nature as neighbors: Views of Nature to Kick-Start Summer Activities
- 05/30/16 02:15 AM
With Memorial Day marking the unofficial start of summer, it's a good day to kick-start your family activities for the season. In addition to summer camp and trips to the beach, there are many local opportunities in Clark County, WA to keep your family busy.
This Saturday, June 4, is National Trails Day, an annual celebration of trail activities across the country: hiking, biking, paddling, horseback riding, trail running, and bird watching and more. Several locations in the area are hosting events - the City of Ridgefield celebrates with the Big Paddle - an interpretive tour by canoe, kayak, or even paddleboard along Lake River to the confluence of the Columbia River. … (17 comments)
|
nature as neighbors: Silent Saturday - Nature As Neighbors Celebrates a Blue Angel
- 05/28/16 12:29 AM
We think the drops of rain on the leaves of a Hosta plant is quite meditative. Hostas are a wonderful addition to shade gardens and we think the large varities make quite a statement. This one is called Blue Angel and it produces white, bell-shaped flowers on tall stems. We can't wait for ours to bloom.
… (21 comments)
|
nature as neighbors: Nature as Neighbors - Gardeners Experience Zen Digging in the Dirt
- 05/23/16 01:01 AM
If you're like me, digging in the dirt can calm, ground, and refresh your mood, all at once. It's truly an enjoyable endeavor that also pays off in beautiful blooms and tasty vegetables and fruits. Studies have shown that gardening can have a meditative, healing effect on people - one study coined the phrase Horticultural Therapy. It is definitely an area in our lives where we experience "elbow room for the soul".
In Clark County, WA, you'll have to adjust your gardening style to the different conditions within our region. For example, those of us who live in East County - Fishers Landing, Camas, and Washougal have … (22 comments)
|
nature as neighbors: Views of Nature as Neighbors - East Fork Lewis River
- 05/21/16 02:01 AM
With Memorial Day right around the corner, thoughts of summer and spending time on the East Fork of the Lewis River come to mind. This pristine waterway has been designated as a wild steelhead gene bank, ending years of stocking with hatchery fish. This will give the wild fish a chance to reproduce and thrive without competition, maintaining the river's true "wild" status.
Unlike many rivers in the West, the East Fork is one of the few that is not dammed or diverted. So, it is a popular whitewater and kayaking river. Running the East Fork gives paddling adventurers big, relatively easy rapids, chutes and even waterfalls. Kayaking … (15 comments)
|
nature as neighbors: Wordless Wednesdays - Pretty Much Picaso with Nature as Neighbors
- 05/11/16 01:19 AM
Hanging Baskets Add Color To Spring Mornings - These petunias are called "Pretty Much Picaso" and we have 4 huge baskets of them hanging on the front porch. Thanks to Arai Nursery for their great local nursery and fair prices.
… (16 comments)
|
nature as neighbors: Nature As Neighbors: Monarchs Making Their Way North
- 05/09/16 03:08 AM
We have been watching our fields here in Camas, WA for the amazing monarch butterflies as they return on their journey North to the United States and Canada. The monarch has been a marvel of nature for centuries - noted as much for its spectacular beauty as its impressive migration patterns between North and South America. Scientists estimate that some monarchs travel as much as 2,000 miles, returning each year to their warmer resting spots in the South. East Coast monarchs winter in Mexico, while West Coast flocks - appropriately called "kaleidoscopes" - head to Southern California.
In recent years, though, there has been a recognizable decline in population due … (15 comments)
|
nature as neighbors: Nature As Neighbors - John Muir Got it Right
- 04/28/16 03:51 AM
“In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
― John Muir This is a small section of the Lacamas Heritage Trail in Camas, it's easily one of our favorite spots to walk, or run, with Nature. In fact, we think it's about time to lace up the running shoes again. Happy Thursday. … (19 comments)
|
nature as neighbors: Nature As Neighbors - Steigerwald National Wildlife Refuge
- 04/25/16 03:56 AM
One of the many advantages of living in the Pacific Northwest is the opportunity to see wildlife throughout the region. We are especially fortunate to have two of the largest wildlife refuges right here in Clark County – Ridgefield and Steigerwald Lake in Washougal. Both are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and provide residents with unique opportunities to view and photograph birds and other native species in their natural habitat. This is especially true during Spring when the refuges serve as natural “landing spots” for migrating birds.
Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Columbia River in Washougal, … (10 comments)
|
nature as neighbors: Silent Saturday - Spring Morning Sunrise
- 04/02/16 01:05 AM
… (12 comments)
|
nature as neighbors: ViewHomes™ of Clark County - Market Report for Washougal River, WA
- 03/29/16 01:12 AM
We specialize in ViewHomes™ of Clark County - our clients share our appreciation for Nature As Neighbors. A private retreat on acreage provides a serene and calm environment, and there's room to garden, play with kids or grand kids, and enjoy frequent visits from wildlife. If you are looking for a view home with privacy, you should consider the Washougal River area.
The river, whose name is Chinook for “rushing water”, starts its 33-mile run from Gifford Pinchot National Forest in the Cascade Mountains and flows into the Columbia River through the towns of Camas and Washougal, WA. About 63% of its watershed is forested, … (10 comments)
|
nature as neighbors: Silent Saturdays - East Fork Lewis River
- 03/26/16 01:32 AM
Can you hear the rapids?
… (16 comments)
|
nature as neighbors: Views of Clark County - Sunset Falls Park
- 03/23/16 01:48 AM
Some days, when we want to get even closer to nature, like in the wilderness, we head up to Sunset Falls Park in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Located on the East Fork of the Lewis River, we can choose a day visit for a picnic and hike to the spectacular falls, or reserve a campsite and spend a few days exploring the area.
Kayakers put in a mile and a half upriver, and are known to shoot the falls when water levels allow. During the warmer months, swimming in the pools formed by the falls is an option. Only 7 miles from Lucia Falls Rd … (14 comments)
|
nature as neighbors: News of Clark County - Crown Park Easter Egg Hunt This Sunday in Camas
- 03/21/16 03:09 AM
The 25th annual Crown Park Easter Egg Hunt in Camas gets underway this Sunday, March 27th beginning at 1:30 PM. Children, from 2 - 12 years of age, can search for more than 10,000 candy and toy-filled eggs hidden throughout the park in designated areas.
Parents must accompany all children, but are not allowed in hunt area - they'll need to stay in the section for the 2-3 year olds. The 25th annual Easter Egg Hunt also includes the popular hat and bonnet contest. Participants can show off their fanciest headwear.
The Crown Park Easter Egg Hunt is free, thanks to a supportive Mayor Scott … (8 comments)
|
nature as neighbors: Sunday Family Dinners: Multi-Gen Comfort Food
- 03/20/16 01:00 AM
As we have noted in our blogs about living in a multi-generational household, meals can be a challenge because everyone has their own taste. But here is a glazed turkey meatloaf that everyone loves - comfort food at its best (even if it is healthy!) The secret is making the glaze ahead and adding some into the mix. You could also make this recipe with equal parts beef and turkey.
Glaze - make ahead4 teaspoons olive oil1 teaspoon minced garlic1 small can tomato paste1 Tablespoon ketchup2 Tablespoons cider vinegar2 Tablespoons brown sugar2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce1 tablespoon Dijon mustardSalt and pepper to tasteDirectionsIn a saucepan, sauté the garlic in oil … (23 comments)
|
nature as neighbors: Silent Saturday - Monarch's March Madness: Migrating North
- 03/19/16 01:06 AM
Nature as Neighbors: the monarch started its migration this month from Mexico to the Pacific Northwest and Canada.
… (15 comments)
|
nature as neighbors: (Not So) Silent Saturday - Your Own Private Waterfall
- 03/12/16 12:30 AM
Imagine aWashougal Riverfront retreat with an additional view of your own private waterfall. Talk about Nature As Neighbors and "elbow room for the soul."™ This is the spot! Coming soon...
… (21 comments)
|
nature as neighbors: Nature's Partner - Silence is Golden
- 03/07/16 12:39 AM
We have always loved our moments of nature, believing they have a meditative and restorative effect on our well being. Even media institution CBS pays homage to this notion in their weekly Sunday Morning segment "Moment in Nature" which takes time to stop and reflect on its wonders.
We recently reported on scientific studies that show a strong connection between time in the outdoors and mental well-being. Now there are companion studies that indicate silence is also good for you, and provides restorative benefits similar to spending time in nature. The World Health Organization identifies "noise pollution" as a destructive force … (20 comments)
|
nature as neighbors: Nature as Neighbors - Signs of Spring
- 03/04/16 12:55 AM
Just over the weekend, we noticed this bunch of daffodils suddenly popping out of the soil. From bulbs that were planted last Fall - they must love this spot and the early warm Spring. Same with the busy bee working away so early this morning. Maybe he's the same little guy we wrote about last week. Funny thing - when you're living with nature as neighbors, you can always expect to be surprised!
… (14 comments)
|
nature as neighbors: News and Views of Clark County - Rusty Grape Vineyard
- 03/02/16 12:13 AM
If you're looking for a great family dining experience, head out to the Rusty Grape Vineyard in Battle Ground, WA. Voted Clark County's Best Winery, it is also a fun place for food, music and dining outside on a beautiful day. The proprietors, Jeremy and Heather Sailer, have created more than a vineyard. It is was their intention to create a hub of activity - a destination spot in the countryside - and they have succeeded. Every time we've been there, we have enjoyed the friendliness of the staff, the great food, and of course their wines! But they also offer a wide range of … (14 comments)
|
nature as neighbors: Spot a Robin? Tweet it!
- 02/10/16 12:05 AM
Living with Nature as Neighbors, you regularly see and hear wildlife right outside your window. We recently heard frogs and worried that it might be too early for them. (Turns out, they're just fine.) The next day, we saw robins in the yard and wondered the same thing.
So we did some research to find out how early robins are sighted in the U.S. We were amazed and delighted to find a host of public and private web sites dedicated to monitoring everything from Aphids to Zebra mussels. Here, social media and public participation come together to help nature. With data from sightings, scientists and governmental agencies can monitor changes in wildlife population and habitat, which typically … (30 comments)
|
|
|
|
;)
;)
;)
