3+ hour, 20+ min ago  (435+ words) A family of raccoons was feeding about 25 feet off Paul Brennan's deck in Sudden Valley one morning last October. One of them then climbed up a maple and simply sat there rubbing its belly. Brennan captured the moment. "I think…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago  (281+ words) Skagit artist Benjamin Vanderwerff sets up off Mosquito Lake Road in Whatcom County to paint. (Courtesy Ben Vanderwerff) Artist Ben Vanderwerff describes how the valley shapes his art Golden light filters through a lattice of branches, marking the start of…...