04-JUL-2013
Airborne!
It was a great morning at Fern Ridge Lake. Boats pulling water-skiers were out and about.
I caught this wake boarder as he became airborne and let loose of the tow rope. He shows good form!
I think he did the jump for my benefit!
03-JUL-2013
Not A Yellow Rubber Ducky
I saw a Mama Mallard with her cute little ducklings at Alton Baker Park. One of them was different from the rest. it was all yellow, the cutest little thing!
02-JUL-2013
Avoiding A Mid-Air Collision
The birds seem to like this particular limb of an old dead tree in Alton Baker Park. I believe these are Starlings, invasive birds to this area.
Here one is landing while the other takes off. It appears that the one in the control tower is sleeping, so they avoided a mid-air collision themselves. :)
01-JUL-2013
Fire In The Sky!
This morning's sunrise from Kelly Butte. The scene was amazing, as if caused by a fire somewhere. But there is no forest fire, except one many miles to the east, too far away to affect our sky. I watched it for a while, a real treat.
30-JUN-2013
Our Beautiful Hydrangea
[As for the colors, Carol says she put coffee grounds around the base of the hydrangea, quite a bit of it.]
"Hydrangea is a genus of 70-75 species of flowering plants native to southern and eastern Asia and the Americas.
By far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia, notably China, Japan, and Korea." - (from Wikipedia)
29-JUN-2013
I Heard a Red Winged Blackbird sing, then I saw him, a most beautiful thing!
The Red-Winged Blackbird has often been extolled in words, pictures and song, including this one by Kathy Mattea -
http://tinyurl.com/nrgfd99
Also enjoy these lyrics by David Francey
RED WINGED BLACKBIRD
Thought I heard a red winged blackbird,
Red winged blackbird down my road,
Thought I heard a red winged blackbird,
Red winged blackbird down my road.
He'll be there beside the river,
When Winter finally breaks its bones,
He'll be king among the rushes,
He'll be master of his home.
Thought I heard a red winged blackbird,
Red winged blackbird down my road.
Thought I heard a red winged blackbird,
Red winged blackbird down my road.
Safe as Moses in the rushes,
Builds his home on the river wide,
Every time I hear him singing,
Makes me feel like Spring inside.
Thought I heard a red winged blackbird,
Red winged blackbird down my road.
Thought I heard a red winged blackbird,
Red winged black bird down my road.
He'll be in there singing his heart out,
He'll be telling me stories too,
Of where he went to winter last year,
Of how he's going back there too.
Thought I heard a red winged blackbird,
Red winged blackbird down my road,
Thought I heard a red winged blackbird,
Red winged blackbird down my road.
Words and Music: ©David Francey (1989)
28-JUN-2013
Growing Wild in Delta Ponds
This beautiful flower was growing along the path in Delta Ponds.
I don't know what it is. but thought I would make an image of it to share, and also to see if someone can identify it for me. Thanks.
27JUN-2013
I Just Can't Do a Thing With My Hair!
It has been pretty wet here (drying out now). So the herons and other birds have shown the effects. This Great Blue Heron in Alton Baker Park definitely has that wet look.
26-JUN-2013
Little Green Heron Sitting in a Tree, What a Very Fine Fellow Is He!
I happened on this green heron sitting in a tree near The Science Factory, in Alton Baker Park. I got a couple shots of him when a lady with some small children came walking by. I paused to tell them about the heron, and when they stopped he flew away. :(
Should I have not told them? Well, I would have got more pictures, but they wouldn't have seen it either.
25-JUN-2013
Northwest Logging in The Old Days
Here is a glimpse of what logging looked like in the past. The work was hard, for man and beast, but perhaps was gentler on the earth.
This beautiful mural is located on a building in downtown Springfield.
24-JUN-2013
Humungus Hydrangea
All of a sudden the hydrangeas in our front yard have become absolutely huge! These two growing side by side are about 8-10 inches across, no kidding! They have been growing at a normal pace but a week of sunshine followed by a week of rain seemed to be the tonic that made them get so large. They are gorgeous and are becoming different colors. There are several blooms. I think the bush will be full of them.
23-JUN-2013
Why We Didn't See Super Moon
I was looking forward to seeing 'super moon' but this is the reason why we didn't.