Dogwood blossoms in the rain, May 25th, 2014. May-June is such a great time to walk (or ride with the windows down) in Tacoma, because you breathe in the delicious, varied smells of ethnic cooking, with the hints of charcoal or alder.

Mega Wimple

This is the ONLY TIME you will see me in a nun's wimple. The sculpture is entitled "Nun" and is adjacent to St. Joseph's hospital in Tacoma, at south 18th and I streets.

The Sun Is Shining And I'm Walking

A beautiful afternoon to resume my Tacoma walk. I walked up the 19th Street hill from Pacific Avenue, through the center of the University of Washington Tacoma campus, and got this great view of the Tacoma Dome and the sleek roof of the Car Museum (directly under Mount Rainier in the photo). I’ve got to get in shape because I hope to circumambulate an entire country next month.

Huckleberry Bliss

I'm behind on my project of walking all the streets of Tacoma; other priorities have filled my schedule. However, my friend Rob and I did find a day to drive up to our favorite huckleberry patch in the Cascade mountains. At 4,100 feet elevation, just at the tree line and just east of Snoqualmie pass, it was quiet enough to hear the rustle of feathers as birds flew by. Mostly alone for the day with our thoughts and the endless berry bushes, we came home at nightfall with the fruit of our labors.

Puget Park

I walked up the Puget Park trail in N. Tacoma this morning with one daughter and five of the seven grandchildren. The naturally watered park has a peaceful atmosphere under the green canopy of foliage.

The trail ends at the lovely little play area at N. 31st and Proctor where the children enjoyed the fine big toys.

Fluttering Glass

I had lunch with my friend Wes today at the Freight House Square food court, then took the light rail train to the museum of glass to take some photos on this blue-sky day. Here's one shot of the fluttering glass in the reflecting pool.

Wes tells me that he and others have been inspired to prayer-walk in Tacoma. I am so encouraged by that, because just beneath the veneer of our beautiful city is profound spiritual and social need. You see the need when you diverge from the main arterials and walk our side streets. Prayer makes a difference, though, both because it brings God's help, and because it spurs us to care and take action ourselves under His leading.

Ice Storm Of January 2012

With our environment so altered in this January's ice storm, I took a still life photo on our upper deck to remember it by. But it was the sheet of ice over the snow in our front yard that was eerily memorable.

The evening of the ice storm, poplar branches began to break with loud cracking noises. All through the night I hear the loud snap of a branch followed by the rushing sound of snow and ice falling to the ground. Miraculously, and unlike most of our friends, we never lost our electrical power.

The day before, Rachel and I had fun walking about in the 12 inches of snow that had fallen in our neighborhood. After the ice, it was much harder to walk outside, but great exercise!

Longmire Meadow

Kaaren and I walked the loop around Longmire Meadow this afternoon. Yes, I know it's not in the Tacoma city limits, but Mt. Rainier National Park is part of our Tacoma culture, and it hardly feels like leaving home when we go there.

We saw the signs of a great deal of beaver activity around the meadow's main pond. Mr. and Mrs. beaver were sleeping away this hot afternoon inside their cool water-access home, but they've clearly been busy.

Mt. Rainier National Park holds many delightful memories for our family. We praise God that this beautiful place is only an hour's drive from our front door. When Mr. Longmire first built his sulphur-spring spa here at the meadow, it took people days to get here, with the first leg by train, and the second by horseback.

My annual pass to the park expired last month, and I bought a new one today in faith that I'll be back soon!

Darkness & Light

My dear friend and Christian brother, Kent, accompanied me today as we walked 7th and 8th streets between Grant and Broadway. In close proximity we found lovely, bright homes like the ones above (7th and J), and spiritually dark ones exuding need.

Janet and two other ladies welcomed our prayers for them as they sat in the courtyard of Hope Guest Home; we encountered two other ladies who were loudly cursing each other as they crossed the street.

A highlight of our morning walk was meeting Claudia Mason, principal of Bryant Montessori Elementary School. She so graciously told us about Bryant and even let us peek at some of the precious children having their lunch. We wish the administrators and teachers of Bryant the best school year ever!

We also met some friendly tourists from CA who were walking to Wright Park and enjoying the beautiful day in Tacoma. They said they were thinking of moving here. We didn't have the heart to tell them about our 11-month rain festival...

Kent and I finished off our morning with an outdoor lunch at one of my long-time favorite places to eat, Greek To Me, on 6th and Division. If you've not yet tried their Greek food, don't hesitate! Try the Gyro or the Souvlaki.

Perfect Tacoma Morning

I see some spooky things on my walks, sometimes. I'm not sure I would want this 6th Avenue Griffin perched under my eaves.

Nevertheless, yesterday I walked the wedge of the pie between 6th and Division, from Sprague to J St. with my spiritual brother, Kent. It could not have been a more beautiful morning and we met some wonderful people. It was so pleasant that I decided to row part way.

One friend that we met in the beautiful garden at Tacoma General Hospital allowed us to pray for his mother, Barbara, who was recuperating from surgery. I also teased him about his "Cuban" cigar.

Kent and I made sure we stopped to smell the roses!

Then there's nothing like ending a morning walk at the Southern Kitchen (6th & Division)! Yes, the comfort food at SK is everything they said it would be. It's my new go-to place for beef brisket.

Indian Henry Trail

In our neighborhood an eroded monument marks the location of Indian Henry Trail. What are now 84th Street and Steilacoom Blvd were once the first road to Tacoma from Fort Steilacoom to the southwest. This road was the theoretical evacuation route for white folks in 1853, in the times of the "Indian wars."

Here's a closeup of the eroded portrait of Indian Henry in a full headdress.

6th Ave Wildlife

Got out to walk the 6th Ave. strip by Jefferson Park this morning. I enjoyed the wildlife.

Storm Walking

I feel for the person who never walks outdoors in a storm. The changing light on wet surfaces as the sun fights its way through dog-piling rain clouds makes for some beautiful visions of ordinary things. The sun broke through the amorphous army of gray today to light up the golden house above as I passed by (I've rendered it here as a cutout).

Animals are subdued on stormy days which makes for a paucity of birdsong. On the positive side, however, dogs are less aggressive and cats are more willing to pose for the camera from the safety of covered porches.


The maple trees are in their glory now, like the one below that's near South 8th and Pine streets.
Another variety of Maples at S. 12th and Pine streets made it look like the landscape was bleeding.

It was truly a red-letter day because I was able to spot a rare Chameleon Beetle!

Angel Of Music

My friend Don and I got out on a gorgeous morning to walk and pray in the Stadium District near downtown Tacoma. We were amazed at what one can see when walking that is entirely missed when driving past. There's good and bad, dark and light. On the one hand, fatalistic graffiti. On the other, an angel of music (just visible over someone's backyard fence).

Fire

I found this rose on fire in the Proctor District of N Tacoma.

Thankfully, the local Dalmatian fire fish was nearby.

Good Day, Sunshine!

With heat and sunshine predicted for the day, I shifted from my North End walk to Downtown Tacoma. As it got toward noon, professional workers came out to get a little sun and call home. Children with parents or day-care supervisors stuck their hands in fountains and waterfalls.

I checked in with Pete and Davey, the best barbers in Tacoma. Their shop is on Pacific Ave, near 9th street. I was shocked to learn that ladies' man and blues singer Pete is married! Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs.; I wish you God's life-long blessing!