~ From Green to Gold ~ Columbia River Gorge ~

On this first day we wanted to make a dent in the distance from the southwest corner of Washington State to the northeast region, without pushing ourselves to the point of exhaustion.  We started by driving I-84 on the Oregon side of the Columbia River, then crossed at Biggs Junction, to follow highway 14 on the Washington side.

I tried to remember the last time I drove this way — it has been many years.  Creighton took this route often when he had his Credit Union Auditing business, so he was very aware of his memories and emotional responses as we drove on.

Wind farms along the eastern corridor of the gorge begin in Goldendale, and span several miles. We knew they were here, but this is the first time either of us had seen them.

We chose to stay at a dog-friendly motel in Ritzville, and built in two comfort stops along the route of 300 miles (483 k). A lovely sunset over the wheat fields capped off our day.

IMG_0527

Posted in geology, nature, pacific northwest, travel | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

~ Road Trip Odyssey ~

We’re on the road to visit places from my childhood.  I will be scattering ashes along the way, gathering thoughts with words and impressions with photographs.

IMG_5622IMG_5621

Jello’s bed in the back of the cab with a pillow on the console for her nose!

 

Posted in pacific northwest, travel | Tagged , | 6 Comments

~ Calla Lily ~ Wordless Wednesday ~

IMG_5561IMG_5565

Blog-Button150Pixels

Posted in flowers, Gardening, pacific northwest, plants, Wordless Wednesday | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

~ Sunshine – In A Vase On Monday ~

Eight years ago I converted a swath of my front lawn into flower beds, with the purpose of creating a perennial border of bird and butterfly friendly plants. Today’s salt glaze pottery vase holds blossoms from those gardens.

IMG_5601

Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ Echinacea pupurea ‘White Swan’ Echinacea pupurea ‘Magnus’ Sidalcea hybrida ‘Brilliant’ Monarda ‘Prairie Night’

Black-eyed Susan, Coneflowers, Bee Balm and Mallow — all easy to grow and self perpetuating with a little help from the gardener.  Hope you enjoy these as much as the bees do!

IMG_5599 - Version 2IMG_5602

Although Cathy at Rambling in the Garden suggested Japanese ikebana style vases for this week, I chose to stick with what’s blooming in my gardens today. Please check out her meme to see her vase and that of others.

Posted in butterflies, flowers, Gardening, In a Vase on Monday, landscape gardening, nature, pacific northwest, plants | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

~ Lifting Up ~ Weekly Photo Challenge – Look Up ~

“We move forward by lifting up — not tearing down.”*

P1060099IMG_4515 - Version 5IMG_3644 - Version 2IMG_4738

IMG_2860

Cirrostratus

P1050081 - Version 2IMG_0364P1030668IMG_4280 - Version 4

“Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities — always see them, for they’re always there.” ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Look Up

*http://www.movemequotes.com/tag/positive-not-negative/

 

Posted in birds, nature, outdoors, pacific northwest, Photographs, trees, weekly photo challenge | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

~ Cee’s Odd Ball Photo Challenge ~

A post of beach debris along the trail from Longbeach to The Breakers.

P1060510

cob-banner

Posted in Cee's Odd Ball Photo Challenge, pacific northwest | Tagged , | 2 Comments

~ Store Front Signs – Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge ~

Two gems!

P1050233 - Version 2

P1050236P1050211 - Version 4

P1050211 - Version 4 copy

 

black-white-banner

Posted in Cee's Black & White Photo Challenge, pacific northwest | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

~ Wordless Wednesday ~

IMG_5502

IMG_5510IMG_5509IMG_5504

Blog-Button150Pixels

Posted in nature, outdoors, pacific northwest, pacific ocean, Wordless Wednesday | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

~ In A Vase On Monday – Red, White & Blue ~

In honor of the fourth of July — Independence Day in the USA — today’s vase features a combination of hydrangea, gladiolus and roses, the colors of our flag.

IMG_5569

Hydrangea macrophylla, Gladiolus glamini ‘Blondie,’ Rosa floribunda ‘Oh My!’

They are presented in a large clear glass vase with red and white glass marbles, on my deck table — where, if it is not too noisy, I hope to have a picnic dinner this evening!

Thank you to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden the originator of this invitation to share flowers from our gardens.

Posted in flowers, Gardening, In a Vase on Monday, landscape gardening, nature, pacific northwest, plants | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

~ Towering Trees ~ Weekly Photo Challenge – Opposites

This week, Ben Huberman challenges us to “show how opposites can tell a story about people, places, or objects.” Whenever I see something man-made juxtaposed to the natural landscape, I feel the tension.

IMG_5010 In this shot, an electric power tower appears to be planted in the middle of a field with flowering trees, a still dormant deciduous tree and evergreens surrounding it. I am reminded of the agitation I feel when a weed rockets above my perennial flower gardens!

 

Opposites

Posted in nature, outdoors, pacific northwest, trees, weekly photo challenge | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments