RushBabe49

We went to the fair on its second day, starting at the rides area. I love to watch and listen to the people and the rides.

At Flowing Lake County Park, I saw these paddlers in their colorful craft.

This male junco is perched on a branch of our vine maple tree, deciding whether to fly over to the seed feeder and have a snack.

Running water is Nature's Original Music. Before there were plants, before there were birds, before there were any animals, there was running water on the early planet. I love this ground-level creek and its beautiful falls, where we visited in the summer of 2020.

Through my kitchen window, I saw many chickadees eating at our suet feeder. This is the most birds that are not Bushtits that I have ever seen at one time, fighting over the suet. There are both Black-capped and Chestnut-backed Chickadees. And that noise in the background is my cat meowing.

In October of 2019, Hillsdale College in Michigan celebrated its 175th Anniversary, and dedicated its new Christ Chapel. The orchestra gave a concert in the new chapel, and the college had a surprise for the audience of alumni and supporters. Choir members were in the audience, and at the end of the concert, they trooped up and gave us a rousing rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah. Not a dry eye in the chapel. Hubby and I are endowing a music scholarship at Hillsdale, and this reminded us why.

One little chickadee at our backyard feeder. Temp was 90F.

One snowy day in February, with my iPhone, I took video of the birds at our suet feeder. You can see Black-capped Chickadees, Common Bushtits, Juncos, a Bewick's Wren, and a Varied Thrush (on the fence). At one point, there were three different species of birds on the feeder at one time!

In the first RushBabe's Rant, I detail some situations that drive me crazy, being continually nagged and reminded about silly Covid precautions. I am sick to death of being reminded to wear a mask (after I've been fully vaccinated), social distance, etc.

At the Washington State Fair, while waiting in line, I took a circuit around in place, filming the rides. Lots of happy screams from the riders, and colorful lighting on the rides.

This is a quite elaborate ride at the Washington State Fair, one I had never seen before. The individual cars are very large and elaborately-constructed. The riders have control of the spin rate. You can also see the big slide next door, which looked like lots of fun.

An Osprey flew over Flowing Lake, looking for his fish dinner

By the shore of Flowing Lake near Monroe, Washington, I captured the constant wave action, with sparkling moving water, and undulating water lilies.

We have had some rain, and the road on which the place I work sits, is flooding. Watch the cars throw up rooster tails like hydroplanes!

This beautiful fountain at the entrance of the Salish Lodge in Snoqualmie, Washington is made of local granite rock. The plantings around the fountain only enhance its beauty.

Kikyo, the black cat, has a toy box. If she wants to play with a toy, she has to fish it out. For Christmas 2020, I dropped a bunch of treats into her box, and she managed to get them all out in just over one minute.

A while after we arrived on the beach at Dungeness Spit, the air grew colder, and the fog started to roll in. The wind rose, and the waves got bigger too. The world seemed to be wreathed in silver.

Ivy on her accordion, Nelia on her mandolin, literally stole the show, at the 2022 Leavenworth (WA) International Accordion Celebration. They entered the Accordion Artistry category, where they did this delightful song, Ripple. If this does not bring a smile, and maybe tears to your eyes, then you have no heart.

In the outdoor courtyard of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bellevue, Washington, the lighted trees sway in the breeze, as people eat outdoors at a neighboring restaurant. My Hubby is in the lower left corner.

Here are more fun rides at the Washington State Fair in 2021. Notice how many of those lined up for the Matterhorn are wearing masks. They are mandatory this year, indoors or out, regardless of vaccination status.

We waited in line for half an hour to ride the Tilt-A-Whirl at the Washington State Fair, and it was worth it. The owners of all the rides in "Sillyville" must have spent the past year upgrading and refurbishing the rides, and it shows.

ON the Washington State Ferry Spokane, from Edmonds to Kingston, I stood on the deck at the bow, watching the progress of a sailboat with a bright, red sail. The wind was blowing briskly, and the boat was moving pretty fast.

Maybe not, but it sure draws the screams! At the Washington State Fair in Puyallup.

Looking down at the water in Martha Lake, North Lynnwood, Washington

On the Dungeness Spit National Wildlife Refuge, Sequim, Washington on Friday, July 9, in the late afternoon. The wind was brisk, and the waves showed that. The tide was just starting to go out, and the wind seemed to be arguing with the direction of the tide.