Gallinule at Wakodahatchie

Using Bob's 300 mm lens, I have many favorites from this day, but this is a standout for me....for many reasons.

Man in Library

With all the moving, RV buying, traveling, etc that has gone on this year, I have not been keeping up with photo organization!  In trying to catch up,  I  find there were a couple of favorites that did not make the blog, and this is one of them.

Jupiter Lighthouse

One of our favorite, and most iconic sights here, is the lighthouse.   First lighted in 1860, dimmed for the war between the states then relit, it has been shining every night for over 100 years.  We decided to tour it yesterday, and along with a docent guide, climbed all the way to the top, and some magnificent views of the surrounding area.

It was another  clear, warm day with brilliant blue skies, and 20 others accompanied us, surprisingly.  And another 20 were in the group behind!  I had no idea it  attracted that many visitors.  We ended the tour with  a nice lunch out at one of our favorite spots, Hurricane Cafe.

In the  evening we went to a candle light tour of a historic neighborhood in West Palm.  Houses were all built in the 20's, and were very charming, some tastefully restored, some expanded upon, and all decorated for the holidays.  We were treated to wine or champagne at each of the dozen homes, as well as food supplied by various restaurants in some, and live music at a few.  A lovely day!

a walk at Riverbend Park

I heard this little guy tweet...no doubt in delight at having gotten this berry....and looked up in time to catch him with it, just before he swallowed it.

A cold front moved through the night before, and yesterday felt like a fall day here, with warm sun and crisp cool air that barely warmed to 60 degrees by the time this was taken.  Days high of 64, and the natives were loving it! It has been unseasonably warm since we got here Oct 30, and everyone seems thrilled to put on their jeans and a sweater!  A bit warmer today, but still low 70's, and warming to high 70's by weekend.  Delightful.


Note:  I submitted this to Backyard Pix in the Palm Beach Post, and they printed it!!  :-)

Merry Christmas!

Clem and I had lots of fun dressing up and driving the convertible, surprising folks on the road, and at our destination.  Next year we are going to do it all over town!

Visions of Sugarplums...........

Sitting on the bench by the open window, catching the rays and dreaming of the birds that land on the lake!

December 21.....4 days to go!

Have not been much in the mood for Christmas preparations this year, with unpacking and train room construction being enough work and mess, but finally did get some things out to make it look festive around here.  It's 77 degrees and sunny, and I have been pouring over recipes and making grocery lists.....but couldn't resist this photo of the sun coming in on my nutcracker.

Got home in time to go to a photo workshop at Grassy Waters preserve, where we heard and spotted 3 huge wild hogs splashing in the marsh, but were unable to get a photo!  A little rain fell, and afforded me this photo op....my best of the day!

Light shining through the lovely colored glass Mabel chose for the mansion. 

Loved the light coming through this and the shadow, but also fun because both our mothers' had a strainer like this.

The amazing Ca D'Zan

"House of John".....John and Mabel Ringling's Italian Gothic mansion in Sarasota, where we spent a couple days exploring, staying in our new Phaeton.  Beautiful home, Mabel's rose garden, a world class art museum, made mostly of Ringling's private collection, a performing arts theatre, and of course, the circus museum.  The latter now includes a 4000 square foot miniature circus, all created by hand by one man, who has been working since the 1950's.  We spent an entire day!

Peanut Butter Cheesecake

From a copy cat recipe for one that Cheesecake Factory makes.  I baked this to take to a pot luck dinner in the neighborhood.  Everyone assumed I had purchased it!  It was met with rave reviews from the 20 people attending.  Nice evening.

This week I finally got out some decorations, but we opted for the simple, and the "instant" tree again this year.  Just too much going on with unpacking boxes and messes to think of more hassle.  Mind you , I think Dec 7 is none too late to be setting up, but the world seems convinced that the day after Thanksgiving is the time, and it makes you feel behind!  I had to hail Nordstrom  this year for posting a sign outside their store that said they would honor one holiday at a time, and not decorate until after Thanksgiving, and would give their employees the day off.  This was the year the stores actually opened ON Thanksgiving day!!!  Started Black Friday on the  Thursday holiday!  And don't you know, they achieved record breaking numbers.  Next year they will probably start on Wednesday , and before you know it, they will start in October.  Groan.

Thanksgiving

I obviously did not take this shot, but I like it, and I am rarely IN my blog, so decided to post it!  Nephew Jason deep fried a turkey out by our pool for the day, and he, Brian and Kathy, Clem and I had dinner together.  I also made a turkey in the oven......can never have too many leftovers.  Thanksgiving, Florida style!

Train Room prep

I did post this one on facebook!  When Joe D started posting photos of his kitchen remodel, it occurred to me that I should be documenting the progress of the train rooms.  This represents several weeks work, having torn up carpets and painted floor, painting "sky", and starting board set up and construction.  This day was light installation.  Clem is very anxious to get it to a point where he can lay track and get the train running.
A new friend, hearing about the process, asked if he would take them down after Christmas!  Little does she know!

One night I spotted something white on the upper window in the family room, and thought, I MUST get the windows washed!  The next night it was there again, but in a different place!  Upon inspection, I discovered a tiny frog....suction footed kind.....clinging to the window outside, nearly 12 feet above the ground!  I got some uninspiring photos.  But the next evening, a bit larger relative was on the screen of the back door, and I got this shot of him climbing up.  Kathy would be totally freaked out!  I should post it on facebook!!  

While out getting photos of a family of Sandhill Cranes that were feeding on the other side of the lake, I decided to snap this flower, and experimented with settings.  Can't decide which I like best....in the second, the cob web being visible is neat, but I like the bigger bokeh in the first.  

Only 10 days in Florida, and we joined our RV group for an outing in Grassy Key, where we visited the Dolphin Research Center, and this Hammock, where we took a nice walk and I spotted these pretty flowers.  Weren't the bees cooperative to seek pollen as I was taking photos!

The kitties enjoying their new home

What do you think, Mom....can we go out in the courtyard?  

We arrived back in Florida on October 30, and into our new house, where we had spent only 5 weeks before leaving!  Nice to see the lake refilled after the drought which had left it a beach!  Sunrise over the lake is a lovely sight to behold.

We brought the cushions in hastily when it started to rain, and Loki thought they made a lovely spot for him to explore!  Our little fat cat!

Planning the trip

Summer has flown, and we have been busy packing up things to ship to Florida, and planning the return route.  Weather has turned quickly and dramatically to fall, with cold wet days following foggy mornings.  It is clearly time to leave!  We now need to re think our route, as snow has hit Colorado and high elevations, and we need to take a more southern course.

Hiking

Had an unusual day hiking today in that we did several smaller hikes with 4 waterfalls in the same general area in the Gorge.  This is Bridal Veil Falls.  Notice the rock bottom right of the falls, then see the rock with a man in front of it below.  Gives it some perspective!  Wish I had taken my Nikon!  

Was telling Clem about our day, and realized the falls almost rhymed!  We did LaTourel, Sheperd's Dell, and Bridal Veil!  

Pirate Festival

Always curious about these, we decided to go Sunday.  Well, we should have worn our pirate garb!  Ahoy , maties!!  What a hoot!  This fellow was one of the more spectacular, but a lot of attendees were dressed to the hilt.  Turned out to be a great family event, with games for the kids that looked like great fun.  Booths selling pirate wares would result in being prepared for the following year!

Wildfires

There are several wildfires burning in Oregon, and we see the smoke as haze over the mountains, creating some interesting sunsets.   Clem actually smelled the smoke while playing golf the other day.  Luckily mostly contained at this point, they have caused evacuations, but I think mostly from forest areas where they were camping.  Other states are feeling it more, I am afraid.  Those dry summer months that we so enjoy can sometimes be a problem.  Fired danger levels and Smokey the Bear signs are posted out here in the "wild west."

From Chihuly's Icicle installation

Horseback Ride

I joined some of the group  on our RV outing for a trail ride along the Cascades.  It was hot and dusty, and we all wished we could have led the horses, rather than them following each other, but it was a nice outing, just the same, with beautiful scenery.

On the way to Leavenworth, WA

 A view point in Goldendale afforded this amazing view of Mt. Adams. The Klikitat valley produces "famous" goldendale hay,  has 35,000 acres of alfalfa and 25,000 acres of wheat!

We were able to see Mt. Hood, but it was a bit hazy, as you can see, so the other mountains "were not out."  

Winnie and her "bug"

Winnie came over for a walk in the neighborhood, and brought her VW, which she treasures.  And who could blame her!  An original, which she has had for years, and is now "retired" and comes out only in good weather.   We walked up and down steep hills, and got plenty of chatting in!  Nice way to spend a sunny afternoon.

what in the world???

Cleaning up after dinner, a soap bubble formed on the top of the bottle, and I thought it was pretty neat!  Simple people are easily amused, they say!  :-)  Actually, it was the artistic opportunity that presented itself to me.....my story, and I am sticking with it!  If you look closely, you see the windows in the family room, and even my lens.  A fun little bonus.
Not quite tack sharp, but I like the shallow depth of field, and the shapes that are created by that in the background.

Summer Sunset

We have been rewarded with summer weather that Oregon is famous for.  Sunny warm days with low humidity, and cool evenings.  And spectacular sunsets!  I have so many photos of this view off our deck that I have said many times I could probably paper a room with them!  But I am always out there taking another anyway, and my neighbors always chuckle!
That is the Coastal range, which separates us here in the valley from the Pacific Ocean.

Reflections

........and a daisy!  

Orcas Island

Looking over Rosario Resort, once a mansion. 

Those gray skys finally burned off, and we enjoyed a nice afternoon strolling around the only town of  Eastport, before taking ferry back to Anacortes.  

A view of the harbor getting back on ferry.

There are  somewhere between 200 and 800 islands, if you count all the rocky surfaces that just up from the water.  I forget how many are actually named, but only four are accessible from ferry.  We met folks on the bus who were taking their boats to some of the other islands.  Shaw is  residential, and Lopez is flat and a favorite with cyclists, and nicknamed "Slowpez" because it is very quiet.  We explored only San Juan and Orcas.

San Juan Island

Took a ferry to San Juan on a chilly foggy morning, but the sun broke out by the time we landed in their only town, Friday Harbor.  Nice little port town, but quiet, and not much in way of stores.  Clem was thankful!  :-)

We took a shuttle bus to the other side of the island to Lime Kiln State Park, the only park in the country dedicated to whale watching.  We did a lot of watching, but no sighting!  But we enjoyed the walk out to the point and the lighthouse just the same.  

The area supports three pods of orca whales which  are studied , and they have even been able to trace their lineage.   I had hoped to do some kayaking to see some better, but it was so chilly, we decided not to.   

Anacortes

Located on the island of Fidalgo, we drove over the bay to our campsite, which was probably 5 minutes out of town, and right on the water.  Though our site was not!  If we go there again, we need to book enough in advance to get one of those sites.  We lucked out and there was an art fair in its final day, so we went in, walked around, and enjoyed dinner at a local eatery. 

This gorgeous building looked like something out of Nantucket!  Built in the 1800's, and a posh hotel and spa.  

Just a cool fire hydrant!

The first time I spotted one of these paintings I thought it was a person standing there!  An artist created this fun project all through town, depicting original owners of historic buildings, shop keepers, and even mayors.  Very fun addition to a neat little town.  

Chateau St Michelle Winery

From album of photos of winery