Saturday, March 21, 2026

Moon Mountains and More

Moon slipping away ...

October 5, 2025

[Click on images for larger view]



Re the photos above:  On October 5, 2025, I spotted the Harvest Moon nearing the western horizon. The sky was perfectly clear and the moon was large and bright. I grabbed the camera to capture a few shots as the moon slipped behind Two Brothers, a part of the Olympic Mountain Range.

A couple of days later ...

On October 7th, the sunset provided a colorful
 sky and a chance to see the spot on Two Brothers
 where the moon set in the photos above.

Speaking of the Moon … the NASA Artemis II mission, with 4 astronauts, will soon embark on a 10-day journey traveling in NASA’s new spacecraft Orion out and around the moon. PBS Horizons featured this on tonight’s (March 21) broadcast. More info here.    


To My Blogging Friends - -

I want to say a big thank you to all of you who have left me kind comments on my recent posts after returning from an extended blog break from mid-September, last year, to February, 2026.

Dogs

In my last post I encouraged you to check out the 2026 Iditarod in Alaska. Jessie Holmes, Bib #7, crossed the finish line, in Nome, on March 17 at 9:32PM, to win the race.  Travis Beals, Bib #4, was second place winner, March 18 at 1:58AM.  Jeff Deeter, Bib #8, was third place winner, March 18 at 5:10AM.  Paige Drobny, Bib #10, first woman musher to cross the finish line, was fourth place winner, March 18 at 5:38AM ... 8 hours and 6 minutes after Jessie Holmes. If you would like to see lots of great photos of this year's race, check out the Official Race Photographer's websites ...

Siri Raitto Photography

AND

Dave Poyzer Photography
Birds

In all of my posts, since returning from blog break, I've been keeping an eye on Jackie and Shadow, the Bald Eagles, and their nest in the Big Bear Valley of California. The Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) are providing a live stream on YouTube so we can watch as the parents incubate 2 eggs in the nest. Checking on the nest yesterday afternoon, March 20, 2026, here was the scene ...

Checking on the nest about 3:00PM PDT
The 2 eggs look to be in good condition but
no parents are on the nest. Scrolling back on
the stream shows Jackie flying away a few
minutes earlier ... taking a break.

A little after 3:01PM Jackie returned 

By about 3:02 she is back on DUTY!


Closing thought ...


Thanks for stopping by and take care!

23 comments:

  1. Wonderful moon shots, John! The detail is amazing and I could feel it slipping away... :^) That is some very kind wisdom at the end as well. I hope the rest of your weekend is filled with peace and more good sights like these.

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  2. Loved that moment where the mountain seems to bite into the moon.

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  3. I love the moon pictures, especially since you gave us a sequence.

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  4. Good morning, John. It’s always good to see your name pop up in my reading list. The eagles are doing well. Little do they know they have become such celebrities and that people around the world are watching them with great interest. Don’t forget to provide details of the baby shower when it happens. We’ll all want to attend! Best wishes - David

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  5. Hello John,
    I love your moon and the lovely sunset photos. I hope the moon mission is a success. The Iditarod race is amazing. I have been checking out the Big Bear Eagle nest too, it is great to see the egg and Jackie taking good care of them. She will be a good mama. Great quote! Thank you for linking up and sharing your critter post. Take care, happy Sunday! Have a great week ahead! PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

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  6. The moon photos are stunning. I have been keeping an eye on Shadow and Jackie, it's really fascinating watching them. Thank you for sharing the YouTube link.

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  7. I have missed your return until today. I hope spring is good to your part of the continent, John!

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  8. ...thanks John for sharing your gorgeous moon images. I seem to have a knack of sleeping through all of the excitement.

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  9. Happy to see you posting, John. I love those photos of the moon and the lovely sunset.
    I wonder when those eggs will hatch.
    Thanks for the quote - it really made me think!

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    1. Ellen, always good to hear from you. Thank you for the kind words. According to my research, Bald Eagle eggs, often hatch around 35 days after they are laid. Using the 35 day period, the first of Jackie’s eggs should hatch around March 31. Entirely possible a couple of days before or after that date. Thank you for the question. Otherwise, how are you doing? I would like to know, roughly, where you are located so I can keep an eye on the weather you are experiencing. So many of Red’s posts deal with weather. Take care and best regards! John

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  10. Lovely moon- and eagle shots! Wonder how the new NASA mission will be. A friend of mine is there to watch.

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  11. I am very happy to see you here today showing what you see in your part of the country. I really love the last quote. I've missed you my friend. I've been on a break too. Hugs, Diane

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  12. Great shots of moon and sunset. You have to be watching to get shots like that.

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  13. Cool pictures of the moon. Looks like pieces were torn off of it. :)

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  14. Thank you so much for the sweet comment and hug my friend. It means a lot to me. Diane

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  15. Wonderful moon pictures.

    I do hope the planned launch and mission for the Artemis II goes well.

    All the best Jan

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  16. Who took a bite out of the moon! Those are perfect photos, and perfectly timed too as it slips behind the mountain. I will be paying extra attention to the moon mission as one of the astronauts is from Canada. Best wishes to Jackie and Shadow!

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  17. Excellent photos. I love them. Greets

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  18. Dear John thank you so much for sharing these incredible shots of moon 👌👍♥️
    I felt mesmerised with the beauty of theses photos honestly, I love nature and it’s phenomena seem to speak to me about Divine presence who created them and everything else 🥹
    It’s deeply a spiritual experience for me so thanks again,you really shot it so well 🥰 they reminded me nights spent in village when I would witness moon walking behind the hills slowly and disappear ☺️
    I feel happy and thankful for your beautiful blogging and I am happy you are back from break!

    The eagle watch is such a therapeutic gift and I wish the couple a smooth transition by the grace of God🙏♥️

    I love closing thoughts and this one is so true because everything in our lives depends on our attitude towards everything happening to us. Once perspective is correct everything becomes tolerable .
    Sending heartfelt best wishes for you and loved ones 🙏

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  19. Those "moon-shots" are just wonderful John as is the beautiful Seattle sunset. You know i'm an Eagle-watcher too and it is good to have happy news from the nest you are watching. I hadn't realized you'd been away from blogging for a while until recently (I guess I selfishly thought I was the only one who had been AWOL!) I'm glad we are both back among our blogfriends. Thanks for sharing the beauty and your final thought quote which is helpful for me at this time.

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  20. Those moon photos are top tier!

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  21. What a beautiful opening of the Harvest Moon slipping behind the Two Brothers, and then that breathtaking sunset. I have to admit that dog sledding has never been something I follow, but the photos are absolutely beautiful. Last year I loved watching the eagles on YouTube, so I'll remember to check on them each day. The waiting for the eggs to hatch always seems like forever, but what a joy when they do. I suppose, eventually. we'll spoil the moon, just like we keep trying to do on Earth. I try not to think about it much I just enjoy my garden for as long as I can. I have to smile. Fits right in with your closing thought, which is spot on. A big hug, as your weekend opens. May it be filled with much joy.

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