A June Country Drive

Hello, Dear Friends, now that our little corner of the world

 is beginning to return to normal, 

we feel more comfortable in venturing out for some relaxing

country drives. 

So come along with me as Ramblin' Man and I take to roads less traveled,

here along the foothills of the Cascade mountains in Washington State.  

Our spring and early summer have abundant rainfall and mild temperatures, 

turning everything lush and green. 

"Plant seeds of happiness, hope, success, and love; it will all

come back to you in abundance. This is the law of nature.

- Steve Maraboli -

Mt. Rainier supervises an early hay harvest. 

xx

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap

but by the seeds you plant."

- Robert Louis Stevenson -

We turn in to a picnic area for lunch, along the same creek 

that runs at the base of our little mountain a few miles upstream.

This is a salmon stream that originates in the Cascades near Mt. Rainier. 

On quiet evenings when the water is high after snowmelt or storms,

 the rushing water sounds eerily like 

phantom voices from some far-off crowd.

A conference of water and nature spirits telling their tales? 

 This vintage railway bridge is now part of the Rails to Trails Conservancy 

The goal, locally, is to have a trail that goes all the way from Puget Sound to Mt. Rainier. 

Years of dedication have brought it up this far. 

The old roadway bridge. 

It's lovely to sit and listen to the gentle gurgling, singing birds, 

and fresh, springtime breezes whispering through the trees. 

"The earth has music for those who listen."

- William Shakespeare -

I try to imagine what secrets these ancient trees hold. 

Purple dead-nettle - a wild mint. 

We had the grounds all to ourselves except for the occasional 

dog-walker. 

xx

"To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is

more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug."

- Helen Keller -

How Green was my Valley. ( The title of one of my favorite books)

It's always a little disconcerting to come around 

the corner and meet up with one of these. 

We live in a logging community. 

Buttercup 

xx

"If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere."

- Laura Ingalls Wilder -

White Hawthorn grows wild here, spread by birds who love the red berries 

that form after flowering. 

Wetlands, still sporting dried grasses and reeds.

  Red-tinged leaf buds on tall black cottonwood. 

If you take a right-hand turn before the first hill and follow it up two miles, 

you will come to our mountain home. 

But we are not ready to go home quite yet, so let's continue on!

xx 

"Going to the mountains is like going home."

- John Muir -

We pass century-old cottages as we drive through town. 

Ancient Kwanzan cherry trees blanket the ground with petals. 

The historic school has been restored to serve as administration offices. 

My children attended this school district and now three of my grandchildren

will attend, also. 

We briefly take the two-lane mountain highway that runs through town

and are passed by at least 100 motorcycles! 

A scenic drive, but rain-showers obscure mountain views. 

This old farm has been abandoned for as long as I can remember. 

It has such wonderful patina. 

Mt. Rainier is hidden behind the clouds here. 

"I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery - air, mountains,

trees, people. I thought, 'This is what it is to be happy.'

- Sylvia Plath - 

We drive through a sudden squall. 

The weather is so fickle this time of year. 

One minute it is raining and gray, the next, the sun is shining. 

But with the rain, there are sometimes rainbows :)

The 'traffic' along the back roads. 

The 'locals'. 

And if you need a place to stay...

xx

Some lovely and well-maintained rural properties. 

If you could bottle peacefulness, this would be it. 

Several modes of transportation intersect right here. 

I think we've all felt like birds on a wire this year, holding on 

through stormy skies. 

xx

" Use what talents you possess: the woods would be 

very silent if no birds sang there except those 

that sang best."

- Henry van Dyke -

Clearing skies as the sun starts to set. 

The winds of change are always blowing. 

"Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads."

- Henry David Thoreau - 

The end of a lovely day. 

I hope that you enjoyed coming along on our country drive, Dear Friends. 

Wishing you sweet dreams.

xoxo

" We don't inherit the earth from our ancestors, we 

borrow it from our children."

Native American Proverb

Linking with: Viewing Nature with Eileen - Saturday's Critters