America The Beautiful

Outside my back door.  Washington, Winter 2011

Deception Pass.  Whidbey Island, WA 2010

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea! 

Nooksack Falls.  Mt. Baker, WA 2010

Farm near my neighborhood.  Washington, winter 2011

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law! 

Mt. Baker, WA 2010

Moss-covered oaks.  Northwest Florida, 2011

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine! 

My Boy Scout. July 4, 2010

O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!