Like the fleeting wildflowers that bloom this time of year, moments spent with our dear friend were precious, golden hours we treasured and hope to relive. May 5, 2025 Olalla Canyon RidgeSoaking up nature’s healing vibes under the cherry blossom trees. March 31, 2025 Kobe TerraceListen to the river’s rhythm. February 22, 2025 Wenatchee RiverAt the turning point of progressing from greens to blues. January 13, 2025 Steven’s PassOh, happy vibrant tree. October 21, 2024 Kubota GardenPerhaps the prettiest sunrise I’ve ever seen. September 21, 2024 Orcas IslandMother Nature always has beauty to show us, even when views are caressed by clouds and fog like on my hike last week. Today’s gift was the opposite: clear, crisp, postcard-like panoramas. It was surreal to get up as close as I’ve ever been to the mountain and be able to see her majestic glacial glory in full glow. September 16, 2024 Burroughs Mountain Loop TrailThe path ahead may be unclear, but we need to keep trekking forward. Only then, can we find some clarity. September 9, 2024 Ptarmigan Ridge TrailA month ago, I tried to hike this trail but it was all covered in snow and fog. This morning, its path was clear and full of lively wildflowers framing its peaks and mirror lakes. It made me reflect on how in life, if we wait and try again, we can see and make change happen. August 5, 2024 Chain Lakes LoopIt felt like a dream walking through these wildflowers of foxgloves and daisies in super bloom. July 15, 2024 West Tiger MountainAnother Monday morning in the mountains! I just can’t keep away. July 8, 2024 High Rock LookoutThat golden hour. July 7, 2024 Willamette ValleyStarting off the month this Monday morning back in the mountains! It feels so great to return to exploring my PNW backyard after waiting out a number of weeks to recover enough energy and fitness level from fighting a stubborn respiratory virus. Needless to say, I’m very grateful for this beautiful scenery taking my breath away in place of a hacking cough. July 1, 2024 Picture LakeI have such a crush on you. So much of one that I ventured out practically half past midnight to wander above the clouds and play your game of peekaboo. May 20, 2024 Tahoma State ForestSome see a weed. Some see a wish. May 4, 2024 Rasar State ParkThe sun came out to play. April 15, 2024 Roche HarborTangled up in tulips. April 8, 2024 Mount VernonAs the cherry blossoms are reaching peak bloom around here, I took my watercolors and good camera out today to capture their precious moment in time. I had the morning free before going for our last frozen embryo transfer procedure in the afternoon. Unexpectedly at noon, the doctor called to tell me it didn’t survive the thaw. It was shocking news much like when in December, a week after transferring our third embryo, the nurse called to inform of the negative pregnancy test. These outcomes make me feel so lucky that our first two embryos became our children, Hazel and Esme. I am grateful for assisted reproductive technology (ART) for helping us build our family. We finally have closure on our infertility journey and can say our family is complete. The decision-making process in taking action on what to do with our previously two remaining embryos did not come easy. We paid the storage fees year after year to not make that decision. For us, to discard or to donate them was too heartbreaking. At least we had the decision and the opportunities to give them life. My heart goes out to all the individuals who aspire to become parents or expand their family through ART but are currently stalled in their journey due to the ruling that embryos are children in Alabama. March 18, 2024 Washington Park ArboretumBaby, it’s cold outside. December 3, 2023 Mount RundleIn an evergreen world, there exist fiery glowing larches that are an absolute feast for the eyes. They are like the cherry blossoms of autumn. I’m stoked I caught them in time before they go on to lose their golden needles. October 16, 2023 North CascadesWhat a beauty! She reminds me of Lake Louise in Banff with similar robin-egg color and layout of surrounding mountains. But you only need to park your car then take maybe 30 steps to see Lady Lou. Your view of Lady Blanc, however, is rewarded after a number of challenges: go up then back down 30 or so heavily rooted, steep switchbacks; gain an elevation of 3415 ft, covering about 10 miles overall. It was a fine pay off for a good workout. September 11, 2023 Blanca LakeClear skies were promised in the forecast for today all week long up until this weekend, it changed to “cloudy conditions.” I had my heart set out on seeing Mount Rainier at sunrise via the Fremont Lookout and decided to test my luck. Even if she were to be swallowed up in a blanket of clouds, so be it. Well, God is good! A downpour of rain on the way up was no big deal to witness her glacial glory. August 7, 2023 Mount Fremont Fire Lookout10 miles out & back! Well, my physical body made it back, but I left a part of my soul at Lake Colchuck after taking a cold plunge into its ethereal aquamarine blue wonder. I’ve been eyeing this hike for a few years now. Very cool to have gotten to see how the sun transformed the reflective water into a monochrome after it went above the mountains. July 24, 2023 Colchuck LakeHappy Canada Day from the Tantalus Range of the Coast of British Columbia! July 1, 2023 Alpha MountainIt’s summer in the PNW! Tis the season to escape into the woods, chase those glowing greenish blue alpine lakes, and see and paint the world in rainbow. June 12, 2023 Emmons Moraine TrailEscaped the tent at twilight this morning and hiked through glorious fields of wildflowers, down to the river, caught the last bit of sunrise on a quick watercolor sketch then came back to the family still fast asleep. May 20, 2023 Rasar State ParkQuaint and quiet first evening on the Oregon coast. April 13, 2023 Three Arch Rocks9 miles out and back to be on cloud 9, meeting eye to eye with a half frozen waterfall. March 6, 2023 Franklin FallsOn a larch hunt, but found snowy evergreens instead, October 23, 2022 Mount CatherineSqueezed in one last summer hike. What a treat it was to see so many different peaks along the way: Mount Baker, the Olympics, Mount Constitution of the San Juan Islands, and the North Cascades. September 19, 2022 Sauk MountainOh, behold the bright greens and blues of an alpine summer! July 11, 2022 Middle Fork RiverIn the secret garden on the beach. June 18, 2022 SequimCloud-swathed mountains in the sky set the mood for a Monday hike. June 6, 2022 Central CascadesThe rain couldn’t deter me from returning here with my watercolors. March 21, 2022 The Quad at UWLittle specks of blue sky and sunshine peek through the clouds. February 5, 2022 Skykomish RiverOrca sighting. August 24, 2021 Orcas IslandPut a 🦆 on it. April 21, 2021 Lake CrescentPut a 🐦 on it. June 19, 2020 Orcas IslandMud and mist made way to a mirror. June 16, 2020 Heather LakeThe clouds departed back up into the sky by the time I was finished. May 15, 2020 Boulder GardenOur stay at home orders here in Washington state are extended until at least the end of the month, but thank goodness we can take day trips to enjoy the great outdoors again. May 5, 2020 Baring MountainVictorian views. January 19, 2020 Victoria Waterfront HarbourOn a clear, sunny day, Mount Rainier makes her presence known. July 25, 2019 Lake WashingtonSoaring above the cloud-swathed mountains in the sky. July 18, 2019 Rattlesnake LedgeTaking in the fresh mountain air is worth more than gold. July 12, 2019 Gold Creek PondPaint what the camera cannot capture. July 9, 2019 Discovery Park LoopA bit disheartened that Mount Hood was not visible today. But with art that which cannot be seen can be created. September 12, 2018 Trillium LakeTogether, we can make multiple ripple effects. September 11, 2018 Lan Su Chinese Garden
Art by Phuong Nguyen Willis 