Ellen Notbohm

Writing the Rapids By Ellen Notbohm “Just remember to hold your breath in the troughs and breathe deep in the crests,” instructed our river rafting guide. I stood with my brother and nephew on a rocky path above a sh…

"I pull for shore and stand up proud."

My final published words of 2025, inspired by a long-ago whitewater raft trip, are a perfect summary of where I am at the end of this stupefyingly turbulent year.

Uber thanks to all at Brevity Blog @dintywmoore.bsky.social
#WritersofBlueSky #WriteSky

This luscious #alpaca blend #blanket is a gift from my publisher, from kiva.org, an online lender that helps Asian, African, and Latin American artists bring their work to market. The gifts all come with a personal note from the artist. Very special. Check out Kiva and novica.com.

#ArtYear #textile

31 years of baking #gingerbread cookies for Potluck in the Park, a grassroots 501(c)(3) serving holiday dinner to anyone who shows up, no questions asked. "Wouldn't be Christmas without your ginger #cookies," the founder once told me, thereby ensuring I'll go on 'til I drop.

#XmasXtra #FoodOnFriday

Urwen #Cowl by Claire Slade in Knitpicks Heatherly Sweet Bing, a fave washable yarn for items to donate. But I fell for this one while making it. It's staying with me. :)

#knit #knitting #knitter #KnittersOfBlueSky #smartist #KnitSky #cowl #ShowMeYourKnits #ArtAdventCalendar #ArtYear #knitgifts

A different kind of #WinterWonderland. Frosty sparkle on #PugetSound from Whidbey Island's Double Bluff beach, ethereal outline of the Seattle skyline and Tahoma (Mt Rainier) in the distance.

#PacificNorthwest #photography #TidesOutTuesday (a little late) #PhotographersOfBluesky #smArtist

There are actually two lakes in the caldera, Paulina Lake and East Lake.

If you hike up, yes. For the mobility challenged, you can drive almost all the way to the top. Likely not a road I'd want to do again though. I dislike nausea. :)

Yes, we've been visiting there for decades and are never any less impressed. You too?

Near the summit of Paulina Peak overlooking Newberry Caldera in central Oregon.

#MountainMonday #BlueskyMonday #naturephotography #OregonPhotography #CentralOregon #PacificNorthwestPhotography #PhotographersOfBluesky #caldera #volcano

Youngsong is a metal and resin #sculpture created by my late BIL to "take us to a meadow where a new colt runs free, kicking its back legs high in pure joy." A little #snow can't interrupt his perpetual frolic. :)

#XmasXtra #horse #smartist #ArtYear #BlueSkyArtShow #SensoryArt #ViewFromMyOffice

Snow Peacock bridal #shawl or veil, designed by Tonks. Made some years ago as an engagement gift to my niece. The 760-stitch bindoff could only have been done by a much younger me. :)

#XmasXtra #snow #knit #knitting #knitter #KnittersOfBlueSky #smartist #KnitSky #ShowMeYourKnits #ArtYear

Me too! Here's mine. Share yours?

#Papillon #Butterfly Cowl, designed by MarinJaKnits

Great #stashbuster, and I love it bcs it looks so much harder than it is. Really very simple if you're good with short rows.

#knit #knitting #knitter #KnittersOfBlueSky #smartist #KnitSky #cowl #scarf #ShowMeYourKnits #ArtAdventCalendar #ArtYear

We love our gourdy version of Xmas swans a-swimmin'. They don't need to be fed so they won't bite your fingers off at the joint if you're foolish enough to try.

#XmasXtra #swans #sensoryart #seasons #holidaydecor #smartist #ArtYear #gourds #gourdart #holidayhumor

For my son's wedding, he wore his grandpa's gold ring; I wore my mom's rings, my grandmother's white gold wedding ring, and an adorable manicure by my 5 yo grandie -- 124 years of family history.

#XmasXtra #GoldRings #weddingrings #familyhistory #heirloom #heirloomjewelry #grandparents

Let me tell you a story about Priceless Worthless Jewelry A flash fiction about names, heirlooms and the way value clings to the things we love.

For those who've ever cherished a grandmother, Let Me Tell You a Story About Priceless Worthless Jewelry, is my mostly true micro tale about heirlooms and the way value clings to the things we love. bit.ly/3KH4hZw

#flashfiction #shortstory #cnf #heirlooms #memoir #grandmothers #writers #writing

I think it wasn't talent so much as muscle memory because it came without thinking. Whatever, it sure was fun. Also helped that the group was utterly non-intimidating, mostly late middle-agers like us whose only goal was to not embarrass themselves on the dance floor at an upcoming wedding. :)

Autumn morning at the Hoffman Covered Bridge over Crabtree Creek in Linn County, OR.

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekWForWindows
#coveredbridge #gothicwindow #BlueSkyMonday #Photography #PacificNorthwestPhotography #historicbridge #PhotographersOfBlueSky #smartist #ArtYear #HoffmanCoveredBridge

Chilly late October sunrise over Smith Rock, Oregon.

#Stunday #ColorADay #OrangeSun #October #sunrise #autumn #CentralOregon #SmithRock #PhotographersOfBlueSky #naturephotography #smartist #ArtYear

Thanks again for the lovely thoughts. I must clarify; I gave up ballet when parenthood and career took over. I still dance, just not ballet. We took ballroom lessons before a family wedding some years ago and it all came back instantly. The instructor kept tapping me as a demo partner. Good times!

Chilly late October sunrise over Smith Rock, Oregon.

#Stunday #ColorADay #OrangeSun #October #sunrise #autumn #CentralOregon #SmithRock #PhotographersOfBlueSky #naturephotography #smartist #ArtYear

Not a chance! I danced my last a few decades ago, and rarely in performance. The movement, the music, and the company of my fellow amateurs in class filled my humble needs quite well. :) But I appreciate your lovely thought.

"To you it's #Thanksgiving; to me it's Thursday." ~Rocky to Adrian.

Please let's make room in our hearts today for those for whom the day isn't a joyous celebration. And for those who are working, largely unacknowledged but deeply appreciated by those who are aware.
#gratitude #compassion #workers

My schedule is showing Fridays ColorADay as BW (black and white).

My first (and second-to-last) pair of pointe shoes in the color known as former ballerina pink. Leg warmers #knit by my mom. I'll never part with either, though last worn half a lifetime ago.

#ColorADay #PinkMon
#knitting #knitter #KnittersOfBlueSky #ShowMeYourKnits #vintage #ballet #ArtYear

Love it. :)

I've never brought them home. This was on private property (a cemetery) and so beautiful, I would feel guilty for depriving others of the joy of communing with them. :) But I appreciate your info and will keep it for future reference. Thank you!

The 'shrooms here are just crazy this year. I've seen more varieties and vivid colors than ever before (after almost thirty years in the neighborhood), and many of them are unusually large. Something in the environment is different. What a gift it's been. Incredible beauty every day.

Laetiporus luv! Heart-shaped Chicken of the Woods 'shrooms in the sunrise, on a recent walk.

#Stunday #ColorADay #OrangeSun
#FallColor #AutumnSplendor #sunrise #onmywalk #PacificNorthwestPhotography #naturephotography #mushrooms #fungi #photographersofbluesky

Ora siamo in tre! First look at the cover of new Italian translation of 1001 Great Ideas.

Many thanks to longtime partner Edizioni Centro Studi Erickson, and to my rainmaker agent. So grateful for connections forged with families so far away, yet near in heart.

#italian #book #libro #translation