Crater Lake National Park, Oregon – June 2018

June 25, Crater Lake – “I have thought many times in the last several weeks that I am happy my journey began in the Spring. There’s the symbolism, of course, with starting my life over. And there’s the practicality of warmth and sustained daylight when I’m on a big outdoor-life learning curve.

But mostly it is the gratitude of seeing nature in Spring. I am tickled to still see melting snow in June. The waterfalls are full and magnificent. The tiny wildflowers are truly precious. The color of new green leaves and grass is so tender it actually invokes my [considerable] maternal instinct. And today, I saw another manifestation of Spring to appreciate. A young bird, whose feathers were still adorably fuzzy. Swoon!”