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January 02/12/2026 By Cheryl and John Schmit Front Door Cam As the weather changes, so do we while we work in the yard or go get the mail. The doorbell cam captures moments when we come into view and shares the day or night with you. Window Views We enjoy looking out the window and watching the drama unfolding there. Whether it's a colorful sunset or a storm moving in, the scene can be captivating and leave a deep impression. Here are a few of our favorites from January 2026. John Cutting Grass Just out doing the chores. It is highly unusual to be cutting grass in January. So glad to still be capable enough to take care of the place. You can be sure that music is playing nicely in the ears to drown out the noise as I push the mower around. Mountain View Cemetery From the babbling brook to the majestic Mt. Rainier, Mountain View Cemetery is a good place to go and take pictures. A beautiful day also helps. We enjoyed taking pictures as we wandered around some of the new sections they were adding to the grounds. Saltwater State Park The tide was up and the wind was quite brisk as it blew in across the Puget Sound. Still, we joined with many others as we watched the white caps on the water and enjoyed clear skies and the warmer sunshine. It was a beautiful day to be outside. The views were great and we made every effort to get just the right picture. Moon Sometimes the Moon just smiles down on you. You look up and go, wow! But the camera just can't get what the eye can see. Here at least, you can get the idea as we share some images. Drive to Fred Hutchinson (Seattle) We don't go to Seattle very often. When we do, we try to capture the city as it currently is. The skyline changes and landmarks come and go, so we find it nice to have a view of how it was when we were there. The Rainier Brewery, the stadiums, and the various skyscrapers are always a treat. Enjoy this pictures of our drive. Mt. Rainier from Tahoma National Cemetery We had a private showing of the house scheduled for the evening and the sky was clear so where could we go to get a nice shot of the mountain? Tahoma National Cemetery is located here in Covington and only a 10-minute drive away. Private showings last about half an hour, so off we went to get a picture of Mt. Rainier. Driving Views We've had some low-level clouds near the end of the month. On this last Saturday of the month, the open house was scheduled for afternoon, so we drove over to the Renton area for hot chocolate and a nice ride. These images were taken while we were on the freeway headed out. The clouds looked picturesque against the hills in the distance. Enjoy! December 01/12/2026 By Cheryl and John Schmit Door Cam We can always count on the front door cam for capturing spontaneous pictures of us coming and going. From going to get the mail, to checking out the lawn, we have good reason to go out the front door almost every day. I don't see any snow in those pictures, yet. Ollie and Mac You may have seen Ollie in last month's pictures. He seems to be getting out more and has made friends with Mac, a Christmas mouse. The two seem to get along well and Ollie has shown Mac what he looks at when watching out the window. Last year, it was his job to scare away a bird that kept hitting the window during nesting season. He did the job well. Now he seems to be integrating himself into our daily living. Window Views While we may be wanting to move to Spokane, we still find the skies over the Puget Sound to be very dramatic. As we busy ourselves to the tasks around the house, we keep an eye out for interesting views outside. Cheryl caught many views that highlighted sunsets and storms, but as yet, no snow. There was a pretty good fog News Years Eve. Decorating From the first of December on, we have been decorating. It can be quite nostalgic to know you are decorating the place for the last time, so we hope. Cheryl got out all the boxes and assigned John the task of decorating in the piano room while she worked in the living room. A couple of days later, the colored lights outside were added and we were finished. Decorations were up. Flood Views We waited until most of the flooding had dissipated before venturing down to see what we could see. We were very surprised to see the fog everywhere there was some flooding. It was especially thick over the river channels. So, no sunny views of water over acres of farmland. There were still a few road closures and very high water flowing past some apartments in Kent. It was some of the worst flooding in the last 25 years. Christmas We had a pretty quiet Christmas this year. It was nice to have the decorations up, but with the staging of the house always in the thoughts, it was more subdued. Allen came over and we had exciting conversations about his work and activities. Cheryl made a wonderful dinner and we took the annual group photo. Moon December has shown us plenty of overcast days and night. I didn't think we would get any opportunity to see stars. Then, on the 28th, the clouds parted and we had a great view of the Moon. New Years Eve The fog was back with a vengeance on New Years Eve. Looking out the window we could just see a few feet. The local news could not make out the Space Needle. While we had the video up on the TV, all you could see was shadows where the fireworks were. We heard local fireworks going off, but could see nothing out our windows this year. John added six new pieces of music to the Music page, updating it for the year. Check out the new tunes. Novemberr 12/12/2025 By Cheryl and John Schmit After Halloween, we start ramping up the Holiday spirit. We figured this would be the last trip to Spokane this year, so we needed to bring back things we would want for the next three or four months. Planning for winter, we wanted to leave the house in Spokane ready for the season. Spokane Drive to Spokane It's fall and the rainy season has started. The ride to Spokane was very wet. However, the trees along the roadway were still in the 'Fall Color" mode. We were surprised to see that the reservoirs were still so low. We also got a got picture of the bridge that was removed after being hit by a truck. After coming out of the mountains, the ride was wet but uneventful. Sky Views After arriving in Spokane, we continued to be amazed at the widely varied sky conditions. With the continued cloud cover, we were unable to watch the stars and Moon, but the clouds put on a show that couldn't be beat. The fog was the biggest surprise. From our elevated location, we had interesting views of fog layers in the valley. Even at night the scenes were awesome. Geese The elevated view of the valley also provides for an unexpected sight, the flocks of geese as they fly in formation. It is one thing to watch with your eyes as the come up out of the valley and attain their formation. It's another to be ready to catch them with a camera. Most of the time you just point in their direction and take pictures. You can zoom in and edit the images later. Company It's always nice to have company come over. Jason and Lisa called and were stopping by. We set a table for dinner. To our pleasant surprise Alexis and her friend came also. We all gathered around the kitchen island, enjoying snacks and stories. What an enjoyable time! Drive To Covington The drive to Covington should take about 4 and a half hours. That's on a good day. This time was not so good. We ended up in traffic that was backed up for several miles due to two major accidents. While it looked like no one was hurt much, the cars and trucks involved were all over on both sides of the roadway. Clearing them would take quite some time. Our drive took over five and a half hours. Covington John Visits Hospital John had a mild ache in the chest for several hours as we approached Covington. We had stopped to pickup food for dinner when John decided he needed to visit the emergency room at the local hospital to have the pain checked out. He was having trouble breathing by the time we arrived and they quickly checked him out to find a blood clot in the lower left lung. Apparently, they had seen this before and knew just what to do. They gave John a good dose of blood thinner along with some pain medication and within hours, john was feeling much better. They kept him overnight, continuing the medications untill morning. They also fed him and he found the food tasty! He then had an electrocardiogram and an ultrasound to check for any further blood clots. None were found and he was ready to go home. He learned a good lesson about deciding to quit the blood thinner drug he was on. West Views With the continued overcast weather, we are denied the ability to photograph the Moon and other celestial features. Thus, we focus our vision on the colorful and dramatic views we see to the west while here in Covington. Cheryl has captured a wide variety of interesting pictures. The Pacific storms provide ample weather activity for the pictures. Lisa and Jason Visit We were very happy to have Lisa and Jason stopping by on the 15th. It's always fun to have a quick visit. Thanks to you both for giving us another awesome weekend! John Mowing Chores don't wait for anyone and the lawn was just waiting for John. Yes, it was a little cool outside, but John dressed for the occasion. Here you can see him doing his best. Owl's Adventure While Littlefoot, Rabbit and Tiger decided to stay in Spokane and wait for our return. Owl chose to ride along with us for whatever time we would be in Covington. Owl likes to be around us and enjoys cuddling. I'm sure he'll have plenty of stories to share with his buddies when he gets back to Spokane. Owl usually sits in the front widow at Covington to deter the kamikaze birds in the spring. Thanksgiving We enjoyed a great Thanksgiving with Allen joining us. Cheryl and John worked together to make the Thanksgiving meal. It was a good time to share stories and adventures we all had. We made sure to get the annual group shot. October 11/13/2025 By Cheryl and John Schmit It's fun when there are lots of things to share. We had plenty of activity in October. This month we kind of divided the news into three areas; Covington Fun, Spokane Activities, and the Texas Trip. Each one had their own special moments. There were over 100 pictures posted on the various pages this month. Hope you enjoy them all! Covington Fun Covington Front Door Cam Cheryl found several pictures that captured us coming and going as we tended to chores. It can be fun to sometimes see what is in the background or other places in the images. Fall Color The Pacific Northwest has some amazing color in the fall. We were very surprised to find that most of the tree color west of the Cascade Mountains was not natural. Tree color here was planted by man. The natural fall color here is mainly a muddy brown and yellow from the few deciduous trees. Evergreen trees dominate the area and provide a year-round green. Man came along and planted color. Sunsets and Clouds Cheryl watches for spectacular sky activity. Whether it's dramatic clouds or colorful sunsets. With fire smoke still in the air and fall storms moving in off the Pacific, there is plenty of activity in the sky. Unfortunately, that activity can also cover up celestial shows from the Moon and stars. We will take what we can get! Seattle University Village We took a day to travel to University Village near the University of Washington just north of downtown Seattle. Not one of my favorite drives. But, once there, we walked around the shopping area and came across a unique water feature. Had to get a picture of that. Cheryl's favorite furniture store is there, so we spent some time looking for just the right items for the new place in Spokane. Maple Valley Train Show We have to leave the house when there are open houses scheduled. The trick is finding something to do for the hour and a half. It just happened that this week, one of John's favorite activities was on display just a few miles away in Maple Valley. The annual train show is fun to see. We really like the Leggo train sets that they have. We could have spent the whole afternoon there. Spokane Activities Ride to Spokane We find the trips back and forth from Covington to Spokane quite dynamic. Every time we go there is something new to see. The weather changes and now we have seasonal changes. There are more, natural, deciduous trees here also so we have color changes as well. The trips are never boring. Geese Standing at the patio deck door, looking out over the Spokane Valley, what started as a small dot grew into a wavy line of dots. I knew then that there was a line of geese flying towards me from the southwest. Grabbing the phone and setting a medium zoom, I started taking some pictures. I really couldn't see what I was getting on the screen, but viewing them later show a nice flock of birds as they flew off to the Northeast. Bookcase Construction The main activity for our current trip to Spokane was to put the bookcases and the cabinets around the TV to clear boxes out of the garage. All the racks and cabinets were marked and numbered where they would go. The boxes of books and DVD's were identified to assist in making the job easier. Within a few days, we had a nice wall of books and DVD's around the TV. Now there is more room in the garage. Area Views We find the views in Spokane to be wonderful. Wherever we look, there's always something new to see. The colors, snow, animals, steam and clouds gave us many reasons to take a picture. Texas Trip Traveling to Dallas Here are just a few pictures to show we were on our way. We stayed at a different hotel this time and found the room to be very good. There even was a kitchenette complete with dish washer! Visiting with Family Our visit included a day when more members of the family could be there. It was good to get together again and share many stories. Vanna once again provided a wonderful meal. Dad (96) was looking good and participated well with the visit. Of course we got the obligatory group shot. Visiting with Dad and Vanna Our second day of the visit was just with Dad and Vanna. We were glad to have some quiet time with them also. Vanna got the chance to show Cheryl her garden and the fantastic veggies and herbs there. Traveling Home We took a few touristy shots and road shots on the way to the airport. The steam coming out of the air vents on the plane was interesting. The flight home was bumpy but otherwise uneventful. Flight delays and cancelations from the government shutdown didn't impact us but occurred the next few days. We were very blessed with no disruptions and a safe trip. September 10/13/2025 By Cheryl and John Schmit Door Cam We were able to capture some interesting images from the door bell cam this month. Not only were we coming and going, we got John as he was sweeping the cobwebs from around the door. Fall Color We also got a nice sampling of pretty trees this fall. It's nice the see the reds and yellows that brighten the neighborhood. Hostas Cheryl likes her hostas. She has picked out a few that she wants in Spokane. We have a nice place planned for the plants. Birthday Party We had a good time celebrating the September birthdays. Cheryl made a delicious meal of pulled pork and salads. There was a scrumptious carrot cake for desert too! Alan was there and we got updated with his activities. Got the mandated fireplace picture too. John Cutting Grass When we are in Covington there were chores to do. We still have to make the house look nice for showing. Every weekend there is an open house. Auburn Cemetery Since we had to be gone for the open house, we decided to go to the Auburn Cemetery. There, we could visit the Moms and get a nice picture of the Mountain too. Stopped and got a hot chocolate on the way home. Covington Sunsets The beautiful, dramatic sunsets seen from the Covington house are always worth a picture. Cheryl managed to get a couple. To Spokane While it is about a five hour trip, You might think it's boring. We seem to find interesting stuff to see along the way. Even things we have seen before take on a different look as the seasons and weather change. Idaho Day Trip We had been checking out the Spokane area for a couple of months now. It was time to head over to Idaho for a closer look there. It was nice, but, we still prefer Spokane Valley. Check out the video too! Idaho Day Trip Spokane Views and Sunsets There isn't a competition with Covington here. It's just a different, dramatic view. Fire smoke comes from the west and creates a different view. Carpet Pad Replacement While the carpet in the Spokane house is very nice, there were areas where the padding needed help. The problems were enough to warrant replacement. The guys we chose did a wonderful job and now the carpet looks and feels almost new. To Covington and Fire Smoke Once again, you never know what adventures you'll have when crossing the state. This time we got some good pictures of the Labor Mountain fire that was burning just northwest of Ellensburg. It's a heavily forested area and difficult to access. Moon You didn't think we would miss having a few pictures of the moon, did you? We even got a daytime image for you. Hope you enjoy! August 09/12/2025 By Cheryl and John Schmit Kanaskat - Palmer State Park We had to get out of the house for a few hours for the realtor to hold an open house. We decided to check out a local state park and the Green River. John brought the drone along and took a flight from outside the park as they don't allow drones in the park. It was a nice day and we enjoyed the peacefulness there. There is a link to the video on the picture page. John's 5000 I had a goal set when I started with Twitter that I would have 5000 followers when I retired. I finally got there, just a little late. This last couple of weeks as I approached my goal, it was interesting to see the daily change in followers and the variety of interests they represented. Our 40th Anniversary Dinner We happened to be in Spokane at the time. We had been busy setting up the new house and there were lots of errands to run that day, so we just stopped in at Safeway and picked up something to eat. We took a break from our work about 6:30 and warmed up dinner. We put our little tables together in front of the door to the deck and enjoyed the view. After 40 wonderful years, we are beginning a new adventure. New bed and frame We are pretty handy at putting things together, so this project wasn't very hard. We had never seen a mattress delivered like this one. After we opened it up and spread it out, it turned out to be just fine and perfect for our needs. Our makeshift night stands work well too. Guest Bathroom Closet Rebuild While the closet was fine as far as it's size, that they filled it with wire racks was a problem. First, the wire had to go. Then Cheryl got started building a cabinet with drawers. Finally, the long and short hang poles were added along with some upper shelving. A much better use of the space. Spokane Views It's what sold us on the house. Views from the windows and especially from out on the deck are awesome. In the daytime the vista views from the Dishman Hills all the way to Mica Peak in Idaho can take your breath away. Because of the water retention area below us, it feels like you're in a tall building on the side of the hill. Watching the Moon rise over the lights of the city is a real treat. Jason's Birthday Party We were there! Yes, for the first time in our 40 years together, Cheryl and I went to a bar. We had a great time and enjoyed meeting many of Jason and Lisa's friends. The celebration was fun and we thank them for inviting us. Views While Traveling We find the rides back and forth between Covington and Spokane very interesting. Each trip presents views for us to capture. I separated them out so you would know which way we were going. 06 To Spokane 14 To Covington 20 To Spokane 28 To Covington Even the traveling is an adventure. Also, a nice five hours to just sit and talk to each other. Rabbits It has been fun for us to watch for the rabbits that come into our yard in Covington. Occasionally, we had seen some before, but this August, they made themselves comfy and even took naps. Here you can get a glimpse of what we saw. July 08/10/2025 By Cheryl and John Schmit Front Door Cam The Doorbell cam captured us coming and going. There sure were some nice summer days. It even caught me when I was flying the drone. Fireworks Cheryl spent some time on the Forth of July at the art room window. She did a nice job of capturing the local fireworks. There were lots of colorful displays. Even the sunset put on a nice show in the background. Moon Both of us enjoy trying to capture the best shot of the moon. Zooming in and zooming out, it's a challenge to catch the Moon in a proper context. Here are a few favorites from this last month. Sunsets Pacific Northwest sunsets almost never fail. Shortly after the Sun vanishes, the colors on the clouds peak. Getting just the right shot sometimes requires a bit of patience. Cheryl has the timing just right. Mt. Rainier As we drove around running errands, we kept an eye out to see the Mountain. Out shopping in Maple Valley, we got a few glimpses. While flying the drone it's mandatory to get some pictures of the Mountain. Cheryl has a special place on Interstate 5, south of Seattle that gives a good view also. Spokane Views We think the view from our deck in Spokane is awesome. Looking out over the city of Spokane Valley and west towards the city of Spokane we see the wonderful colors of the sky. The lights at night are mesmerizing. Spokane Animal Visitors We have a few Marmots that live in the rock walls in our Spokane neighborhood. They are members of the squirrel family. They are social creatures and generally travel in small groups. Several times we have seen them around the basement ground level back door. We have also seen them playing near the rock walls across the street from us. John's Room John has been working on the computer setup for his office. The previous owners left several large screen TVs. John took one and added it to his collection. It gives a very large picture when he it editing videos and wants to see detail. There is still more work to be done. Spokane to Covington As we travel back and forth between Covington and Spokane, we get to see lots of cool sights. Sometimes we even remember to take a picture. Here are some images taken from our last trip from Spoke to Covington. Trip to Seattle U District As we prepare for settling in to the new house in Spokane, we are researching furniture that will be complimentary to the new home. Cheryl likes the natural styles that are available at Room & Board, in the University District of Seattle. So off we went on another adventure. Several pictures were taken as we headed south on I-5 as we headed home. July 08/08/2025 By Rick Schmit July gave me a few welcome breaks from the work routine - and I made the most of them with some drone flying. It was a great month to relax, recharge, and capture some cool footage from above. Backyard Fireworks - July 4th I didn't travel anywhere for the holiday, but I did send the drone straight up - about 300 feet above my backyard. What I saw from that vantage point absolutely amazed me. The sky lit up in every direction, and the view was something I couldn't have imagined from the ground. Enjoy the video. Elephant Rocks State Park - Late July Later in the month, I took a short day trip a few hours south to Elephant Rocks State Park. I didn't end up flying as much as I'd hoped as the terrain was more wooded than expected. The visit was still well worth it. The weather was perfect, and the scenery was beautiful. Check out the awesome rock footage. June 07/08/2025 By Cheryl and John Schmit Moving is consuming most of our time. However, we are trying to stop and take a picture now and then, Sometimes we find ourselves finishing a task and going "We didn't get a picture of that". Complicating the moving process is the effort to 'down size' as we make choices as to what to take. Sometimes this can be difficult. Also creeping into the picture are discussions on what to take and what to replace once we get there. Moving something might cost more than replacing. All that said, we are still waiting for the Covington house to sell. It is a very slow market, but we are trying to be patient. Covington House With the house mostly staged, we are condensed to computer work in the kitchen. Minimal clothing is in the closet. The garage houses most items we need on a day-to-day basis. Spokane House It's always exciting to get here. We love the view and the new opportunities the house represents. As photographers, we want to share the views and their variety. Soon there will be piles of our stuff all over, looking for their place in the chaos. Getting Gas - Mountain and Cheryl Whenever we stop at out local Covington gas station, I like to catch a picture of the Mountain. It peeks through the trees real nice. On the way back to the pumps, I catch Cheryl in the drivers seat. She's always so happy! Gnome Park Taking to time to catch our breath and do something different, Cheryl and I took a walk through the Gnome Park in Maple Valley. Just being in the park is relaxing and checking out the different Gnome displays is fun. Just a half an hour there can feel so good. Mount Rainier The day was beautiful. A perfect time to get out and catch some wonderful pictures of Mt. Rainier. We won't be able to do that after we move. Maybe our new target will be Mt. Spokane. In any event enjoy these views of Mt. Rainier. 1st Truck to Spokane The event was well planned, but I was a bit nervous about driving a U-Haul truck over the mountains. Sometimes their trucks can be a bit undependable, and parts of the road can be pretty rough. We ended up with a powerful, fairly new truck that was a pleasure to drive. Cheryl planned the packing and we tied everything down well. Loading the truck to it's maximum weight capacity went quick. I was so glad to open the rear door when we arrived to find everything just how we packed it. A special thanks to all the family and friends who helped unload. What took all day to pack, took less than 2 hours to unload. Moon Over Spokane I couldn't help it. It was there and I had to take the picture. The Moon looks pretty much the same in Spokane as it does in Covington. Taking the picture from our deck was awesome. Ride to Covington Soon it was time to go back to Covington. There is stuff in two storage rooms and in the garage to prepare for truck number 2. Also there was house maintenance that required our attention. Yes, I cut the grass one more time. Cheryl pulled weeds and dressed up the over grown garden. Keeping the house showcase ready while living there is not easy. But we managed to relax in the evening and watch a movie or two. May 06/10/2025 By Cheryl and John Schmit Packing for Moving You don't know how much you have until you decide to move. Our current home has been the biggest so far and we filled it with many memories. Sometimes, it is difficult to go through some things. Others we find to be just clutter and easily move on without them. Luckily, we don't have a strict time frame. We have been loading up two storage rooms that we will move to Spokane first. The house is staged and we continue to occupy it. It's a bit weird to live with decorations from someone else. While we have been very busy with packing and preparing to move, there were other activities that required our attention. Hot Air Balloon Coming back from a trip to the storage place, we spotted a hot air balloon above us. We don't normally have balloons in our sky, but here it was. Moon With more and more clear skies at night, we just can't resist the opportunity to take a picture or two. John looked up on the 4th and just had to take the shot. Painters For this latest adventure of ours, we had to get special workmen in to do a few things. One was getting some walls painted after we removed the bookcases. They also touched up nicks and blemishes here and there. Wedding Video Editing While Cheryl was packing the office around me, I continued to work on editing the videos from the wedding. It looks like the final product should make some people very happy. It was an awesome project to work on. Sunsets No matter how busy you get, the Sun sets each day. Cheryl took time out to watch for ones that were photogenic. Rhoddies in Bloom The Rhoddies picked the perfect time to amass the largest blooms we had seen in a while. The pink plant gave the bees plenty to work on. What a nice way to highlight the front yard. Olympic Mountains We don't often get lower-level clear skies. The haze likes to settle in and make viewing the Olympic Mountains difficult. On the 26th, Cheryl captured a rare moment when the mountains looked wonderful. Mountain View Cemetery with Mountain We couldn't get out on Memorial Day but made the trip on the 28th. This cemetery has always been a favorite of ours and the flags were still waving there. The weather was good and the Mountain was out. Window Washing The birds knew! While we were gone for the wedding, the birds came and decorated our windows. Not one or two, but all around the house and second story ones too. We know a great window washer and he came right away to clean up the mess. He did the insides also, making the windows sparkling clean. April 05/06/2025 By Cheryl and John Schmit West Views The ever-changing skies to our west offer stunning opportunities for photography. This collection features some breathtaking moments that Cheryl captured while gazing out the window-where fog, hail, and fiery sunsets paint the horizon with their fleeting beauty. Cherry Trees Cherry blossoms are a Pacific Northwest favorite. Our neighborhood has some wonderful flowering trees right up the middle of our entry-way drive. It is a spectacular view every time we come home. April 1st, Cheryl had to stop and capture the view. Moon After all the cloudy skies we had during winter, it is nice to see the stars and Moon once again. John took several pictures on the 3rd and 8th with his phone. It is fun to be able to see some of the details. Mountain Views When the Mountain is out, you take a picture. That's the rule we've had since we moved to the state of Washington. Now it's become a habit. Even while getting gas, John snaps a few pictures. Later, while driving through Maple Valley, we caught a few more images. Early Easter Dinner with Allen Allen's work schedule sometimes has an impact on holiday meals. This time we celebrated Easter a little early so he could join us for the meal. It's always nice to have him over as we get a chance to catch up on his latest activities. He enjoys the meals and we enjoy his company. A nice time was had by all. Wedding Events With the plethora of pictures associated with the wedding of Jason and Lisa, we separated them into the following four pages. Drive and Wedding Eve It is about a five-hour drive from our house to Spokane. The drive is dramatic in that we cross the Cascade Mountain Range through the Snoqualmie Pass. The mountain views and multiple lakes are a stark change to the flat farm land once we cross the Columbia River. It was a surprise to us that Jason and Lisa were expecting us for dinner that evening. They also had a great party on the eve of the wedding. They were very gracious hosts throughout our time in Spokane. Wedding It was a special honor for John to Officiate the wedding. The wedding event went very well and the day was splendid. John had the equipment to video record the wedding and brought his drone for some special views. Wine Tasting What a wonderful time we had visiting the Arbor Crest Wine Cellars. Jason and Lisa arranged for a special time together to enjoy some wine tasting and fantastic views from the grounds there. It is a favorite place for wedding photographers and wine enthusiasts. With Jan and Daryl and Lisa and Jason, we all enjoyed our flights of wine. Family Fun and Drive Home The food continued as Daryl kept the grill hot and the meat tasty. It was nice to relax with family members and enjoy the time together. All too soon, the evening drew to a close, and it was time to head home. Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who made our visit so special. As Lisa and Jason embark on this beautiful journey together, we send our love and best wishes, praying that their marriage is filled with unwavering love and lifelong happiness. John does chores While we were gone, the grass grew. When we arrived home, the chores were waiting for us. Here, John cuts the grass. March 04/05/2025 By Cheryl and John Schmit Moon There was a conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter on the 5th of March. Venus and Mercury were close to each other and also visible just after sunset. Quite the night for stargazing! You can see several objects in Cheryl's image, even Orion on the left. The Jason and Lisa Cemetery Tour We were very glad to have Jason and Lisa come to spend some time with us. Jason was interested in finding several of his families grave sites here in the Seattle area. Lisa brought flowers for Nana. We had a great time tromping around the different cemeteries and trying to find people. We even caught a few deer eating flowers. It was a nice visit and we are looking forward to the wedding! Seattle Trip We had to take a trip into Seattle for a medical checkup for Cheryl. Always a good time to take pictures and check out the cityscapes as we rolled through. Nice cherry trees at the Starbucks in Tukwilla. Lunar Eclipse On the 13th there was a total Lunar Eclipse. We were going to see the Blood Moon that night. Our cameras were ready and we took lots of pictures. But, it is really hard to take pictures when there is no light. We didn't have any special equipment but still managed to capture the essence of the night. Security Cam Views Our doorbell cam was active in March. Getting packages and mail set it off. Just a different view than normal. John's New Gym Clothes John made the decision to join Cheryl at the gym, which set off quite the preparation process. From assembling a new wardrobe of gym clothes to picking out fresh earbuds and a stylish water bottle, getting ready became an event in itself. A couple of trial visits hinted that the gym experience might not be as smooth or enjoyable as John had hoped. Stay tuned-this story is far from over! Lightning Storm The weather forecast called for a lightning storm, and it certainly delivered. Cheryl, ever prepared, had her camera ready to capture the action. Over the course of an hour that evening, lightning illuminated the sky while thunder rumbled in the distance, creating a dramatic display. Cheryl put the cellphone in video mode and John was able to isolate several nice shots of lightning bolts with his video editor. West Window Views While not as dramatic as the lightning storm, our west facing window was a great place to capture the ever changing and wide variety of our Pacific Northwest skies. Cheryl took the time over many days to take lots of wonderful pictures. Here are a few of the best. Mountain and Cheryl Whenever we get gas, we check on the Mountain. If it is out, we can generally see it from the gas station. While the gas is pumping, John walks around and gets a picture of Mt. Rainier. Coming back to the car, he snaps one of Cheryl too. February 03/05/2025 By Cheryl and John Schmit Security Cam As usual, the front door cam was able to pick up a few good images. They kind of reflect how things were during the month. Enjoy! Snow Event We labeled this an 'event' rather than a storm because it represented a continuous weather change over more than a week. These images capture the most dramatic transformations during the first four days. Afterward, snowfall continued but melted rapidly. This was the most significant and so far, the only snowfall we've experienced this winter. Moon We were very fortunate that the weather cooperated so we may bring you these images of the Snow Moon from February 11th. While the Moon rose early in the day, it was still visible after dark. These images were captured with John's phone. Mt. Rainier and Auburn Cemetery Our favorite place to capture images of Mount Rainier is at Auburn Centennial Viewpoint. The clear view across the dramatic views of the city highlights the majesty of the Mountain. This was the first time we were able to see the foothills to the right and left of the Mountain as clearly with the snow outlining them. We then crossed the street to the cemetery and took some pictures from the Eagle Columbarium. It is an awesome place and very tranquil. Hearty Winter Dinners These are just an example of the hearty winter dinners that Cheryl has made. Cheryl is a wonderful cook and takes pains to make dinners that are substantial and filling. Taking the season into account, Cheryl creates warming food that satisfies. While these dinners are nutritious, second helpings can have a negative impact on the waistline. It is hard to say no to seconds. Saltwater State Park Around the 25th of the month, we experienced a significant weather front moving through the area. Winds from the front exceeded 60 miles per hour along the coast. While we didn't have as high of winds at our house, they were more powerful along the Puget Sound. We didn't initially connect this weather event to our visit to Saltwater State Park on the Puget Sound, but upon arrival, we were confronted with the extensive damage and debris left in the storm's wake. Although our visit was relaxing, it was clear that a massive cleanup effort would be required. Planetary Alignment On February 28th, we were treated to a rare planetary alignment. Just after sunset, Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mars were all lined up in the sky. The catch was that clear skies, and sometimes a telescope, were necessary to view them. Despite the challenging cloud cover, Cheryl ventured out and attempted to capture the spectacle with her camera. Although the clouds were quite thick, there were brief breaks that allowed glimpses of some of the planets. Sunsets We have a west-facing window, which played a significant role in our decision to choose this house. If you want to witness breathtaking sunsets, a west-facing window is essential. Here are a few of our best sunsets from February. Whether the skies were cold, snowy, or clear, we always enjoyed the view. We hope you do too. January 02/04/2025 By Cheryl and John Schmit Security Cams Many times, when we look at the security images, we see ourselves. Most of the time, we look at the doorbell cam. Lately, we've seen some images from the garage cam. We come and go from there too. Check these pictures for everyday activity. New Years Morning On the morning of January 1st this year, as we woke up to greet the new year, Cheryl snapped a few photos through the window. They serve as an interesting reminder of what the world looked like on the very first day of the year. Making Waffles Waffles truly make for a fantastic breakfast. On Saturday, the 11th, Cheryl brought out the waffle maker and whipped up some batter. The end result was a wonderful breakfast. Frosty Mornings This winter, we've had no snow on the ground so far. In the absence of snowy scenes, we've decided to share photos of frosty mornings instead. See, it does get cold here sometimes! Hopefully, we'll get to capture some snowy landscapes before winter ends. A Look Around - Maple Valley John enjoyed the pictures from last month's flight over Bellevue. Since we visit Maple Valley several times a week, he thought it would be great to share some drone images of what the area looks like. Lake Wilderness While John was flying his drone from Lake Wilderness, Cheryl decided to capture some photos of the park. The park features a charming pavilion overlooking the lake. Next door, there's a golf course and a disc golf course. On the east shore, a trail follows the path where a train once traveled. It's a very picturesque park. Sunsets and Clouds As we watch the dramatic skies here in the Pacific Northwest, the winter weather brings interesting clouds and sunsets. Many times, the setting sun will increase the drama by lighting the clouds from a new angle. Colores also emerge from the setting sun and we get awesome views in the sky. The Sun is now setting to the North of the water tank so we see it set on the horizon. Scanning Pictures We are continuing the extensive process of digitizing our old photos. We began taking digital pictures in late 1999 and early 2000, so all photographs taken before that need to be digitized for preservation. Cheryl and I have been taking turns with the scanners, meticulously working through our photo books. The completed books can be seen sitting on the white cabinets, while those still in the bookcase have yet to be scanned. Our task includes dating and naming each file, and whenever possible, adding individual names and locations. Our current collection has almost 200,000 pictures, with only a few thousand left to go. |