Four Volcanic Peaks

From left to right, a complete set of the four volcanic peaks visible from an eastbound flight out of SeaTac: Adams, Hood, Rainier, and St Helens.  It was unusually clear, allowing for this view.

Summit Lake

Summit Lake is a hike just outside Mt Rainier National Park, and offers fine views from 5400ft over to the big mountain itself. Bear grass was blooming as the alpine opened up. Highly recommended!

Heron

I've never been so close to get a decent shot of a heron flying overhead.

Bright Tug

A brightly painted tug transits the Ballard Locks.

Tugs seem to always be in perfect repair, impeccably painted, and often have a large dog on board. Perhaps these are the basics taught in Tug School?

Sailing

I was invited sailing one recent evening, and had a good time out on Puget Sound. We spent some time with the spinnaker out, and I learned how to trim it. Sadly, the wind died down so we had to power back to the marina.

Homemade Cupcake

This small but potent cupcake is an amazing double-choco-coco masterpiece. Yummy!

Inert, Nicholas Galanin

Inert, by Nicholas Galanin at the Frye Art Museum. It's really nicely done taxidermy, and I found the wolf's gaze quite striking.

Nuclear Reactor in Plain Sight

Dedicated in 1961, the Nuclear Reactor Building on the University of Washington campus was a showcase for nuclear technology, prominent and with large windows allowing anyone to peek in to see atoms being split. The reactor ran until 1992, but was not removed until 2008.

It's now the More Hall Annex, a historical landmark of brutalist architecture, and a reminder of past attitudes towards nuclear energy.

Eastern Cascades Early Season Hiking

Early season hiking is often constrained by lingering snow, so I headed east, where the snow is less deep, the altitudes less extreme, and the temperatures a bit warmer. I still hit the snow line, but had a great day out.

Olmstead Place State Park

Olmstead Place is a historic farm, maintained since the original homestead in 1875.  It offers a peek at the original buildings, farm implements, some livestock, and a nice walk along the adjacent creek.

Ai Weiwei - Colored Vases

Ai Weiwei's Colored Vases (2010) on display at the Seattle Asian Art Museum. The colors are pleasing, though the artist's statement of what they represent is a bit overwrought.

Ian McMahon, "Cascade"

Cascade is an interesting installation by Ian McMahon. It is a set of curtains of plaster, carefully erected without any internal support or structure. The only bit of stability is provided by a bit of bracing against the rafters.

The artist plans on taking a sledgehammer to it in August.

Memorial Day War Cemetery

Volunteers decorate each soldier's grave with a flag for Memorial Day, and the planted flags stay there for some time.

This cemetery is for veterans that survived various wars, not for soldiers killed in action.

Purple Allium

These purple allium bulbs, planted in the fall, came up beautifully this spring. Hopefully they'll naturalize and give us an equally good show next year!

Lake Washington Stand Up Paddleboarding

Three friends and a dog enjoy a paddle board on Lake Washington on a warm June afternoon. The dog seemed reasonably comfortable gliding along the water, and the paddlers were smooth and competent.