Green and Beautiful

While traveling through Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia and Bulgaria, we often remarked that it was green like Oregon.  I am sure the people there could use the same phrase we said in Oregon,  "If you plant it, it will grow." We truly live in a beautiful world!

Bulgaria is famous for its roses but they were beautiful in each country.

Every home had a pretty little vegetable garden

And flower boxes.

Irises

Geraniums - beautiful on their own but especially so with this backdrop. 

Wisteria - always makes me think of graduation ceremonies and school parties at Benjamin Franklin International School in Barcelona where there was a huge plant on one side of the main building. 

I've always loved ivy growing on old buildings. Reminds me of this song and takes me back to high school graduation.

Oh, we love the halls of ivy that surround us here today, And we will not forget though we be far, far away. To the hallowed halls of ivy, every voice will bid farewell. And shimmer off in twilight like the old vesper bell. One day a hush will fall; The footsteps of us all Will echo down the hall and disappear But as we sadly start our journeys far apart A part of every heart will linger here. In the sacred halls of ivy, Where we've lived and learned to know That through the years we'll see you in the sweet afterglow.

Opposite Direction - Photography #1

While most of the world is using cell phones for all their photos and getting rid of big cameras, I'm taking the opposite approach!  I've decided to take a comprehensive photography course and master my camera.  Or at least try to!  In order to do this I know that I must stop relying on the auto modes and bite the bullet and learn how to take photos in MANUAL mode!

The only way to do this is to take lots of photos so I'm setting a goal to take at least 20 a day and share some of my favorites on my blog.

Today I explored the 'flora and fauna' of my own river side neighborhood.

Spring in Harper's Ferry

I just wanted to share a few of my favorite photos from my morning walks in Harper's Ferry!

Plus a few from Williamsburg...

Spring in the Northwest!

Daffodils

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced but they,

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed and gazed but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought;

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

I memorized this poem when I was in middle school so all my life when I see daffodils the words have echoed in my mind.  Spring is coming to Portland and after the cold rainy days of winter it is most welcome!  And my heart does 'with pleasure fill and dances with the daffodils'!

Photography

I have been using the same camera for quite a while now.  Basically I use the auto mode and seldom try anything new.  I have been determined to learn how to use the camera features and thought of taking a private photography lesson.  While I was searching on line for a class I stumbled onto a series of amateur videos specifically designed for my Canon SX 40 IS.  I love the British girl who is the 'teacher'.  Like me she has little interest in the 'theory' behind the camera but is great at explaining how to use the various features.  I can't believe all I have been missing!  Here are a few of my recent attempts to improve my photography skills.

I can hardly wait to try my new skills in Africa!  We leave in a week!

Spring has sprung????

We lost an hour of sleep last night and I'll be going to seminary in the dark so does that mean that it is spring in Portland?

I doubt it.  These last few sunny mild days are just teases!  But I have enjoyed them and the flowers are beautiful!

I know Spring is coming and hopefully before July!

City of Roses

Portland is sometimes called the 'City of Roses' and here's why.....

And remember it is September!

Tulip Festival

Spring is here! Well, actually spring was here yesterday and we enjoyed it with our friends at the Woodburn Tulip Festival. Today it's cool and rainy once again! Yesterday was just a teaser but a wonderful one!

Acres and acres of amazing color!

Can you see Mount Hood in the background

It's coming....

I smell it in the air in spite of the rain & clouds!

I see the signs all around me!

I know it's coming!

Spring!!!!!!!

Walking in the rain with the ones I love!

All last week we planned and looked forward to a trip to hike on Mt. Saint Helens. The weather has been beautiful for the last couple of months that I've been in Oregon so I think I forgot that it rains here a lot. Since real Oregonians don't let little things like a rain storm keep them indoors we decided to go ahead and go on the planned trip. This was the view of Mt. Saint Helen's that we were anticipating.

And this was the view we got. If you look carefully you can see both sides of the mountain!

Do you remember the eruption on May 18 1980? I do. This is how the mountain looked pre 1980. Notice the trees on the lower slopes.

Isn't that an amazing illustration of the power of Mother Nature? That valley and what appear to be river beds are actually where the lava and mud flowed.

Hiking in the rain wasn't too bad at all and for once there were no crowds on the trails....in fact we had the trail to ourselves.

The colors were stunning.

It's been wonderful to have John here with us. I'm going to miss having someone to entertain me during the days and play with us on the weekends.

He's also an amazing photographer! I think this picture could win a prize!

And here's my attempt at an 'artsy' photo.

Lake Oswego Saturday Market

Each Saturday across the street from our apartment complex Lake Oswego holds a farmer's market! We love it!

Beautiful flowers!

Wonderful produce!
I'm not sure, but I don't think John is eating a raw brussel sprout!
And an amazing variety of mushrooms! It's a nice way to spend Saturday morning.