Back on the left coast and delighted to be here! We arrived just in time to celebrate Independence Day with some of the family. But as usual I have no people pictures. Too busy catching up.
We're in full summer mode here -- it was hot on the Fourth -- and it is too dry, especially for the Pacific Northwest. Even so, many of the tiny yards here in our RV resort are full of seasonal color.
Today the weather is more like what we've looked forward to -- in the 70s with some sunshine. No matter what the temperature, we would be happy to be here where we can visit family and old friends.
But it is an added bonus to be able to open windows and turn off the AC.
And it was definitely an added bonus to see this Western Grebe family out on the Lake early this morning. Mother was taking turns giving her two babies a piggy-back ride. Highly cropped obviously -- I hope I'll be able to get a closer view before the little ones don't need her any more!
LINKED TO: MOSAIC MONDAY; OUR WORLD on TUESDAY; WEDNESDAY WATERS; and WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY.
Thanks to all of the wonderful hosts. It's good to be back ... and to again have time to visit blog friends.
Wonderfull photos and collage flowers,greeting from Mons city in Belgium.
Posted by: Louisette | July 13, 2015 at 04:11 AM
I love the flowers and your other beautiful takes.
Thank you for dropping in to my blog.
Posted by: Carol Ann | July 12, 2015 at 03:41 PM
I'm happy to know you are well arrived in Oregon. Beautiful shots, as usual, but so different from those from Florida ! I wish you an happy summer time wih family and friends ! I'm sure you'll enjoy all the beauties of the country.
Posted by: Annie | July 11, 2015 at 11:20 PM
you are lucky to be able to go back and forth and like it both ways. :)
Love the grebe family :)
Posted by: NatureFootstep | July 09, 2015 at 01:55 PM
Home looks like a beautiful place. Enjoy!
Posted by: Sharon Wagner | July 09, 2015 at 09:12 AM
Dearest Sallie; Oh, welcome and happy for your safe back♪ (sorry for a little belated) It is wet and muggy here; I have been wondering how it is with your dry hot summer days(^^;)
Wow "piggy-back ride" is SO sweet and Thank You so much for the word, Dear friend♡♡♡ Your collage of Summer flowers ARE beautiful and wonderful to hear you could with your family on 7/4☆☆☆
Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*
Posted by: orchid | July 08, 2015 at 07:58 PM
Beautiful flowers! Lovely grebe and baby!
Posted by: Marie-AZ | July 08, 2015 at 07:23 PM
Welcome back Sallie!
Posted by: Ramblingwoods | July 08, 2015 at 06:25 PM
To live with open windows is heavenly! I so love it!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
Posted by: Linda | July 08, 2015 at 02:57 PM
Taking a short break from my cleaning + organizing house projects and was glad to see you're back home. LOVED your flower and lake photos---beautiful! Enjoy your family and the sunshine:)
Blessings, Aimee
Posted by: Aimee | July 08, 2015 at 02:00 PM
Glad you made it back West safely, Sallie. Enjoy your summer and we will hope for rain soon!!!
Posted by: Hildred Finch | July 08, 2015 at 09:10 AM
Amazing to see them ride piggy-back!
Have a great day!
Posted by: Lea | July 08, 2015 at 08:44 AM
Great shots of the Western Grebe family.
Posted by: David Gascoigne | July 08, 2015 at 06:25 AM
How very cool to see the family of Western Grebes!!
Posted by: EG CameraGirl | July 08, 2015 at 05:43 AM
beautiful pics !
especially the grebes :-)
Posted by: ak-ut | July 08, 2015 at 03:11 AM
Always great to see the piggy backing.
Posted by: Adam Jones | July 08, 2015 at 01:51 AM
Hello Sallie, you have a lovely view of the lake. And the flowers are gorgeous. And I love the cute Grebes, the young ones are adorable. Great sighting. I love that cute face! Have a happy day and week ahead!
Posted by: Eileen | July 08, 2015 at 01:24 AM
Loved the gloriousarray of coloured flowers and the great shots of the Grebes with their young
Posted by: Margaret Birding For Pleasure | July 08, 2015 at 12:41 AM
I've been away from blogging and didn't know you were headed West. Glad to know you are safely there. The flower photos are lovely!
Posted by: Carletta | July 07, 2015 at 10:55 PM
Welcome back to the PNW where the flowers are brilliant.
Posted by: Gaelyn | July 07, 2015 at 10:38 PM
The bright colourful flowers made me smile!
Posted by: Margie | July 07, 2015 at 05:56 PM
Such beautiful shots of a beautiful spot!
Posted by: Donna@Gardens Eye View | July 07, 2015 at 04:36 PM
Delightful shots of a beautiful area ~ Glad you are safe and visiting with family ~ and cooler weather for you I hope ~
Happy Week to you,
artmusedog and carol
Posted by: artmusedog and carol | July 07, 2015 at 04:09 PM
Beautiful mosaics of those gorgeous flowers! Beautiful, peaceful scenes as well!
Posted by: Debby Ray | July 07, 2015 at 01:19 PM
Pretty flowers and the grebe babies look so cute riding piggy back. I'm glad you made it safely.
Posted by: Terri @ Coloring Outside the Lines | July 07, 2015 at 12:21 PM
I'm happy to hear that you made it safely and thank you for sharing these gorgeous photos. You really have the best of both worlds - in the summer and winter!
Posted by: Lowell | July 07, 2015 at 08:23 AM
Oh, these look so refreshing, Sallie. You are enduring heat and we have cool temps, in the 60's, and lots of rain. Love seeing the grebes - and all this color, and to know you are safe on the left coast. :)
Posted by: Penny | July 07, 2015 at 08:18 AM
Wonderful morning shots. Those flowers are beautiful.
Posted by: Rajesh | July 07, 2015 at 08:13 AM
Beautiful flower collage ! We had a heat wave here around 104 F for a week without airco !
Posted by: Gattina | July 07, 2015 at 07:33 AM
You are there finally.
And as though you are in my country.
Posted by: rainfield | July 07, 2015 at 07:24 AM
I see the lake is full and pretty!! The flowers are amazing I miss seeing flowers since the deer completely wiped out my flower garden when I was gone for a week! SHE ate everything, the potted plants & the green beans! OH well that's what I get for living in a forest.
Your Grebe family is way too cute!
Posted by: Sondra-SC | July 07, 2015 at 06:40 AM
Sunshine and flowers who could ask for anything more? I like tiny yards.
Posted by: Dianne | July 07, 2015 at 05:08 AM
It is beautiful there. I love the wildflowers. I would really like to be able to open the windows and turn off the ac.
Posted by: Yogi | July 07, 2015 at 04:10 AM
I can't believe how hot it's been up that far north!! I have a friend who lives in Washington, just outside Seattle in a 'burb and she tells me most homes there have no air conditioning. Wow. Suffercating!!
Love the grebe photos, AND the lake...so mirror-like.
You should consider adding a link to this post at my bird photo blog meme...
here's the site url: http://id-rather-b-birdin.blogspot.com
Posted by: Hootin' Anni | July 07, 2015 at 02:52 AM
A grand display of flowers. Love the pansies. beautiful collage.
Posted by: Gemma Wiseman | July 07, 2015 at 12:36 AM
These are great Sallie and what a treat to be able to see that sweet Grebe family.
Posted by: DeniseinVA | July 06, 2015 at 11:41 PM
Love all the bright flowers. Hope it's not too hot where you are! :)
Posted by: Halcyon | July 06, 2015 at 10:49 PM
Lovely bursts of colour!
Posted by: Lady Fi | July 06, 2015 at 10:19 PM
Welcome back, Sally!
I am glad you are enjoying great weather.
We had a week or so of daily rain until yesterday.
The photo of the flowers and the Grebes are very nice.
Have a Beautiful Day!
Peace :)
Posted by: Chandra | July 06, 2015 at 08:22 PM
Yeah, I know how that is: people go before pics:):) It was hot here too 90 - 107 F was the range on most days. This week a little cooler, which means I'm going to clean the house for my guests in coming weeks:)
Posted by: jesh stg | July 06, 2015 at 07:51 PM
What a good weather to spend for an afternoon :)
Posted by: Lay Hoon | July 06, 2015 at 07:32 PM
Very pretty - that's a great place to spend the summer.
Posted by: Al | July 06, 2015 at 05:40 PM
glad you made it cross-country!
Posted by: TexWisGirl | July 06, 2015 at 05:01 PM
Spring has sprung and summer is humming along!
Posted by: Colleen | July 06, 2015 at 04:36 PM
We're on the same "side" again! Looking forward to seeing what you capture on this side.
Posted by: Photo Cache | July 06, 2015 at 03:59 PM
Love the Header, Sallie. Glad you're back - should I say "home?" Can't believe it's dry there. We got rain the last 2 days here in Breckenridge - I like when the forests stay wet. The flowers were blooming to greet you.
Posted by: Barb | July 06, 2015 at 03:58 PM
A beautiful morning! And wonderful shots!
Posted by: Mary | July 06, 2015 at 03:36 PM
Great photos and such a different climate from where you have been recently. The flowers are beautiful and really great to see the Grebe and young ones out on the lake. I hope you can see them closer sometime.
Posted by: Mick | July 06, 2015 at 03:31 PM
My daughter (Portland) told me how awfully hot it's been. Glad to hear it's cooler now. The heat is so oppressive here (Baton Rouge) right now. Very hard to get out and photograph; though kayaking makes it bearable. :) Those Grebes are so pretty! They are my favorite waterfowl. Enjoy your time in the PNW! Good to see you back.
Posted by: Gail Dixon | July 06, 2015 at 02:37 PM
I am so so ready for a little cool down here in the Seattle area! Your flowers are beautiful!
Posted by: ellen b | July 06, 2015 at 02:36 PM
Beautiful. I love seeing flower and nature photos.
Posted by: Joyful | July 06, 2015 at 02:30 PM
A peaceful looking morning and cheery colourful flowers.
Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday.
Posted by: Judith @ Lavender Cottage | July 06, 2015 at 02:28 PM
Beautiful captures for the day, as always! I love the flower montage!! Sounds like such a fun holiday!! Thanks for sharing!! Hope you have a great week!
Posted by: sylviakirk | July 06, 2015 at 02:05 PM
I love the flower montage. Glad to hear you had a good time over the holiday. Thanks for all your visits.
Posted by: fun60 | July 06, 2015 at 01:49 PM