Ducklings get lessons on grooming

"Okay kids, you had your dinner and your play time,  now it is time to clean up."  A mother duck, sheppards  her ducklings, teaching them good hygiene habits.  The scene is from Lake Washington.

Seattle slides away

This was the view from the Norwegian Jewel as Seattle slid away from us and we set sail for an Alaskan Cruise.

What's missing is the message

It's just half the mountain it was when I was a kid -- and that's what's so fascinating about it. Unless you're a member of the X-generation or Y-generation, you remember how it lost half of the mountain in a huge explosion in 1980 -- the most significant event in recorded history (this link has a fascinating tale of the event). In the foreground, the two travelers do what people do every day -- stop to take a shot to remember it by.


Here's a full view inside the crater. You can click in the image and move side to side to spin around 360.


The drive up to the mountain is a wonderful history and biology lesson in itself. If you haven't already done so, put it on you life's list to make the visit to Mt. St. Helens.


--steve buser

Waterfall -- concentration, struggle, peace

Calm, peaceful, struggle. I captured this image at a waterfall up in Washington State on a trip we took to Seattle a few years back. I keep it framed. It captures a message for me of concentration no matter what is crashing down around you. And enjoying the struggle because that is what it is all about.

--steve buser

Lava lodge

This view is inside the Vistor's Center at Mount St. Helens in Washington State. We were there a view years ago. From the center to the ridge of the volcano is quite a hike. It was late when we got there, so we didn't take it.

If you were around in 1980 when the mountain erupted, you'll never forget it.

Here's the park web site.
And check out this St. Helen VolcanoCam -- (Make sure it's day there -- the camera is black at night).
You will also want to check out the USGS site on the volcano which has been erupting now for three years -- spewing out lava the size of a small pickup truck every 3 seconds.

--steve buser