~ Icicle Sunrise ~

The view out my study window this morning!

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~ Nature Photo Challenge Day 3 + Skywatch Friday ~

A flash-back to October, 2015 when I attended a reunion of college friends at Lake Tahoe, California USA.

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In an effort to flood Facebook with the beauty of nature, some of us are posting seven days of nature photos. Part of the fun is to tag another nature-loving photographer to join in. Today I’m inviting Cee Neuner, a photographer living in Canby, Oregon who provides wonderful challenges on her WordPress blog. https://ceenphotography.com/

Cee, if you accept this invitation, please continue the challenge by posting a favorite nature photo on facebook, and inviting another person to join in the fun daily, for the next 7 days.

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~ Nature Photo Challenge ~ Day 2 ~

The day is clear and bright, though still freezing and our snow is going nowhere for a while longer! Here is a shot from this morning as the sun was coming up.

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In an effort to flood Facebook with the beauty of nature, some of us are posting seven days of nature photos. Part of the fun is to tag another nature-loving photographer to join in. Today I’m inviting David Patterson, an artist friend who lives in Seattle. Though he was a few years younger than me, David went to the same high school as I did, so we both were influenced by our art teacher — Victor Moore.

David, if you accept the invitation, please continue the challenge by posting a favorite nature photo on facebook, and inviting another person to join in the fun daily, for the next 7 days.

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~ Wordless Wednesday ~

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January 11, 2017 — 1:00 a.m.

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January 11, 2017 — 10:00 a.m.

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~ Day One ~ Nature Photo Challenge ~

A high school friend, Julia Hecht invited me to join a seven-day nature photo challenge on Facebook. As I understand it, the purpose is to flood Facebook with photos of nature from current or archived files.

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January 17, 2016

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January 6, 2017

If you accept the invitation, please continue the challenge by posting a favorite nature photo on Facebook, and inviting another person to join in the fun for the next 7 days. Today I’m tagging my dear friend, professional photographer from Portland, Oregon — Loren Nelson.

I decided to post two snaps, but only one is necessary.

 

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~ Another Storm On The Horizon ~ Skywatch Friday ~

This morning the sky is clear and the temperature remain well below freezing (lowest last night was 8 F, or – 13 C). By tonight we will be experiencing snow, freezing rain and all the woes that come with icy conditions.

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This is a shot of storm clouds starting to roll in almost a month ago, when we had our last big snow/ice event!

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~ Rock and River ~ Weekly Photo Challenge: Resilience ~

Rock outcroppings amid the constantly tumbling rush of river waters is a favorite symbol of resilience to me.

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Spokane River, Spokane, WA  USA

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“Life force rushes to the ocean — relentless invigorating power channeled (though undiminished) by large boulders solidly grounded midst surging currents.”    

Lindy Low Le Coq

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~ New Year Blessings ~ In A Vase On Monday ~

img_7344 When I saw this Vinca major ‘MoJo,’ with its light-centered large leaves, I decided to tuck some in around the gardens. Today I found this one little periwinkle bloom, and had to make it the star of today’s posy!

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Abelia grandiflora ‘ Kaleidascope’ adds some height and lightness. After two years in a sunny corner, this shrub is thriving and brings year-round interest to the garden .

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The shrub featuring dark purple berries is nameless today. It is evergreen, grows to about 12 ft. tall, with dense stems and the berries on their own stem. I remember adding it twenty years or more ago, but can’t find the name in my notebooks, nor have I found it searching on-line. If anyone has an idea what it is, please leave me a comment!

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Today’s vase is perhaps the first one I ever bought for myself.  It was hand-thrown by a student at Washington State University. It is signed ‘STACH’ on the bottom, but there is no year mark.  I found it at a student sale when I was an undergraduate there — sometime between 1970-72.

Once again, thanks to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden  for getting me outside to look at what’s happening around my grounds on a freezing cold day!  A few brave Primula are offering pretty little flowers, and one of many Hellebores is beginning to present blossoms.

~ Happy Gardening in 2017 ~

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~ Cee’s Fun Foto Chalenge: Duck Duck Goose ~

Not new snaps, but favorites!

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Pintail ducks

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Merganser Ducks

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Female Mallard Duck and chicks

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Canada Goose

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Canada Goose

Canada Goose and goslings

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Canada Goose Magnet!

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~ Wordless Wednesday ~

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Christmas eve double rainbow, Corvallis, Oregon  USA

 

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