I’m posting this image in honor of my sister who loved peering into shallow water to see what was going on down below.
Salt Creek. May 28, 2025
While we never got to experience these particular tide pools together, Katie, your life was fueled by curiosity and exploration so I’m confident you’d welcome this gift of Purple Sea Urchins & Co.
Happy birthday, sister.
Bald eagles are glorious and it grates that their image is so frequently combined with images of the U.S. flag, often displayed on the backs of loud, oversized, carbon-spewing trucks.
Ediz Hook. July 14, 2026
Today I offer these incredible birds without the distraction of stars and stripes. Happy Friday!
This morning Zippy had his first PT appointment following his knee surgery and because he can’t drive, I took him there. While the therapist worked with Zippy, Emma and I explored the neighborhood surrounding the clinic. It was new territory for us. She found many, many scents to sniff and I got to admire some gardens, including one with two large pots holding blueberry bushes (one bush per pot). I was stunned / envious to see the multitudes of berries–both ripe and not-yet-ripe–on those bushes. So many blueberries! Our blueberry bushes have pretty much stopped producing for the season (although I picked a big container of raspberries last week). Still, I refrained from reaching through the fence to pluck a berry.
As we wandered the neighborhood, I saw two yard signs for the local Christian nationalist candidate farther down one street. I mumbled to myself then aimed my attention elsewhere. A while later, we accidentally ended up walking past that house on our return trip. More mumbling before again turning away. Aha!
Subaru Forester with this message written in pink across the back hatch window: The Only Good Nazi Is A Dead Nazi. Mad?–cry harder, nazi. Resist fascism!
This car was parked in the driveway across the street from the home with the candidate signs, the message “aimed” directly at the Christian nationalist sympathizer home.
My smile was big as Emma and I continued our walk. Soon, we passed this vehicle:
Rear passenger window of a parked vehicle showing the character Michael Myers (from the Halloween movie franchise) holding a bloody knife.
After quick internet sleuthing, I now know that’s the character from the Halloween movies. But my initial reaction upon seeing this was: people are not happy these days and good on them for not pretending otherwise. I have a long history of feeling stabby. They even named a bus in my honor.
After seeing the anti-nazi message and the stabby guy? Well, I felt less stabby. You might even say those two sightings put a pep in my step. I applaud the anti-nazi household for saying it loud and clear, and am grateful to the stabby guy for making me laugh. Well done, people.
Monday morning mood improved!
I found out yesterday that it’s now October! A while back I’d signed up for volunteer shifts at our local harm reduction center in October, but because I’ve been busy-busy with many things, I forgot about the shift until my phone chirped yesterday afternoon with a message asking if I still planned to come in. Whaaat? It’s already October?!
So, what’s going on around here?
Zippy had total knee replacement not quite two weeks ago so I’m now the only driver, grocery shopper, dog walker, yard clean-up person, animal appointment keeper, etc. in our household. He’s making slow progress and is doing a great job sticking to his ice machine and motion machine schedules along with his three-times-daily exercises. He starts physical therapy on Monday.
Emma our dog and Loki our cat continue to have health issues that require extra care. The good news is a friend gifted us some high-end cat food their cat can no longer eat and Loki is eating a bit more. The bad news is he’s clearly on the decline. Fortunately, he’s happy to “ride” Zippy’s lap during the motion machine sessions.
That photo was taken the day of Zippy’s surgery and he no longer has tubes coming out of him or uses a walker. He’s been using a cane for a while and this morning walked Emma and me up to the corner (and then slowly made his way back home as we continued on our neighborhood loop). Another change since that photo was taken is that there’s less room for Loki on the lap as the motion machine bends Zippy’s knee 120 degrees. We laugh about Loki getting squished as the knee pushes against Zippy’s chest, but the kitty seems to like the closeness. Good therapy for both of them.
I’m also busy (along with many others in our community) working to defeat a Christian nationalist running for a local seat. I’ve pretty much let go of organizing around electoral politics but this is a red alarm situation that demands all hands on deck. I cannot express how much I hope that person loses. (Accepting all good thoughts on that front! 🙂 )
As mentioned earlier, we won a six-month moratorium on data centers in our community but there’s much work to be done to make it permanent so that’s taking up bandwidth.
However, as soon as I hit Publish on this post I’m taking the rest of the day off. I plan to read and rest and snuggle with our furry friends.
So now you know what’s going on here. What’s going on with you?
* For all the Marvin Gaye fans, shout-out to the creator of this music streaming playlist that made me laugh out loud when I read what they called it.
Also? If it’s been a while since you listened to Marvin Gaye’s album What’s Going On, be sure to put it in the rotation soon as it’s just as vital now as ever. And if you’ve never listened to Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, drop everything and listen to it now.
One year ago today, my oldest sibling died at home after a battle with cancer. Katie is gone but far from forgotten. As I told one of her sons this morning, thoughts of my sister/his mother pop into my head multiple times a day, at random times such as when I put on mascara or add broccoli to my smoothie or make my weak coffee that she always scoffed at as she drank what can only be described as rocket fuel disguised as coffee. I think of her every single time I spot the always delightful California Quails in my neighborhood. Honestly, Katie comes to mind during most every wildlife encounter I experience. We shared a love for nature.
I photographed this harbor seal last week and told myself it was maybe the same one that swam past me last September 23rd where I sat on a rock, watching the waves and crying after learning Katie had finally let go.
September 16, 2026
That day, the seal turned while swimming past and looked directly at me which felt like a message from my sister and brought me comfort. As did last week’s identification of this new-to-me Savannah Sparrow via the yellow streak on the head.
September 17, 2026. Ediz Hook
Why? Because Katie loved and was knowledgeable about birds, and would’ve been happy I’d expanded my knowledge base. Lucky for me, there are many, many birds I’ve never experienced which means she’ll be cheering me on for years to come.
Thinking of you, sending love and this crocosmia bloom.
Front garden. July 23, 2026
Today I received the gift of two Bald Eagles sitting on a moored timber off Ediz Hook. Upon sighting them, I hurried to the car for my camera and started taking photos from there, propping the lens on the roof. When I realized they were maybe going to stick around a bit longer, I moved closer and took more photos. And when it became clear they were just hanging out, I got closer yet and propped my big boom-a-roo lens on a log and sat as I snapped pic after pic. That’s where I was for this shot (click on images to enlarge). You can see their yellow eyes and the hooked tips of their impressive beaks.
I wanted to be ready to capture them in flight so switched the camera settings for action shots. Of course, they remained in place although the one eagle teased me by spreading their wings.
The eagle on the left did eventually fly off. Alas, those flight photos don’t do that glorious bird justice so I won’t sully this post with those.
Here’s the final eagle photo of the day, a majestic pose by the bird that stayed behind.
I’m so grateful not only for the gift of the eagles’ presence but also the last-second decision to grab my big lens before heading out. Oh, happy day!
Sandhill Crane. Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. March 12, 2024
Female common merganser. Photographed Dec 28, 2025, from Olympic Discovery Trail
From Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Common Mergansers usually nest in natural tree cavities or holes carved out by large woodpeckers. Sometimes mergansers take up residence in nest boxes, provided the entrance hole is large enough. On occasion they use rock crevices, holes in the ground, hollow logs, old buildings, and chimneys.
Wow. Am I alone in being amazed to learn these large ducks can nest in holes carved out by woodpeckers and also sometimes wedge themselves into chimneys?
Sorry, but there’s nothing common about these birds.
Love this photo I took with my phone a couple weeks ago and am finally posting here.
Now I need to work on a much more wordy post on a topic that brings me no joy. Feel free to bask in the glory of this Daisy & Fly photo until I return.
I’ve been scarce around these parts for the last several weeks as I recovered from covid. It was the first time I’d tested positive and today I’m grateful to feel (mostly) like myself again. Ever since the start of the pandemic, we’ve masked indoors which is a huge factor in why it took so long for SARS‑CoV‑2 to get me. And there’s a very good chance I know the source of my infection: Zippy.**
As shared at the time, on May 13 we were abruptly faced with saying goodbye to our beautiful Marcel, so when Zippy felt off that night we thought it was just a grief/stress-induced response in his body. Deep in our mourning, we didn’t even think to test or isolate. Then late at night on Friday the 15th, I suddenly had a sore throat. Finally, I thought to test. Positive.
Spoiler alert: the experience was no fun. Fortunately, we have good friends who brought us meals and medicine, flowers and notes, along with offers to help in any way we needed. It was Zippy’s second covid experience and he recovered more quickly (in part because he took a full course of Paxlovid while I only made it halfway through before having an allergic reaction that forced me to stop the treatment). I mostly did a good job resting my brain by staying off screens, but being a community organizer meant there were a few items I needed/wanted to tend to, which I did, as quickly as possible. “Quickly” is a relative term, though, when you’re infected with a virus that invades every single system in your body. No lie, I actually felt my brain getting hotter as I struggled to wrangle a few words for a short call-to-action. I’d already been turning down other organizers’ requests for help and that hot-brain sensation reinforced that decision.
Fortunately, reading books didn’t bother me and I embraced my down time by sitting on the patio, upper body in the umbrella shade and legs in the warm sunshine. I gave up reading the anger-inducing Blue Power: How Police Organized to Protect and Serve Themselves, and instead read a bunch of children’s books written in verse (non of which were especially good, in my opinion, so shall remain anonymous). I also read Rabbit Factory (which was my least favorite Larry Brown book, but since he’s dead I can say that without hurting any feelings) and David Grann’s The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder which was an incredible and horrifying “adventure” that never needed to happen and only did happen because humans are exceedingly greedy and violent.
I also took my camera out on the patio (just that one time, though, as it made my head hurt) and photographed some of the flora and fauna.
I also poorly photographed a black-tailed deer walking through the trees and shrubs about 15 feet from where I sat which you’ll have to imagine yourself. I’m currently kinda grumpy about the neighborhood ungulates because despite there being a forest right up the street, they prefer chomping flower blooms plus the zinnia starts I’d planted (the only thing I’ve planted since moving here). So, I’m in no mood to showcase deer right now. (Although I did try to photograph two new-new fawns while taking a walk the other day because they were so tiny and cute and not-yet-destroying gardens.)
Well, my eyes are tired now from this screen time so I’ll stop here, grateful to be upright and taking part in the world beyond my patio. I do hope you’re doing well. 🌻
** my guess is he got it while at the dentist on Monday of that week but we also briefly did some political work that evening in a non-ventilated room with a dozen unmasked people which means we could have gotten it at the same time and Zippy’s infection incubated faster.
Even though we frequently joked about Marcel’s really big/long back feet, it was his heart that was supersized. Without a doubt, Marcel had the biggest heart in our household. He had love for every member of the family and not only groomed his brother Loki and Emma the dog, but often licked Zippy and me with his rough, pink tongue.
Longtime readers of this blog have been treated to many photos of camera-shy but oh-so-photogenic Marcel over the years. (A sampling here, here, and here, plus a Friday Five devoted to Marcel here.) This pic from May 3rd was snapped at bedtime to send to Zebu (because what better way to ensure your son’s sweet dreams than with an intense cat photo?)
Today we had to say goodbye to our lovable goof.
It all happened very quickly. Marcel had been listless and less active over the last several days and this morning, for the first time in the history of Marcel, turned down his breakfast. Our vet got us in quickly and the news was very bad. The options were limited and not-great, and the only one that made sense for our beautiful, approximately 14-year-old cat was to end his suffering. Breathing had become difficult and painful. We scheduled one of those sainted veterinarians who perform euthanasia at people’s homes to come help us a few hours later.
We used our remaining time together wisely. In a role reversal, Brother Loki groomed Marcel.
Marcel and I spent some of that time outside where he sniffed at flowers and took a few peppy steps in pursuit of a bee.
He watched two swallows perched on an eave. He even carefully flopped down to roll on the concrete, inviting me to rub his tummy.
Twice, I caught him “making kitty biscuits,” his front paws curling as he (an indoor cat) reveled in his outdoor freedom. He did not, however, exhibit his ultimate proof of happiness: drool. But, he did lick his paw and swipe at his head to remove the dust he’d collected while rolling about on the concrete. Marcel was fastidious to the end, even licking the back of his tail which Zebu and I had always teased Mr. Tidy for its yellowish tint.
Too soon, I was holding that soft, wonderful, big-hearted boy in my arms as he took his final breath. My hoodie is covered in his white hairs and my heart is struggling to process what happened so quickly and unexpectedly. All I know for sure is I’m forever grateful Marcel chose us way back in 2013 when Zebu and I walked into that pet food store where we’d been told two cat brothers were being fostered while waiting to be adopted. Marcel literally met us at the door and we never looked back.
Thank you for the years of smiles, snuggles, and games of fetch-the-elastic, Marcel. You were a gift to this family.
Here he is waiting to be fed because the brick on the food bin was there to prevent Marcel helping himself. October 12, 2023
Sandhill Crane at Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge, March 12, 2024
when stuff’s too heavy
I bask in these memories
glorious creatures
My vow to utilize this site on a regular basis–both by writing here and interacting with my WordPress friends– has obviously fallen by the wayside and today’s post is merely a documentation of the blooms in the vast garden we inherited a year ago, but it’s a step in the right direction on this anxiety-ridden day. These photos were taken two days ago and I hope the little glimpses of beauty brighten your day.
Rhododendron
Hellebore
Rhododendron
Tulips safe from the deer behind the vegetable garden fence
And last but not least, here is some red chard planted by Zippy. We have a friend we used to split a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share with and when we received LOTS of chard he’d then designate it “a chardy day,” and ever since, our texts always include “wishing you a chardy day!”
Red chard
In honor of Dave, I want to wish everyone here a chardy day! And may this week be filled with beauty, joy, friendship, and bird song.
Ediz Hook. March 25, 2025
As I walked with Emma a few minutes ago, I saw a turkey vulture circling way up high. Then there were two. As Emma happily sniffed at the grass, I tilted my head and watched the vultures gracefully circle each other against the blue sky. Then a third joined. A fourth and fifth. Everything inside me felt lighter as I witnessed those birds soaring above. They circled higher and higher, their red heads no longer identifiable, as white underwings flashed in the late sun.
Image not great but this is exactly how the light flashed on the underwings. April 3, 2024
Eventually, they started flying back toward us and just before they were overhead, a seventh vulture joined. I kept my eyes on them, turning to follow their flight until the sun blinded me. Such a gift. And when I saw that Emma was sitting quietly, waiting for me to finish, I felt even more at peace. What a good doggie.
We’ve been seeing turkey vultures on our walks for the last few weeks which makes me happy. It helps knowing they continue to fly free above all the cruelty and violence happening down below. It also just helps knowing such amazing birds exist, we owe them a huge debt of gratitude.
That same trip to Lake Hasty. April 2, 2024
Because, did you know this fun fact from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology?
All hail the Turkey Vulture!
nature’s lost and found
entangled human impact
forgive us, mother
For years and years, I exercised my writing muscle as I wrote novels for young readers in hopes of publication and did so almost every day until my literary agent dropped me while we were on submission to editors in August of 2024. That split was a deeply traumatizing gut-punch and I immediately stopped writing the second draft of my work-in-progress. Unfortunately, I’d suffered a series of such gut-punches and couldn’t put myself through that process ever again, so I quit. The thought of getting my hopes up again only to be cast aside without thought by someone I’d considered my advocate was too much to bear. It was painful not having my creative outlet but it seemed best for my well-being to stay out of that arena.
Eventually, I couldn’t ignore the creative itch or GRAPPLE which was the manuscript that’d been on submission. I reread then revised it, cutting over 10,000 words in the process, and was so happy being in that mode again! I truly do love me some revision. I’m so freaking proud of that very timely story (friendship story set against the backdrop of a small town divided over the presence of a private prison and proposed expansion of a detention center) and submitted the manuscript to one publisher that accepts unagented submissions. Now I’ve started thinking about another project I started and abandoned years ago. It’s unlike anything I’ve written and I’m kinda-sorta considering revisiting it. I do so love writing middle grade novels. At the same time, I’m also very tired of writing books that are never read by my intended audience. Anyway, I’ll sort through all the feelings and do whatever’s best for me.
Why am I sharing this now? Because earlier this week I struggled big-time to write a 3-minute comment I’d planned to present to city council last night. And that struggle was probably due to the fact that my writing muscle had gotten rusty. Writing for young readers had been such a huge part of my daily life and now I wasn’t doing it. How could I keep in shape?
*smacks forehead*
Hello, maybe you could fully utilize that blog you call “Another Day On the Planet”?
So here I am, publicly recommitting myself to this space and my writing. As mentioned before, I love reading old posts about stuff I’d completely forgotten. And in that spirit, I’m going to document a few things now before they also slip my mind.
One last thing to share: hellebore plants in the front yard. The photo on the left was taken after today’s walk and the other from a couple weeks ago is the more common representation of these plants which like to hide their faces which mean’s today’s sighting is a gift, and that visibility is due to the fence’s support. All hail the hog wire!
December 28, 2025
arc of a diver
duck photography challenge
butt end of the deal
Olympic Discovery Trail. December 28, 2025
I’m pleased to say we had a three-day break in the rain and as of yesterday, we have a new roof! Today I’m exceedingly grateful for the thorough contractor who managed the project and gave us peace of mind. Let it rain!
Yesterday we joined friends Jo and Caleb at Finnriver Farm & Cidery in Chimicum for a beautiful send-off to the new year. Zippy and I’d never been there . It’s a gorgeous setting and the nearly-full moon and fog only heightened its allure. Finnriver has land and community partners that include the North Olympic Salmon Coalition which explains why there’s a gigantic salmon on the property.
Zippy, me, and Fin the Migrating Salmon
Despite that beautiful, community-oriented experience last night, the blues grabbed hold of me this afternoon. I begrudgingly did my weight-lifting routine (gotta get strong enough to punch Nazis!) which eased some but not all of the sad. I needed my foolproof method for escaping the doldrums.
Hooping! I listened to loud music as I danced in my hoop for twenty minutes and now feel SO much better. My plan for 2026 is to hoop every single day for at least a couple minutes. What’s coming is gonna be tough and I need to be strong, both physically and mentally. So, if you happen upon me posting here about feeling sad and blue, PLEASE ask me “Have you hooped today, Tracy?”
I hope your first day of this new year has brought you some joy. Remember, there’s always a dance party over here and everyone’s welcome. Solidarity! ✊🏼
Today is the shortest day of the year which means tomorrow we start gaining daylight. HOORAY! For me, the winter solstice is the most significant day of this season. Why? Because the day always gives me a much-needed emotional boost, and this year’s solstice is especially welcome because there’s sunshine. Not only that, these lovely roses are blooming next to our front porch.
December 21, 2025
How could I feel anything but hopeful as I gaze upon those sun-kissed blooms?
I’m documenting my hope and optimism here because we’ve been swamped with rain (with much more in the forecast thanks to the atmospheric river) and have learned our aging roof has multiple leaks that are causing widespread microbial growth. BOO HISS! We’re gathering bids for a full roof replacement we hope/need to get in the very near future–all we need are two consecutive days of clear weather to get started. I’ve got a new mantra: Rain, rain go away . . . and please don’t come back until our roof is intact!
Happy Solstice, everyone!
When you have seen one ant,
one bird,
one tree,
you have not seen them all.
~ E. O. Wilson
Great Blue Heron on November 26, 2025
We’re heading into a very rainy week here on the Olympic Peninsula due to atmospheric river conditions. Knowing this, yesterday we took advantage of the quiet before the storm to walk along the water via the Olympic Discovery Trail. However, weather wasn’t the only factor in our decision: we also desperately needed a dose of nature to counteract the negative mental health effects of the current regime’s fascism a go-go plus the non-stop slaughter of Palestinians live-streamed before our eyes. The “ceasefire” that was supposed to terminate Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has allowed Israel to violate those terms over 500 times, resulting in the murder of hundreds of men, women, and children. (NOTE to the Zionist from Tel Aviv: your racist, supremacist rants are blocked from this site which means no one but you will ever know the depths of your depravity. You’re welcome.)
As Zippy, Emma, and I began our walk, we saw a large flock of Canada Geese. I smiled while taking photos and happily captured more images when we returned an hour later to find them in a different spot alongside the trail.
Today when I found myself repeatedly thinking about these geese, it felt like a sign. As in, time for another Geese and Gaza post. Why?
Canada Geese on December 6, 2025
Because seeing other living, breathing creatures–such as this flock of geese that works together to keep each member safe–always reminds me of the interconnectedness of life on this planet. We are all in this together, and that most definitely includes Palestinians. I’m pretty sure every “silly goose” understands this basic concept.
They are Geese for Gaza.
From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.
Mount Baker and Dungeness Lighthouse viewed from the Dungeness Spit. November 28, 2025
