ of mile long.... on the way back it is twice as far :-) This is especially true when you carry a camera and tripod... Frank had two film cameras (one color film and one b&w film) plus the video camera.... he carried the tripod most of the way back.

The trail consist of boardwalk, stone and gravel steps. It was not the easiest trail (more so on the hike back to the parking lot) for this lady with a bad knee and asthma and hubby with a bad achilles tendon, but we did very well just taking our time.... I'm saying that if we can make the walk then you probably can too :-) It is a pleasant walk through a beautiful forest. As you get closer to the end of the trail there are views such as the one above. There was a harbor seal swimming there just before I took the picture :-( The water is so clear and beautiful.

Okay... I have to add more photos :-)

At the end of the trail is an observation deck. There was a young lady sitting there and she answered our questions. She had a telescope set up and we could see Cape Flattery Lighthouse located on Tatoosh Island. The first picture is with my regular camera lens with no zoom and the second picture is with my long 300mm lens and zoomed in.

Click on image for larger view.

Click on image for larger view.

It was just a wonderful feeling standing on the observation deck looking at all the beauty around.

Click on image for larger view.

Frank won't like me posting his photo, but it shows the Cape Flattery Trail. This is on the way back to the parking lot. There are some places that there are no boards, but round stepping stones.

Click on image for larger view.

After our hike we went back into the village, Neah Bay. The lady at the observation tower had told us there would probably be some seals down by the marina there. We saw no seals, but we saw Bald Eagles. These pictures were taken with my long 300mm lens. They aren't the sharpest pictures.... mainly because they are hand-held. The clouds started to roll back in and there was breeze that was quite cold. I was cold and excited... who can hold a camera still :-)

This photo is of a Juvenile Bald Eagle.

Click on image for larger view.

This picture.... well it was just awesome to see. The juvenile Bald Eagle... different one than in the above picture... in mid-flight grabbed onto the adult Bald Eagle. It wasn't an attack. He just grabbed and then let go. We saw a documentary on Eagles a while back and this behavior is not unusual... just unusual to me :-)

Click on image for larger view.

Sometimes I wish for a better lens.... or one that will focus closer to the subject matter and I would not have to crop the image. I know such a lens I would not be able to carry... it would be one like you see the paparazzi carrying :-)


If you can make a trip up the Oregon Coast to Washington State do so. It has to be the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen.

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I awakened this morning feeling a bit sad. Nine years ago today Daddy passed away. The first thoughts of the day was the day he passed away. My Daddy died of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He also had a heart problem and they couldn't really treat one because of the other. It was hard watching my Daddy die. He lived for 79 years and he and Mama had over 54 years together.

Posting these pictures today lifted my spirits. Nature does that to me.

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Nature is man's teacher. She unfolds her treasures to his search, unseals his eye, illumes his mind, and purifies his heart; an influence breathes from all the sights and sounds of her existence. -- Alfred Billings Street