January 28, 2012 - Foil Forte

The pommel and forte section of a collection of foils used in the sport of fencing sit on the sidelines as a class continues with foils lucky enough to be selected.  The blades are referenced in thirds from the pommel to the tip as the forte, the medium  and the foible.  A metal foil, not shown, blunts the tip of the tempered steel blade.

The foil was a training weapon used for thrusting and was similar to the small sword carried by gentlemen in the 18th century.  The sport of fencing originated form this time period. In fencing scoring is by successfully touching the tip of the foil to an opponent's torso.  However, scoring is governed by right of way rules or priority that require that one individual make an attack before the other can be considered as having the right of way to initiate an attack.  One must hit, but hit with priority.

January 19, 2012 - Lights, light, light revisited

  

For trees whose leaves are made of millions of crystals it doesn't matter that the Christmas lights are dark for the year.  A lone tea light is enough to make them brilliant.

January 5, 2012 - Pink Elephant

To Seattle residents, this pink elephant is as much a symbol of Seattle as the Space Needle, Pike Place Market or Mount Rainier.  The first Elephant Car Wash location in downtown Seattle was opened in 1952. This location closer to Seattle Center was opened in 1956.  Automatic car washes have been around since at least the late 1930s, but Elephant Car Wash is believed to be the first one in Seattle.  There are several locations in the greater Seattle area as well as eastern Washington, Arkansas and California.

January 1, 2012 - First of Many

Sights from the first ferry trip of the new year.

A gull ignores the ferry Kittitas as it approaches the dock from Mukilteo ferry dock from Clinton.


























A group of cormorants queued up near the ferry dock.

The first sail of the year.

A Great Blue Heron, huddled against the wind, is silhouetted against the early afternoon gray.