New Camera

My beloved Canon Powershot has been limping along for about a year, and finally died of lens errors. The little substitute I borrowed has also died of unknown causes. I didn't realize how much I missed having a camera until my new one arrived yesterday.

This is looking towards Mt. St. Helens at full zoom (the mountain itself is behind clouds). Not bad for straight out of the box on auto mode. I haven't read any instructions yet. 

Zander willingly posed for a close up. 

I'm so excited! It would be lovely if the clouds lifted so I could get some mountain shots, but there are plenty of small treasures to practice on. 

Morning Mirage

It poured rain all night, but when I opened the door early this morning I saw stars piercing a clear, dark sky. That did not explain the rain still splashing in puddles. I decided not to look out the other side of the house for awhile. I liked this door into clearing.

As the sky lightened, the rain stopped and the clouds withdrew further, leaving paw prints in their wake. 

The valley was filled with fog. As I stood on the porch it felt like I was overlooking a large lake, or a new inlet to Puget Sound. Momentary magic, I temporarily lived on the water, as well as in the mountains.

Ducks

I love having ducks. When it is windy and the rain feels like it came from a fire hose, everyone on the farm looks miserable and heads for shelter - except the ducks. Even the geese seem overwhelmed by the rain, but not the ducks. The ducks run from puddle to puddle, stream to new stream, delighting in the amount of water on the ground. They dabble in the mud and sieve food from runoff. Life doesn't get any better than this. My ducks are happy.

It isn't just my ducks, either. A local farmer's grassy fields are half covered with new ponds - and those ponds are inhabited by wild ducks. I counted 7 of them. Opportunists.

It gives me another perspective on life. What's unpleasant for one is a delight for another. We are all different, and our opinions are all valid. I may not like being out in driving rain, but the ducks love it. I celebrate these differences, and give thanks to the ducks.

After the Storm

There are still stars!
There's still a moon!
They have not blown away.
Perhaps there may still be a sun
That we will see again,
Some day.

Sheltering from the Rain

November Sky