A Full-time Life

A GLORIOUS WINTER DAY

It is rainy and gray today and supposed to get cold toward the end of the week 

but yesterday ....

 

 

 Yesterday  was  glorious.

The beautiful weather caused us to reconsider our informal "we stay home on weekends"  mantra.  This time of year, it would be a shame to waste a blue sky day cooking and cleaning (or to be completely honest, doing nothing useful whatsoever.)  And  we knew it would rain again soon.  So with no particular destination in mind, we drove out into the country northwest of Eugene.  Through open farm country bordered in the distance by  green hills and then over some woodsy back roads,  and we found ourselves heading  toward one of our favorite places,  Alsea Falls.  

 

Just a little unnamed waterfall.

We didn't stop  because there were lots of cars in the parking lot (the reason we don't usually go out on weekends ever and especially nowadays). But we found a little waterfall not too far away - - and no people.    A little waterfall and a little tiny bit of a walk.   

A little further on, we passed several miles of a not-so-lovely scene:

 

 

Pictures taken January 23. 2021

I think they must mean they planted the sign!    There was no sign of anything else at all having being planted on this clearcut.     Or maybe they're coming back  and the sign was put up in advance.  It's certainly very early in the year to have had time to plant acres and acres of trees.     (Not a fan of clear-cutting.)

We'll find out when the weather gets warmer, because we plan to spend more time in this area then.  There were lots of interesting backroads to explore and if we come mid-week,  we should even be able to walk into  the big Falls.

Below is Alsea Falls taken in August a couple of years ago.    It will be interesting to see  how much water there is earlier in the season.

Alsea Falls, August 2019

 

I'm thankful that we were able to get out and enjoy the sunshine and know how lucky we are to be able to do that at the end of January.   And I'm grateful that we live where we can enjoy such beautiful scenery on a day trip.  

 

Thankful also to the hosts of the following sharing opportunities where I'm linking this week.  And for everyone who visits.  

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

HOPE

 

 Still in that holding pattern here and this may remain true for the foreseeable future.  But there is always hope.  

 

River Walk, January 2021

At the very least there is certainly hope that Spring is somewhere on the horizon.   (And I know we are fortunate to have this kind of weather this time of year.)

This is the first time in years  we've spent a Winter season here in Oregon so we may have forgotten -- but it seems like the second week in January is kind of early for this flowering tree to be blossoming.   I hope there isn't a February surprise to freeze its little buds.   

 

This pair of crows  was having a noisy argument.   They ended up ignoring each other, but still occupying the same branch.  Too much togetherness lately?

We are doing OK with our togetherness (so far) but do have hope that the Covid 19 vaccine will be available within the next month or two.  Oregon seems to be lagging behind in receiving the allotment from the Federal Government, but perhaps that will improve soon.  Right now our tier (old folks) is not slated  to receive  the first dose until  February.  

 

 

 Skies are changeable here this time of year.   We  remember  that from all those years we lived in Oregon (in our former life, pre-retirement).   The above pictures are all from last week.  If you don't like the weather, just hope for change and wait a little while -- it will happen soon.   

 

 

We also remember that camellias were very early bloomers.   (I would have thought early February, but here they are at their prettiest  last week.)   One reason why we remember  them  is that the second winter year we lived in Oregon (in 1972 I think) we lost two  beautiful bushes to a February freeze.    Let us hope that this one does not meet that fate.   At least it isn't our responsibility this time  though -- this is another beautiful flower I "stole" from the neighborhood.  (via photography only of course .)

 

A walk to the river, January 12. 2021

 It felt like Spring, it looked like Autumn, but it was a Winter Day.   Since we're home a lot more with very few appointments on the calendar, it's hard sometimes  to remember what day it is.  And with weather like this, I'm not even sure about the season.  But  it's OK to be confused because I'm so grateful   for every winter day that isn't freezing cold.  

 

Peace Rose (from June 2o20, Owen Rose Garden)

 

We continue to hope for peace and calm for our country.  

 

Linking this week to the following:  Thank you to all of 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; 

Holding Pattern

 

Last week was a terrible one here in this country.   And it really does feel as if we're in a holding pattern  -- at least until after January 20, when, I hope, the USA will begin the return to some semblance of normality.  We have a long way  to go. 

 

It's actually hard to think about anything else, but life goes on and above is a pattern of a different sort.   This sapsucker (?) has been at work drilling it right here in our own backyard.    

Tree watch, January 2021

And here is the black walnut tree in our son-in-law's and daughter's yard on the 9th of January. Under a cold but blue sky.  I'm grateful this past week for mostly dry days in this part of Oregon.    It really does help to go outside and play.

 

LINKING to the following sharing opportunities.  Thank you to the hosts.  

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

WINTER COLOR

It was almost the end of December but there was still Autumn-like weather on our last  "Covid-country-drive" of the infamous year just  over.  Sunshine turned the willows to amber and the blue sky made a beautiful backdrop for hundreds and hundreds of Canada Geese.

 

And we spotted the handsome raptor below while we were admiring the fields.  

 

 

 My extensive research  comparison with pictures on the Internet leads me to think this may be an immature Cooper's Hawk.  ( It has a yellow eye.)   But as always I am open to  help. 

I have learned so much  from fellow bloggers who are real birders and I am so grateful.  Back in September I posted the pictures below without any idea of what these little acrobats were.  Thank you so much to all of the bloggers who told me in their comments that they were Bushtits.  

 

Bushtits 2020, our daughters and son-in-laws' backyard.

 So this was new bird for me -- and one I hope to see again so that maybe I can identify it "all by myself."   I'm pretty sure they were just migrating through the area when we spotted them.

Coming back now to the present day (or at least closer to it), the gray backdrop on the  collage below is more typical of what our skies have been like since that day in the country at the start of this post.

 

 

All of these birds (and more) were spotted along what I call the path to the path -- it's a neighborhood walkway behind our apartment complex that meets the river-bank path I show quite often.     Since the trees and bushes are bare now, I  see more small birds along this section -- house finches, chickadees, juncos, and towhees (not pictured).   And the neighborhood pair of mallards is hanging out in the back channel almost every time.  

 

 

It's a different Winter season for us, but there is still a little color in our world and still some closer-to-home explorations waiting to happen.   We are grateful.

 

LINKING 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; WILD BIRD Wednesday; THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;   FRIDAY  BLISS;  SATURDAY CRITTERS;    and RATHER B' BIRDING

CHRISTMAS (and a New Year)

 It is going to be a different Christmas this year and not only because it will be wet and gray here in Oregon.   But there will be rainbows.

 

Cyndi's photo

Christmas Health Love and Cheer be in your hearts throughout the year  

(Picture and Message from our daughter -- taken and sent to us last week)

 

And there will be birds to watch -- and maybe photograph if I'm lucky.

 

 

Seen on a walk to the river last Friday.

 

And there will be Christmas memories.  Below are some of the most recent.  

 

St Augustine, December 2019

 

Thank you to all who visit this blog and especially to those who leave comments.    And thank you all for writing your own blogs.  They are a year-long gift.   Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.   

 

LINKING TO the following with extra gratitude to the hosts of all of these sharing opportunities:

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

 

 

 

A QUIET WEEK

 

    Quiet and uneventful this week, yes, but given all the alternatives these days, that is nothing to complain about.

 

 

Especially when skies are mostly blue and even the winter trees look golden in the sun (and it is December in Oregon after all.)

 

 

 Christmasy colors in nature .  The three center pictures are from our Coast trip, the rest from a blue sky walk around our home neighborhood early last week.

 

 

The Willamette River --  my usual neighborhood walk destination.

 

 

On the way to the river path.  The Canada Geese on  the left look like they're in a zoo, but it is a private yard.  Side view of the same geese from the river path which borders one side of this house.  The sign on the right, that I wish I hadn't cut off, says  "private property, keep out".  The geese can't read.   The flock of mallards were in the back-channel that is behind our apartment complex.                      

 

There were a couple of rainy days mid week.  On Saturday, the sky was blue and so we  drove out to the farm.    

 

 

Tree watch, December 12.   

The sky stayed blue, but a cold blue.  I took a very brisk nature walk.  

 

 

 Mushrooms ranging from little button sized to gigantic ones (that is my definitely-not-tiny-foot for perspective.  

 

 

Before my fingers froze, I was able to snap a  few  winter birds around the property.  (Must find winter hats and gloves.  We haven't needed them for years.)   That's our daughter's  and son-in-law's cat and dog.  She's waiting for the door to magically open, even though there is a cat-door on the other side of the house.  

 

Grateful for blue sky -- even a little bit of it this time of year.

 

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; and  SATURDAY CRITTERS; 

THE MANY MOODS OF THE PACIFIC

The quick shot below -- taken  as we headed west to the Oregon Coast Highway -- made us think we might be heading into one of the most common coastal moods this time of year -- fog and mist (Oregon rain). 

 

 

 And indeed, when we arrived at our destination, that is exactly what we experienced, although the rain mist let up a bit as we pulled into our campsite.   The misty afternoon was fine with us -- we were warm and cozy inside the tiny trailer and ready to relax.   

The rain let up completely soon enough though and that evening (late afternoon really these days) there was time for  a short  sunset walk along the beach.    On  misty days here, the sun often makes a last-ditch effort to show up just as it is quitting time.  

 

 

We had a little of everything weather-wise on this getaway.  Some blue sky days, some of that mist, and only on our last day did a big storm roll in.  But it was not yet raining  as we hooked up ready to head for home.    It was light jacket temperature every day, rain or shine.  Perfect Autumn days at the Oregon Coast.

 

 

 

One of the blue-sky days as we explored the area around Brookings-Harbor, where we were camped.   

 

 

And another perfect day.   These sea-stacks are a feature of Harris State Park, near Brookings.   They are part of the  Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge.   For navigation purposes, each rock island has a name.

 

 

I could hear and barely see Oyster Catchers and some other sea birds.  But for pictures, I had to settle for nearer birds.  This California Gull posed perfectly backlit by the setting sun.

 

 

The sunset from our beach looked a little different on our last evening.  From the same spot just a few steps outside our trailer we watched the setting sun on the west and turning around spied the rising moon.  Contrary to the old saying, this red sky at night heralded a coming day of warning for sea-going folks in this area.

The two pictures below show the weather we woke up to that next day, our last morning.

 

The sky was still blue, but the waves, which had been calm until then were crashing and rolling.   The bar, the most dangerous one on the lower coast, was closed.  Flags were out, but two Coast Guard boats were also  out guarding the entrance.  We had a great view of the boats from right in front of our spot.  

 

 

This boat totally disappeared under that wave just after this picture.    Although I know perfectly well that these guardians of the sea  know what they are doing, my heart was still in my throat.  I think the men and women of the Coast Guard are happy for the chance to put their  skills to use though.  They do such good work.  

 

 

We were so lucky in our weather and that we were able to safely socially distance while experiencing different and beautiful scenery .    Most people we met as we walked were wearing masks and it was always easy to socially distance.   Our beaches here in Oregon never seem to be over-crowded even in the summer.    I'm grateful for that and, as always, grateful to "the travel planner" for finding the perfect Autumn getaway spot.  

 

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

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;

PICTURES and PONDERS

Pretty pictures and  pandemic ponders.   

 

"It is a serious thing  just to be alive on this fresh morning  in this broken world” – Mary Oliver

 Like many bloggers these days, I'm reaching back for memories of sunny mornings.   But they will  come again.  

 

 

 

"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather" - John Ruskin

The  picture above is from the last time we spent the winter in Oregon -- over a dozen years ago.    We had a fireplace in  the fifth-wheel RV that we lived and  traveled in back then.   There was a little bit of a hiccup in our plans that season -- we weren't planning to spend the winter here, but health- and  healing-related events changed that.   At least this winter we are mentally prepared (more or less) for cozy winter months.     After all, like everybody else, we've been thinking up ways to keep from being bored at home ever since April.   Below is what we did one day:

 

 

Bill worked on the computer and  I got a new pet.  (I learned how to do this from someone's blog and sadly I've forgotten who it was as well as how to do it.)  This day happened when we were totally self-isolating for two weeks when we were first back in Oregon.  

 

Although we still do stay at home more than usual, we are now able to go outside and play some.    I'm grateful for that.

 

The pictures below are from one of those times -- one of what I call our Covid country drives.  

 

Leftover pictures from a recent country drive 

Scarecrow doesn't seem like the right word for the two fashionably-dressed ladies in the top row, but I think they're meant to serve the same purpose.   We pulled over so I could take their  picture and at  first neither of us  noticed the real-live-human woman plowing her garden.   She waved at us and her protective dog never even barked, but he was sure ready to act had we stepped onto his property (as he should have).  

We have another, slightly longer, getaway planned this week as we spend a few socially-distanced days in our tiny trailer. 

 

Gold Beach Oregon 2017

We're looking forward to this year's version of the Thanksgiving holiday --  camping on Oregon's south coast.    

 

THANK YOU to the hosts of the following, where I'm linking this week:

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

THE LEAVES ARE LEAVING

 

 

Want to buy a post office?    Yep, the  Lorane post office building, the second smallest we've ever seen, can be yours for only $99,000.     We saw the "for sale" sign  and looked it up when we got home.  The ad said the "iconic building" is leased to the USPO for the next four years -- so there's a guaranteed source of income.

The post-office sighting was on one of our recent "covid drives" out in the country,    All of the rest of the  pictures are from  last week, even closer to home.

 

Saturday, November 7

 To be perfectly honest, the picture above is from a week ago yesterday.  That's the Black Walnut Tree at our D and SIL's that I've been watching since April.   We spent part of that Saturday out at the farm visiting and admiring the Fall colors,  a lot of which appeared in last week's post.  It was perfectly beautiful blue-sky Autumn weather. 

But the next day it turned cool and windy.  

 

 

On Monday, Cyndi texted that it was "snowing leaves" at their house. She included a  quick movie from her phone but sadly I can't figure out how to embed a video so it's a screen shot. 

 

Friday, November 13

And this is my picture of the same tree from our latest visit a couple of days ago.  What a difference a week makes.

 

 

Cyndi also texted this picture. How lucky that they had some help with the raking!   That is their grandson (our great), who was visiting them for the day.  You can tell from my latest picture above that there are a lot more leaves to come down.  Enough to keep this little guy busy the next time he spends the day with his grandparents. 

 

 

I didn't help with the raking when we visited on Friday.  But I did collect some of the last of the Autumn  color from the back pasture.  I'm grateful to enjoy the beauty and have none of the work.  Sometimes growing older is not a bad thing at all! 

 

 

While we were there, the sky kept  changing from gray to blue.  So Cyndi and I kept moving our lawn chairs around  from sunny spots to dry ones as we visited.    Beautiful Autumn color is just about gone, but I hope this  rainbow is an omen of a manageable winter and brighter things to come in non-weather related matters.  (Rainbow shot through the car window the same day, as we drove home.) 

 

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

MOSAIC MONDAY;  NATURE NOTES;  THROUGH MY LENS;   OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY;  TUESDAY TREASURES; THANKFUL THURSDAY;   SIGNS SIGNS; SKYWATCH FRIDAY; and  FRIDAY  BLISS; 

    

 

DAWN OF A NEW DAY

 

 We woke up Saturday morning to a beautiful golden  day.    And not only because of the perfect Autumn weather.

 

This isn't a current news blog by any means, but as I have said often, it is my happy place.   And because the news on Saturday made me  happy, I can't just ignore it here.   I will be even happier on January 20  (and hope we survive until then), but it feels like our country has taken the first step back to sanity.  

 

"We are in a battle for the soul of the nation. It’s a battle to uphold and honor the values that we hold dear, values like empathy, and dignity, and respect for truth. These are our values and they are the values we need for a better future."   Joe Biden.

 

 

 

 Of course we still have problems and they won't magically go away now or in January.  But there is hope.  And there are beautiful Autumn colors.      The pictures above are all from Saturday at our son-in-law and daughters.  Our Covid-pod.   And we are more than OK with that.

"Introverts were social distancing before social distancing was cool"  -  Don Kahle, Register-Guard (Eugene)  October 30

In addition to visiting the lovely people in our pod on Saturday, we  took a couple of day-drives earlier in the week.     The weather really has been perfect and Autumn color is wonderful.  Getting out there is something we like to do and my favorite form of stress relief.  Fortunately Bill enjoys it just as much.

 

 

A random drive-by shot of typical scenery in our part of the world.  I love the layered look of the hills.

 

 

 

Oakland Oregon is a small and historic town in the next county to ours.  (Historic for this part of this country.)   It's only about an hour from home on the freeway, but longer for us because we explored backroads on our way there and back.    We are fortunate to have our  camper van because public "rest stops" are few and far between these days.  We wouldn't be nearly as comfortable on a day drive with just a car (or at least I wouldn't).     

 

 

Oakland was pretty much completely shut down on the week-day when we were there.    The downtown is mostly antique and souvenir stores and wineries that had opened in repurposed historic buildings.  I wonder if many of these small businesses will survive Covid. 

Leisurely heading back home after our walk around Oakland, we stopped for a while in the even tinier town of Drain.  The town wants to make sure people know why it  has that odd name.

 

 

I remember the days when almost every outing, whether for errands or pleasure, included finding a fun restaurant.     Many of our old favorites have re-opened at home (in the Eugene area) , but we haven't patronized any this year except for a few takeout meals.  We wouldn't have found much at all on this outing, even if we'd been planning to "eat out."  

 

 

 Things change, but life is good  -- and hopefully getting better.

 

Thank you to the hosts of these sharing opportunities:

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