A Full-time Life

Summer before it sizzled

Eugene Oregon is seriously HOT  right now.  We are also under a hazardous air quality alert because of a  wildfire in the eastern sections of Lane County, so I'm posting some memories from the earlier and prettier part of the season.       

Just like for almost everywhere these days, extreme heat and wildfire are both pretty much normal now for at least part of our summer months.   The current fires are not a danger to us here in the City, except for the smoke and air inversion.    We can only offer hope for the people affected by the flames.  For our own health, we stay indoors as much as possible.  Instead of any new day trips,  one of us is planning for the future and the other is documenting the past.   As usual,  I'm the memory person and Bill is the planner, but we do work together on both.   

All of the pictures in this post are very recent memories.  I'm still working on some posts from our June trip.  The ones directly below are from our son-in-law and daughter's yard back in July:

 

The butterfly was quite cooperative taking its time at each nectar stop.  I'm usually not that lucky with these flighty beauties.

 

 

The pictures below are even more recent -- from our trip to the Coast earlier this month.  (We probably should have stayed there -- it is always cooler at the Ocean!)  To be perfectly honest, even without the heat and smoke we would probably be staying close to home right now anyway.  We actually do a lot of that -- I just don't often blog about it.

 

 

This is Simpson Beach at Shore Acres State Park.  The  eerie tree trunk in the center picture is along the path leading from the beach to the "tamer" part of the Park.

 

 

At the end of one of the forested paths from the beach viewpoint, you arrive at this small gate.  On the other side, in just a few yards, you are in the middle of the precisely landscaped gardens of Shore Acres.   The entire park, including the beach, forest, lawns and gardens, was once the estate of  the Simpson lumber baron family.  Heirs donated the property to the State for public use.

 

 

We were kind of between flowering seasons at the Gardens, but there is always beautiful color and the Japanese-style garden and pond are so calm and restful.    We visit Shore Acres almost every summer -- one of my favorite State Parks.  I like the combination of wild and tame.

 

Store front mural, Bandon Oregon

I am grateful  for the memories  and enjoy planning for future ones.  But this week I'm especially grateful for   not-so-simple things that don't get blogged about -- the shade trees around our home that keep the outside temperature a little lower than the official reading and  the air conditioner and air purifier that continue to keep it comfortable indoors.  

LINKING THIS WEEK (and next) to these sharing opportunities:  

THANKFUL THURSDAY;   SKYWATCH FRIDAY;   SATURDAY CRITTERS ; MOSAIC MONDAY;  NATURE NOTES;  THROUGH MY LENS;  and MY CORNER OF THE WORLD      

KEEPING IN TOUCH ...

... in the time of Corona Virus

 

The first day of Spring in this hemisphere happened last week -- but it was kind of overshadowed by all that other news.   I hope everybody was able to go outside for at least a breath of fresh air.  

 

 

We are using technology to keep in touch during the isolation  -- but for us that really isn't all that different than ever, since we are so far away from family.     Just that it is even more important these days.    

The Blue Jay pictures above are mine -- taken near home (the Florida one) on the first day of Spring.    The rest of the pictures were texted to me from further away  ---   also on the first day of Spring.   I'm grateful that all of our families are well and able to go outside and breath some fresh air.    

The first two below are from Oregon:

 

A Rhododendron  blossom from our daughter and son-in-law's yard.

(in Oregon)

We didn't venture far from home last week.   Nature parks and beaches (and restaurants) are closed here.   We kept busy  -- working on the Canal Cottage project and spending some time assessing our various traveling options in light of the current situation. (Traveling back to our home in Oregon -- nothing more exotic than that needless to say.)

 

 

Cyndi and Jeff's beautiful Black Walnut Tree and the Spring garden under it 

 

The next picture came from our son in Colorado.  Their back yard (taken on, may I remind you, the first day of spring).  It's definitely an outlier among the blue skies and spring flowers:

 

 

 

Colorado people are strong and healthy and happy in all kinds of weather though (aren't they?) --   and anyway, by now, it's highly possible that the snow has melted and the sun is shining.    

My sister sent the next picture from a walk in the park near her Seattle home.    Our oldest son who lives in that corner of Washington State also texted that he  spent the weekend working in their yard.   

 

  

Perfect Spring Days in the Pacific Northwest!  (except for the you-know-what).       As the old song said "The bluest skies you've ever seen are in Seattle" --  it should have added "when it's not raining."    (That is also true for our corner of Oregon .)    

 

(from Oregon) 

Don't forget to keep in touch with those you love. 

And go outside to play as often and as long as you can.

Thank you to our family for essentially writing this post. It would have been a boring blog with just one picture of a Blue Jay.   

 

Linking to the following:  Thank you hosts!!!! 

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

THE WEEK THAT WAS ...

It was one of those weeks --  full of the petty little annoyances that seem to come in bunches (my mother always said things come in threes.)   However we word it, I hope we are finished with that run for  little while.    Here's an old but happy picture that cheers me up just by looking at it:   

 

Butterfly Park, Fort Myers, from the archives
(taken in January a couple of years ago)

It would have been a great week to go for a nice long walk or two, but one of the annoyances was a bad head cold.   That coupled with windy and changeable weather kept me indoors.  I was going to post  all archived photos this week (as the one above is).  But this morning we got a taste of early Spring in a text from our daughter.  She said I could share the joy.

 

Oregon morning

I haven't been waking up nearly as early as I used to -- whether here in Florida or when we were in Oregon.   So this Oregon sunrise from Cyndi was a real gift.    

 

 

The first crocus in Cyndi and Jeff's backyard.   We don't see early Spring flowers (or really any typical Spring flowers) here in subtropical SW Florida.  

 

 I do miss the flowers.  But the frequent chilly, rainy February days, not so much.

 

Violets

 

Their violets are remnants from  years ago when our "kids" first bought their home in the country and we too still lived "full-time" in Oregon.  Bill and I  cut our own firewood back then and after one expedition wild violet plants came home on some of our logs.   Cyndi and Jeff were happy to get new plants then (as you do when you buy a home on five acres where the yard had been completely neglected by the previous owner.)  We transplanted the violets, gave them several bunches and planted some in our own flower beds too.  Before long, parts of both our lawns were more violet than grass.   

I'm glad I had those colorful Spring pictures to share because below are the archived ones I was going to share -- pretty much the only color in them is a fluke of photography.  Both mosaics are from last summer's trip to Washington State.

 

 

These pictures are from the Dismal Nitch rest stop near Astoria.     All three are straight out of the camera with no editing (except to put them in the mosaic of course).  I almost always take too many pictures of everything and once in a great while, my camera puts some of them into different shades.  I honestly have no idea how it happens,  but this one time I didn't throw the fakes away, because it was kind of interesting to see some color instead of ... well ... the true dismal gray.  

 

The Lewis and Clark expedition was stuck here in November 1805 by a perfect storm.   

We stop at Dismal Nitch Safety Rest Area whenever we drive that route.   It is always windy and cold, even in the summer.  That and the excerpts from the 1805 expedition journals  make you grateful for warm clothes and transportation fast enough to mean you will never have to spend a week camping out in that kind of weather.

Thank you to Cyndi for all of the cheer from Oregon!  And for the memories.   Grateful for my archives too.  And grateful that the small glitches were solved by Bill before he caught my cold.  (I'm better and sorry that I generously shared the germs.)  

Thank you also to the hosts of the following sharing opportunities:

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

WORK and (mostly) PLAY (now and then)

 

 

Except for the first two rows, this week's pictures are all from last Summer and Fall.  But like the best second meals from the same day of cooking, it's not just leftovers served because there's nothing else, but rather "planned-overs."  In this case,  good experiences that we really want to remember.

Here are the new servings:

It was a beautiful day for the January Boat Club lunch.  Above, the Captain is bringing our boat in to the dock in front of the restaurant for a passenger pickup.  Bill's piloting and our friend is ready to help.    I'm always happy to cede  first-mate duties to someone more experienced -- and we enjoyed the company during the "voyage."    The spouses formerly known as first-mates were waiting at the dock.  It had been a  long walk to the place where we'd tied up during lunch and we were happy for the water-taxi service.

But below is what that Captain was busy with for most of the week ....

 

... which explains why there were few new experiences to blog about.   "We" are putting in a second bathroom  at one end of the Florida Room that we added a few years ago.  It's in  a very small space planned for this purpose -- but finishing it requires not only  skill but also  acrobatic ability (neither of them mine, although sometimes I stop blogging and go hold something or fetch something as requested.)   The addition of this bath and then renovation of the existing one are the last parts of the remodeling project begun when we bought the "Canal Cottage."   

Now onward -- or backward -- to last season when we were in Oregon.

 

Late November 

The picture above is a view of the Willamette River from one of the walking paths we can access easily from our apartment.   Autumn is  beautiful in Eugene and we are happy with our location where we have the ability to walk these natural surroundings as often as we wish.  

 

Early November
Birds and a Bat!  

 

All of the above critters were seen on the same day as I walked through residential areas on the way to the river.  There were dozens of robins on the grass behind our apartment complex -- perhaps a migration stopover (although Eugene seldom gets too cold for them -- maybe this was their final stop).  There are always ducks -- but the center picture was a big surprise.  It was taken behind our apartment complex, an area where the sun had not yet reached, on the same walk where I photographed some of the many  robins.   I have to admit that I didn't realize I'd taken a picture of a Bat until we downloaded the pictures -- what a surprise that was.

 

 

Burney Falls, California

October

 

Burney Falls was the first California stop on our October Road Trip.  We were in the area to visit  Lassen Volcanic National Park -- which is another "planned-over" for a future post.

 

September

 

This is Parker, our daughter and son-in-law's dog.     He is half McNabb Terrier and half Mastiff.  This big puppy thinks he's hiding behind that tree.     There's a family tabby cat as well and one of my photo goals is to get a good picture of Parker and Chloe playing together.  They really do like each other -- and the great part of it is that the two have almost the exact same coloring.   Some day I'll get that perfect picture.

 

August

Swallows migrated through our area in August -- I caught a few of them in a very rare moment resting moment.   

 

 

 Auto-correct is one of my pet peeves,  so I had to laugh at this sign seen in a coffee shop somewhere on our summer travels.   This is dedicated to every blog friend who has ever wondered what the heck it was I meant to say when I didn't catch an error in a comment before I hit "send".    We won't even talk about text messages.

 

October -- Mt Lassen area 

Beautiful blue skies from our Autumn Road Trip -- and at the lower row corners, what I can fairly confidently say is the only snow we'll see this season.         

Thankful for memories this week and for the new ones we're making -- of both work and play  -- today, last season,  and always!     

 

LINKING this week to the following:  Thank you to all of the generous hosts. 

MOSAIC MONDAY;   ALL SEASONS;  THROUGH MY LENS;   OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY;  TRAVEL PHOTO SOUVENIRS;  SAY CHEESE;  MY CORNER OF THE WORLD;  WILD BIRD Wednesday; SIGNS SIGNS; THANKFUL THURSDAY;   SKYWATCH FRIDAY; FRIDAY  BLISS;  SATURDAY CRITTERS;  and RATHER B' BIRDING

 

OCTOBER!

 

 

I don't care how many pumpkin-flavored lattes are being sold at Starbucks this month -- to me the wonderful month of October is all about Fall color  .....

 

 

... And  apples.   October is definitely all about the apple harvest!   They are plentiful, ripe, and bursting with fresh-picked flavor.

 

 

 

 

 This  wheelbarrowful  on our favorite back-porch (at our daughter's and son-in-law's)  was just waiting for us to help ourselves.  We barely made a dent in the bounty -- and the trees (in the collage above) were still full and getting fuller.   

 

 

The reds and  golds of the season are everywhere -- even an ancient and long-abandoned lawn chair echoed the color scheme of the month!

 

Grateful for the beauty of everyday.

 

Linking this week the the following:  Thank you to all of the hosts.

NATURE NOTES;  MOSAIC MONDAY;  THROUGH MY LENS;   OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY;  COUNTRYSCAPES;

TUESDAY TREASURES; SAY CHEESE;  MY CORNER OF THE WORLD;   THANKFUL THURSDAY;  

SKYWATCH FRIDAY; and   FRIDAY  BLISS.

 

OREGON INTERLUDE

In Blog-land, we've been re-living our June trip to Europe  and it isn't over yet.  But in real life we've been at home in Oregon since the first of July -- and it's great to be here.   So this is a little break between Weeks One and  Two of our trip  -- we need to catch up just a tiny bit on wonders that are closer to home.

 

Alsea Falls

 

 

Alsea Falls is a favorite place -- we stopped  for a walk there after a trip to the Oregon coast last month. And were surprised and happy to see this much water at the falls in July.

 

 

 

Flowers collected on walks around our our daughter and son-in-laws country home and on the Willamette River paths near our home here in Oregon.

 

 

There are a few newcomers in that same backyard!   ....

 

 

Oregon Blues!

 

In that same backyard again!  I  picked that colander full of blueberries without moving more than 5 steps.   In July, those bushes were loaded.  The growth has eased off by now --  but their freezer is full and we have been invited to help ourselves as needed.    Those  plums are just coming on.  Blackberries are uninvited guests, but they are good to eat anyway.  (And of course we no longer  have to cut these invasive plants  back every year.   Many homeowners in this part of Oregon fight them constantly.  But in the meantime, everybody picks and eats them.)  

 

 Oregon Scrub Jay

 

Scrub Jays are seen often  in western Oregon -- almost as common as crows and just as noisy.   The funny thing is that in Florida, there is a Scrub Jay that is rather rare.  I can't tell any difference -- to me they look exactly alike!  But I've never been able to get  a good picture of one in Florida -- that is one of my goals for next season there!  

 

 

And here is the ultimate Oregon Blue!  The Pacific Ocean near Waldport on a beautiful July day.  It was a day-trip for us -- we just went to make sure the Ocean was still there.

 

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

SATURDAY CRITTERS; RATHER B' BIRDING ;  NATURE NOTES;   ALL SEASONS;    MOSAIC MONDAY;  THROUGH MY LENS;  OUR WORLD on Tuesday;   COUNTRY SCAPES; TRAVEL PHOTO SOUVENIRS; SAY CHEESE;  WILD BIRD Wednesday;   MY CORNER OF THE WORLD;  THANKFUL THURSDAY;   SKYWATCH FRIDAY; and   FRIDAY  BLISS;      

 

 

LEFTOVERS --- AND MORE

 

 

We had two wonderful family Thanksgiving  celebrations.    (Not on the same day -- one was an early celebration to include family who wouldn't be here on the actual date).   And   I  took no pictures at all .   Because it is hard to eat and talk and enjoy the great company and still remember that I even own a camera.   This is the only Thanksgiving picture -- November's  full moon when we returned home after last Thursday's feast.  (We were full too!).

 

 

Wild Turkeys 

What better week for some leftover turkey(s)?   They thrive around here -- each of these pictures were taken (not on Thanksgiving Day) near where our son-in-law and daughter live.  

 

 

Canada Geese
 

The Canada Goose is another wild bird that loves living in this part of Oregon (most of them don't even migrate). These are contemplating going for a swim along the walking path near us.   All the turkeys and geese  are from the season's archives.  Because I took almost no pictures last week, this post was going to be all leftovers.  But then ... 

 

 

Common (red-shafted) Flicker

... as I sat at the desk this morning, I spotted this outside the sliding glass door.  The Flicker was right outside near our patio, but by the time I found shoes and camera, of course he had flown.  But once outside, I spotted him at the playground here in our complex.   It took awhile to get this picture though.

  

Oregon Junco and Red-shafted Flicker

He was a very busy flicker -- there must be lots of tasty insects hiding in that pile of leaves!  There were a lot of Juncos and other birds flying around to distract me as I waited for the flicker to lift his head.     I didn't think it was too chilly outside, but I am glad the neighborhood children all apparently thought so.  The playground area was empty, except for the birds (and me).

 

 

Yet another distraction.

 

Sharing leftovers and  new offerings with the following:  Thank you to all of the hosts.

NATURE NOTES; ALL SEASONS; OUR WORLD on Tuesday; MOSAIC MONDAY; THROUGH MY LENS;  WILD BIRD Wednesday;  Wednesday AROUND THE WORLD; SKYWATCH FRIDAY; FRIDAY  BLISS;    SATURDAY CRITTERS;  and RATHER B' BIRDING 

 

 

 

A LITTLE BIT OF LAKE

 

October blue skies are the  best blue skies in the world.   

Knowing those bright days won't last much longer makes each perfect day even more special.

 

To celebrate the new month, our daughter and I took a walk  to Fern Ridge Lake.  It's almost exactly a mile from their home, but  it was quite a few steps more than that as we wandered through Orchard Park, on their side of the shore.   

 

 

 

When we were full-time RVers, we used to stay on the opposite side of the Lake whenever we came to Oregon to visit.  Back then, I often blogged about how the Lake is almost emptied every Fall.    (Here is a link to a post from way back when -- it explains a little more about the reservoir draw-down.)   That draw-down started earlier this year than usual because farmers needed the water -- it has been so dry here.   The above picture is looking across the Lake at the Marina -- most of the docks are already empty --  people need to haul their boats out while they still can. 

 

 

There was even less water on the side where we were.   Great Blue Herons and Egrets have  good luck this time of year, as all of the fish in the lake swim into the  shallows.

 

 

Nobody is swimming here this time of year -- supervised or unsupervised.  When our grandchildren were small they enjoyed the empty lake as much as they did during the summer.  No swimming, but they had fun running around on the big field and, when the rains first started, getting muddy.  

Cyndi and I took their big puppy with us on this walk.  When we got back to their home, Parker was happy to get off leash and run around  his very own five-acre off-leash park (our daughter and son-in-law live there too, but I believe their dog thinks it is all his playground.)

 

 

He found a chew toy!

 

Cyndi and I sat outside for a rest after our walk.   We enjoyed watching the dog tear around the yard for a while until he too settled down for a rest.

 

 

We never seem to visit our son-in-law and daughter without going home with food!  Their picnic table was covered with several varieties of recently harvested winter squash.  We took one of each.   And a dozen eggs.  And some blueberries from the freezer.   All of the pleasure  and none of the work.

 

 

Red leaves in the City too when we got home that afternoon.  And it rained a little bit, but just as we were nearing our door.   A perfect October day!

 

SHARING with thanks to all of the hosts as well as to all the terrific bloggers  who link to the following:

 

NATURE NOTES; ALL SEASONS; MACRO MONDAY;   OUR WORLD on Tuesday;   MOSAIC MONDAY;  GOOD  RANDOM  FUN;  THROUGH MY LENS; ;   WILD BIRD Wednesday;  SIGNS SIGNS;  Wednesday AROUND THE WORLD;  THANKFUL THURSDAY; SKYWATCH FRIDAY;   FRIDAY  BLISS;    SATURDAY CRITTERS; and RATHER B' BIRDING 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER'S END

   

 

The last of September was about enjoying  beautiful Fall flowers all around the City ....

 

 

 ... and the rich colors of Autumn in the country  ... here, on a walk to Kirk Pond.

 

  "Leaves of three, let it be."

Unfortunately, those richly colored plants included poison oak.   I paid for this macro shot with itches!  (Not the best memory of the month, but maybe posting it will help me remember next time.)   

 

Wall Signs as decoration at the home of our granddaughter and  family 

Like every month when we're home in Oregon, September included family get-togethers.  After all, that's really why we're here ...   the rest is a bonus!    For a change, I managed to remember to get a few snapshots.  I'm not very good at people photos.  It is more fun to just enjoy being together, but I like being able to look back.  

 

 

More floral beauty of the definitely non-poisonous variety.   All of the dahlia pictures were taken on the grounds of the Lane County Events Center (Fairgrounds) on the last day of September.

 

 

Out in the country again,  Mom and the youngsters were enjoying wild apples and leftover blackberries in a field near  our daughter and son-in-laws' home.

 

 

 

More flowers and below, another blue sky day.  We actually need rain and 'they' keep telling us it's coming.   But it is hard not to be grateful for beautiful Fall Days.

 

Thankful for Fall Beauty and family to enjoy it with.   And looking forward to October -- rain or shine!    Thankful also to  the hosts of the following sharing opportunities:

 

    NATURE NOTES; MACRO MONDAY; ALL SEASONS; OUR WORLD on Tuesday;   MOSAIC MONDAY;  GOOD  RANDOM  FUN;  THROUGH MY LENS; Wednesday AROUND THE WORLD;  SIGNS SIGNS; THANKFUL THURSDAY;  FRIDAY BLISS; SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  and  SATURDAY CRITTERS;

 

 

 

 

SYMPHONY OF COLOR

 

 

It's a symphony of Autumn color everywhere these days --

IF you can get outside to enjoy it between rain showers.

 

 This week's pictures are from two different days last week -- one in the country (around  our daughter and son-in-law's 'backyard') and the other on a two-mile loop around our downtown home.    

  

Country Gold 

 

Though you might not guess it from the blue sky above their barn, it had poured down rain the night before and it rained again later in the afternoon the same day I took this picture out at Cyndi and Jeff's.    

 

 

 

 (I'm not sure what this sweet flower is, but it is so perfect even this late in the season that it almost doesn't seem real.)  

 

Earlier in the week, on a day when we stayed home, it rained hard all morning but cleared off just in time for a late afternoon walk. 

 

 

 City Gold

 

The sun had come out for its last hurrah --   brushing everything it touched with gold.  

 

I am grateful to have the flexibility to choose my walking time -- especially this time of year -- you never know  when the sun will shine. 

 

 

 Country red

Out in the country again for the picture above --  jumping around for the sake of arranging everything by color tone.   Those are a couple of the blueberry bushes that were so prolific during the summer months.  And are still  beautiful without requiring daily picking.

 

 

 

City pink -- and purple 

 

Some of the home gardens  that I walk past seem to specialize.    One has fall crocuses (croci?) everywhere, one still has roses blooming, and another has a riot of pink and lavender.   The golden flowers in the first collage are both in another yard.  

 

 Even the weeds  are beautiful in Autumn color.   This is a wild blackberry bush.   

 

 Linking this week to:   ALL SEASONS; THE BARN COLLECTIVE; NATURE NOTES; MOSAIC MONDAY; OUR WORLD on Tuesday; THROUGH MY LENS;  FLORAL BLISS;  MACRO MONDAY; Wednesday AROUND the WORLD; THANKFUL THURSDAY; and SKYWATCH FRIDAY.

 

THANK YOU to all of the hosts.

 

 

 

October at KIRK POND

HAPPY FALL 2017

     

Because this is the blog's 10th Anniversary year and the picture is so appropriate for the season, here is a re-run photo used in our very first Full-Time Life post around this time of  year in 2007.    

It was taken  on  our first RV trip to the East Coast (in 2003).  So it was already old when I  used it in that first post.         (We first blogged to keep in touch with family and friends when we spent Spring 2007 in  London.  A while after we came home, I  decided to start another blog about our adventures in this country.)   

     

 

 In most parts of the USA, 'Fall' is the word for the season between Summer and Winter.   I actually prefer to use 'Autumn' .... but 'Fall' is funnier.  

 

   

 

The next two pictures are also old  because we don't have much Autumn color here yet.  The one above is in the Ozark Mountains, on a different trip.

Instead of beautiful colors, the last week of summer here in Eugene brought rain and for that we are beyond grateful.  The moisture has cleared the air of wildfire smoke that permeated the Willamette Valley for much of September.  We hope for continued rain and snow in the mountains because it is needed to  put out all of the fires completely.   I will not even think of complaining about rain this year!   

 

 

 

The marigolds and matching butterfly are also from the Vermont trip.    I could pretend it was more recent, because it could be from an Oregon flower bed -- or lots of other  places -- but we don't believe in fake news or fake pictures around here.

 

Meanwhile,  some  current pictures from here  in Oregon  --  (more current than the above pictures, but not from last week ... because ...   did I mention it's been raining?):

  

 

Out in the country while visiting  our daughter and son-in-law, I took some pictures of Parker -- their big puppy (half  McNab and half Mastiff).    (When we left for Florida in November a year ago, he was a tiny ball of fur.... now at not quite a year old and still growing it's a different story.)    

 

We are  easy to entertain --  the dog and the house birds always provide a show.       (Two different house birds here   -- a couple of house wrens and a house sparrow.)

 

And, in between showers, late summer is great in downtown Eugene:

 

 

The sculpture of Rosa Parks waiting for the bus (and for her place in history) is appropriately situated on the plaza in front  of the Lane Transit District terminal,  just a few blocks from our apartment.  People love to give her flowers -- she is almost always holding a fresh bouquet.  The pictures on the right are flowers (and a few things to eat) purchased at the Saturday Farmer's Market.  

 

 

 

 We don't have to worry about parking,  because the Market is also within very easy walking distance.

 

LINKING  this week to:  

 

OUR WORLD on Tuesday;  MOSAIC MONDAY; NATURE NOTES; ALL SEASONS; THROUGH MY LENS; TUESDAY TREASURES; FLORAL BLISS; WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY; SIGNS SIGNS;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY; SATURDAY CRITTERS;    RATHER B' BIRDING and THE BARN COLLECTIVE.

 

 

Thank you to all of the hosts!

 

THE END OF THE TRIP AND HOME AGAIN

      

Yes, our annual summer migration is over.... in real life we've been home since the very end of June and, with this early August post, the trip will be over even in blog-land.    (It was a long trip, but not quite as long as it's been here on the blog.)

 

 

 

 Since our ultimate destination (our Northwest home) was Eugene Oregon  ....

 

 

.... I'm tempted to say, in the words of local icon and world-famous  author Ken Kesey "What a long, strange trip it's been." 

 

But although our home city might be a little  different -- "left of normal" (and we're all proud of that), our trip itself was actually a great one, with nothing strange about it.   We explored new places and favorite old ones, had not a speck of trouble on the road, and arrived safely.

 The above pictures are from around town, close to our apartment.   The Eugene Parade was held about a week after we got home ...  we were watching on a street corner less than a block away from our upstairs terrace apartment  -- where the street noise doesn't reach,  but the street excitement is  close by. 

  

 

 

Here is the road-map for the last part of our trip -- from Longmont Colorado  (where we stayed with our son and daughter-in-law) to Eugene Oregon.   The map for the first part of the journey (from our winter home in Florida to Colorado) is HERE.    Because we always break up the trip with a lovely stay with our Colorado family, I've called that our half-way point, but  that's not at all accurate.    (We drove 2,159 miles from Fort Myers to Longmont and then 1,222 miles from there to home.  A total of 3,381 road miles -- not counting side-trips  (mostly in Colorado and Utah).   

 

Abandoned -- along a back-road somewhere  --- Wyoming or Utah or Idaho  -- but the poppies don't know or care.

 

We did not necessarily take the shortest possible route on either 'half' of the journey  and we do not drive long days.  We never have enjoyed that kind of travel -- even when we were younger.    We also took a little longer on the second part of the trip because, while we were in Idaho, we read that temperatures of over 100 F were happening in Eugene.  So we decided to play on the road a bit until it cooled down some at home.

 

Onion seed field somewhere in Idaho

 

Temperatures in the triple digits do not make for good moving-back-in-weather.    And we knew that, this being western Oregon, the extreme heat would not last for long.   Happily it did soon cool down a bit and we arrived in good time for the family picnic on the Fourth of July:

   

  

 

Here are two members of the clan who do not mind having their pictures taken one bit.   We were in the "woods" .... the far back part of the boys' grandparents place.   (Their grandparents are our daughter and son-in-law. We are proud to be the 'GGs' ... the great-grandparents.)  

I took the bird pictures below a couple of days before the Holiday, also in our daughter's yard (closer to their house.)    I was meant to be unpacking our travel van, which we leave out there (we have a small generic car for city use) -- but it was more fun to sit and chat with the family while watching the birds.

 

 

I'm not having any luck identifying this amusing 'little brown job'.  We used to call all our brown feeder birds "LBJs" but that was years ago .   Now it bothers me not to be able to name all the birds we see and I'd love any help I can get with a name for this one.

 

 

Seen in many yards in Eugene 

 

It's good to be home on the West Coast.  We like it here!

   

LINKING this week to:  OUR WORLD on Tuesday; ALL SEASONS; NATURE NOTES; THROUGH MY LENS; WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY; SIGNS SIGNS; SKYWATCH FRIDAY; SATURDAY CRITTERS; and RATHER B'BIRDING.

Thanks to all of the hosts for providing these sharing opportunities.