A Full-time Life

AT-HOME DISTRACTIONS

 

We stayed pretty close to home most of last week.   There was a (socially-distant) visit with our middle son who rode his bike to our house one afternoon; some time spent with family in the country;  a few groceries from the farm store on the way home; ordinary neighborhood walks; and the usual distractions of which there are many, but mostly not blog-worthy.  This one might be:  

 

 

Probably I should save this collection  to brighten up a future rainy week.  We still have sunshine and blue skies mostly, but there was one rainy day last week -- a reminder of days to come.   We need the rain so I will try to remember to be grateful for it when it comes.

 

 

 

This is near the place where I began a walk on the West Bank Path.  Eugene has an extensive trail system.  From behind the shopping mall where the trails started I turned the opposite direction from the walk to the Rose Gardens that I blogged about last month.    

 

 

 

This section is less-used and  much of it was "wilder" looking.    The river was only visible in glimpses because of heavy foliage, but I appreciated the partial shade.

 

 

On the other side of this trail there are acres of undeveloped land.   Several years ago , someone wanted to build a resort-style hotel here.  It was controversial.  People in the neighborhood bordering the land either wanted to keep it undeveloped or else build what they described as low-income, low-impact housing.   As far as we could learn, all those plans have been put on hold if not abandoned, although the signs that were posted seemed to show that the neighborhood people don't want their hopes forgotten.  

 

 

 There is no sign of any building, but there were a couple of fairly large homeless camps along the path.  Sadly, there are many un-homed people in our area.       

 

Can't imagine who could argue with this one.

 

  

 

This is what people  who haven't taken enough new pictures do when they have lots of extra time.  (Because they weren't out taking new pictures.) 

 

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;  SIGNS SIGNS;  MY CORNER OF THE WORLD; THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY; and  FRIDAY  BLISS; 

BIRDS AND BEES ....

... AND other interesting things.  It's a bit of a potpourri because that's the kind of week it was.

 

 

Here's a view of the Willamette from the West Bank Trail on a perfect walking day.  Some days last week were  too hot.  I've been enjoying slow mornings because until very recently we've had all-day-long pleasant summer weather.  It's time to re-adjust and take a walk earlier before the temperatures get uncomfortable.  I don't want to waste the rest of summer by staying indoors!

 

The pictures above are Camas Plants  -- taken in April on a walk to the Lake with our daughter.  I had a lot of Spring flowers to post back then and I wanted to do so some research before writing about this interesting plant.  Then I kind of forgot about them until our visit to Finley Wildlife Refuge a couple of weeks ago (last week's post).   How lucky  ...  the  sign shown below not only reminded me of my spring pictures but also did the research for me:  

 

 

You can click the sign picture to enlarge, but here's a summary of the interesting information: 

Kalapuya people occupied the Willamette Valley over 4500 years ago.  They hunted deer and elk and gathered camas and hazelnuts.   Tools used for grinding have been found in excavations in this area, as well as pit ovens used for roasting .    They harvested camas in the Spring.  This bright blue lily flourishes along streams and in seasonally flooded marshes.  Slow roasting transforms the starchy bulbs into sweet delicacies.   

The seasonal marsh near this sign was of course completely dry when we viewed it a couple of weeks ago.   The Kalapuya would have completed their camas harvest months ago both here and at the seasonal marsh where I took the pictures.  

It's very dry now at that seasonal marsh and in the fields that are also near our "kids" country home.   But there's water in their backyard and look who was enjoying it last week:

 

 

Never in my life have I seen so many honey bees gathered in one spot  (outside of hives we've seen in exhibits).  They love this bird-bath.  

 

Our son-in-law  fills the bowl every morning and by every evening he says the bees have emptied it.   

 

 

 I know about planting certain flowers to encourage bees, but had never really thought about how necessary a water source was for them.   Just like for backyard birds.     And here's one of those:   

 

This birdhouse is where the swallows live.  The other birdhouse that I showed a few weeks ago has house sparrows.   Our daughter and I watched this one for quite a while as we chatted -- the mother swallow flew in and out at least ten  times.  On each visit, she made a quick drop into the baby's beak -- each visit lasting approximately two and a half seconds.  Way faster than my camera would snap.   Baby looks he's eating well (and from the looks of the birdhouse, all bodily functions working perfectly as well.)  

It was a good week.    We are not yet bored with our Covid life.   When we are home indoors, we do the things we've always done at home -- just maybe more of them.   We cook and we read (we are grateful for Kindle books from the Library), and we play on our computers.  Time goes by much faster than I would have thought possible had I known in advance that we would be spending this much time at home.

Below are some rosy memories from this Spring and early summer (a result of my computer play):  

 

 

 

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;   SIGNS SIGNS;  MY CORNER OF THE WORLD;  THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  FRIDAY  BLISS; and  SATURDAY CRITTERS;

 

FINLEY WILDLIFE REFUGE

 

We took a "not-a-Sunday Drive"  to Finley Wildlife Refuge one day last week.   I think it was Tuesday -- or Wednesday --- who knows these days?   They do all tend to blend together.

 

 

The Finley is a diverse natural area originally created to provide winter habitat for Dusky Canada Geese.  The refuge also protects habitats of the Willamette Valley, including wet prairie, white oak savannah, bottomland creeks, old growth forest, and native prairie.

 

(click to enlarge)

 We've visited Finley in other years, but never really paid attention to this sign.  Who knew that there were so many subspecies of Canada Geese?  Unlike the rest, Duskies have limited ranges.  They nest in Alaska on the Copper River and winter almost exclusively here in Oregon's Willamette Valley.   

 

 

 We saw this  old shed along the back country road we drove to get to the Refuge.

 

 

 This modern version of a barn sign was just a little further along River Road.  At this point we were still in Lane County, where we live.  The Wildlife Refuge is near the town of Corvallis in Benton County, Oregon.      

 

(Addendum:  It's a Juvenile  Western (probably)  Grebe.  Thank you to all the *real* birders who helped.)

I can't identify this guy that we saw in a river channel.     But at this point in my life, I  take a picture of pretty much any bird I see.   And blog them, even if they aren't very good.   Especially if it is the bird in the pictures below:

 

 

I could not believe I spotted a Kingfisher out in the middle of this prairie area.   Nor that it sat still long enough for me to take a bunch of pictures.  They never do that for me!  Usually if I spot one, it will fly the minute I point the binoculars or camera.     

 

 

It was a good day-trip on a beautiful blue-sky day.   We learned something new, got some fresh air and a little outdoor exercise,  and a few pictures.  For all of that, I am grateful.  

 

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

 

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

A FOUR-GENERATION VISIT IN THE COUNTRY

 

Bill keeps a shop out in the country at our daughter and son-in-law's and our  travel vehicles are stored there, so sometimes when we go from our city apartment out to the country, it is because  one of us has a goal in mind, besides the chance to say hello.    There is always something involving vehicles and/or tools that needs to be done .

 

 

In other years, I've said that I've said facetiously that I only go along to take pictures.   But of course the main reason was always the chance to say hello.  I still take lots of pictures out in the country.   This year, we both agree that "saying hello" to family is no longer to be taken for granted.  

 

 

 

It is a joy that many people in our age demographic are not able to experience at this time.     Last week, our visit to the country was a planned one -- we got to meet our youngest great-grandson and see his parents in person for the first time this season.    It was a socially distant visit for four generations.  (Social distance is easier to maintain when the weather is beautiful and where there is lots of outdoor  space.)

 

 

An even-more-joyful reason to visit.   

 

 

The  petunia pictures were taken on a stop at our favorite Farm Market after this visit.  The market isn't  exactly on the way home from our daughter's but we pretend it is.  Whatever produce we don't take home from our son-in-law's garden, we pick up there.   (I'll just say that the last couple of weeks we definitely didn't need to buy zuchinni.  Or blueberries!)  Kidding aside, we are grateful to have both sources of farm-fresh food.   

 

 

The above mosaic  is a left-over from last month.   This is one of the fields we drive past on our way to visit family.  In May and June, it looked like an ocean of white flowers.   In other years, these fields were  planted in grass (grass seed is major crop in this area)  but this year they are  in clover.   We wondered then whether it was being grown  as a ground cover or for seed.    Last week, the fields have almost all already gone to seed, so I guess that is the answer.  

 

 

So some summer crops are already at an end -- and there were already a couple of color spots like the above in the yard.   Just a couple of reminders to  make the most of the rest of the summer -- it never lasts as long as we think it will.   Grateful to be here to enjoy it.    

 

LINKING to the following this week:  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; and  FRIDAY  BLISS; 

 

LOOPY ?

Actually, this post is really about walking the loop trails near our Eugene home.   It's one way of not going loopy during the time of Covid 19.  

 

 

We live on a Loop Street -- the above flowers are from yards on that half circle. This loop, all on city sidewalks, is about a two-mile walk.  Last week, the photo-ops were all about the lilies.

 

 

Sidewalk artists have been at work. 

 

 

About a quarter of the way around the big loop there's a path to one of the trails along the Willamette River Banks.  On another day last week I walked this trail to the Owosso Bridge.  Then I looped  through a different path back into our neighborhood for a slightly longer walk.  

  

 

I see songbirds and butterflies along the river often, but only the ducks cooperate for pictures.  Partly this is because I'm still not  comfortable stopping for very long.      People I see are almost all wearing masks and careful about distancing, but somehow it feels like staying still in one place would be risky.    I didn't  used to be so paranoid ... in fact, I quite miss chatting with perfect strangers.   But I don't want to invite that now.  Times have changed, at least for now.  

 

 

There's another loop walk that starts behind our apartment community.  It is a straight, shady paved path that ends directly at the river.   On the other side, this path is bordered by overgrown blackberry bushes and weeds  ...  dozens of squirrels and songbirds make their home in those tangles.  Beyond that a busy highway is visible (and audible).   Plans are for a noise barrier wall to be built eventually.    I suppose I'd  be glad for such a wall if our home bordered the path (we are on the other side of the complex) but right now I hope it takes a while for the plans to be completed.    At the river, I  walk as far along the trail as I feel like going before looping back through a neighborhood path.  

 

These young chalk artists had the right idea.

 

And then of course one of my favorite loop walks isn't in our neighborhood at all --  the one around our son-in-law's and daughter's backyard:

 

Suddenly Blueberries!

 

In one week, their blueberries went from not ripe to Ready! Right! Now!  Apples are ripening and tiny green grapes are just starting to peep out among the leaves.   

 

 

Grateful to be able to walk outside -- in the city or the country.

 

And grateful for the Zoom family reunion we had yesterday  -- all of our "kids" (including the ones who joined the family as grown-ups!) some of our grands, one great-grandson, four dogs, and one cat -- all  together right here on our IPAD screens.   Good to know that great-grandparents can still learn new tricks and so much fun to see everybody all at once.   Thanks to our youngest  who set it all up and to everyone who arranged their schedules.   

 

 

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

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

 

TO HONOR OUR AMERICA ...

 

... as our America should be.

 

 

One of quite a few yards in our area displaying this sign
 

(A helicopter would have been necessary to get the full effect of this mural in one picture)

 

While we were downtown  last month we went to see the Black Lives Matter street mural.  With the City's blessing, it was painted   the day after a peaceful protest march.   The next night  some idiot skidded  his car  across the still-wet paint (the street had been temporarily closed and barricaded).  The artists were able to rescue their work by painting multi-colored hand-prints on the skid marks, making them a part of the sign.   

Not too far from where the mural is, there is a dedicated Historical Site which was the home of Mr and Mrs Mims, Eugene pioneers in an age when institutionalized discrimination  was an accepted part of life.

 

 

This historical site was dedicated in 2016.    That was already years late to acknowledge the past history and express regret.  And yet  we are still fighting the same battles. 

 

 

We first moved to Eugene in 1971 and I really didn't understand, until we visited this site shortly after the dedication, that such discrimination existed here in Eugene up until the 1960s.          

 

 

This sign  and the dedication stones on the path (enlarged in the mosaic above)  provide a good overview of the history.

 

 

The restored Mims home is now designated as a Eugene Historical Site and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. 

 

Peace Rose, Owen Garden

 

For us as for many others, and for many reasons,  this was not the best year to celebrate America's July 4 birthday.    I am thankful we still (so far) live where we can say that.  And I remain hopeful that our country will someday soon learn to remember history and yet be willing to move forward. 

 

LINKING  this week to the following with thanks to all of the hosts:

MOSAIC MONDAY ;   THROUGH MY LENS;   OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY;  TUESDAY TREASURES;  MY CORNER OF THE WORLD;  SIGNS SIGNS;  THANKFUL THURSDAY;  and  FRIDAY  BLISS 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OWEN ROSE GARDEN

 We tend to stay home on weekends -- letting the people who have to work during the week have their space!  We can always go outside to play.  But Saturday was so beautiful, I couldn't resist.  It was a perfect day for a visit to the Rose Garden.

 

 

 

  We've had a mix of rainy and super-hot days lately,  so I was  pleased  that there were still  many perfect blooms.

 

 

 

I started the walk from the Greenway Bike Bridge over the Willamette River.   This is kind of in our neighborhood -- just a couple of miles -- so could have walked here from home, but I'm a little out of shape lately from not doing much of anything.  I didn't want to be too tired to continue to the Rose Garden on the foot path.

 

 

 

This foot and bike bridge starts just behind the parking lot for Valley River Center, the  largest shopping mall in our county.   The mall has re-opened,  but from the looks of the parking lot  it did not appear to be very busy on Saturday morning.   (I had no intention of checking it out for myself.)

 

 

 

I turned left at the end of the bridge and meandered along the walking/bike path.   The River is on one side of the path and on the other it goes by open space, a couple of community gardens and a Park and Recreation building (where River sports are taught in better times).  There were  more people out and about on this lovely day than I've  seen  on neighborhood walks for a while.  I'd say about half were masked and everyone seemed to be maintaining social distance.  It felt completely safe.

 

 

The bike path continues but I veered off at the Rose Garden.  (My phone app told me I'd walked a little fewer than 2000 steps at this point.) Paths within the Garden are for walking only ...

 

 

 

...which is a good thing, as I wasn't the only one who kept stopping suddenly to take a picture -- or just to ooh and aah.   It's not a place to hurry through. 

 

 

The Owen Cherry Tree is a centerpiece of the Gardens.  It was planted in  1847 by Eugene Skinner, the City's founder.   George Owen, for whom the park is named,  later acquired the property and eventually donated it to the City.    

 

 

I walked  further on the bike path after a couple of circuits around the Gardens and then back-tracked to the bridge, certainly more than doubling the number of steps it took to get there.     

The  partial picture of a map at the bridge shows a few of the trails that start in our neighborhood.  I'm grateful for the many beautiful and accessible parks and walking paths in our City and County.   

 

 

Here's a whole bouquet of perfection from the Garden.

 

LINKING THIS WEEK to the following sharing opportunities:  Thank you to the hosts.

 

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

 

I thought that NOT MUCH HAPPENED last week ....

 

 Then we downloaded the camera.   And I remembered.  This was one time when I was grateful to be proven wrong.  All pictures are from two different days out at our daughter and son-in-law's.  

 

 There were changeable skies.

 

The four sky pictures were taken on the same day.    The center picture -- a puddle in their driveway -- was from a heavy storm the day before.  Alternating rain and sunny skies were the order of the week as well as of the day.

 

 

Roses began to fade ...

but were were still beautiful wearing teardrops of rain.

 

Tiger lilies thrived.

Cyndi says a new bloom opens every day.

 

Coming attractions at the mini-farm 

The first of a bumper crop of blueberries are nearly ripe.  And a new flock of chickens are nearly ready to lay eggs.   The center picture is the chicken condo. 

There was much activity at one of the tiny houses in the backyard: 

 

 

 

All bird-house pictures taken from far across the yard and highly cropped.  I wasn't positive what was there until we looked at the down-loads.   I assume  that the mom finally brought them something to eat, but  I missed that picture.

 

Black walnut tree picture of the week.

 

We are still pretty much socially isolating.  I am not really minding our time at home -- the hours go by surprisingly fast.  We work and play on our computers and IPads.  We read and are grateful for our Kindles.   I sort pictures.  Like everybody else these days, we cook a lot and we're having fun trying more new and different recipes.   But because I take mostly nature photos, I'm doubly grateful to be able to spend time in the country as a change from walks around our own neighborhood.  Not only is there good (if distant) company in a rural setting, but also I have something new to blog about.   

 

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

 

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

LOOKING FOR SUNSHINE

 

It  was a bit rainy last week and I've been combing through old pictures.  (Hasn't everybody lately?)    It's a multi-purpose review -- trying to weed and sort and at the same time looking for pictures suitable to put on canvas or otherwise frame. 

 

 

We need decoration for a very empty white wall here in our Oregon home.   My goal is to find a sunny photo.  I love the one above,  from the walking path near where our Colorado "kids" live.  But I think it is too pink for our wall -- there are a lot of reds in that living space.  So I'll keep looking.  

 

 

 

Here's a bit of sunshine on the ground ... 

 

 

... and here's some more.

Some of you didn't know these were California Poppies when I blogged them earlier.   It is the state flower of California and appears on their State welcome signs.  One time years ago we traveled to California with one of our major goals being to see the poppy fields at their peak -- and they were beautiful.   At that time, we really didn't see this flower in Oregon.  But in the last couple of years it seems to bloom everywhere here -- on roadside verges, in vacant lots, and in yards.  Wiki says it grows easily from seed .. I guess migrating birds may have brought it up north of the state border.  Yellow flowers always bring a smile -- and the poppies are  no less beautiful for being easy to see.   

 

 

 

I mis-identified this Common White-tailed Dragonfly  as a moth in last week's post.  For those who missed my later correction, here's a rerun with thanks again to those whose comments  furthered my education.    And now that I look at it again , it is obviously a dragonfly.  Look at those lacy wings -- how could I ever have thought otherwise?  But I would never ever have  known it was a white tailed variety!     I really wish it  weren't called "common"  -- since it obviously wasn't for me!    I think the same thing about birds and flowers with that word in their names.    Oh well, when nothing is "common" it is much easier to be enthusiastic.

The  mosaic below is going back to our shortened stay in Florida (and is a total change of subject matter) :

 

Less than amateur pour painting samples.   

All snowbird resorts offer various classes and activities "at home."   Some friends have  compared the life to summer camp (for grandparents.)   We've always spent a lot of time on our own  -- nature hiking and city exploring -- and don't do even half of what is offered at our resort, but I have enjoyed taking part in some arts and craft classes.  This mosaic is made from phone shots at a short series of pour-painting classes last season.  The  final class was the last  activity sponsored by the resort before Covid regulations put a stop to anything else.     I had more  fun than I've ever had at any 'artsy/craftsy" resort activity and hope I have a chance to do more pour painting sometime. Really, at this point I hope we all have a chance  to get together with friends to do  pretty much anything. 

 

 

One more sun/sky picture.  It's red and it conjures up great memories of a few nights we spent camping near Everglades City.  But I'm still not sure it's good enough to make the wall cut.   

I'm grateful for all our sunny memories -- as well as for the forecast of a few less rainy days.  And always thankful to the hosts of these sharing opportunities where this post is linked:

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

EARLY JUNE IN THE COUNTRY

 

These days it seems as if I only remember I have a camera about once a week.    

 

 

Honeysuckle

 

Last week, once again, it was the day we went out to the country.  While Bill worked on a project, I walked around the perimeter of the five acres.   The front-yard fence has climbing honeysuckle just beginning to come into bloom.  The scent is wonderful -- and I'm surprised none of my pictures caught the multitude of bees who think so too.

 

 

 

 The background of this mosaic is the very back of their property -- where the mowed grass was waiting to be picked up,  the field reminded me of walking a maze or labyrinth.

 

 

 

A hint of blue sky.  It was a perfect June day.   

 

 

 

I took a lot of pictures of Parker, the Big Dog.  But it should have been a video to catch the splashing.  He was having a very good time playing in his pool.  I think he's outgrowing it though.

 

 

 

 I saw this interesting Moth Dragonfly  on a blackberry bush branch.

(Correcting my error ---  Thank you to all who commented; I appreciate learning!   Here's a link that Wally provided:  Common White-tail Dragonfly  

 

When we got to their property, Cyndi and Jeff were busy with their girls (they are foster-parents) and, as for all parents of school-aged children, these days that involves more hours of hands-on care (and home-schooling) every day.    Because of this, we usually try to time our visits well for a visit, but on this day Bill wanted to work in the barn/shop, so I just went along for the ride (and the walk in the country).  It feels like home out there, in that we don't have to be invited formally to visit.  We're grateful for that.

But after a while, (as the girls held what I think was a pogo-stick tournament in the side yard), Cyndi came outside to sit and chat ... and not too much later,  she and Jeff had a surprise visitor ....

 

(L) Our granddaughter and daughter who is holding our great-grandson.                                     (R)  Baby and his grandmother (our daughter)

Our granddaughter and her youngest dropped in for a visit.      I hope they were as happy as I was that we (the great-grands)  were there too!   It wasn't  hard to maintain safe social distancing because (nobody will be surprised to know), this active boy wasn't very interested in sitting and chatting with the grownups. 

As soon as he spent two and a half minutes in his grandmother's lap, he was off running -- with her following closely behind!   This is the first time we've actually seen E since he started walking, so that was fun.  What  a busy boy.    

 

 

Some nature bloggers join a "Watch a Tree"  group (they post the same tree once a month or so to show how it changes over the seasons).   I've always enjoyed those posts, but have never been able to even think about doing it since we don't spend a whole year in one place these days.  But since we got home earlier this year, I have been able to keep an eye on C&J's black walnut tree since its Spring bloom.  So this year, I too am watching a tree.   

 

Linking our day in the country with the following sharing opportunities.  Thank you to the hosts.

 

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