Visiting the region of my birthplace is a grace and a privilege in many ways. This past July’s visit was typically so; being around the Pacific Northwest, particularly in Washington, whose nickname is The Evergreen State (and despite the unusually dry year, still an entirely fitting name in more ways that one) renews and refreshes my spirits. Its seemingly limitless variety of tones, shades, and hues of green never fails to bring about a sort of awakening response in my heart, a deeper sense of belonging and of potentiality, something almost inevitable and just-about-to-happen, that makes me quietly giddy. Being enveloped in the green liveliness that is a northwest forest, ankle-deep in slopes of bursting greenery spangled with wildflowers, and looking over the green-tinged waterfalls and shallows of the mountain and coastal waters there are an elixir, a potion that surpasses the most wild and sprightly of sparkling wines and tinged with a faint zing of adrenaline.
So when I go Home I am remade into a newer, shinier version of myself. This happens in other, similarly intensely green places, as I’ve learned, other places where by virtue of this quixotic and quintessentially pure life’s-blood of mine I find myself at home in the verdant glories: Scandinavia, the British Isles. While the turf from which I sprang will always be beloved in a unique way, home remains portable as well, so long as I’m immersed in the loves of person and place that shape and color its vital character.
All the same, every one of these photos is from this summer’s visit to Washington. The Evergreen State that always puts me in an evergreen state of my own.
Art-Colored Glasses 
I feel the same way about going back to SE Alaska, the green odors give much joy.
Sent from my iPad
Yesterday, Richard and I were in a shop and they had scented candles in tins; I am usually horribly averse (if not allergic) to scented, perfumy candles, but the words Frasier Fir were stamped on the tins and I couldn’t resist. It was like winter-in-a-can. Heavenly! Ridiculously expensive candles, though, yet so deliciously scented I’m thinking of finding a little bottle of FF essential oil that I can drizzle in the water when I give myself a little foot soak, just to revel in the scent!
Alaska is *definitely* on my to-visit list!
xo,
Kath
A very beautiful part of your country.
It most certainly is. I hope you’ll get the chance to visit and experience it yourself sometime! I don’t doubt that your country has many beauties of equally compelling delight. 😀
Kathryn
Home
Yes, and my husband and I own a condo in Sequim, too, that is currently rented out but is intended to be our retirement place eventually! Such a lovely area!!
Cheers,
Kathryn
Perhaps we will meet.
I’d enjoy meeting you *and* your fabulous equine companions! Hope the time will come. We live in Texas right now (Richard teaches choral conducting and has a couple of choirs in the UNT College of Music), but look forward to being back in WA eventually. (We both grew up in the Seattle area.) 🙂