A New Chapter

Tonight Cicely sold her Comet, so it is a bit of a sad time. The Comet was quite a car back in the day, I will always have some fond memories of the old thing. I remember Cicely showing me a picture of it on the Internet before we were even dating. Actually I think it was a picture of a '62 Falcon, and I was to image 4 doors and fins...The car fit Cicely to a tee in those days, and I knew that she must be a real fine gal if she was driving a 1960 Comet.

I was right, she is one fine gal, lucky for me the Comet is gone, but gal is still here...

The Hot Hot Summer Time

As the greater Seattle area sweets the days and nights away, cool refreshing water is on every one's minds. At least on the minds of those folks who are not considering the benefits of driving to Boise to purchase two box fans and one oscillating desk top fan. Since I don't have too many photos of fans, which too bad, since they are kinda cool, I have photos of glasses of water.

Free Range Marshmallows

What do free range marshmallows and a meaningful health care reform have in common? They are about as real as the Easter Bunny. However to a preschool kid... I bet I could convince them that free range marshmallows are real. In fact I took my kid out into the Snoqualmie Valley this weekend, and I pointed to the plastic wrapped hay bales and said, "Look Quin, marshmallow!' He would then response, "Yeah marshmallows..."

So tonight photographic proof that free range marshmallows are real, and thus removing their common ties with the Easter Bunny and meaningful health care reform.

A couple thoughts on the picture, first it was taken in June 1994, somewhere near Cosmopolis or Montesano, or one of those towns on the way to Aberdeen, and second I must have really wanted the shot, because I remember pulling off of US-12 to take the photo and realizing that the shoulder really wasn't wide enough to pull completely off the road. So it was two real quick shots and back on the road.

Dan

That Age Old Question - What to Blog

The moments of late for me have been more real time and less dusty, which from time to time makes this blog difficult to stay up on, since it basically is about the past and not the present. The avid reader knows that the present makes it's way into this blog often enough, but usually in the commentary and not the photos, and that said, sometimes into the photos too. But the point is I try to avoid stacking a bunch of entries with current photos in here as much as possible. However when weeks like this last one occur; the job is hectic, the wife is sick, I'm not feeling so good myself and not to mention I'm tired, it is difficult find topics. So what to blog, the real time sucked the dusty out of the week and left me with this rambling excuse. Then from the recesses of my mind, as if all this typing has busted in doors and other obstacles, the age old question is answered; one of my favorite photographs. I started showing off my favorite photos a while back, but I have not gone back to this idea for some time, so tonight it is one of my favorites. This is a photo from the copper mine at Britannia Beach, B.C., once the largest copper in the Empire. The photo is of the box were blasting caps were stored. Later I'll blog up more about the Mine, it is a fun place.

Dan

The Double Exposure

Something that has been lost in the digital age, is the perils film advancement. Film advance issues have ruined many a family photo, children trying to blow out a dressed elk, or worse a nice picture of you, with mean cousin Larry superimposed across your face. Another thing lost in the digital age, is the lame Photography 101 project to create a double exposure in the darkroom, this usually results in comical material or worse highly over thought and yet silly attempts at true art. So tonight some double exposures and one over thought and silly attempt at art.

Dan

Something New

During Nate Fest this past weekend I was able to experiment with using long exposures and moving light sources in the dark. First we used glow sticks, then I photographed a nighttime game of bocce ball. Finally after more beer was consumed we attempted photograph a burning tree branch. The results varied but it is something that I am looking forward to attempting again.

For those of you interested in looking at this year's Nate Fest photos the link is below, along with a link to last year's amusements.

Enjoy

Dan

http://picasaweb.google.com/rustedvan/NateFestII2009?feat=directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/rustedvan/CampAugustNatefestI?feat=directlink

NateFest II or Camp August

Camp August or the more popular name Nate Fest starts today, here is but a glimpse at what you are missing

Safeco at 10

Today is the 10th anniversary of the opening of Safeco Field. A wonderful moment if you love baseball, if not, sorry its my blog and I happen to love baseball. I won't wax poetic about the green cathedrals that are baseball fields or stadiums, nor will I pretend that a baseball stadium or team for that matter, serves a greater purpose other than entertainment. If I was in Brooklyn maybe I would make the argument. I will simply say this, Safeco is a beautiful place, it is everything the Kingdom was not. It is on a warm summer's evening is when Safeco is at its' best, watching twilight fall upon the city and Puget Sound can be awe inspiring. Here are photo's from Safeco

Go M's!

Dan

Chet Voigtlander

Chet, aka Jessica, surprised us Thursday evening, by showing up at our house. Oh what fun we have had since she arrived. I'm sure it will be covered in the Team Williams blog so I'm just going to post a couple photos of Chet, I mean Jessica here tonight.
Dan








Chet doin' the Puyallup

The Ocean to Ocean Endurance Contest

As mentioned back on June 23, 55 Model-T Fords have been "speeding" across America, re-enacting the great Ocean to Ocean Endurance Contest of 1909. Today the cars began the final stretch, the decent of Snoqualmie Pass and navigating of the Sunset Highway into Seattle and the University of Washington. Once at the University of Washington, the contestants will be give a lecture, I mean listen to a speech by the tubby one, Mayor Greg Nickels. My guess the speech will consist of one or more of the following topics; talk about the need for more zero emission vehicles, "urban villages (i.e. condos!), and the evils of families with dogs and or children. Lucky for the those Model-T owners this won't happen until Sunday. Until then they will continue to be treated like royalty. Today, they had a salmon bake at the Meadowbrook Farm and were paraded through the streets of North Bend and Snoqualmie on their way to Issaquah. Tomorrow they will be the toast of the town there. I took the day off today, to enjoy these fine old cars and take a few photos.

Enjoy

Dan

The Charles Bridge

The Charles Bridge or Karlův Most, turns 652 years old today. I remember the bridge as a busy place full of tourists in the afternoon and in the evening a place to gather to hear music and look at art, but my favorite time was in the morning when it was used by folks walking to work. Back in 1357, Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, chose to begin construction of the bridge at 5:31 AM, so that the date and time read as follows, 1-3-5-7-9-7-5-3-1. That ol' Charles IV was a clever guy and they named the bridge for him too, not bad at all. Anyway, it is a very special place, a true treasure, hopefully it will last another 652 years. So tonight pictures of the Karlův Most, but without including the most common photograph in the world.

Enjoy

Dan

I'm so Tired

In honor of me being real tired, pictures of people sleeping.

Quincy and the Glove Redux

As mentioned in America's Finest Blog back in January we take pictures of Quincy with my grandfather's old baseball glove. Thus highlighting the aging process of them both. But mostly its to show off just how much Quincy has changed in 2.5 years now. Not to say that the glove is not aging too, but it is less noticeable. Also it would be down right peculiar to take photographs of a baseball glove every six months to show off the aging process, especially when for comparison, a growing boy is used. Many readers would probably not put that past me.

For those who would rightly once again point out a picture from this morning shouldn't be considered dusty, you are right, but its still my blog. The dusty stuff will be returning very soon, like Wednesday or something, so that's something to look forward too, until then; the glove with Quin, at 18 months, 2 years and lastly from today.

Dan

A Day for the Dogs

What a beautiful day here is the greater North Bend area, its' been warm and wonderful. I was going to spend today's blog entry on suggesting that the Washington State government, spend a bit of time and money in restoring the Kalakala, as this seemed appropriate since its the 74th anniversary of first sailing of the grand vessel. And that even if the Kalakala never sails again or at least never is used as a ferry again, it should be restored to its 1935 glory and become the Washington State Ferry Museum. Anyway due to other events amongst friends and blog readers, I have decided to focus of good old mutt dogs for tonight.

Happy Independence Day!

Dan

The Sunset Highway

Today is not only Canada Day, but it also marks the opening of the Sunset Highway, over Snoqualmie Pass in 1915. The Sunset Highway is the precursor to U.S. 10 and I-90 and took a more leisurely route to Spokane than the more modern roads. From Seattle the road went south to Renton, and then east to Issaquah, from there to Fall City (via Preston). At Fall City the Sunset met up with the northern road around Lake Washington, modern day SR 202. From Fall City it continued east to Snoqualmie and North Bend and then over Snoqualmie Pass to Cle Elum and from there over Blewett Pass to Wenatchee and the only bridge across the Columbia at the time. From East Wenatchee, the Sunset followed U.S. 2, more or less, to Spokane. On old maps it is referred to PH2, PH means Primary Highway.
Its a grand old road and one that should be marked, much like California does with it's forgotten highways, with a brown shield, with the words historic highway and then the number. One day I will drive the ol' Sunset Highway from downtown Seattle to downtown Spokane, but for now here are a few photos from along the Sunset Highway.
The first photo is the bridge over the Raging River near Preston. The second photo is just east of downtown North Bend. Photo number three is near Weeks Falls on the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River, off exit 38 on I-90. Fourth picture is the bridge at Denny Creek, not pictured is a yellow arrow that points east, this is there because the Sunset Highway also was a part of the Yellowstone Trail. The Yellowstone Trail was a series of roads that took a tourist close to but not quite to Yellowstone Park. The fifth photo is from the top of the Pass, circa the 1950's. The last photo is downtown Easton. Easton what a town, but that is a thought for another day.

Enjoy