149 - More Columbine; 150 - Onions; 151 - Chevy

You were duly warned -- I like columbine. As I took this photo, I imagined it as a beautiful, tropical fish swimming through coral beds. I am also on the search or photos that I take that I like straight-out-of-cammera and this turned out to be one of those. Well, with the exception of the border at the bottom. I can't totally leave the shots alone these days. Its a bit of a sickness.

Ah CSA, I adore you! Sunday was our first CSA day. We take our reusable grocery bags and head to the farmer's market where we pick our weekly bounty. This week we got, two heads of different lettuces (don't know exactly what they are, our farm has a new coordinator and the weekly newsletter didn't list goodies like it has in the past.... anyway...) a bunch of spring pea sprouts, a bunch of some sort of kale, radishes, rhubarb, carrots, mint, purple potatoes and scallions. Very excited. We will be having lightly saute'ed pea sprouts, scallions and some other veggies with cilantro rice for dinner tonight. And, similar fare the rest of the week. I love summer foods!!

I just adore old trucks.

147 - Embrace; 148 - Allium Explosion

I painted some river rocks last summer with acrylic paints and then wrote affirmative words on them. It was a project to help me pull myself out of a little funk I was in. (I tend toward funks... well, I do.) And it worked. Mister helped me find rocks from our yard and from the beach which were small enough to be cute and flat enough to be written on. I sat around with a pad of paper and wrote down all the affirmative words that I could possibly think of. I then went to the thesaurus and found some more. I even enlisted the help of friends for finding words of encouragement and joy and positive-ness. It was a very interesting process to walk through. I found it nearly impossible to not find 'goodness' in my life and surroundings and in the people I deal with, live with and love. The act of finding the right rock of just the right color and shape to write the right word on, also, cathartic. I then, gave most of these "Affirmation Stones" to friends. I felt as if I was spreading something uplifting. I hope that's how the recipients felt anyway. (Yes, if you've been with me, you know the story.) Anyway, this stone sits in a bowl in our yard and has the word "Embrace" written on it. Its not just a hug for me, its more of an embrace life and living. And I seem to need to be reminded to do that.

I love shots looking up and I love allium. They are in full bloom everywhere in our neighborhood. Small, medium, large and I even saw some uber-large ones. No photo of the super huge ones, sometimes photography just doesn't capture hugeness. Well, maybe its just me and I haven't learned that yet. I'm ok with that - - not having learned all life's lesson's yet - - that is.

144, 145, 146 - Oy, I'm so behind with my posts - Two Columbine and one Wind Chime

Columbine - I really, really do love the columbine. I take so many photos of it. There are so many wonderful colors and sizes and they all remind me of sea creatures or possible fairies - of the flower variety. Home Sweet Home - I am a home body of the first order. I really want to be home after work, in my space, doing my thing, with my Mister and my Harley. The only other thing I like as much, is traveling around the globe. I know! I get it! Contradictory much? But, its me, so, there you go. Anyway, this wind chime was a gift from my sister at some point in the past. I don't have a clue when/where/why, I just know its from her. She and I have a bit of a difficult relationship. Why? Well, I think the answer lies in the fact that we are very, very different people who have lived very, very different lives in different towns. Oh, we try, every few (the few has become more and more as of late) years to make an effort, but we just don't meld. As much as we don't get along, I keep this wind chime to remind me she is there. And she does care and so do I. I just need to make that effort more often, even if it comes to nothing.Again, I know. Here's the columbine after it goes to seed. Pretty little pods, reaching, and eventually popping and sowing joy to the four winds.

Just Watched: Holes

Well, who knew? This comedy is from 2003. I never knew anything about it. In fact, I had seen the cover (or something) over time and really thought it was a horror film. Seriously... HOLES.... doesn't that sound kind of scary to you? Like something would pop out or slither or pull you in.... hmmm, just me huh?! I watched this recentely with friends and it was fun and comical. Worth seeing if you are in the 'campy' movie mood. At least I think you'd call it campy. I would. I guess I did. If you've seen it, would like to know what you think.

Just Watched: The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Have you seen this? This is another "Oscar" movie - i.e. we only rented it because it was nominated for "Music: Original Score". The Oscar went to "Up".

I hadn't read the book so I really did not know exactly what to expect. I figured it would be an "Up", or a "Cars" or something similar, but, not so much. It was a very cleverly animated story with a fun and funny an even a bit educational plot. It was based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name. Anyway, we laughed, and then laughed some more then were totally entertained by well, the entire thing.

I would totally recommend this movie to anyone. People of all ages will most likely enjoy it.

142 - 143 - Callas

Have I told you Callas are my very most favorite flower? Mister and I had them at our wedding. They weren't the big white Oregon coast callas, but callas nonetheless. I was given, the other day, the most ethereal bouquet of gorgeous callas. They are on my dining room table, making me happy. I've photographed them over and over and over. Here are a couple that turned out happy.

138 -141

Salamander. Photo actually taken by Mister. His arms were (are) longer than mine. He was able to get much closer to the beast without scaring it away.

Tillamook Air Museum. I've driven by it a hundred times and never been inside. It was pretty cool. I would recommend it. Plus, Mister used to work for an airplane refitting company so he had actually been inside several of the planes. We both liked it.Brief opening in the clouds. Clouds are amazingly beautiful. One day I hope to have a wide angle lens and be able to capture all of the sky and not just a tiny fraction.

135 - 137

We had a sunny day. Mister and I spent it hanging with friends and their dogs and their kids. Lovely.

My bestest brother and his wife, surprised me and showed up on my doorstep. All with the coersion of my dear Mister. Could not have asked for a more wonderful, uplifting time with them. Spent some time away from home. Relaxed, rested, napped, watched movies, played games, learned some stuff. Some of what I learned had to do with surfing - Jerry Lopez and his gang. I love learning stuff.

134 - On Being Blue

I've been neglecting this space for a bit now. Its not intentional, I just have "stuff" right now. And when I have "stuff" I often don't feel like opening up and sharing it, well, because, its not necessarily pretty stuff. So anyway, a catch up on the 365 pics is forthwith. Its the one thing that I'm doing a decent job at not letting go of or letting down or neglecting or well, you enter your own thoughts here on the topic of "I just don't have the emotional or mental energy to deal". Wow, moving right along.

133 - Oregon Iris

Our Oregon Irises. I adore these delicate little beauties. Mister and I first (at least this is my memory - he probably knew about them way before that) came across these when we hiked BlackLock Point on the southern Oregon coast. They were everywhere in full bloom. Delicate, purple and wild. As Mister and I (ok, mostly Mister) have been working on creating a native habitat for all beasts in our little plot of land, we had to have some of these. We had them last year, but we were out of the country while they were blooming. This year, we are enjoying every minute of them.

132 - The Green-Machine

Here's yet another example of a photo I took several times... well, different angles etc. I just couldn't get the sculpture to look as amazing as it does in real life. I am sure if I knew how to use Photoshop better, I could get the contours and textures and intricacies to stand out, but, not today. I hope to be outside more during the day now that it nicer weather. There is so much great street art downtown. Capturing some of it would make me very happy.

131 - Pink Dragon

It has taken me all week to post my pics because, well, I just haven't been very happen with them. I take several / many photos each day and usually there is at least one I am thrilled with. If I am tortured, there will be several that I agonize over choosing the exact one for that day. Then there are the days I take photo after photo of either the same subject over and over or many different subjects and just never get one that makes me happy. The photo above I took probably 6, 7, 8? of and none of them were all that great. It was such a gorgeous pink/purple bloom. I'm not sure if it is some sore of iris or more probably part of the pitcher plant family, all I know is that it captured Mister and me and then the photos stunk/stink/stank?

There you go, the agony of flower photography. You wouldn't think it would be that difficult!!

130 - Greyscale Sculpture

I've taken a ton of pictures of this sculpture. I just can't get the angle or the lighting or the feeling that I want. I'm posting this one because of the monochromatics (can I use that as a word?) grey. The stairs, the sculpture and the building - all shades of grey.

128 - Opal Creek

Recently we hiked in the Little N. Santiam Scenic Area which is south of Portland and East of Salem. We hiked there one other time in 2005. I know this because I write notes in our hike books. Its a great hike along a river with smaller creeks running into it. There are waterfalls and an old logging camp called Jawbone Flats which is now, from what I understand, used as a sort of interpretive and learning center for the forest in that area. Nice and informative, huh?! At the site of Jawbone Flats, there are all manner of old, broken down and rusty vehicles and machinery. It lends to the rustic nature of the place. It was a perfect time of year to be out hiking in the woods. The weather was warm but not too hot and the trillium were in bloom. Trillium fascinate me. They take from 3 to 5 years, or depending on circumstances, up to 7 years to bloom.

So, there you go. I'm not as verbose as normal, so I'll leave you with just that.

Have a great weekend. ciao!

Just Watched: Gran Torino

My sister in law and her husband highly recommended this movie to us. Yes, it was on our 'to see' list but, I just hadn't given it much priority. Given the topic of an "old racist guy" I just didn't think I'd care much for this movie. I seem to struggle with the race topic in general. I just do not, in any way, understand why one person thinks they are better than another person because of the color of their skin or the accent in which they speak or the beliefs they hold. To me, that is what makes us all so very, very interesting - - the fact that we all have different backgrounds and thoughts and ways of looking at the world. How insanely boring would it be if we all looked and acted and felt the same about everything? Let me tell you, it would be horrendous. At least in my opinion.

So, the racist part of the movie, which includes gang violence, was hard to watch, but it is reality for so many people, I guess I shouldn't try to hide myself in my comfy hole all the time. I was also very intrigued because I had read The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down in the last year. A book about a Hmong child and her family's difficulties in this country and Gran Torino centers around a man living in a Hmong neighborhood. When I read The Spirit... book, I had no idea that the topic of Hmong would come up so often in my life and strangely, it has. I found that I actually have useful, and possibly interesting, information to add to what the film touches on.

Anyway, I think I'm rambling at this point. The movie was great. Mister and I really liked it. It might even be one that we end up owning some day. I would highly recommend this film to all adults.

129 - White flower with ferns

Just a flower. I like how the yellow in the center pops.

127 - Calla

Callas are my utmost favorite flower. And, I've become a fan or orange over the last two or three years. So, this shot embodies much goodness for me. I hope you will find some joy in it too.

Have a glorious weekend.

Just Read: Garlic and Sapphires (126)

Author: Ruth Reichl.

I thought this was a fun book. It is about Ruth herself, a former New York Times food Critic and current (I think) editor of Gourmet Magazine. She moves to New York to become the Time food critic and realizes that restaurants plan to give her special attention in what they hope will be a good review. She decides that is a bit unfair to the every-day New Yorker and creates, with some help, disguises to use as she eats in the restaurants she plans to review. In this way, she hopes to get a more real experience rather than the red carpet treatment afforded to people of note. It is also the story of how these disguises change her life and help her see the other parts of her own personality and how they affect her personally. The book also has interspersed throughout, a few tasty looking recipes.

I would totally recommend this book. It was fun and probably the book I've read most recently that I did not want to put down.

PS - I needed a photo for this "just read" post and after I took it, I realized, it was totally my photo of the day. Something about it was.... right.... for lack of a better word.

Anyway...

125 - the bitter end

I'm always a bit sad when the end of tulip season hits. It means that Spring is nearly done for another year. Spring is one of my favorite times. Its fresh and new and lovely and clean feeling and blooms and blossoms and pretty color splotches are everywhere. So, this is the end of my darkest tulips.

124 - My little sneaker

I adore my little Harley. He is very posessive of Mister and me and I love it. It starts when I get home from work. He's usually been camped out on one of the dining room chairs for a large part of the day. This intel is from Mister. When I get home, he hops down and sits next to his food bowl as if I'm going to give him a treat. I usually do. But its usually just a fresh shake of his dry food which he then snacks on. He'll then follow me outside, then back inside then into the sunroom where I work out on the elliptical machine then the next thing I know he's in one of his many beds next to me as I answer email or pay bills or play with my photos in Photoshop. The other night, he did all this and then he followed me into the bathroom and sat around as I soaked in some dead sea mud which was given to me to try to help my currently crappy skin. He waits for me when its time for bed then curls up in a ball next to me as we sleep. If I get up in the middle of the night, he slips into my spot where I've kept it nice and warm. Mister watched him one night and from the other room I hear laughter. Seems Harley sat up and watched as I left the room. As soon as I turned the corner, he slipped into my spot and curled up without delay. Ok, enough about my cat. How have you been?

123 - Little Bears

Little bears climbing on a pool downtown near Pioneer Square. These brass bears are so, so cute. When I decided to post this photo, I remembered that a few years ago (1991) some hooligan stole one of these little (very heavy I am sure) bears. There was such a public outcry that an anonymous tip lead the police to where the bear had been dumped. I remember just about everyone who knew about he bears, was so happy that he was returned unharmed.

Just Watched: The Hurt Locker

Mister and I first heard about The Hurt Locker on 60 Minutes when they aired a pre-Oscsar interview with Katheryn Bigelow, the director. We were blown away (well, that might be a bit of an overstatement) by her and the film she had made. But, we did put this film on our must-see list. The Hurt Locker was nominated for a best picture Oscar, up against Avatar and her ex-husband, James Cameron. We paid close attention during the Oscars and when it won best picture, very much looked forward to watching it.

The film is amazing. Its about a bomb team in Iraq. Most specifically about one man and his need to get his adrenaline fix, which he gets from facing death each and every day.

I have a difficult time with war movies, that being said, there have been a few that strike me as relevant, this is one of those films. I felt it was necessary for me to feel uncomfortable and melancholy and teary and angry and confused. It, unfortunately, is real life in the time in which we live. Yes, we hear about war, but it has been, for the most part in my life time, in other countries. Its on the teevee. Its far away and I firmly believe that while I know these are true stories that I see on the news, that I have been numbed a bit by the teevee and movies and video games. But, reality is, its coming as evidenced by the frequency of bombs being left in public places in our country.

Ok, I've digressed. My point really is, this movie will make you think or at least re-think and quite possibly make you sick to your stomach (not literally, but figuratively). Its gripping and real and will stay with me for a very long time. I highly recommend this film. Almost especially if you think its going to be too gritty or heavy. If there's a good reason to get out of your comfort zone, this film is it.

122 - Chickadee

We have this birdhouse that Mister bought this year. We (i.e. Mister) hung it in our ash tree in the hopes of attracting more birds to our little sanctuary. We have another birdhouse, but it (as far as we know) never has had any birds living in it. But, we keep trying. A few weeks ago, we saw two chickadees flitting around the tree and the birdhouse. After watching them for awhile, we realized they were going in to the birdhouse and removing the wood chips we put there to help out with the bedding. We figured they were probably taking the materials to their own nest somewhere else. Then, a few days later, we saw the birds (we presume the same two) but this time they were bringing in materials. So exciting!

Then, we didn't see them for a long time. Until this weekend. I was enjoying the sunshine and saw and heard this little bird flitting about in the tree and I thought I heard another bird, nearby, calling to him. I'm pretty sure the other bird, his mate maybe. We really hope to have little baby birdies poking their heads out of the birdhouse some day.

121 - Tulip robbed of its color

The tulips are nearing the end of their time for this season. This is one of my favorites, its a deep, dark purple, almost black, but not quite. It was bowing its little head, not quite ready to give up and it just made me feel ... quiet. Then when I got inside to get it ready for posting, I realized that even though I love, love, love the color of the bloom against the vivid green which is our yard right now, that my mood was a smidge more melancholy. We had had a wonderful weekend hanging out with friends from out of town and they had left. It always leaves me at a bit of a loss for what to do with myself. So, I removed color and bumped up the contrast and ended up with something that just fit a bit better. Still quite beautiful, but now just a bit.... more.

I hope you have a super week.