What wonderful serendipity that the challenge from Journeys with Jonbo, fits with the activities I have been involved in this week. Every summer I join my sister Diana, and brother-in-law Les, to fish the lakes at the summit of Willamette Pass in central Oregon. Usually we harvest a nice catch of Kokanee from Crescent Lake, however this year the water level is so low that launching would have damaged their new boat. Isn’t it a beauty?!
Ready to go fishing at Odell Lake, Willamette Pass, Oregon USA
Kokanee weren’t biting at Crescent anyway, nor at Odell. However, Odell is a big deep lake with excellent habitat for another family favorite fish – Macinaw – a name for Lake Trout that has been in our family for generations. We know how to find them, we know how to catch them, we know how to clean and prep them and cook them so that they are delicious. Off we go!
On the water – Odell Lake
Marie hauled in the first (and biggest) of three that day – 34+ inches and 17.5 lbs.
Niece Marie caught the Big One – 17.5 lb. Macinaw
Over the course of three days fishing on the water of Odell Lake, our boat landed 7 Macinaw Trout. Most were smaller that Marie’s “Hog”.
Salt Creek Falls – Willamette Pass, Oregon – USA
Between Oakridge, Oregon and Odell Lake, is a sign post to Salt Creek Falls. In all the years I have travelled between my home in Vancouver, WA to camp at the summit, though tempted, I’d never stopped to see it.
Marie was my tour guide to navigate a rough yet safe Forest Service trail to see the falls from top to bottom. This beauty, the second largest waterfall in Oregon after Multnomah Falls, it is a hidden treasure.
Salt Creek Falls
With my eyes and camera I plunge into the pool at the base of a magnificent waterfall. In a time when water is more precious than many other commodities, I offer blessings to this natural wonder. Thank you Marie, for bringing me here.
Wishing everyone safe travels as we navigate outward once again. Please stay safe.🐾
What a perfect opportunity to feature the Albany, Oregon Historical Carousel and Museum!
The Albany Carousel has a 1909 Dentzel mechanism, donated by the great-grandson of Gustav Dentzel, the founder of Dentzel Carousel Corporation.
This carousel is a menagerie style unit with 52 animals ranging from a seven foot plus tall giraffe, dogs, cats, zebras, unicorns, dragons, to lions, tigers, and bears.
All the animals are hand-carved and painted by volunteers using designs created by individuals who sponsor the particular animal. https://albanycarousel.com/about/
I never grow tired of the beautiful wash of light and color in sunsets. At my home in Vancouver, the sun lowers through mature Douglas firs in my backyard and then disappears behind my neighbor’s home. At the beach, I have an unobstructed view of the last light of day at the edge of the Pacific Ocean. Three photos, same scene, viewed through the natural filter of sunlight in the atmosphere.
Pink tones from sunrise reflecting on this cumulus cloud made it appear soft, like cotton candy. Using a Noir filter creates a much more ominous impression.
Low tide in landscape photo gives us a sense of how big this beach is, and how very far out the tide has receded.
A vertical shot of the same beach vista draws us into the vanishing point.
I have been experimenting with the filters available in iPhoto. I like the effect the one called Process has on this lovely Calla lily.
I’ll close with another experiment with filters, this one, called Chrome adds a crisp finish to the image of an Immature Bald Eagle in flight.
Wishing everyone safe travels as we navigate outward once again. Please stay safe.🐾
For this week’s challenge I’ve selected some photos of children playing, learning, being themselves! (Something of a change from my usual nature posts.)
Wishing everyone safe travels as we navigate outward once again. Please stay safe.🐾
For this weeks challenge I’ve selected the soothing, luxurious tones of purple and lavender. Although it is considered a rarely occurring color in nature, the photos in my archives that are of large swaths of color are in the purple family.
Pacific Sunset (Long Beach, WA – USA)
Born of the blend of two primary colors, purple combines the calm stability of blue and the fierce energy of red.
Crescent Creek Sunset (Willamette Pass, OR – USA)
Purple uplifts the spirits, calms the mind and encourages imagination and creativity. The chair below is one I spend hours in writing, blogging, and reading. It is big enough for two people – or one person and a beagle!
With a nod to creative fun, purple has special meaning on Harriette the Frog that my sister enjoyed riding!
Albany, Oregon Historical Carousel and Museum.
Purple is associated with spirituality, the sacred, higher self, passion, third eye, fulfillment, and vitality. It is said to help one align with the whole of the universe.
Above, Hydrangea in various shades of purple, below a single purple tulip.
Lenten Rose ~ Hellebore ~ Wake Robin
Lavender suggests uniqueness and specialness rather than the deep mystery of purple. Lavender represents beauty and femininity. Light lavender shades have a sacred place in nature, with lavender, orchid, lilac, and violet flowers considered delicate and precious.
From the vastness of a Pacific Ocean sunset to the tiny blossoms of Primrose, Lilac and Sweet Alyssum, purple symbolizes magic, mystery, spirituality, the sub-conscious, creativity, dignity, royalty – and it evokes all of these meanings more so than any other color.
Walking With Eagles is a collection of original poems and photographs by Lindy Low Le Coq. A lifelong naturalist, amateur photographer and bird enthusiast, Lindy’s verse, composition and photographs open a window into the essence of her subjects. Her poems and photography reflect the rich natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest.
Bald Eagles mature over the course of five years. Walking With Eagles invites the reader to take a poetic and visual tour of this odyssey.
view ~ Walking With Eagles ~ in top menu bar for a preview, though the folio is much nicer!
Lindy Low LeCoq 