Monday, September 18, 2006

Snaps and Strokes

What? More mountains.

Warning : If you are bored by scenic splendor, then exit from this blog now.
This is Mount Baker. It is a volcano in North West Washington State. Just a few miles south of the Canada/US border. This mountain can be seen from all over the lower mainland of B.C. It is snow covered year round. My childhood home looked out onto this view. I used to love to watch the sun rise over this enormous hill. Clocking the time of year by how close or far along the horizon the sun rose over Mt Baker was almost like a natural Stonehenge .
In the fall, the morning fog would rise from the river and we could look over to Mt.Baker rising above the mist like a lone sentry. That was the feeling I tried to capture in this painting which I did in high school.
In August, people go up to sunbathe on the glacial ice. Bikinis in the snow. Though relatively dormant, It does send up a steam plume now and then, which gets everyone all excited. You would think that after the Mount St.Helen's disaster, that people would run the other way at the site of a possible volcanic awakening. But actually, folks were going up the mountain with their lawn chairs and picnics, to spend the day seeing the excitement for themselves! I'm sure it must have been safe or the authorities would have shut the road. There are volcanoes all along the San Andreas Fault, under the ocean floor , and along the Asian coast of the Pacific. This phenomenon is known as the Ring Of Fire.

11 comments:

BarbaraMG said...

There is no way I could ever get bored of the mountains. There are many reasons why I love BC and the maountains are one of them.:)

Anonymous said...

I'm going to have to hurry up and post some of the pics from our last vacation... I took an almost identical picture of Mt. Baker from the beach at White Rock when Chana and I had the kids out that way!

(Nice painting, by the way!)

Dick said...

Those are nice. I have Mt. Baker almost in my back yard from my home in Mt. Vernon, but I see it from the south. Do you remember the Slush Cup every spring when the skiers would come down the hill trying to pick up enough speed to ski across the melted ice lake? That was bikini time also.

I may post some photos of Oatman, Arizona which has mountains that look a whole lot different from ours here in the northwest, but they are also awe imspiringly beautiful.

Anonymous said...

That is such an excellent painting you did in high school! Do you still paint? I just began painting last year, I'm not great but love it.
I've never seen the mountains, but watching the sunrise over the Northumberlad Strait (PEI) is an awesome sight too!
Hugs,
Faye

jel said...

that is a Awesome painting !

sharon said...

I had ring of fire once...but it was after eating too much mexican food:)

That's a pretty impressive painting for a high school student.

We do have some spectacular views from our neck of the woods, don't we?

Gary said...

Lovely painting.

I think I would enjoy sunbathing in the snow. I would be willing to take my chances. It can't be more dangerous than the freeways down here in Houston. LOL

i hope you are having a nice week.

Anonymous said...

Hi Susan...Miss the view of that beautiful Mt. Baker! Awesome painting you did in high school! You have many hidden talents Sis!...lol I've been enjoying reading your blog. You've put many a smile on my face. Can't wait to see you when you get into Edmonton. I will talk to you soon. With all my heart, Love..Addie! xo

Louisiana said...

what a beautiful photo..what a wonderful painting..oh sweet that is nice...a most talented lady..a painter too..

how i would love to see such grandness daily..you are lucky but what is wonderful is that you know it and enjoy it.

David said...

Awesome pictures. I have to find a way to get up to Canada. I just do.

Anonymous said...

Wow, I agree; I sure hope you are still painting. Mount Baker is beautiful, and I got a big kick out of standing on a golf course in my shorts in Langley, BC, and takin a shot of its snow-covered peaks. Hey, we prairie girls get excited about an anthill...