8/17/2020 – I’ve had a birthday, which we celebrated with a hike and a socially distanced takeout Thai dinner with our two sons. Despite the palpable pandemic/political chaos tension in the world I have much to be grateful for. Although I am missing having our usual summer get togethers with extended family, so is everyone in the world right now. I am especially grateful that we saw almost every relation last year, between two weddings and a graduation trip to the east coast. My latest acromegaly lab tests all look good, and, we are eating homegrown tomatoes and basil almost every day.
I have been knitting, knitting, knitting away on a few projects, fingers keeping the anxiety away.
Rio Calina Cowl, by Cat Bordhi, in Malabrigo Rios. 
My cotton dishcloth pile is growing!
My neighborhood walks continue to reveal signs of encouragement and solidarity.
Tethered unicorn 
Fairy house 
Poetry post
Also in the neighborhood, late summer flowers, shadow play, interesting architectural elements, and tinges of the autumn ahead….
Two hikes on opposite sides of Mt Hood –
Burnt Lake August 5, 2020
My birthday hike on the west side of Mt Hood was mostly through shady forest, on a hot day, with a few stream crossings, and late season flowers. The other time we hiked here the mountain was under a cloud, so today we were very glad to see the beautiful reflections of Mt Hood in the lake. Hike #55, 8.5 miles, 1500 feet.
The shady forest
Tree scorched in the early 1900’s.
Mt Hood, Burnt Lake
Mountain close up
Reflection
Notable flowers and plants:
Newton Creek to Timberline Trail, August 10, 2020
We started from the Elk Meadows trailhead, then walked uphill along the Newton Creek Trail, stopping for lunch near the Timberline Trail junction where we enjoyed lovely views of Mt Hood and Gnarl Ridge. We then walked south on the Timberline Trail toward Mt Hood Meadows for a short distance before turning back. Hike #56, 7.7 miles, 1600 feet.
Moon over Clark Creek
Newton Creek trail
Ghost tree in the forest
Gnarl Ridge beyond Newton Creek
Upstream
Downstream, fireweed
Mt Hood ahead
Lunch view of Gnarl Ridge
Gnarl Ridge closeup
We saw a few tiny hikers crossing Newton Creek on the Timberline Trail.
Glacier closeup
The peak
Backside of pea gravel ridge, which we walked along as far as the descent into Clark Creek.
Return hike down Newton Creek.
Editing note – This is my first post with the New WordPress Editor, so there are lots of formatting inconsistencies. Not loving it, but I suppose I will get used to it as I continue hurling forward into the future, keeping my synapses sharp by constant novelty….
Margaret Quilts 