Goldens and Garden

Catching Up

2021-02-20T00:00:00.001-08:00

Oh, my gosh, I haven't posted here since August last year! I go through these dormant spells on this blog, but it's catch up time now.

First I'll share from our final camping trip at the lake last summer. Our friend came out to visit (outside, safely) one day and brought his furry family with him. What a time they had!

The next two pics are wildflowers at the lake 'cause I can't resist photographing pretty much every flower I see.

September of 2020 was a tragic month for many in the western US who lost their homes, entire towns, their lives. We were safe here, but now and then the smoke closed in on us from all directions. Pictured below is the sun in late afternoon in a smoke-filled sky. I can only imagine what it must have been like for those much closer to the fires.

Skipping to November for a couple of backyard shots:

The impatiens aren't looking their best by November, but LuLu still enjoys them:

LuLu again, loving a November day out in the wide open spaces...

... and in December, bringing Christmas dog treats home from our friend's house down the street.

My beloved family in our backyard, December:

There's even a pic of me and the dogs. This one was taken at a favorite outdoor spot in January this year:

The last two photos bring us up to this month -- Wally with his Christmas moose:

Wally and LuLu taking themselves for a walk:

It's been a whole year of living life under the limitations of a virus pandemic, but we've managed to enjoy ourselves. Thank goodness for our little family unit. I hope to be here again before too long. We're working on some home improvement projects that will keep us busy for a while, but that can be fun, too. Wishing you a happy day!

Just Me with Wally and LuLu and Heron No. 9

2020-08-17T00:00:00.002-07:00

Hello! We're out camping again. Today I have just a couple of pics from our last trip. At that time we didn't have the most desirable site in the park, but currently we've got one of the BEST sites in the park. Huge, private, and perfect for the dogs.

Darnell said I should give the camera to Rich once in a while, so that's what I did here. LuLu is tucked into the crook of my arm. Wally was apparently more interested in something across the way.

No. 9 is a heron. Just one of many water birds that hang out around the lake. How would you like the job of cleaning off the sign? BTW, No. 9 is simply a mooring post. It's not really Heron No. 9... but maybe... At the Grand Canyon I photographed a Condor that carried the number 80 on his wing.

That's all I have for now. I'll be back when photographs happen. Take good care!

Flowers and Winged Things

2020-07-26T00:30:00.005-07:00

Hello, friends! Just a quickie post today with a few things from the garden. First up is this vase full of Alstromeria from the back yard. They're long lasting as a cut flower. Just put them out on the cool back deck overnight.

The next photo is flowers in "casualty vases" on my kitchen windowsill. I have one or more casualty vases all summer just for the things that somehow get broken off. They turn into the prettiest arrangements.

Pictured below is a European Wool-Carder bee. I spotted him/her in the garden and found it a curiosity I've never noticed before. Easy enough to Google and learn it's relatively new to our area.

Finally, summer can't go by without a picture of a swallowtail. Look how raggedy the poor thing's wings are. Life can be rough.

We're heading out for a few more days of camping. I appreciate the chance to escape this relentless wind and the neverending housework. Wishing you a happy week!

First Camping of the Summer

2020-07-18T00:30:00.001-07:00

Where is summer going? I feel like we haven't done much of anything, even though we vowed we would get an earlier start this year. Sure, we've enjoyed the garden and we love our home, but sometimes you just want to get away. Well, we finally managed a few days -- close to home, but it felt like another world.

North Lake RV Resort and Marina. Lakeside, Oregon.

There's a huge area where dogs can be off leash, but you hardly run into another soul out there. Do you think the sign below is a deterrent?

We've never run into a bear on any of the three occasions we've camped out there, but I suppose there's always the possibility. Our first destination: The north lake where Wally and LuLu like to swim and explore the reeds and water lilies. LuLu is pictured below.

There are endless trails going every which way, perfect for hiking or biking. No motorized vehicles other than the golf carts the employees use.

Plenty of wildflowers in bloom. Pictured below is the fluff of an Oregon Douglas Spirea and the waxy red blooms of Black Twinberry. Am I imagining how gorgeous this unexpected pairing is?

We like to stop for a lounge in the grass before we head back to camp. Perfect temps for basking in the sun.

A woodland path is not to be resisted. It's just one of many paths we walked during our 3-day stay.

Back at camp and ready to relax a bit before dinner.

This was a full hook-up campsite -- sewer, water, electric -- so we were able to avoid all contact and simply greet other campers from a safe distance. It was just what we needed and we're ready to go again. Thanks for visiting!

Life in the Garden

2020-07-04T00:30:00.001-07:00

Our life pretty much revolves around the house and yard these days, with the daily neighborhood walk and an occasional trip to the store. I keep telling myself how lucky we are that we have a sturdy, comfortable home and a roomy lot on the edge of the woods. If we have to stay home and play it safe, this is not so bad. There are days I don't feel so positive... and then I look at this face:

LuLu made a point of bringing this pot to me just in case I needed it. She was so happy and proud.

She's my pretty girl.

Just walking around the yard taking pictures of this and that... these Oxalis along the path are such a delicate pink:

Pots of color on the south deck:

Wally and LuLu -- my two sweetest sweeties:

Just a snapshot of the day's activities... Rich was trimming some tree branches, Wally is coming to see what Mom's up to:

Another variety of Oxalis with daylily and Lady's Mantle:

The preceding photos represent a beautiful day in the garden. The next day was ferociously windy, as is often the case here, so close to the bay. Our little sanctuary has its own microclimate which is more sheltered, but the wind in the trees overhead is a branch-cracking horror. The picture below is a sad sight, indeed:

I never expected to lose the tree that provided such pretty dappled shade over a good part of the garden. All the plantings were structured according to that dappled shade. I do love the sunshine, but the loss is huge. A tree service will remove it on July 17 and the area will heal and start over. Isn't that the way of things? Take good care of yourselves.

How Green is My Garden?

2020-05-23T00:30:00.000-07:00

It's a good thing I like green because there's plenty of it showing in the garden right now. There are other colors, too, but today I'm mostly focused on the green. It's so welcome in the springtime.

Pictured below is one of several Hostas I have planted in pots. This one is in a large orange pot sitting in the shade of the Purple Smoke Tree. Not all color comes from blooms.

The hedge is fluffier than usual for this time of year and it takes Rich longer to trim it these days. I still marvel that he manages to trim this behemoth at all.

Looks like somebody -- me -- needs to trim the barberry.

My favorite azalea spills spectacularly over the garden steps. I don't trim it as I prefer its natural shape, but I do see a couple of straggling branches I'll snip off after the flowers fade.

LuLu has found a cool, shady spot at the foot of the stairs.

Several different plants are allowed to grow and mingle at will along the steps.

Orange deciduous and deep pink evergreen azaleas. I saved this slip of pink azalea from the deer. They ravaged four bushes one winter.

Walking into the backyard -- wind chimes hanging from the maple tree.

Another Hosta in a pot.

Pictured below is a Rhododendron in the backyard. It starts out dark pink and fades to this delicate shade. Blooms are bell shaped. The white flower spikes below it are a wildflower which is very invasive and some may call it a weed, but I rather like it.

There's that ground cover wildflower/weed again, growing along the backyard path. I've just recently planted a few annuals and you can see a pot of Impatiens nestled into the ground cover. I'm looking forward to its summer color.

We're staying home this Memorial Day weekend, which is nothing new because we always stay home on holiday weekends. Oregon has opened some parks with restrictions -- bathrooms and gathering areas are closed, for instance. It's going to be a madhouse out there, I think. We'll let things settle down before we venture out with the motorhome.

This is a weekend for honoring our veterans so let's not forget that, even though most of the usual activities have been curtailed. The thought is still there and we can all observe in our own way. Wishing you a good week as we continue to navigate these unusual times.

A Day Out

2020-05-16T00:30:00.000-07:00

Oregon's parks are slowly reopening, but only a few at a time. For last Friday's outing we visited a county campground where we often go in the winter when everything is routinely closed. It's a good place to let the dogs run around while we treat ourselves to a picnic, doing picnic things.

I rather like how it looks with the grass grown tall and the wildflowers having the run of the place.

We've been very good about social distancing, but we thought if we can visit on the street with the neighbors, then we should be able to visit with our dearest friends in The Great Outdoors. We haven't seen them since the beginning of all this, sniff sniff. We took separate cars and tried our best to keep apart, but there may have been some moments... For the most part I think it worked out pretty well.

Wildflowers were everywhere. I could fill an album with photos of each species in bloom, but there were just too many: Bleeding Heart, Cranesbill, Heuchera (Coral Bells), Buttercup, Forget Me Not, English Daisy... just to name a few.

Here's LuLu in the Buttercups:

Wally in the Forget Me Nots:

Lucy, our friends' mini-Pomeranian, in the English Daisies:

Later in the afternoon we walked into the woods near the park. You can almost imagine alligators lurking in the water and snakes dripping from the trees, but it's just our spring-damp Oregon coast woodland... nothing scary here at all.

We're about to pick our way down a trail along the creek. That's Rich and our friends in the photo below.

We did not have to cross this foot bridge, but I requested Rich do it for a photo. The idea was to have the dogs stand with him, but Wally was not thrilled with the idea. LuLu stayed on this side.

It was a beautiful day, then the rain came back and stayed for a few days and we were only able to get out for the briefest periods, but we always manage at least a little walk. We're doing fine, living life. Hoping you're fine, too.

Getting Along in the Neighborhood

2020-04-25T00:30:00.000-07:00

Wednesday it rained, Thursday was gorgeous, Friday it rained again. That's spring for you!

We took the dogs for a long neighborhood walk and stopped a few times to visit on the street, always at a safe distance. When we turned the corner onto our own street it seemed like the whole block was outside. Our neighbor on the corner was planting flowers with her daughter, and when we stopped to talk she gave toys to Wally and LuLu, which they've been carrying around ever since. You can see Wally has one of the toys in this picture.

And here he's keeping an eye on both toys:

Then along came our neighbor friend and his dogs from the end of the street. The dogs played in the yard while we humans watched from the deck. Again, we kept our distance. You can see Bailey, a Goldendoodle, in the foreground of the picture below.

And the next pic is Lynus, another Goldendoodle. I like how Lynus and his ball are the same color as everything else in the picture -- green, white, brown.

It was a good day. Still feeling fortunate in our area with few COVID cases and plenty of room to get out and about. We continue with safe practices and bide our time. I hope you're all doing okay, too. Be safe. It has to return to normal some day, doesn't it?

Cherry Blossom Time

2020-04-18T00:30:00.000-07:00

Still staying home and loving it on a day like this! The cherry tree is just coming into bloom at our house. If you like pink, it doesn't get much prettier than a branch of ruffly double cherry blossoms.

It's a half and half tree -- half pink, half white. The white shows first, then for a spell it's pink and white at the same time.

Wet LuLu laying in its shade.

Wet Wally squinty eyed in the sun.

We'd all had a busy day working outside. Well... Rich and I worked... Wally and LuLu made the work more fun. In these pictures they were ready to call it a day.

Through a tangle of smoke tree branches just starting to bud you can see how the dogs got wet. They especially enjoy helping Rich play with the hose. There's our poor motor home just sitting there. Not sure when or if we'll get to do this year's road trip.

We're doing okay and I hope you are, too. I watch the news and know how lucky we are. Take care, friends.

Feeling Lucky to Live Here

2020-03-28T00:30:00.000-07:00

Like many states, Oregon is on a stay-at-home order, which means the same thing here as it does in other states, I'm sure. All our state and county parks are closed because too many people proved they didn't know how to NOT congregate in unsafe numbers. Tourists flocked to our chilly beaches until, weirdly, we looked like spring break in Florida.

So now everything is shut down... however, local folk who enjoy the outdoors still know where to go. It was a beautiful day for a walk in the woods.

All this space and not a soul in sight.

Hurry up, Mom!

Off we go.

Everything is different for the time being, but all our days and moments are precious, aren't they? I'm glad to be with my family, even though I'm pretty sure we won't see our son for Easter or his birthday next month. We do what we have to do. It's temporary. Thank goodness for The Great Outdoors.

Sheltering in our Golden Retriever Bubble

2020-03-18T00:30:00.000-07:00

Hello, there! Staying safe and sheltered here on the southern Oregon coast, we stick mostly to our comfortable home and yard/garden where we stay plenty busy, but that doesn't mean we can't also get out for some fresh air and exercise and a friendly visit with the neighbors (at a safe distance). Today's pictures are from our Monday evening walk. We ran into one of our favorite four-legged neighbors and her humans.

Here's Rich and -- left to right -- LuLu, Wally, and neighbor Lilo:

Those faces, their smiles, all that fluff... it's hard to not feel happy in their presence.

One of Lilo's humans took the pics with her phone and sent them to me. The first pic was clear, but the next two were a bit blurry by the time they got to my computer, so I doctored them up with a painterly effect. Pictured below is me, Rich, and LuLu. Always when we turn the corner onto our street we let them off the leash and LuLu is very proud to carry hers the rest of the way home.

And then there's Wally:

I have to say I really do love this photo. Believe it or not, it actually was too out of focus to keep before I went to work on it.

Well, folks, I hope you and your loved ones are okay and will remain so. If you smiled for even a minute here, then Wally and LuLu would be very happy. Sending love and hugs to all!

Little Helper LuLu

2020-02-08T00:30:00.000-08:00

LuLu always helps carry in the groceries. I didn't have a bag small enough for her so I let her carry the cookies. She's so dang cute and such a good helper!

Isn't that an adorable puppy face? Eight years old. She melts my heart! Love.

My Beautiful Sweet Boy

2020-01-26T00:30:00.000-08:00

They say the eyes are a window to the soul.

Love.

Great Day in the Morning

2020-01-19T00:30:00.000-08:00

This photo opportunity happens only occasionally and those occasions are always in the wintertime when the sky is clear and the sun is at a certain angle in the morning. The moment passes so quickly there's not much time to react. I opened my craft room window and leaned out with my phone to snap this pic. If I'd taken the time to grab my DSLR camera and go outside for a better view I may have missed the shot. It's not too bad, considering.

It was the start of a beautiful day.

Take care and be well!

A Break in the Weather

2020-01-15T00:30:00.000-08:00

Picking up after more than a month since my last post... Winter doesn't necessarily mean we don't get out and about, but lately we've had a lot of wet and dark weather. Not complaining; that's a good and natural thing for the Oregon coast, but we do take advantage of those rain breaks.

This past weekend we had some record high tides, so we planned a day to see if they were "all that". The news reports were making much of it, but I guess after living on the coast all our lives it didn't seem too unusual. Nevertheless, it turned out to be a rather nice day.

We're surrounded by water. Drive straight in any direction and you'll end up in some part of the bay.

A little further on we stopped at the boatyard. Most of these salty old vessels are under repair, but it's hard to picture some of them as ever being seaworthy again. They're wonderful to photograph.

Wally and LuLu were ecstatic for the chance to run around and explore some new territory.

Color and character:

A bold claim for this tiny fishing boat.

See the name of this boat... I tried to get a better picture of it with Wally, but the day was too fun for standing still.

Here's one that's looking good:

From the boatyard to a pleasant little stretch of beach where the ocean meets the bay. This place is called Tunnel Cliff, about 23 ft tall.

There's a walkway along the top of the piled up rocks in the foreground, but you have to keep away on a day like this, and never turn your back. Miles north of us there were, sadly, two children swept out to sea this day. They did not survive.

In the photo below you can see what appears to be a cave, but it's actually a tunnel that goes all the way through to the other side. That's why they call it Tunnel Cliff. At low tide there's no water here at all.

And that was our Saturday on the southern Oregon coast. I should play tourist in our own back yard more often. It's a pretty nice place! Wishing you a happy day!

Raking Leaves

2019-12-07T00:30:00.000-08:00

I did not get a chance to share this before... too much posting on the stamping blog... but popping in now with a Saturday post. Rich, Wally, and LuLu raking leaves on a late November day.

I've been spotted... See the bald spot on Wally's side? Just a small, benign tumor removed. No worries.

It always turns into this -- below:

Eight and ten years old and still just a couple of kids. We love them. Smile!

Our Neighborhood Friend

2019-10-13T00:30:00.000-07:00

Linus lives down the street with his person and another Golden Doodle. They're all great friends. The other Doodle went to get stitches out, and that's why Linus was here on his own.

It was a beautiful day to play in the back yard.

Love these guys. Hope they gave you a smile! Have a beautiful day!

Back Home in the Garden (Between trips)

2019-10-06T00:30:00.000-07:00

This summer's garden photos are just now making it to the blog. Only a few...

Lace Cap Hydrangea and Feverfew:

Hydrangea and garden gate:

Lots of impatiens and wax begonias are still blooming. I sneaked a shot of Wally with his favorite bush. One might think he's simply having a scratch, but he seems to enjoy wallowing his face in the leaves, too. He smiles and makes happy noises. There's no doubt Wally is a happy dog, period.

It's the little things. Enjoy your day!

Traveling the West, Part Four: Utah and Back to Oregon

2019-09-28T00:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Utah! It's a beautiful state with so much to see. We've been to its National Parks and Monuments a few times and that's what I imagined we'd be doing this trip. Not so. We skirted the edges, staying one night just outside of Zion, and a few more nights outside of Bryce. Have mercy, if you get a chance, do visit those parks.

By the time we got to Utah we were ready for cool water and green shade. Pictured below is a quick roadside stop on the edge of Lake Powell. It's not a good view and we couldn't get to the water without going into a park. You can Google Lake Powell. It's phenomenal. We did one busy tourist destination this trip (Grand Canyon), and that was enough for Wally and LuLu. After all, they are why we travel in a motorhome.

Just because you see water doesn't mean you can get to it. It flows through a farmer's field or the occasional crowded park or it's at the bottom of a canyon. It's not for passers by. An accessible skiff of water is an oasis.

Ahhhh... it feels so good to get wet.

Oh, happy day, we found a small park with cool water and green shade!

And a place where the dogs could actually swim.

After a three day rest stop we had to think about heading toward home (insert sad face), but we made the most of it and drove Utah's scenic Hwy 14.

After all that glorious scenery we crossed the Nevada desert again. Here's LuLu. She was the prettiest sight on that leg of the trip.

We re-entered Oregon by way of Doherty Slide, which is considered one of the scariest stretches of highway in the US. Really? We didn't learn that fact until afterward. We were awestruck when we reached this point, but you really must be there to grasp the stunning vastness of the landscape. There's a hang glider launch up here.

We camped one night in southern Oregon. Every time Rich did the auto-leveling of the motorhome Wally went to his safe place in the front seat.

Oregon's Hwy 140 has become one of my favorite routes.

Hopped onto the interstate for a quick route back to the coast.

All wrapped up with quite a few photos left out. I've been so busy working on the photo book and blog posts I haven't taken any new photos since we've been home. However, I will stop in for a visit here next Saturday. Take care and see you then!

Traveling the West, Part Three: Arizona

2019-09-21T00:30:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are in northwest Arizona, friends. We looped onto Route 66 hoping to see a lot of cheesy roadside attractions, but this was the only stop along the whole loop. It's mostly antique memorabilia, but fun to look at.

photo

I took the next picture just for the cactus and Joshua tree. Don't see those on the Oregon coast!

It was fun to look around inside the store, too. We each bought a Route 66 sweatshirt.

After a long drive with not much to see, we put down roots for three days at a park in Williams, AZ. It was the last place we stayed before heading into Grand Canyon National Park.

Wally and LuLu had room to run free, but it was so dang hot except in the early morning and late evening.

I thought of my blogging friend, Connie, when I took the following cool tree bark photo. She likes this stuff. So do I.

The remainder of today's photos were taken along the Grand Canyon's south rim. They don't come close to showing the awesomeness of the place, but you've seen plenty of Grand Canyon photos, I'm sure. We arrived mid-day when the sun was high, the distance hazy, and the shadow play minimal. Nevertheless, these are my photos which will look fantastic in large print in our yearly Shutterfly photo book.

I was taking pictures when a nice lady came along and asked if we'd like her to take our picture. Well, sure! So here we are. I'm squinty-eyed and wild-haired, but this was pretty much my look the whole trip.

I spotted this condor from across the canyon. I didn't know there were condors in the Grand Canyon, but I thought if I could see a buzzard on a rock from that far away, I either have very good eyesight or it's a very BIG buzzard. So we drove to another view point so I could get a closer shot.

I loved the stacked rocks in the next photo. See the tiny people on the rim?

Rich parked alongside the road and stayed with the dogs and the air conditioning while I plowed through the brush and came out at a flat where I walked a fair distance. I kept careful watch for rattlesnakes and mountain lions as this is their country, but I wanted to experience the views and the countryside without the crowds. It would be so easy to fall off the rim... I knew Rich would be getting worried by the time I turned around and, sure enough, before I got all the way back to the RV he started honking intermittently, just in case I was lost. Sheesh.

As the day wore on the shadows grew deeper.

After this we headed into Utah, and that's another whole experience. I'll see you again next Saturday. Have an awesome day!

Traveling the West, Part Two: Nevada

2019-09-14T00:30:00.000-07:00

It takes a long time to drive across Nevada, and we did it twice on this trip -- endless stretches of highway through huge valleys surrounded by mountains you never quite seem to reach. Rich took full advantage of that 70 mph speed limit. I've always thought of motorhomes as large lumbering, slow-moving beasts, holding up traffic and annoying other motorists. Not necessarily so!

Miles and miles of sagebrush and sand... there are virtually no developed rest stops, but that's what you get on the road less traveled. We avoid crowds and highly regulated areas, anyway, so it's no matter to us. A gravel pile is one of the best places to stop with a motorhome and two big dogs who need to run. We spent quite a little while here.

Lots of open space to explore. You really have to get out there and walk through it, sit a spell, look around.

Back on the road again... after driving a good deal more, we finally reached those elusive mountains and the little town of Austin. Interesting. Mining was its bread and butter, but it appears times have changed. We gassed up the RV here and wandered around. I took quite a few pictures of different areas, but have chosen only a few to share here.

The view is amazing!

There were lots of stone walls like this... perhaps retaining walls or old mines closed up. I'm just guessing.

Desert wildflowers in August. You know I had to photograph them.

It was a short trip through the mountains, then back to the valley.

We drove the Extraterrestrial Highway (near Area 51). You'd think there would be more roadside attractions and businesses capitalizing on the theme, but this is the only thing we came across.

There were Joshua Trees at this elevation.

You can see quite a few of them in the background.

A little further down the road we found our rest stop for the night. I took a photo and documented each place we stayed and it became a quest to try to get the one photo that made the place look good no matter what the real story was. The photo below doesn't look too bad for the middle of the desert. In fact it was just a big gravel lot behind a combo store/grill/gas station, but we felt lucky to find it. We were the only ones there, so Wally and LuLu had the run of the place. Full hook ups. The owners were very friendly and we got a darn good hamburger for dinner that night.

One of the last places we stopped before we left Nevada was the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge. There were actually quite a few of these managed marshes in the Nevada desert. Who knew? They're a sight for sore eyes, especially if you're a thirsty antelope or migrating bird.

I'm going to stop here because after this we headed into Arizona down Route 66 and then into Grand Canyon National Park. That's a whole other bunch of pictures and quite a change of scenery. Some of the most awesome stuff is ahead. Thanks for coming along so far!

Traveling the West, Part One

2019-09-08T00:30:00.000-07:00

I've sorted through the first few photos from our August road trip -- my favorite kind of travel where we have only a general idea of where we're going so we've made no reservations or schedules. We left our home on the Oregon coast...

Headed south into California where we traveled along the Trinity River...

Lots of stopping along the way for walks, lunch, coffee, photos. In the early evening we kept an eye out for a suitable RV park. Full hook ups for air conditioning and showers were our only criteria, but every night we were lucky enough to find a place we could enjoy. First stop... Del Loma RV Park along the Trinity.

Most importantly, Wally and LuLu could enjoy this place, too.

Pretty, quiet, not at all crowded on a weekday.

The next day we made it only as far as the small, rural town of Standish, which is almost to the Nevada border. All my photos of the area in between are similar to the previous photos. We enjoyed the Trinity River most of the day, knowing we'd soon be leaving the tree-covered mountains of northern California behind. Pictured below is the pretty little park where we spent the night in Standish.

They had a very nice dog park, all clean and graveled. We sat quite a while and visited with a retired rodeo fella. Notice how the hills in the background are no longer covered with trees.

I know... not the most interesting photos in Standish, but it was just a stopover. They had good satellite TV, so Rich took full advantage of that -- reclining in the bedroom, snacking on cheese, Wally and LuLu in attendance. We don't have a TV in our bedroom at home, so this was a treat for him.

The next day we crossed over into Nevada. Honestly, we didn't get very far, but we weren't in a hurry. These last few photos were taken after we stopped for the evening outside of Fallon, Nevada. We got lucky again, finding an RV park surrounded by BLM land where we could walk far off into the distance with the dogs. I just love this golden field with the beautifully sculpted and shadowed hills in the background.

Turn around and see a little more green to my left. We're sure not on the Oregon Coast anymore!

Because it was evening it had cooled down enough to get out and enjoy it. Actually, we'd not yet had a blistering day... except for Baker, California -- 108 degrees. We stopped there for gas and then got out in a hurry!

Gold on gold:

Layers and swathes of color, texture, and form:

Time to wrap up the day.

So many photos to chronicle the trip. Always take the scenic route and you might be surprised what you find in a desert. I'll be back with more as soon as possible. Have a wonderful day!

Wildflower Meadow with Goldens

2019-08-28T00:30:00.000-07:00

Hello! Although I'm posting these pics near the end of August, they were taken in July on our way home from camping. We were heading into the Willamette Pass from our week-long camping in central Oregon -- South Fork RV Park in Dayville (see previous post) -- when we spotted a rest area we hadn't noticed before. It looked like a good place to stop for lunch and let the dogs out for a while. Oh, my goodness... we walked out to the area behind the rest stop and found the most beautiful place!

I wouldn't expect to see so many different wildflowers in July, but a wet spring presented a photo opportunity I couldn't let pass -- Goldens and wildflowers, sigh. The first is LuLu. I chose this photo because it showed such a variety of flowers.

Wally is a handsome guy in the grassy meadow with a few flowers in the foreground.

Next is a wider angle, different view. Everywhere we turned and every step we took brought another beautiful sight.

I took a few shots of Rich playing with Wally and LuLu and I wanted to share this one to show how far off in the distance the meadow reaches.

We walked up the hill into the woods. Pictured below is a whole different panorama.

There were more flowers blooming in the woods wherever a spot of sun reached through the trees.

This angle looks back toward the road.

LuLu again. You wouldn't believe how many pictures I took, or maybe you would. You know me.

Below is Wally being Wally.

The last photo is closer to the actual rest area as we were heading back to the motor home. See LuLu peeking out from behind the tree? She tickles my funny bone!

We've just returned from a multi-state trip, having been gone more than two weeks. I have over 200 photos from that trip and, believe me, I was trying to be selective. I promise I won't share all of them, but the sorting will keep me busy for a while. I have a feeling our 2019 photo book will be very thick. I do enjoy looking through them and quite often I pull a few off the shelf to reminisce and smile.

I hope you've been having a good summer and will enjoy what's left of it. Fall can be a beautiful season, too. Take care!

July Camping

2019-08-08T00:30:00.000-07:00

Hello, friends! Now that it's August I'm finally sharing our camp pics from July. We spent a week at our favorite home away from home where we did nothing but relax and play. Today's pics don't show a lot of scenery; they're simply about the camp experience.

We were at an RV park in eastern Oregon. It's beautiful, quiet, and very dog friendly. I always take at least one picture of the camp set up. Doesn't it look peaceful?

Pictured below is a partial view of the park where you can see how it's nearly empty except for the Cottonwoods and Alders.

It's no surprise why they're called Cottonwood. The fluff carries the seeds on the wind. Do you see the bug trying to hide in the leaves?

We had plenty of play time. Gee, could that be why Wally and LuLu love camping so much?

The river floods into the lower camp every year, but this past winter was worse than usual. I was glad to see that just enough Forget-Me-Nots survived to reseed for the future.

Wet Goldens are happy Goldens.

When the temperature hit 93 degrees and climbing it was time to dry off and go inside to the air conditioning.

Rich is fixing a snack and Wally is very interested. You can see Rich's solitaire on the laptop, and across the table I'm all set up for coloring. We had plenty of time for naps and reading, too.

Hollyhocks originally planted by the owner's wife (deceased) have naturalized.

Final two photos are down by the water again, different spot. When you're the only campers there you can wander freely.

I do have some pictures of another place we stopped on our route. It was so beautiful I couldn't stop taking pictures. Places like that are the whole reason I love road trips. You never know what you'll come across. In fact, that's how we found the park in today's pics. Last summer we did a come-what-may road trip and just happened to come upon this place when we were ready to stop for the night. We ended up staying four days and we've been back twice since then. We're going there again in September with some friends who also have a motor home.

I hope it won't be long before I sort through the rest of the July photos. There are so many and we've been on the road again... making more photos. Take care, and have a wonderful day!

Just Checking In

2019-06-08T00:30:00.000-07:00

Hello! I haven't checked in here for a while so thought, perhaps, it was time. I've been busy on my stamping blog, trying to get ahead for summer, but there's always the garden, as well. We even went for a two day camping trip in May. I've been remiss... I don't have a lot of great pictures from that trip, but I'll see what I can come up with for sharing later. First, this and that around the garden...

My sweet LuLu... we recently learned she has arthritis in her left front leg. She's only 7 years old, but Dr. thinks it's from an old injury which I can't recall, but dogs never complain. He says her days of hard running are over. Sniffy walks and swimming are okay. We're making do, but I tell you my heart was broken. With pain management she's doing okay for the time being.

My hydrangea out front is a particularly delicate color this year. Last year the hydrangeas barely bloomed and one of them even rotted at the roots and had to be dug out. It appears this is going to be a better year.

The white Foxglove is my favorite. I'm never certain which ones will be which color. I let them reseed, pull out those that pop up in inconvenient places and then it's come what may. I was so happy to see the white this year.

One of several hostas I grow in pots:

A place to just sit:

Thank you for dropping in. Wishing you a beautiful day!