In Pacific Northwest the fall colors are often soft shades of gray, blue and inky darks. These paintings are available at www.CherylRLong.com.

 I viewed the Tatoosh Range from the hiking trails above Paradise Lodge, Mt. Rainier. WA. Sandy and I watched dense white clouds rolled, in knowing that a massive thunder and lightning storm was predicted. With a careful eye on the sky, we stayed up in the blooming mountain meadows until the last possible minute. As the first rain threatened we scurried on down the trail to the warmth and safety of Paradise lodge, and a before dinner toast to the day.

I will remember Silver Lake this way, with the morning mist and the Canada Geese. But the same day at the other extreme…paddling though acres

of crispy curling lily pads.

Silver Mist Man

I stayed recently at the Silver Lake Resort in Washington State at the foot of Mt. St. Helen. The morning lake was misty and glassy, but the anglers were standing around drinking coffee and getting to go out after the big bass anyway.

This lone figure out at the end of the dock seemed to me to be from that liminal space between dream and waking where I feel one foot in each world.