I first saw the Vaux's Swifts back in 2005 when my cousin was visiting. It was a very serene peaceful evening of about 30 people watching the birds retire for the evening. This year I got to see them again and it was a very different experience. Each September the Swifts sleep in the old chimney at Chapman Elementary School for a few weeks. We are one of their many stops on their migration trail. ...
Read MoreI just got back from a week long trip to Germany! This was my first real trip in a couple of years and I was definitely ready. My husband was born in Germany because both of his parents were in the military. They returned to the US when my husband was about 2 years old. The main adventure was to find the house where he used to live. He lived in the tiny hamlet of Bimbach, just outside of Fulda, and...
Read MoreI had the privilege to attend my friends' wedding on Sunday. It was held in a beautiful barn in Independence. The setting was just gorgeous and the bride was stunning. She asked if I would take a few pictures to help document the festivities. Well, documentation is my middle name. I was thrilled to do this for my friends. The lighting was beautiful, but dim so I was really unsure of...
Read MorePeople who know me, know I love squirrels. The only thing I like more than squirrels are chipmunks. During our hike last weekend on Mt. Howard, we were surrounded by tons of very friendly chipmunks. I was in hog heaven. I probably took more pictures of the chipmunks than I did of the vistas. This little guy was so friendly and took me by surprise when he jumped on my leg. Chipmunks tried to...
Read MoreI spent a long Labor Day weekend in Wallowa County which is in the very rural Northeastern corner of Oregon. On the drive out, we stopped at the Stonehenge in Maryhill, WA. This Stonehenge was built to scale after WWI to commemorate the men from the area who died in battle. Not having seen the real one, this one is still very impressive and such a great attraction to have in our area. We also toured the Maryhill...
Read MoreMy husband is training for the Portland Marathon in October. He has to do these really insane runs to prepare. This Sunday he had to run 15 miles. My Father-in-law and I rode our bikes in support. We handed him food and water along the way. This is the second time I've accompanied my husband on these long runs. The first time I didn't have my camera and I saw Blue Heron, Baby Osprey...
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