Category Archives: nature

July 28 Day 872: Gone Fishing

It’s been hot in the Pacific Northwest this week. To beat the heat, I took a walk along the waterfront as the sun was rising. Seems like others had the same idea. The place was bustling with joggers, bicyclists, and fisherfolk. I was a little late getting up and so I missed the morning’s fullContinue reading “July 28 Day 872: Gone Fishing”

July 14 Day 858: Catching the Gold Bug

Mark and I spent the day with Marcus Martin (no relation) in the famed Beecher Quarry. The weather was pleasant and the company delightful. There is something cathartic about breaking rocks and searching for gold—fools gold in this case. We were in pursuit of pyritized trilobites and with Markus’s expert knowledge and advice, we succeeded!Continue reading “July 14 Day 858: Catching the Gold Bug”

June 17 Day 831: Sadness Mixed with Fascination

I watched as the huge evergreens in my neighbor’s yard were removed by professionals. Sitting in my study, I was previously surrounded by greenery. Birds and squirrels frolicked in the branches. Now it feels too open. Too exposed. These trees provided us with shade and privacy for many years. I have to admit that itContinue reading “June 17 Day 831: Sadness Mixed with Fascination”

April 24 Day 777: Lesson from Nature

You know what they say, “all work and no fun,…” Sometimes I focus too much on what I have yet to finish that I forget to take time to play. My morning motivation to see the sunrise was to think about a new topic for a #TacomaMath video. I got some fun photos that willContinue reading “April 24 Day 777: Lesson from Nature”

April 14 Day 767: Appreciate Your Surroundings

Today’s walk brought many delights. Everyone I passed greeted me with a smile and that made the morning feel special in and of itself. Then nature showed her beauty in unexpected ways. I was greeted by this fine feathered friend surveying the waterfront–later caught in flight over the masts in the marina. How many harborContinue reading “April 14 Day 767: Appreciate Your Surroundings”

April 5 Day 758: Spring Green

Trees along the boulevard are blooming. The color is the chartreuse of new growth that is only found at the start of Spring. With spring comes hope— time for our winter hibernation and COVID isolation to cease. I am ready to re-emerge and return to a more familiar way of life. And yet, there areContinue reading “April 5 Day 758: Spring Green”

March 20 Day 742: Goodbye Winter; Hello Spring

I did it! I finished all my grading for Winter quarter and posted the following announcement for my students today: Subject: I think I am done grading Please have a look over the gradebook. You will see an entry called ‘UWT Grade’ that gives the grade I will report to the registrar for this course.Continue reading “March 20 Day 742: Goodbye Winter; Hello Spring”

January 9 Day 672: Catching Sunrise

I looked out the window this morning and saw it was going to be a beautiful sunrise. I threw on pants, sweatshirt, sneakers, and raced out the door in an attempt to catch nature’s show. Apparently this is something I do on January 9, at least according to my Facebook memories. As I arrived atContinue reading “January 9 Day 672: Catching Sunrise”