THE WEEK THAT WAS ....

What a week!    Even in 2020, the one just past stands out as one of the strangest -- nationally.  Everybody knows that already, so  I'll just say that since we are still in semi-isolation, we probably have way too much time to follow the news.  Sometimes I think it would be nice to live on a deserted island with no contact with the outside world! 

 

 

 But  then I wouldn't be able to blog!  This pretty Stellar's Jay showed off for me exactly at the point where the path behind our  apartment complex reaches the river path.  

 

 

Nature walks are, as always, a refuge.  These pictures however are from out in the country on our daughter's and son-in-law's acreage.   I guess those are nature walks for me.  I walk around the edge of their property taking pictures while everybody else in the family is busy working on projects or  on-line school.   (Then I sit under the big tree watching birds and reading.)  

 

 

Back to the earlier walk in our own neighborhood.   Some days when I walk the River Paths I don't see a single bird.  On this walk, I  saw the Great Blue Heron standing in the shadows of the trees where the Jay was perched.

 

 

 

After our weeks of smoke, we don't take blue skies for granted.    And the weather has been beautiful.  Most years, October is a good month here in Oregon.    There isn't a lot of  color so far -- and there may not be.  I think it might have been too dry during the summer.  But even without vivid Autumn color, it is good to have perfect walking temperatures -- and of course blue sky.  I am thankful for that.

 

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

 

Comments

[Michelle Banks]

Beautiful post and yes...the news is hard to take day after day

[Anu]

Hello. Beautiful photos. I love the Great Blue Heron.
Have a nice sunday. Take care!

[Linda W.]

Glad you have blue skies! Love the jay and your arrangement on the green background.

[Tanza Erlambang]

lovely nature shots....amazing photos.
hope, everything goes well with you and yours

[It's All About Purple]

2020 has taught us so many things. not taking blue skies for granted is one of them. even all the way on the east coast, in new jersey, our skies were impacted by the fires. crazy right, but our skies were "weird/foggy", they kept saying on the news it was from the fires. i would have never believed that!! that's a gorgeous capture of the jay, yours are so different than ours!! it's good you can still visit your daughters acreage, it's good for the soul and definitely makes us happy to see what is still growing, under the most difficult circumstances!!

your images are lovely...it's good to focus on the positive!!

[EileeninMD]

Hello Sallie,

Great captures of the Stellar's Jay and the GB Heron is beautiful. The nature photos are pretty, love the berries and pine cones. I hope and pray our country can be united and at peace, this election is so important. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care and Enjoy your day! Happy weekend!

[ellen b.]

I'm so thankful for the blue skies again and glad you are getting relief from smoke, too. Lovely mosaics. Are there any RV Parks with pull throughs for a 5th wheel that you know of that you'd recommend. Maybe in Lincoln City or near Salem?

[A ShutterBug Explores]

Wow! Wonderful nature photos on your daughter and son-in-laws property and the Blue Jay and Heron are awesome photos ~ Xox

Live each moment with love,

A ShutterBut Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

[riitta k]

Yes, the world is odd all over, there and here! Our semi isolation continues too, the masks on when shopping,,, The spring green backgroundof your collage looks wonderful & the blue jay was quite a catch. Take care, stay calm!

[diane]

Its great that you can get some pleasure in life at the moment. Nothing like a walk into nature under blue skies to make you feel good.

[tomthebackroadstraveller]

...but we still have nature to enjoy!

[Lisa]

Such lovely nature shots. The Stellar's Jay is new to me.

[Little Wandering Wren]

It feels like every week is what a week! I think you are entirely right to wrap yourself in nature!
Have a lovely weekend
Wren x

[Peter B.]

I've thought about stopping my newsfeeds and newspaper. It seems to be all bad and aggravating. Would probably be better off without them! Beautiful shot of the Stellar's Jay. I used to see these all the time when we had a cabin in the local mountains. I miss seeing them and their antics!

[Alan Bates]

We inhabit a gentle part of the internet. On the photoblogs there is very little politics and I'm okay with that. I need a refuge from all the craziness.
Great photos.

[Jim, Sydney, Australia]

Very blue.

[Rain Frances]

Hi Sallie :) Just wanted to say that yes, perhaps the wine will induce me to drawing the Lion from Wizard of Oz!! :) He was my favourite too..."The Noive!" lol! :) Thanks for your sweet comment!

[Carol]

I'm so happy that the smoke has left your area and you can enjoy nature and breath. Beautiful photos as always. Take care

[Pauline]

Love your photo of the heron. They are lovely birds but I've never had any luck getting good shots like you did.

[William Kendall]

Your shot of the heron is my favourite, but I'm quite partial to that species. Ours are gone south now.

[bill burke]

Hi Sallie, glad to hear the smoke has moved on and you have blue skies and some good fresh air. I enjoy your photos and love the collage. Enjoy your day and stay safe.

[Bob Bushell]

Hi Sallie, beautiful circular of photos, love 'em.

[DeniseinVA]

What a week indeed! I watch the news first thing in the morning, and then hubby and I have about a half hour conversation on what is going on after watching the evening news. Yes, what a week indeed! We probably have too much time for the news also, being in the same semi isolation that you are, but truly feel it is better to know what is going on here and in the world. That desert island sounds pretty good right now, or for me an isolated cabin up on the mountain top :) I’m glad your smoke has cleared out after all those terrible fires. My heart goes out to all those good folk affected. Thank you for these super photos. Your Stellar jay shot is gorgeous! Such a pretty bird! I saw one once traveling out that way a few years back. It was a joy to see it. Your daughter-and-son-in-law’s property sounds wonderful and it would be nice to be able to walk around and take in all these lovely sights. Thank you for sharing them Sallie and enjoy the rest of your week.

[Himawan Sant]

It is also true that if you choose to live on a remote island, later on you will not be able to display interesting birds from other regions ..., I think it is okay for us to travel in this semi-normal period of the pandemic, as long as we strictly implement health protocols.

Once again I was amazed by your camera shots.
Greetings of friendship.

[Rain Frances]

A deserted island with internet sounds lovely...oh and maybe some plumbing! :) Your photos are beautiful, nice shot of the heron!

[My Corner of the World]

I guess it doesn't matter where you walk and see nature--as long as you take photos (and, of course, share them with us!). It's a shame you can't come and spend time with me--my life has had minimal (not shopping for a few weeks) intrusion from covid and I certainly don't listen to the news (to be honest, there isn't real news here very often)!

Your photos are really great to see and I'm glad you have blue skies again.

I'm happy to see your link at 'My Corner of the World' this week!!

[Veronica Lee]

Glad the smoke has cleared, Sallie!

Lovely captures of the season's changes.

Happy Wednesdsay!

[NatureFootstep]

Hi Sallie, it is very awkward to walk in nature without hearing of seeing birds. It is the same where I live. Sometimes it is soo quiet it seem to block my ears. :(

Nice shots of nature details today. :)

[Lady Fi]

Pretty shots! I love that heron - so majestic!

[klara]

internet and blogging is fine, just less news nowadays :-). and more nature walks like this one. your daughter lives in a nice place.

[Karen, Pixel Posts]

I make it a habit NOT to keep up with the news!! Lovely shots, and how nice that your skies are once again a beautiful blue.

[Colleen LOOSELEAFNOTES]

Glad the smoke has cleared. I get it about the news. Nice shots of the season's changes.

[Penelope Notes]

There are so many pretty sights where you walk. The song “you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone” by Joni Mitchell comes to mind. I would hate to see permanent smog so am extremely grateful for the return of blue skies. It’s been a strange year, indeed, and perhaps could get even stranger. Real life is definitely more unbelievable than fiction. :)

[Gillena]

Beautiful nature contemplations

Much💖love

[Alan Bates]

Beautiful post!! Take care.

[Fun 60]

How wonderful to see the clear blue skies once again.

[Sondra]

Good your skies are now cleared up and the smoke is history. It's always good to get a head clearing walk in for sure. I did that yesterday and it helped for sure...enjoyed seeing the stellar's jay.
Have a great week,

[Amy Franks]

Living alone in an island has it's perks but on the flip side I think I'd miss a little bit of people contact.

[Lavender Dreams]

Oh, how nice to see that blue sky and that gorgeous Jay! He is a brilliant shade of blue! Love all of your photos this week! The berries are very nice in the mosaic! Enjoy your week! It's cooled off here finally! lol Hugs!

[Dawn aka Spatulas On Parade]

My goodness that Stellar Jay is a gorgeous bird.
Dawn aka Spatulas On Parade

[Jennifer Jilks]

It's been an interesting month. Such great fall colours!

[EileeninMD]

Hello, Sallie,
A walk with nature is a great way to escape and relieve the stress. I have stopped watching the news, I get too upset.
It is great your skies have cleared, the natures scenes and photos are lovely. I like the jay and the heron! Take care, enjoy your day! Wishing you a happy new week!

[Linda P]

Glad to hear that blue skies have returned and walking is a pleasure once more. You see some beautiful wildlife such as the jay and the heron. Even if the leaves are not colouring up yet you share some seasonal changes in your collage of berries. Regards. Have a good week.

[iris Flavia]

Yes, it´s the little things now... in your case beautiful ones.

[Angie]

Well, Sallie, you and I are on the same page this week!!! I wasn't necessarily escaping the news on my nature hike, but it doesn't hurt to go somewhere with no cell service!!! Lovely photos, especially the jay. Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday, and I hope the clear skies continue for you.

[Beatrice P Boyd]

Glad also to read that the skis have improved, Sallie. Very nice photos of the flowers and our friends in Springfield, OR, have said they do not have a lot of color as well, but in New England we are getting more each week and they should peak within the next week or so. The deserted island sounds like a good place to visit, but I am not certain I would want to live on one.

[Florence]

Yes, this year seems to be one week for the ford books after another. Sure hope things improve after November 3 . Any improvement will be an improvement. IMHO.
Lovely photos. So glad the smoke has cleared.
Although the temperature has moderated here, we’ve barely been able to set foot out of the house because of the mosquitoes. We really take them seriously ever since my SIL nearly died of West Nile Virus. We need a nice cold front to blow them away.
Hope you have a good next week.