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@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 17, 2026, 1:18 PM

Happy #PalacesandGardens #PompAndPatterns, #HumansOfBlueSky Thursday.
"A new challenge from Sabine and AnnaLois. I hope I got it right. Reds and greens for my Phil Claus, and the same in Painted Hills, Oregon." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #DogsOfBluesky

The nights are long around here, but none longer than the Winter Solstice. People get a little stir-crazy from the lack of daylight. The cops do the best they can. Sometimes, just sometimes, though, you need somebody for the worst they can do. That's where I come in. The name is Claus. Phil Claus. And my beat is Santa's Village.

You meet all kinds on this job. Naughty? Nice? That's for the Fat Man to decide. Me? As long as your money is green and the schnapps is peppermint, we'll get along just fine.

My boys had come in from sniffing out some clues on an old job. They're good for digging up dirt and dragging out the bones of a case. And they work cheap. Crunchy snack and a scratch around the ears, and they're good. I'm just glad I could get them off the streets.

This shows the striking layered, reddish-and-tan claystone formations of the Painted Hills Unit, part of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument located near Mitchell, Oregon.
Geologic Features: The distinct colorful bands represent distinct depositional epochs of ancient floodplains, with the red layers formed by laterization (deep weathering in warm, humid climates) and the lighter layers composed of volcanic ash and mudstones.
Location & Access: Situated in Wheeler County, Oregon, this unit features accessible short trails like the Painted Hills Overlook and Red Scar Knoll.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 15, 2026, 7:45 PM

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekKforKn
"Along the way to Lassen Volcanic National Park, the high-altitude view of a #Knobby and Pollarding #Knuckles of the trees. It was a fine day for a road trip." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #Lassen #NationalParks #Mountains #BlueTue

The shows an ancient bristlecone pine (Pinus), characterized by its gnarled, weather-beaten trunk, dense green needle clusters at the twig tips, and a high-elevation subalpine mountain backdrop with patches of snow. This is the dominant tree found at the high-elevation timberline of Lassen Volcanic National Park
Species Characteristics: Appears to be a bristlecone or foxtail pine (Pinus species), known for surviving harsh, windy, high-altitude environments
Species Characteristics: Appears to be a bristlecone or foxtail pine (Pinus species), known for surviving harsh, windy, high-altitude environments
Habitat: Thrives in cold, rocky subalpine zones, often near timberline where snow lingers into warmer months
Krummholz Form: The harsh, freezing winds and heavy snow above the tree line force these pines into a stunted, twisted shape. This protective, shrub-like growth pattern is known as krummholz
Avian Partnership: They cannot reproduce alone because their cones do not open on their own. They rely entirely on a bird called the Clark's nutcracker to crack the cones open and bury the seeds for winter storage. The forgotten seeds grow into new clusters of trees.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 15, 2026, 6:46 PM

#BirdOfTheDay #Silhouette
"I haven't done one of these for a while. Not a perfect silhouette, as #Raven forgot to powder its beak that morning. Seen As a 'Shadow' in some mythology, Raven can be a bringer of light or warn of danger." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips

The image shows a large, all-black perching bird perched on a wooden split-rail fence, which appears to be a common raven (Corvus corax) or a closely related corvid species. Appearance: It has glossy black feathers, a sturdy heavy bill, and slightly shaggy throat feathers characteristic of ravens. Setting: The bird is captured against a backdrop of a grassy meadow and scattered trees
In mythology and analytical psychology, the raven acts as a living shadow—embodying the hidden, liminal, and unconscious parts of the psyche, bridging light and dark, and serving as both an ominous harbinger and a profound wisdom figure. Archetype: Psychologically, the black-feathered raven represents the human shadow. It is the dark, unseen part of the self that holds deep truths, instinct, and wisdom gained only through isolation or confronting the unknown. mediator: As a carrion bird working at the edges of life and death, the raven moves easily between worlds, acting as a psychopomp or silent witness to fate. Cross-Cultural Motifs Norse Tradition: Odin’s ravens, Huginn (Thought) and Muninn (Memory), fly across the world to gather hidden information, turning the shadow-bird into an agent of the conscious mind and cosmic awareness.
Celtic Lore: The war goddess The Morrígan shapeshifts into a raven or crow to stalk battlefields, hovering as a dark omen of doom, choice, and sovereign.
Indigenous North American: The Pacific Northwest Raven is a trickster and creator who famously steals the sun to bring light out of deep, primordial darkness, showing that the shadow-bearer can also be the bringer of illumination

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 15, 2026, 3:26 PM

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekKforK
"'You'se wants som' #Knuckles? I gots som' Knuckles fer ya.' The #FremontTroll does indeed have some epic sized grippers, scale from the real VW he is holding."
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #WashingtonState

The image shows the famous Fremont Troll sculpture clutching a real Volkswagen Beetle underneath the Aurora Bridge in Seattle, Washington. [1] Location: Built in 1990, this colossal 18-foot mixed-media sculpture was created by local artists led by Steve Badanes. Design: The shaggy giant is made of rebar, wire, and concrete, featuring a shiny steel hubcap for its left eye. Visiting: Located on N. 36th St. at Troll Avenue N. in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood, it is a popular, freely accessible public art landmark

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 14, 2026, 1:35 PM

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekKforKn
"Ladies, no need to be in waiting for that Knight in shining amour. Pick up that shield and write your own story. Many a Knave will fall at your feet." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #Oregon #Silverton

Photo shows a woman at live jousting performance at a Renaissance faire. She is a rider in partial metal armor and period attire mounted on a horse. The scene is from the Canterbury Renaissance Faire in Silverton, Oregon, where historical re-enactment groups perform. Spectators and other participants can be seen near the wooden barrier watching the mounted performer

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 13, 2026, 6:33 PM

#StunDay #ImageAndVerse
"How dull the imagination of man when you use a word like divine and they assume you mean the western god. The trees, the ocean, the creative power within a woman- these are the Divine. She has always been." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #Goddess

Photo shows a woman dressed in blues and white, with a long purple scarf, twirling and dancing high above the ocean. The scarf flies out around her.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 13, 2026, 5:51 PM

#StunDay #ImageAndVerse
"Hello, childe. I do remember you. Your respect and joy in my embrace is forgotten by so many. But do not forget yourself. My respect must be ever earned." #LaMer
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #Oregon #Ocean

A series of progressive photos, a woman in a dark jacket standing near a rocky, ocean shore. As the photos progressive, a wave crashes up, growing bigger, then shrinking back down, never touching the woman.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 12, 2026, 8:16 PM

#Blueskyartshow #Undulating
"The sand, too, missing the embrace of the sea, waves a pattern of a remembered dance, waiting to once again be held and moved and lead." -mick
#ImageAndVerse #Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #Oregon #Ocean

The image shows a sandy beach with distinct, repetitive rippled wave patterns (sand ripples or swash marks) across the wet intertidal zone, leading out to small receding waves near the shoreline under a pale sky, shows a natural intertidal sand flat or beach with rhythmic wave-formed ripple marks. Features wet, compacted sand ridges contrasting with darker, water-filled troughs.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 12, 2026, 1:22 PM

#BlueSkyArtShow #Undulating. But also #AlphabetChallenge #WeekJforJocular
"Calvin and Mr Phuzz always had a great time together at the beach. But that Irish/Gorden setter was especially joyful in his romps, letting loose a full run." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips

Shows Mr. Phuzz, a black long-haired Irish/Gorden setter mix dog, running and leaping at the off-leash beach. The waves of the ocean are rolling in, and seagulls can be seen flying overhead. A joyful portrait.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 12, 2026, 1:05 PM

#BlueSkyArtShow Saturday, theme of #Undulating.
"The first instinct would have been to go to the ocean. But my visit to the Badlands National Park in South Dakota show you can get motion sickness on land." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #Badlands #OglalaLakota

Photo shows the eroded buttes, spires, and layered sedimentary beds of Badlands National Park in southwestern South Dakota.
Location: Situated about 75 miles east of Rapid City, featuring dramatic multi-colored rock formations and a mixed-grass prairie.
Key Features: The deeply eroded landscape displays distinct depositional layers packed with rich fossil beds dating back millions of years.
Activities: Popular visitor highlights include the Badlands Loop Road (SD-240), boardwalk trails like the Door and Window trails, and wildlife viewing for bison, bighorn sheep, and prairie dogs.
The native Lakota name for this area is Mako Sica (also written as Makȟóšiča), which literally translates to "bad lands". For hundreds of years, the Oglala Lakota people gave it this name because of the area's incredibly rugged rock terrain, lack of water, and extreme weather temperatures, making it a very difficult place to travel through. When early French fur trappers arrived, they simply translated the native name into their own language as les mauvaises terres à traverser ("bad lands to travel across"), which is how it eventually became known as Badlands National Park today

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 10, 2026, 8:57 PM

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekJforJocular
"From a few years back on a visit to a best friend near Detroit. They pull out all the stops for Samhain. Does my witchy heart good." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #Samhain #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #Detroit #WitchSky (No, it's Never too early.)

This image shows life-size skeleton displays from the annual "Skeletons Are Alive" exhibit in downtown Northville, Michigan. Location: Downtown Northville, MI, where local businesses decorate and display dozens of creative, life-size skeletons every October. Displays: The photos feature whimsical setups including a witch walking a skeleton dog, a college coed holding a pizza box, a skeleton in a dress reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe's iconic pose, and a Día de los Muertos-themed skeleton seated near a "Now Hiring" sign. Event Details: The display typically runs through the month of October, bringing festive and spooky community spirit to the town's Main Street and local shops.

Samhain is celebrated as the Witches' New Year from October 31 to November 2, marking a liminal time when the veil between the physical world and the spirit realm is at its thinnest. Ancestor Veneration Build an Altar: Clear a space and decorate it with photos of loved ones who have passed, black or orange candles, and harvest foods like apples and pumpkins. Hold a Dumb Supper: Set an extra plate of food at the table and eat a meal in complete silence to honor and invite the spirits of ancestors. Speak Their Names: Light a dedicated ancestor candle and say the names of those who came before you to keep their memories alive. Release and TransformationWrite and Burn: Write old habits, grief, or things you want to release on a piece of paper, then safely burn it in a fire or cauldron. Reflect on the Cycle: Meditate on the concepts of death and decay in nature, understanding how rest makes space for new growth in the coming year

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 10, 2026, 12:49 PM

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekJforJocular
"I found the high school where Buffy went before Sunnydale."
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips

The image shows a green-and-white directional road sign pointing to the right for "City Center," "High School," and "Cemetery" stacked one above the other in a somewhat darkly humorous progression.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 10, 2026, 3:25 AM

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekJforJocular
"I was driving to Albany and got sidetracked."
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips

A road sign for the town of Tangent, Oregon.
"Grass Seed Capital of the World"

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 9, 2026, 9:43 PM

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekJforJocular
"Remember...remember...the fifth of November?! Nah, that ain't it. Did I turn off the lights? Did I stop the mail for the week? Oh, man. I know it will come to me." - mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #SanAntonio #Texas #RentalCar?

The historic building in the background is The Alamo, which is a famous Spanish mission and fortress located in San Antonio, Texas. The guy standing in front has forgotten to look for famous historic buildings...like the one...in the background. Just. Turn. Around.
Maybe he's thinking of getting something to eat at Custard's Last Stand.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 9, 2026, 5:29 PM

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekJforJocular
"If you give them your name, that's on you." - mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #WashingtonState #OlympicPeninsula

Picture shows the deep Olympic forest. On a tree there is a sign advertising ESPRESSO.
Commentary text reads: "The Fae have a new strategy to lure you to the forest."
(Note: This is an actual coffee stand in the Olympic National Park.)
The Fae have traded their traditional fairy rings and sweet mushroom tarts for something far more modern and irresistible: the rich aroma of fresh, specialty coffee. Imagine walking near the tree line on a crisp morning and smelling the unmistakable, deep scent of a perfectly pulled espresso shot. This is their new trap, designed specifically for the tired and caffeinated modern human.
If you give them your name, that's on you.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 9, 2026, 1:28 PM

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekJforJocular
"The modern traveler uses all tools at hand to help keep him on schedule. Technology is a friend to young and old alike." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #Yellowstone #OldFaithful #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #NationalParks #Geyser #Geezer

The image shows a wooden sign for the Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park with a person standing nearby. The sign reads "Old Faithful Geyser" in block capital letters. A person with shoulder-length hair wearing a blue shirt and a multi-colored jacket stands to the right, looking toward the camera while holding a phone. In the background, a crowd of visitors watches the geyser erupt behind a safety barrier. The guy with the phone is clueless.
Photo by the spouse of the clueless guy.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 6, 2026, 4:22 PM

Last day for the #AlphabetChallenge of #WeekIforIntegers. So might as well add #StunDay and #Scape. Hurricane Ridge never disappoints.
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #WashingtonState #Mountains

The image shows a rustic wooden sign for the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center in Olympic National Park, noting an elevation of The road to Hurricane Ridge leads up 17 miles (27.3 km) into the subalpine ecosystem of Olympic National Park, reaching an elevation of 5,242 feet (1,600 meters) at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center.
2nd image is this stunning view of the Olympic mountain range, abundant wildlife including deer and marmots, and well-maintained hiking trails. They also highlight the convenient parking lot, helpful park rangers, and the overall beauty of the area.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 6, 2026, 1:46 PM

#StunDay #ImageAndVerse
"It reminds you of the great North Seas, a place where you have never been, but your ancestral blood can still feel the tides of another era and coast. Ships and selkies sing to you, the waves their song." -mick
#photography #ECK #WCK #MickPic #MickTrip #RoadTrip #PNW #Ocean

This image shows a person standing on a wide, wet sandy beach with rocky sea stacks in the distance, which is characteristic of the Pacific Northwest coastline. Location Characteristics the Shoreline: The wet sand reflects the bright sky, and gentle waves roll onto the beach. The Background: Large rocky formations, or sea stacks, rise out of the ocean water near the shore. The setting: The scene is on public beach areas along the Oregon Coast during low tide.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 5, 2026, 8:08 PM

#BlueskyArtShow #minimal
"I usually wouldn't associate Haystack Rock with minimal. But coming out of the fog like this seems to give it a mystical, Brigadoon vibe." -mick
#CannonBeach #HayStackRock #photography #ECK #WCK #MickPic #MickTrip #RoadTrip #Scape #Beach #PNW #Oregon #Ocean

Cannon beach in the haze with Haystack Rock seen off in the distance.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 5, 2026, 1:31 PM

#BlueSkyArtShow #minimal.
"How does a poor person get to do road trips? This little home away from home helps, plus a willingness to camp or 'boondock' in cheap or free camp sites. Oh, and gluten-free noodles. Lots of cheap noodles." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips

The selected region shows a green and black solo camping shelter, a 1 Person Tent. Tent Overview Capacity: One-person solo design. Color: Olive green body with a black mesh top. Design: Freestanding structure with aluminum poles. Use: Lightweight setup meant for backpacking and hiking.
Boondocking is camping off-the-grid in remote or undeveloped locations without utility hookups like water, sewer, or electricity. What Is Boondocking? Definition: Staying overnight outside of developed campgrounds using your own resources for power, water, and waste. Cost: Usually free, making it popular for budget-conscious travelers. Common Locations: Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, national forests, and permitted overnight parking lots