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@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 24, 2026, 11:42 PM

#AlphabetChallenge
#WeekLForLookingIn
"It was difficult to get a good perspective here. A large slab of granite leaning against another. I did climb in. The weight was oppressive." -
#Photography #MickPic #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #California ##Yosemite #NationalParks

$Geological formation: Massive angular granitic rocks wedged together to create natural cavities, fractures, and narrow openings. Flora: Patches of green moss and lichen grow on the damp rock faces beneath a small opening of daylight and trees.$

This image shows a perspective looking out from inside one of the talus caves or boulder fields located in Yosemite Valley, California. Geologic Overview Formation: These caves are not formed by water dissolving rock (like limestone caves). Instead, they are talus caves (boulder caves). They form when massive blocks of granite break off from the valley walls during rockfalls and pile up at the base of cliffs. The Interlocking Matrix: The open chambers and pathways are created by the random, irregular gaps left between these giant, overlapping rocks. Signs of Weathering: The dark green and black patches coating the granite are lichens and mosses, which thrive in the damp, shaded microclimates inside these rocky recesses.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 24, 2026, 5:43 PM

#Orange so I won't tag it for P&G.
"It is neither too early nor too late for Samhain decorations if you just leave them up all year." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #WitchSky #WitchesOfBluesky #BlueskyWitches #Oregon

A pumpkin and a gargoyle sitting a a small table looking out through a window, wondering why the Mormons won't visit.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 24, 2026, 12:45 PM

#PalacesAndGardens #MellowYellow, by #MrCalvin
"It was rare to catch me in such a chill moment. I was a little terror. No, not Terrier. But cool comparison. Part baby Malinois, teething on a table leg. Fiber!"
#CalvinWasHere
#CalvinIsThere
❤️‍🩹🌈 #Dogs #Calvin #DogsOfBluesky #MickPic

Tired puppy Labrador Belgian mix resting on a blue couch looking at the camera.
Belgian Malinois-Labrador mix, often called a "Belgiador," is a high-energy, intelligent, and loyal hybrid, blending the intense work ethic of a Malinois with the friendly, driven nature of a Labrador. They typically weigh 40–80 lbs and require substantial daily mental and physical stimulation to prevent destructive boredom. These dogs are highly trainable, often suiting active owners, search and rescue, or protection roles, but they require consistent, firm, and early training due to their potential for high-drive, protective, or intense behavior.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 23, 2026, 10:38 PM

#AWalkInThePark
"I've posted about Noble Woods Park before, but these are all new pics from this afternoon's stroll. Be among the trees for the 1st day of Autumn. I could have saved them for Forest Friday. But why though?" -mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #ParksAndRec #Oregon #Trees

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 23, 2026, 6:26 PM

#OurFrontYard
"It looks as the Fae may have had a wee Mabon ball last night. At least they leave nice decorations behind." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #JustOutsideMyDoor #Oregon

The image shows a series of pale, brownish-capped mushrooms sprouting in a curving line through patch-thin lawn grass alongside small yellow dandelions.These lawn mushrooms appear to share characteristics with gilled fungi in the genus Agaricus or similar saprotrophic lawn-dwelling species.
Many wild lawn mushrooms can be toxic or cause severe gastrointestinal distress.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 23, 2026, 3:49 PM

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekLforLookIn
"There is a cage that separates people from the interior of the caves. But it does not separate you from the primal sounds inside. Sounds our ancestors may have run from." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #Oregon #SeaLionCaves

The image shows the interior of the Sea Lion Caves located along the Oregon Coast near Florence, featuring groups of sea lions resting on rocky ledges and outcroppings inside the vast sea cave. Location: Situated right off US Highway 101, roughly 11 miles north of Florence, Oregon. Feature: It is widely recognized as the largest sea cave in the United States, measuring about 12 stories high and spanning nearly two acres inside.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 22, 2026, 6:57 PM

"If I'm ever lost, this will probably be my emergency call sign."
#MickPic #MickPun

The image shows a package of Murray's Cheese Whiskey Maple Gouda featuring red branding text and a black cow silhouette.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 22, 2026, 4:46 PM

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekLforLookIn
"A very, very late bloom from #CalvinsGarden. Always a great surprise to see color late in the season. Like looking into a tunnel of the sun as it fades." -mick
#Bloomscrolling #ColorADay #BlueTue #Flowers #Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #Oregon

Looking into an intense blue Morning Glory flower, a late bloom along a fence line. A bright center glows.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 22, 2026, 3:25 PM

#dailyhaikuprompt
#equinox

We know the balance
Our lives depended on it
When to sow and reap.

#MickPic #JapaneseGardens
#Nagomi (和み)

IThe image shows the Flat Garden (Karesansui) at the Portland Japanese Garden in Oregon, beautifully framed by vibrant autumn foliage including a prominent Japanese maple with brilliant red leaves.Location: 611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR 97201
Features: The raked white gravel represents a stream or sea, while the mossy island formations symbolize longevity and enlightenment. Peak autumn colors typically appear mid-to-late October.
The Japanese concept of balance, calm, and emotional well-being is called Nagomi (和み), which translates to a state of comfort, peace, and harmonious equilibrium. Another related concept is Chowa (調和), which specifically means the active search for harmony and balance in life's different directions.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 22, 2026, 2:21 PM

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekLforLookingIn
"Though located outside, the labyrinth at The Grotto is an excellent place for looking inward, a place of meditation. Yes, it is a Catholic sanctuary, but this old pagan felt quite welcome." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #TheGrotto #Mabon #Witch

This stone-paved, 11-circuit medieval labyrinth, the meditative walking labyrinth located in the Peace Garden at The Grotto (The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother) in Portland, Oregon. Design: It is designed in the style of the famous Chartres Cathedral labyrinth in France. Setting: Tucked away in a quiet, wooded botanical garden setting surrounded by tall trees and benches for reflection. Purpose: Built as a dedicated space for quiet meditation, prayer, and mindful walking.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 22, 2026, 2:14 PM

#7SyllableSquad
#7SyllableSentence
#Enchant

No need for spells to enchant.

#MickPic #WitchSky

Friend Desiree from a photo shoot, casting her magic.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 22, 2026, 1:34 PM

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekLforLookingIn
“As she moves through autumn, a woman feels a passionate connection with all life...There is enough of everything – strength, love, passion, lust – everything but time." -Seasons of the Witch, by Patricia Monaghan
#MickPic #WitchSky #Mabon #Yellowstone #Fall

This photo depicts a woman standing by the Madison River in Yellowstone National Park. The photo was taken during early autumn. This is indicated by the changing, golden-brown color of the meadow grasses along the riverbank combined with the traveler wearing a fleece jacket, which is characteristic of the cooler fall temperatures in the park.
"Fall consumes a woman many times before and after middle life, whenever the time demands that she become decisive. She empties her womb of conception; she leaves a convent, a marriage, a career; she puts a loved old pet to sleep. She cleans a closet, gives away old books, cuts off her hair. Autumn moods find her free and vibrant, impatient of delusions, ready to do whatever she needs to do. For she knows what she needs, and she wants it fiercely. For every false dream that dies, a true one is remembered. She climbs mountains to stand in alpenglow, she gallops out on a magnificent horse, she paints her secrets and nightmares. She bears a last and cherished child; she remembers passion with an old friend; she writes her own, her individual story. She knows what memories she needs to store, to provide her winter years.
The autumn woman moves towards dreamtime. Though she knows her limits, she has also felt limitless. She has known the ineffable. She wakes at night from dreams of high windy places where small blue flowers bloom, and she knows in her bones that such places exist. Luminous beings appear in her dreams and pull her towards them. She recognises the dust of infinity in a windstorm, the fragrance of timelessness in a fire.
There is a transcendent energy about her, but she remains rooted in life’s imminent realities. In her eyes you see the fire of primal knowledge: the knowledge of life and death. She knows that she will not escape this life alive. And so she embraces it, moment by moment.”
Seasons of the Witch (excerpt from Fall), by Patricia Monaghan

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 21, 2026, 1:26 PM

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekLforLookingIn
"My roommate & new friend at the Oregon Zoo from a few winters ago. Would I be so gauche as to ask who is looking in at whom? Yes. Yes, I would be. And roomie posed for the pic knowing that." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #Oregon #Orangutan #Zoo

This image shows a person wearing a striped winter cap looking closely at an orangutan behind an enclosure window at a zoo. The selected region highlights an orangutan (Pongo) with characteristic reddish-brown hair, positioned near a glass partition or viewing window. Orangutans are highly intelligent great apes native to the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia, known for their distinct reddish fur and arboreal behavior.
The Oregon Zoo in Portland. The zoo's primate area has a rich history with these intelligent apes: Inji: Historically, the zoo was famous for hosting Inji, a beloved Sumatran orangutan who lived to be 61 years old and was recognized as the world's oldest known orangutan until she passed away in 2021.Current Family: Today, the zoo is home to a family of Bornean orangutans. This includes Bob (the father), Kitra (the mother), and their young offspring Jolene, who was born in April 2022 and named after the famous Dolly Parton song due to her bright red hair.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 20, 2026, 10:14 PM

#7SyllableSquad
#7SyllableSentence
#7SyllableSunday
#castle

She needs no castle to win.

#MickPic #Silverton #Knight #LadyKnight #WeekKforKn

Shows a lady knight on her horse after a full contact jousting contest at the Silverton Ren Faire.
lady knights are highly celebrated performers across modern historical reenactment groups and festivals. Professional troupes—such as the regional Seattle Knights in the Pacific Northwest—frequently feature skilled women performing full-contact jousting and theatrical sword fighting

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 20, 2026, 9:40 PM

#7SyllableSquad
#7SyllableSentence
#castle
#7SyllableSunday
#Divide

Castles divide not protect.

#MickPic #SanFrancisco

The Transamerica Pyramid is an iconic 48-story futuristic skyscraper located at 600 Montgomery Street in the Financial District of San Francisco, California. Completed in 1972 and designed by architect William Pereira, it stands at 853 feet (260 meters) tall and remains a defining symbol of the city's skyline.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 20, 2026, 6:05 PM

Today's #BirdOfTheDay is #CaptionThatBird
"Yep. We have targets for practice too."
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #Oregon #Hiking

The photo shows a small, plump bird that is likely a Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), characterized by its rounded head, streaked brown and white plumage, and long tail, sitting on a hiking trail sign. Visual Features: It displays rich brown and grey-brown upperparts with heavy dark streaking on the breast and a patterned head. Similar Species: It shares characteristics with other native sparrows like the Lincoln's Sparrow or Savannah Sparrow. Habitat & Behavior: Commonly found singing from low perches near brush, wetlands, or open woodlands

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 20, 2026, 4:07 PM

#StunDay #ImageAndVerse
"The wound is the place where the light enters you."
-Rumi
Image by mick, verse by rumi.
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #Oregon

This image features a scenic view looking east toward Mount Hood from Joseph Wood Hill Park at the summit of Rocky Butte in Portland, Oregon, overlaid with a well-known philosophical quote by Rumi. An elderly woman looks off inti the distance. Location: Rocky Butte Natural Area rises about 612 feet in northeast Portland, offering sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding volcanic cinder cones, the city, and Cascade peaks like Mount Hood. Quote: "The wound is the place where the light enters you" is a widely translated and cherished line from the 13th-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic Jalal al-Din Rumi. Composition: The shot frames an individual looking out over the historic stone ramparts toward the distant, snow-capped mountain on a clear day.

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 20, 2026, 2:31 PM

Happy #StunDay, #ImageAndVerse
"She wears her skin, for now, knowing someone from shore is watching. It is not modesty that keeps her true form hidden, but ancient secrets of the ocean, an agreement written in coral." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #Oregon #Selkie

The image shows sea lions resting on the offshore rocks at Simpson Reef along the rugged Oregon Coast near Cape Arago State Park. Location Details: Situated just south of Coos Bay and Bastendorff Beach in Oregon, Simpson Reef is a premier marine-mammal viewing site. Wildlife Visible: Steller and California sea lions, along with harbor seals, frequently haul out on these protected sandstone reef rocks. Best Viewing: Visitors can view the active colony year-round from the dedicated overlook viewpoint equipped with interpretive panels and scopes
Sea Lion Caves is located on the central Oregon Coast at 91560 US Highway 101, about 11 miles north of Florence, Oregon

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 20, 2026, 1:17 AM

#BlueSkyArtShow #Golden, by #MrCalvin
"Okay, one more before I remind The Guy He works early. Haven't seen the Golden Ratio yet. Here's my puppy pile. I was at the end of the swoop, so of course The People took me Home. Math!"
#CalvinWasHere
#CalvinIsThere
❤️‍🩹🌈 #Dogs #Calvin #DogsOfBluesky #MickPic

The image shows a group of young, curled-up puppies resting together next to a graphic overlay of the Golden Ratio (Fibonacci spiral). Subject Identification: The young puppies appear to be small canine pups, possibly of a hound or terrier mix, snuggled in a tight circular sleeping position. Mathematical Overlay: The right panel displays the logarithmic golden spiral derived from the Fibonacci sequence, often playfully or analytically superimposed onto natural shapes and animals. Compositional Context: This pairing illustrates the common internet trope of fitting the golden ratio over cozy, curled animals to highlight natural geometry
The golden ratio, represented by the Greek letter phi (Φ), is a special number approximately equal to 1.618033988749895. The golden ratio is also known as the divine proportion, the golden mean, or the golden section.

We find the golden ratio when we divide a line into two parts so that the longer part (let’s label it as a ) divided by the shorter part (b) is equal to the whole length divided by the longer part: a ÷ b = (a + b) ÷ a .

@mickpic.bsky.social Sep 20, 2026, 12:54 AM

#BlueSkyArtShow #Golden, by #MrCalvin
"We still doing this? I Was from Hawaii. Didn't make me a Golden tan expert. However...a fenced back yard and going 'al fresco' will give you a tan in places you didn't know you had places."
#CalvinWasHere
❤️‍🩹🌈 #Dogs #Calvin #DogsOfBluesky #MickPic

Labrador Belgian mix lying on his back on the couch and out in the back yard on a sunny day.
Belgian Malinois-Labrador mix, often called a "Belgiador," is a high-energy, intelligent, and loyal hybrid, blending the intense work ethic of a Malinois with the friendly, driven nature of a Labrador. They typically weigh 40–80 lbs and require substantial daily mental and physical stimulation to prevent destructive boredom. These dogs are highly trainable, often suiting active owners, search and rescue, or protection roles, but they require consistent, firm, and early training due to their potential for high-drive, protective, or intense behavior.