A Full-time Life

A COVID-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

The eleventh of April marks an anniversary of sorts for us.  One year ago on this date we arrived at home after an earlier-than-planned trip back to Oregon from Florida.  (Due to Covid, Oregon felt like a safer place to be.)   While Oregon is our home, both officially and in our hearts, we have been fortunate to call the Florida Canal Cottage our snowbird-season home for the past dozen years.  

 

 April 2020

So it's been a long time since we have lived in one place for an entire twelve month period.    A year ago, we arrived home to see Spring flowers we haven't seen blooming for years.     The first picture I took when we arrived  was of the tulip garden under our daughter's and son-in-law's black walnut tree.  We parked our travel trailer on their property, said a quick and masked hello (hard not to hug) and went home to our Oregon apartment to self-isolate for the prescribed two weeks.   

 

May, June, July 

 

Watching the seasons change has been one of the year's simple pleasures.   Because we wouldn't be traveling this year,  it was a good one  for a "tree watch" -- observing the same tree every month (even if the year started in April and ended in March).    It's been interesting to notice seasonal changes in many of the different trees we see on walks and drives, but I chose the Black Walnut both because it was the first picture I took on our return and because it is such a magnificent tree. 

 

August

 

It has been twenty-four years since we've spent a whole year in one place.  Before we bought the Canal Cottage in Florida, we were full-time RV travelers for almost another twelve years.      Here is a link to our page that tells a little about our full-time life.   I just now looked at that page myself for the first time in  years  -- it  needs to be updated.  Our Canal Cottage looks much better in real life now -- we have extensively remodeled and improved it.  And also, for some odd reason, Bill and I look many years younger in the picture on that page.  

 

 

September, October, and early November 

 

We have spent at least part of the Summer/Fall seasons in Oregon during all of those two dozen years.   And before that of course it  is here where we owned our home and raised our family.  (I sometimes refer to those years as our previous life.)      So the walnut tree's Fall changes are more familiar to us.   Not   as dramatic as in some other Autumn foliage here, but obvious .   

 

Late November

 

From late Spring through most of the Fall, we enjoyed socially-distanced family visits under the walnut tree. I didn't take many  pictures during those gatherings.    But our great-grandson gave us this photo op that was way too good to miss.        

 

December  and January

 

Social distancing was more difficult when the weather turned too chilly to sit outside.  And of course it was during these months when we would normally  have left for sunny climates.    Our memories (from that former life, before we retired) were of chilly, rainy, gray days every day all day for months.   But this year we had some blue sky days and most weeks we were able to get outdoors at least once.   (It is possible our memories are faulty -- maybe in our former life we were at work during the pleasant winter days -- maybe it was only on the weekends when it rained all day.) 

 

February 2021

So we made it through the winter.  Although it certainly wasn't as warm and sunny as we'd gotten used to lately,  we knew all the time that we had made the right decision for us when we hurried home in the previous March.

 

March 2021

 

It has truly been a joy to be here for the arrival of Spring  -- we had almost forgotten how lovely the season is here in Oregon.    Though we know challenges remain, we  are  grateful  to have made it through this Covid Year safely and more pleasantly than we had thought possible a year ago.      We continue try to remember to treasure every day of every month --  no matter where we call home. 

 

LINKING this week to the following sharing opportunities with thanks to the hosts:

 

MOSAIC MONDAY;  NATURE NOTES;  THROUGH MY LENS;   OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY; MY CORNER OF THE WORLD;   THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  and FRIDAY  BLISS;  

A WALK ON THE WILDER SIDE

 

Really not very wild at all, but the path where I took a long walk last week is about as wild as we get these days.  The area around this section of the river  path is a little less-developed than the part closer to our home.    

 

 

I drove about a mile and a half to a parking lot to start this walk .  So  it is really sort of within walking distance, but then I'd be too tired to actually do the nature  part by the time I got there.    Which would definitely spoil the purpose.   

 

 

 

The path goes along the Willamette River and some of the ponds created when old gravel pits were reclaimed by the City.  The river bike/walk path system and the Delta Ponds are definitely two of the best things about Eugene.

 

 

The usual ducks -- and lots of them.  But for some reason they didn't want to swim very close to the people path.

 

Great Blue Heron

 

 

Western Pond Turtles

 

So many turtles!   They were everywhere.  I counted over twenty on one log.  

 

 

American Coot

 

The weather has been lovely.  March went out just the way it came in -- like a lamb.   We are thankful for that!  In the "tamer" neighborhoods around home,  more Spring flowers bloom every day.  We continue to enjoy our first real Spring-like Spring in many years.  (Because we've been in Florida and Florida is different.) 

 

 

Tulip Magnolia

(This one is at our daughter's and son-in-law's home.) 

 

 

LINKING THIS WEEK to the following sharing opportunities:

MOSAIC MONDAY;  NATURE NOTES;  THROUGH MY LENS;   OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY; MY CORNER OF THE WORLD; SIGNS SIGNS;   THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  FRIDAY  BLISS;  SATURDAY CRITTERS;    and RATHER B' BIRDING

 

OFFICIALLY SPRING

We've been enjoying Spring-like weather for at least a couple of weeks. but the season officially started on March 20.    Here's what the first week of Spring looked like around here:

 

 

In our neighborhood on the paths to the river, trees are beginning to bud out, forsythia and Oregon grape are spots of sunshine, and early rhododendrons are blossoming.   We can pretend this is the first robin of spring -- even though these birds never leave this area, so they really aren't a reliable sign of the season.

 

Common Merganser

 

And on the river on one perfect afternoon last week there was what seemed like a convention of ducks.  I've never seen this many different species in one small part of the Willamette.

 

Lesser Scaup

 

There was a small rapids area and a river island near where they all were -- and honestly it seemed like all the different ducks were floating around in perfect harmony -- just enjoying the beautiful day.  

 

 

There were at least two additional species I didn't get a picture of and the usual Canada geese in there too.  Gotta' love it when everybody can just get along!

On another lovely day we went for one of our favorite kind of  mini-roadtrips:

 

Yup, narrow winding roads are the most fun.  We've been on lots  that were narrower and windier, but whoever it is that decides drivers need constant reminding was vigilant on this one  -- the same sign kept appearing every two miles for about fifteen of them!  

 

You don't have to go too far to get away from the city in this area and there are lots of country roads to explore.  That's something to be grateful for in our opinion.                                                                  

 

 

Daffodils are lasting longer than they do some years since we've had no heavy rains.  I  remember from a long time ago that they sometimes would be  gone before the season really officially began.   I'm glad this is a good year  and I'm grateful for all the signs of Spring.  (Except maybe the pollen.  Achoo.   Our covid masks do double duty on some days.) 

 

Linking to the following sharing opportunities:  Thank you to all of the hosts.

 

MOSAIC MONDAY;  NATURE NOTES;  THROUGH MY LENS;   OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY; MY CORNER OF THE WORLD; WILD BIRD Wednesday;   SIGNS SIGNS;  THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  FRIDAY  BLISS;  SATURDAY CRITTERS;    and RATHER B' BIRDING

PANDEMIC, SEASON 2

A year ago this week I wrote about the first day of Spring and how it was different in Florida.  

 

 

 This is a mixed bouquet of Florida and Oregon Spring flowers.  Mostly Oregon.  I really do miss seeing the usual Spring beauties when we're in subtropical Florida and so this was much the same thing I've mentioned every year since we've spent the season  away from the Pacific Northwest.    I’m grateful to get to see them again.   In that first-of-Spring post last year, I  mentioned worry about Covid but the news still didn't seem quite real.    

 

 

But just a week later, my post talked about how we were going to head home to Oregon immediately, much earlier than we'd planned.   We had begun to understand how serious the threat was and we felt we'd be safer there.  Things moved fast.

 

 

It was a long way back to Oregon, but we were fortunate to be able to travel in the safest way possible.   

 

 

 We both enjoy road-trips so even under less than ideal conditions the first couple of weeks of "Pandemic:  Season One" were interesting and actually kind of fun.   We made the  3100+ mile trip faster than we have ever driven cross-country.  

 

 

We were grateful to be home and safe and we  still feel we  made the right decision.   

 

 

 

But it's  been a year now and Pandemic is getting just a little tiresome.     We hope it gets cancelled for good before this season is over.

 

 

Meanwhile, we are looking forward to enjoying more of our first Oregon Spring in many years.  And to a beautiful Oregon summer  -- a season we have always spent in Oregon.  I hope this one is more like normal summers here (before last year).  

 

 

LINKING TO the following with thanks to the hosts:

MOSAIC MONDAY;  NATURE NOTES;  THROUGH MY LENS;  TRAVEL PHOTO SOUVENIRS; OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY; MY CORNER OF THE WORLD;   THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  and FRIDAY  BLISS;  

MARCHING ON

 Not a lot of pictures from last week, but much to be thankful for.  I'm glad for the return to Daylight Savings Time and look forward to late afternoon and evening walking time.

 

 

East Bank Willamette River Walk, March  2021

 

Our weather stays mild with little rain (that may not be entirely a good thing, but it is hard not to appreciate beautiful days).  

 

 

I managed this too-far-away-shot of what I think are Greater Scaup.  I know at least that they are different ducks from the usual Mallards.  So that was definitely a good thing.

 

Neighborhood path to the river

We have stayed pretty close to  home lately because we wanted to be able to jump quickly on any Covid vaccine appointment that came up through the County's  pre-registration list.   We will be able to cancel our names from that long wait-list, because Bill put his talents to work and found us appointments as soon as the vaccine became available to area pharmacies.   One down last week, one more this week and then our two second doses in a couple of weeks.   Closer-to-normal is on the horizon and I am grateful, in so many ways.   

Meanwhile, I am thankful for life-as-usual, which is really not so bad at all, except without travel pictures.

 

There are quite a few ways to walk to the River from where we live.  The last picture above this collage is one of those.  That path  winds through a lovely neighborhood.   The collage is the not-so-lovely view from a different path.  Not so pretty, but   the quickest way to get there.  The highway construction project pictured includes the building of a sound wall.   Whenever I walk this way, I see  birds and wildlife in the weedy area along the bank between the  path and the wall construction.   It's been kind of interesting to watch the   project move along but the better part is always seeing birds.   They don't seem to be bothered by the construction noise.   I'm thankful for that.  And also thankful that our home is not along the path.  I'm sure the people who do live there will be grateful when the wall is completed.

 

Not an alligator

I may have been thinking about Florida as I walked because this fallen log reminded me of a sleeping alligator.   Something we won't ever see here in Oregon.   I don't exactly miss alligators, but I am glad I've had the chance to live where they do.    But for this year during this pandemic -- and for many reasons -- I'm quite happy to be here in alligator-free Oregon.  

 

LINKING this week to the following:   Thank you to the hosts.  

MOSAIC MONDAY;  NATURE NOTES;  THROUGH MY LENS;   OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY; MY CORNER OF THE WORLD;   THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  FRIDAY  BLISS;  and SATURDAY CRITTERS;

IN LIKE A LAMB

If it is possible to OD on daffodils I plead guilty.   I stop to admire them and take pictures on every walk.  And on every country drive, in every park and almost in every yard.  

 

 

It's a harmless addiction, unless you count the sudden stops made on those country roads.   And anyway, there's a good excuse because this is the first time in years that we've been in daffodil country in March.   

 

 

 

 

I wouldn't trade the decades of  winters and springs we've spent  in sunny climes  for anything.  But the  beautiful early Spring flowers have been a gift in this year when staying home was our safer and happier option.  

 

 

And the winter weather here in our part of Oregon  has really not been all that hard to take.   Not nearly as rainy and gray as we remember.    March definitely came in like a lamb with a beautiful sunny day  and only a couple of partly rainy days last week.      I've read a lot about places where it came in like a lion and  therefore (hopefully) will go out like a lamb.   But here in the Pacific Northwest, we've always heard the opposite version of that old proverb.   There's actually  a fact-based reason for that.

 

 

Not my picture (I wish it were).    Google  public domain

 

Here is information from CNN Weather:

Some may be familiar with a reverse version of the proverb: "March comes in like a lamb and goes out like a lion."

This "reverse" of the proverb is hard to trace in its origin, but definitely makes sense if you consider those who traveled westward with the American expansion to Western states.

These western states can have incredible temperature swings this month as the polar jet stream moves from it's preferred position near Canada over the winter to a more southerly route during the spring. This tends to cause many states in the Western US to experience some of their heavier snowfalls from the end of March and into April -- thus the lion (and the harsh weather it represents) coming at the end of the month.

 

 

 

 

I hope the proverb comes true for those who got the lion last week -- and that it doesn't for those of us who got the lamb.  

 

 

 

 

 

Just the usual suspects when it came to birds last week.   I heard and saw a lot more species.  Spring activity is picking up even here in the city, but pictures are hard to get.  I've been trying to remember that just observing birds used to be enough to make me happy.   Now I'm a little disappointed if I don't get a picture.    

 

 

 

 

 

Thankful to  be safe and well and enjoying this seasonal transition.  It is almost a brand-new experience for us after all these years.  

 

 

 

 

And thank you to the hosts of the following sharing opportunities, where I'm linking this week:

 

MOSAIC MONDAY;  NATURE NOTES;  THROUGH MY LENS;   OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY; MY CORNER OF THE WORLD;   THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  FRIDAY  BLISS;  SATURDAY CRITTERS; and RATHER B' BIRDING

 

THE GIFT OF FEBRUARY SUNSHINE

The weather forecast for last week called for rain and flooding, but here in our corner of the Willamette Valley we were instead  blessed  with sunshine and blue skies most days  and very little rain.

 

 

 One morning, we went for a ride through the pretty farm country west of town to the small town of Junction City and then on BLM roads through  the surrounding hills down into a coastal valley.

 

 

Bill likes to drive these curvy mountain roads.    We probably drove about 40 miles in this backcountry and in 4 hours did not see a single other car or person.    There are a lot of places like this around our area.  I do think about how easy it would be to be lost and have to admit that I checked  to see if there was cell service.  (There was.  I guess nowadays it wouldn't be as easy.)  

 

 

The drive was really a long-way round to the farm  (otherwise known as our daughter and son-in-law's home.)  We stopped to look at the migrating pelicans on Kirk Pond -- the wild area that is within walkable distance of their house.    Most of them were on the other side of the water, but these three were nice enough to swim closer to the shore.  

 

 

A quick tour around their backyard on this blue-sky late February day.   Spring is on the way (although the groundhog did see his shadow here, so we hedge our bets).  

 

Tree watch, late February

 

 

   Stellar Jay, Scrub Jay, and Common crow.     

 

Three different (noisy) birds all enjoyed the same blue sky in the same winter tree.   

 

 

We brought a few branches of these harbingers of Spring home.   (There are pictures of the pussy willow tree in last week's post -- the tree has branches to spare.)  

 

Sunny February days are a gift here in Oregon.   Thankful for blue sky days and the time to enjoy them.  

 

Linking this week to the following sharing opportunities.  Thank you to the hosts.

 

MOSAIC MONDAY;  NATURE NOTES;  THROUGH MY LENS;   OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY;  MY CORNER OF THE WORLD; THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  FRIDAY  BLISS; SATURDAY CRITTERS; and RATHER B' BIRDING

BEAUTIFULLY BLUE

Blue skies are always welcome -- especially in late February.   And  especially when much of the rest of the country and even much of our State is under severe weather watch.  But in truth blue skies don't always make the most interesting pictures. 

 

 

On one day last week though, the blue skies were as intriguing as they were welcome.   It's rare that I can't stop taking pictures of a blue sky.  It's usually just "there" and unchanging.  On this day though these clouds just scudded across the sky painting pretty patterns as they traveled.   

 

 

All these sky pictures were taken from one small area in the "way-back" of our daughter and son-in-laws  home.    It was kind of a chilly day (for here).   The scrub jay didn't mind the cold.   His blue color doesn't show up against the sky as much as it would  on a gray day.

 

 

 

And I got this wonderful surprise that I almost didn't notice while sky-watching.  These are the first pussy willows I've seen in years.  We've  spent February in warmer climates since the turn of the century* when we sold our Oregon home to travel.   *(I've always wanted to use that phrase!)  And very early spring flowers don't bloom in sub-tropical climates.

 

 

It hasn't even rained hard enough to knock down the daffodils .  These first-of- the-year flowers are always kind of a gamble.  Way back (yup, back in the last century) when we gardened, they were my favorite flowers of all just because they are so welcome.   But hard rains  can decimate them quickly.  We have been very very lucky in our weather this year.    So far, at least.    Family and friends remind me that in the past year or two (while we were away) our valley had a snowfall on the first day of Spring.   We're grateful for every blue sky day!   

 

 

Here in our present Oregon backyard, there are no flowers blooming yet, but the red-bellied sapsucker keeps us entertained most mornings when we're at home.  (Of course I pretend to be sure it is always  the same one -- really, we never do see more than one.)  

 

 

My bird book says that in addition to enjoying sap from the trees, these birds  feed on insects extracted from the bark.   And that helps to keep down the number of  boring-type insects that destroy healthy trees.    I hope that is true because Eugene needs trees!  And this tree  is right next to the one that gave up completely and fell down last year   (this post from last September).   

 

 

Linking this week to these sharing opportunities.  Thank you to the hosts.

MOSAIC MONDAY;  NATURE NOTES;  THROUGH MY LENS;   OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY;  MY CORNER OF THE WORLD; THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  FRIDAY  BLISS;  SATURDAY CRITTERS;    and RATHER B' BIRDING

A MIXED BAG OF FEBRUARY

 

Happy Early Spring ???

 

Eugene Oregon February 6 2021

Our weather here in Eugene continues to be a mix of Autumn and Spring.   We count our blessings.   The early spring flowers above were seen in someone's yard last weekend when we took the long way home from an errand.  (Someone who has a green thumb for sure!)

 

February 13 -- the Black Walnut Tree

 

There was blue sky yesterday when we went to our daughter and son-in-laws.  But the tree I've been watching is still definitely in Winter mode.  And a good thing too, because there was a definite chill in the air.   (For us anyway.  Our grandson, who has been in Finland and is back in Oregon for now, was outside in a light sweater.  It's all about what you're used to.)

 

 

I took these pictures of the  Black Walnut Tree from outside, but there is almost the same view from their  living room picture window.      Parker was the only family member to pose for a picture yesterday.  (Because I never remember to ask anybody to do so.)

 

 

Costa Rica 2017

 Last week marked the Lunar New Year  and it is the Year of the Ox.   These two were operating historical presses as part of a sugar plantation tour.  Happy (belated) New Year to all who celebrate.  

 

February 14, 2021

We ordered a to-go breakfast this morning.  The restaurant's only about a mile and a half away from home and  just across one street and a parking lot to this view of the Willamette River where we parked and ate.     A lovely way to enjoy a Valentine's Day treat and we didn't even have to wear masks.  

 

Owens Rose Garden, Summer 2020

 

Here are a dozen roses for Valentine's Week.    (Well, a dozen pictures -- there seem to be a few extra blossoms in there somehow).  

 

Whether you celebrate Winter or Spring, Lunar New Year or Valentine's Day, or just celebrate being alive --enjoy this coming week and all it brings.  Thank you for visiting and special thanks to the hosts of these sharing opportunities:

 

MOSAIC MONDAY;  NATURE NOTES;  THROUGH MY LENS;   OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY;    TRAVEL PHOTO SOUVENIRS;  MY CORNER OF THE WORLD; THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  FRIDAY  BLISS; and  SATURDAY CRITTERS

 

 

A LITTLE BIT (of) BLUE

There was at least some blue sky and mid-day temperatures in the 50s all last week, so we remain pretty darn lucky here in Oregon during our  Covid Winter.

 

A little blue sky on a River Walk, early February 2021

There's really no good reason to feel even a little bit blue -- but I can't help wishing for some new things to blog about.  Not being able to travel is a small price to pay for good health though.  I know that many bloggers are doing  memory posts  these days and below are some of ours from past Februarys. 

 

Mardi Gras Parade, Mobile Alabama February 2005

 

I got a kick out of this picture I found in the archives.  It's practically ancient, all the way back to 2005, but it looks like the two  guys in the back are wearing their masks correctly for 2020.   Here is what I said in a blog post in 2010 about something that was already a memory by then:  

Mobile Alabama Mardi Gras celebration in 2005.  In the Pacific Northwest, we had Lent but we never got to celebrate for weeks leading up to it!  We loved the parades.   It really is a wonderful community-wide party and more family-friendly than the better-known Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans.  Mobile says that they celebrated it first and New Orleans stole the idea.  

 

Next, a couple  from Florida, where, until this year, we've spent February since 2011.  

 

 

Penta Plant

 

From the Gardens at the Butterfly Park near our Canal Cottage.  Perfect that this plant with all its little hearts blooms during Valentine's Month.

 

 

Lakeland is a birder's Paradise of a town.  There are dozens of swans in the City's central Lake and this regal one was lovely to see on one of our explore-Florida trips in  February 2014.

Below, it's back to Lane County Oregon (where we are again now) for this memory from Fern Ridge Lake.   We used to stay at the Lake when we visited Oregon during the years we were  living full time and traveling in our RV.

 

 

 Most of the time, we were there only  during parts of the summer and fall, but in 2010 we were at the lake in February.  That year, we got to experience living along the almost dry Lake, which   had been drained for the season (it is a flood control reservoir).  

And now -- back to the present day:  

 

 River Walks, early February 2021

It isn't just the sky that can't make up its mind around here -- early spring plants are popping up, but the remains of Fall are evident at the same time.   Some days it feels like Spring, some days like Fall.  Not a lot of what most people would call Winter.   And for that we are grateful.  Cold weather takes a lot of getting used to when you've spent Winters in sub-tropical temperatures for over a decade.   

 

LINKING this week to the following sharing opportunities.  Thank you to the hosts:

 

MOSAIC MONDAY;  NATURE NOTES;  THROUGH MY LENS;  TRAVEL PHOTO SOUVENIRS; OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY;  MY CORNER OF THE WORLD; THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  FRIDAY  BLISS; and  SATURDAY CRITTERS;