RAINY WEEK IN OREGON

 

 

Both May showers and May flowers this week in Eugene.  Walks have been in the neighborhood.   Not even all the way down to the River.

Sticking to the city sidewalks is better in this weather -- fewer puddles  (and closer to home if -- when you get caught in a shower.

 

    Lots of purple and gold going on in our neighborhood --- 

 

Cyndi's photo

 

--- and out in the country.  The golden chain tree above is in our daughter and SIL's yard -- she texted it to us; we haven't tried to visit  recently because of the weather.  It will be nice when it warms up (and dries out)  so we can go talk to them outside and still maintain distancing.   

 

 

It was so wet around our neighborhood that this Mallard pair didn't even need to stay near the water.   Honestly when I saw them just off the sidewalk (top right photo) I thought they were yard ornaments.   As I got closer, the male raised his head to check me out.  I returned the gesture and got a portrait before walking on.   Neither bird even moved.   

Changing the subject completely below to a recent indoor activity:

 

 

 

Because of the recent press and controversy  about Vote By Mail, I thought I'd share a picture of our "voting booth" for Oregon's primary election this Tuesday.      Oregon has voted exclusively by mail since  1998, but  since 1981 at the discretion of each county.  HERE is the Wiki article with the history and a lot of other good information (it saves the state money, for one thing .)    I've never heard a thing about fraud.    I won't get into politics here any deeper than to say I have trouble understanding  why this system should not be OK in every state especially now when it could be a choice between voting or becoming ill.   Grateful to live here where we don’t have to make that choice,

 

VOTE! 

 

When they were ready to go, I put our ballots  under a magnet so we wouldn't forget to go to the box with them.    I was suddenly struck by the juxtaposition of the magnet's message and our ballots.   

Back to our usual programming for this final nature shot also from our daughter:

 

 

She sent  a picture of the birdhouse, with a resident!  ...
(one of these days .....)  

 

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

ccc

 

 

Comments

[Alan Bates]

Our state has mail voting but required the ballots to be notarized. The State Supreme Court ruled that unconstitutional and the tea party governor and legislature reinstated in days. Anything to suppress turnout.

[Wally Jones]

Thank you for sharing so much color, Sallie!

[EileeninMD]

Hello, Sallie
I love the birdhouse and the cute ducks! I guess the ducks do not mind wet weather. The blooms are so pretty, the tree blooming is gorgeous. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Enjoy your day, have a happy weekend! PS, your visit and comment are very appreciated.

[Adam Jones]

That's a great close up of the Mallard.

[riitta k]

Joyful pansies and that yellow Laburnum shrub is the spring itself <3 Voting by mail is interesting, not the case in Finland. I wish you less rain & more sun.

[Anu]

Hello. Beautiful flowers and awesome tree. Mallards looks cute. Have a nice weekend.

[diane]

That is good to be able to vote by post. We did it last time and next time will also be a postal vote. Voting is compulsory in Australia or else you get a hefty fine. Hope you can get out into nice weather soon. Its getting cold here now.

[Jim, Sydney, Australia]

Good shots.

[Linda Walcroft]

What a pretty duck! I guess he likes that rain.

[Peter B.]

What a pretty photo by your daughter. The duck portraits made me smile!

[MaryBeth Schwartz]

I had just said to my daughter--what is all the hullabaloo about mail in voting? We have been doing it for years here.
We have had some rain but mostly nice and sunny. Seattle gets more rain than we do---farther North helps I guess.
Love all the Spring colors
MB

[Rambling Woods]

I wonder if the duck is nesting near by

[Michelle Keltner]

Lots of rain here, too and I love that tree. Gorgeous, golden flowers. Thanks for linking up and have a great weekend.

[Geoff]

Colorado is fully vote by mail, for about ten years now.
So amazingly simple, straight-forward and stress-free.
Allows everyone to vote without needing to take time off from work, etc.

[Sondra]

HI Sallie, the flowers are lovely!! The Republicans don't want vote by mail because that means everyone would be able to vote! They pretend it's about "fraud' not so. Anyways for the upcoming vote in June, our governor has allowed mail in voting for all who want it, due to the virus that helps. I will probably go to the poll and just vote since mine is out in a country school and easy to do and never any crowds.

[Mae]

Everyone seems grateful that it's finally a good time to be outdoors, which is save and beautiful. Your flowers are definitely colorful and pretty.

be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

[betty - NZ]

What lovely colors you have around you! I love that huge yellow tree that you shared so much :)

I did not know that you always voted by mail! The things I learn.

I am so glad that you took the time to share your world at 'My Corner of the World' this week! Thanks!

[Dawn aka Spatulas On Parade]

Such pretty flowers but oh that mallard. He is a beaut!
Dawn aka Spatulas On Parade

[Jim, Sydney, Australia]

Great post.

[tomthebackroadstraveller]

...you area of Oregon is so green and beautiful because of the rain!

[Lady Fi]

How gorgeous!

[David Gascoigne]

All of those bright colours must have made every walk a real pleasure, Sallie. Just being able to get outside is a great tonic. Stay well.

[DeniseinVA]

I always love your collages and photos and that duck is gorgeous. We got a notice in the mail for a vote by mail for a recent local election, and I hope it continues through to November when the big day arrives. Keeping fingers crossed here. Wishing you all only the very best Sallie.

[Colleen LOOSELEAFNOTES]

Good eye! Our mountain wildflowers are legendary and we've been taking lots of pandemic hikes. This is the best time for birdwatching too.

[Linda P]

There seems to have been a lot of mauve/purple flowers around our neighbourhood too in recent weeks I suppose because it has been lilac and wisteria time. Now the laburnum (golden rain) trees are also in bloom. It's a pretty combination of colour. The rain showers will be good for the plants and the ducks look happy too - not so good for a socially distance chat so I hope that the weather turns drier so you can visit your folks and talk face-to-face in comfort. Postal voting sounds the best way at this time so it's good that this was already in place for you in Oregon. "Embrace hope" is a good message.

[Merle]

Wunderschöne Fotos! Das Vogelhaus hat einen wunderbaren Platz, da kommt so schnell keine Katze hin! Die Enten find ich auch so schön...
Viele Grüße, Merle

[Cathy Keller]

Oh my, what wonderful photos!! The ones of the those beautiful ducks just take my breath away! The rains continue here in Indiana too and the flower are just gorgeous! Thank you!

[A ShutterBug Explores]

Lovely nature shots ~ those ducks are so beautiful ~ great photos ~

Be Well, Be Safe,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

PS ~ Agree that mail-in voting would be much better than getting ill but am sure there is always the possibility of fraud ~ especially with Trump ~ oh well ~ home this country is smart this coming election ~ and vote him out ~ I know just my opinion ~

[Alan Bates]

That is very interesting about the mail vote in Oregon. Here in Oklahoma the legislature changed the law to require that ballots be notarized.
I love all your flowers and ducks.

Take care

[Veronica Lee]

Love the pretty pops of purple and gold! And yes, the adorable mallard pair too!

Happy Tuesdsay, Sallie!

[NatureFootstep]

lol, the mallards don´t bother us much, unless they think we have food for them. It has happened once that they bite my trousers to get food. But I never feed them. I leave that for others to do.

Re your question: The deer is OK, the ones in the city are used to traffic. :) It was not much flowers probably, Lily of the valley, too cold lately probably, they stopped growing. :(
Take care. :)

[Su-sieee! Mac]

The ducks are even practicing safe physical distancing. Good for them. Quack, quack.

I doubt there would be any fuss about everyone doing mail-in ballots for the present time if he who shall not be named said it was okay. I know at least one of his supporters who bad mouths this idea even though she has been voting by mail for years. Embrace hope, you betcha I am. Cheers, Sallie!

[Bob Bushell]

Beautiful images, the flowers, birds, and other. Voting, you must do it.

[Karen, Pixel Posts]

It's been raining her nonstop for two days. More to come. Lovely flowers. Fabulous closeup of the Mallard. Have a good week.

[Sherrie]

Hi,
The Golden Chain Tree is gorgeous...love the ducks. Have a great day!

[Margy]

Washington has mail only ballots. Now that we are citizens living abroad we get ballots mailed to Canada. Because our last residence was Bellingham we get Whatcom County ballots. Since we have property in Bellingham it makes good sense for us. Last year the U.S. didn't renew a mail treaty with Canada so we now get ballots by email and can return them electronically. If it can work safely for us and the military it should work for all Americans. - Margy

[Lavender Dreams]

The birdhouse photo is perfect! I want to work on some of my pics today. Love seeing the Spring flowers blooming there. We saw so many wildflowers when we hiked yesterday. I'm glad we can still get out and hike through all of this. It's help keep me sane! Hugs!

[Lucy Corrander]

I wonder whether mallards wander away from water in the nesting season. I'm told there were a couple pottering about at the end of our road a few days ago. It hasn't rained in any appreciable way for a while and we are several streets away from water.

[EileeninMD]

Hello,

The ducks do enjoy the wet weather. I love all your purple flowers and the yellow blooms n the tree. We have our mail-in ballots ready to go too. I am amazed at how fast May is flying by. Lovely photos. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!

[Penelope Notes]

Embracing hope is never a bad idea. Mail-in voting is such a simple solution … possibly too simplistic for complicated minds but I hope it happens that way. About the haircut you mentioned earlier, that's when husbands with steady hands and a good pair of scissors could come in handy. :)

[craftygreenpoet]

The malaards are cute! I like your golden chain tree, I think that's the same tree that we call laburnum (certainly looks very similar from the photo).

[Gattina]

I think this vote system is real nice ! It avoids you to go out in bad weather, to stay there and wait as it happens here sometimes. The male duck has beautiful colors !

[Hazel]

What a lovely floral area! Your photos are a pleasure to see🙂. It makes Derby seem so drab. Some
of the photos, especially of the ducks, remind me of Jersey.

[Monika Ohson]

What a surprise to see the Mallard pair just by the roadside. I love the teal hues on the male.

Embrace Hope is the perfect message for all at any time they fell low or helpless and in such times.

Yellow & purple is such a bright combination and to see them spread around must be a beautiful sight indeed.

[// Heidrun]

Good Morning, Sallie! A lovely Post - I agree with the comments before.

I have to translate, to understand about the ballots. I think, to vote is necessary now more thank ever.

Stay healthy and well.

Happy MosaicMonday

[Maggie]

Thanks for taking me on this short walk around your neighbourhood, loved the ducks you got some great shots of them and the beautiful flowers.
Hope you come visit my new blog “turning the page” if you get the chance.
Maggie (Normandy Life)

[Angie]

Sallie - purple is one of my favorite colors, so I was thrilled to see so much of the royal color in your photos. And then I saw the Golden Chain tree and my jaw dropped. How amazing is that????

Yes, rain. Sigh. The rest of our week is solid rain, with possible snow showers on Friday. Really? May 22?

I have used absentee/mail-in voting ever since I was out of the country as an expatriate. Who wouldn't want to do this rather than fight the crowds at the polling places? Thanks for linking up, my friend!

[Junieper/Jesh]

Since we inherited a birdhouse form one of the previous owners, I love them, and there is always a company of birds in our yard! These ducks look comfortable in the grass:) Great yellow and purple mixes of flowers, Sallie. I'm a Dutch citizen, so I can't vote:) Have a lovely week, and many thanks for chancing the possibility of being caught in rain for All Seasons, Jesh

[Carol]

Your colorful blooms are so beautiful. Love the duckies too.

[Stevenson Que]

What a beautiful birdhouse! Sallie that tree you shared with yellow blossoms are called Golden Showers here. That is the national flower and tree of Thailand and is very beautiful that it's one of my dream trees if ever I will have a house of my own someday.

Thank you for these beautiful springtime photos! Love the birdhouse! Thinking of setting one on my garden but had a thought if since it invites birds, will they also eat my plants?

[ellen b.]

We've been having our fair share of rain here, too. Love the flowers you enjoyed on your walk. That tree is really something. Have a great week! Hard to believe Memorial Day weekend is next weekend.