Traveling the West, Part One

I've sorted through the first few photos from our August road trip -- my favorite kind of travel where we have only a general idea of where we're going so we've made no reservations or schedules.  We left our home on the Oregon coast...

Headed south into California where we traveled along the Trinity River...

Lots of stopping along the way for walks, lunch, coffee, photos.  In the early evening we kept an eye out for a suitable RV park.   Full hook ups for air conditioning and showers were our only criteria, but every night we were lucky enough to find a place we could enjoy.  First stop... Del Loma RV Park along the Trinity.

Most importantly, Wally and LuLu could enjoy this place, too.

Pretty, quiet, not at all crowded on a weekday.

The next day we made it only as far as the small, rural town of Standish, which is almost to the Nevada border.  All my photos of the area in between are similar to the previous photos.  We enjoyed the Trinity River most of the day, knowing we'd soon be leaving the tree-covered mountains of northern California behind.  Pictured below is the pretty little park where we spent the night in Standish.

They had a very nice dog park, all clean and graveled.  We sat quite a while and visited with a retired rodeo fella.  Notice how the hills in the background are no longer covered with trees.

I know... not the most interesting photos in Standish, but it was just a stopover.  They had good satellite TV, so Rich took full advantage of that -- reclining in the bedroom, snacking on cheese, Wally and LuLu in attendance.  We don't have a TV in our bedroom at home, so this was a treat for him.

The next day we crossed over into Nevada.  Honestly, we didn't get very far, but we weren't in a hurry.   These last few photos were taken after we stopped for the evening outside of Fallon, Nevada.  We got lucky again, finding an RV park surrounded by BLM land where we could walk far off into the distance with the dogs.  I just love this golden field with the beautifully sculpted and shadowed hills in the background.

Turn around and see a little more green to my left.  We're sure not on the Oregon Coast anymore!

Because it was evening it had cooled down enough to get out and enjoy it.  Actually, we'd not yet had a blistering day... except for Baker, California -- 108 degrees.  We stopped there for gas and then got out in a hurry!

Gold on gold:

Layers and swathes of color, texture, and form:

Time to wrap up the day.

So many photos to chronicle the trip.  Always take the scenic route and you might be surprised what you find in a desert.  I'll be back with more as soon as possible.  Have a wonderful day!

Wildflower Meadow with Goldens

Hello!  Although I'm posting these pics near the end of August, they were taken in July on our way home from camping.  We were heading into the Willamette Pass from our week-long camping in central Oregon -- South Fork RV Park in Dayville (see previous post) -- when we spotted a rest area we hadn't noticed before.  It looked like a good place to stop for lunch and let the dogs out for a while.  Oh, my goodness... we walked out to the area behind the rest stop and found the most beautiful place!

I wouldn't expect to see so many different wildflowers in July, but a wet spring presented a photo opportunity I couldn't let pass -- Goldens and wildflowers, sigh.  The first is LuLu.  I chose this photo because it showed such a variety of flowers.

Wally is a handsome guy in the grassy meadow with a few flowers in the foreground.

Next is a wider angle, different view.  Everywhere we turned and every step we took brought another beautiful sight.

I took a few shots of Rich playing with Wally and LuLu and I wanted to share this one to show how far off in the distance the meadow reaches.

We walked up the hill into the woods.  Pictured below is a whole different panorama.

 There were more flowers blooming in the woods wherever a spot of sun reached through the trees.

This angle looks back toward the road.

LuLu again.  You wouldn't believe how many pictures I took, or maybe you would.  You know me.

Below is Wally being Wally.

The last photo is closer to the actual rest area as we were heading back to the motor home.  See LuLu peeking out from behind the tree?  She tickles my funny bone!

We've just returned from a multi-state trip, having been gone more than two weeks.  I have over 200 photos from that trip and, believe me, I was trying to be selective.  I promise I won't share all of them, but the sorting will keep me busy for a while.  I have a feeling our 2019 photo book will be very thick.  I do enjoy looking through them and quite often I pull a few off the shelf to reminisce and smile.

I hope you've been having a good summer and will enjoy what's left of it.  Fall can be a beautiful season, too.  Take care!

July Camping

Hello, friends!  Now that it's August I'm finally sharing our camp pics from July.  We spent a week at our favorite home away from home where we did nothing but relax and play.  Today's pics don't show a lot of scenery; they're simply about the camp experience.

We were at an RV park in eastern Oregon.  It's beautiful, quiet, and very dog friendly.  I always take at least one picture of the camp set up.  Doesn't it look peaceful?

Pictured below is a partial view of the park where you can see how it's nearly empty except for the Cottonwoods and Alders.

It's no surprise why they're called Cottonwood.  The fluff carries the seeds on the wind.  Do you see the bug trying to hide in the leaves?

We had plenty of play time.  Gee, could that be why Wally and LuLu love camping so much?

The river floods into the lower camp every year, but this past winter was worse than usual.  I was glad to see that just enough Forget-Me-Nots survived to reseed for the future.

Wet Goldens are happy Goldens.

When the temperature hit 93 degrees and climbing it was time to dry off and go inside to the air conditioning.

Rich is fixing a snack and Wally is very interested.  You can see Rich's solitaire on the laptop, and across the table I'm all set up for coloring.  We had plenty of time for naps and reading, too.

Hollyhocks originally planted by the owner's wife (deceased) have naturalized.

Final two photos are down by the water again, different spot.  When you're the only campers there you can wander freely.

I do have some pictures of another place we stopped on our route.  It was so beautiful I couldn't stop taking pictures.  Places like that are the whole reason I love road trips.  You never know what you'll come across.  In fact, that's how we found the park in today's pics.  Last summer we did a come-what-may road trip and just happened to come upon this place when we were ready to stop for the night.  We ended up staying four days and we've been back twice since then.  We're going there again in September with some friends who also have a motor home.

I hope it won't be long before I sort through the rest of the July photos.  There are so many and we've been on the road again... making more photos.  Take care, and have a wonderful day!

Just Checking In

Hello!  I haven't checked in here for a while so thought, perhaps, it was time.  I've been busy on my stamping blog, trying to get ahead for summer, but there's always the garden, as well.  We even went for a two day camping trip in May.  I've been remiss... I don't have a lot of great pictures from that trip, but I'll see what I can come up with for sharing later.  First, this and that around the garden...

My sweet LuLu... we recently learned she has arthritis in her left front leg.  She's only 7 years old, but Dr. thinks it's from an old injury which I can't recall, but dogs never complain.  He says her days of hard running are over.  Sniffy walks and swimming are okay.  We're making do, but I tell you my heart was broken.  With pain management she's doing okay for the time being.

My hydrangea out front is a particularly delicate color this year.  Last year the hydrangeas barely bloomed and one of them even rotted at the roots and had to be dug out.  It appears this is going to be a better year.

The white Foxglove is my favorite.  I'm never certain which ones will be which color.  I let them reseed, pull out those that pop up in inconvenient places and then it's come what may.  I was so happy to see the white this year.

One of several hostas I grow in pots:

A place to just sit:

Thank you for dropping in.  Wishing you a beautiful day!

May Garden and Stuff

Hi, there!  Just miscellaneous this and that today, but I did want to check in here.  I've been busy both outside and inside.  Mornings I go to my stamp room and do whatever coloring I have time for.  However, I look out the window and the garden calls to me.  There is a little color showing here and there.

Next up is our Wally who keeps us in stitches.  I love a guy with a sense of humor.  His new thing --every night after dinner, but before sniffy walk, he decided it would be fun to drag the sleeping bag out of the spare room and onto the couch.  Every single night.  It actually was a comical sight and since we didn't feel it warranted scolding, we just laughed and made a big fuss over him.  Every single night.  I know... he holds us in the palm of his paw.  Rich finally took the sleeping bag out to the motor home where it's supposed to be in the first place.

Who's taking whom for after dinner sniffy walk?  I'm on the other end of the leash, but, clearly, LuLu's the one in charge.  A neighborhood friend we sometimes meet up with snapped this picture.  The angle makes LuLu's legs look so short!

Well, I'd better get a move on.  As I write this we've just finished dinner and are getting ready to go for sniffy walk.  The wind's blowing again and it's cold, but Wally and LuLu need to see what's new in the neighborhood.  Have a good weekend!

Wally McDreamy

The two photos I'm sharing today are fairly ordinary.  I have hundreds like this of Wally looking all strong and handsome, but that's just it... I have hundreds.  Before I dismissed them altogether, I thought I'd play around with the exposure, lightening shadows and brightening highlights.  I also added a diffuse glow to each.

I just couldn't delete my Wally McDreamy.

If it wasn't for his white face you'd never guess Wally will be 10 years old in June.  He carries himself proudly, runs like an athlete, and plays like a puppy.  I realize his age, but try not to focus on it other than to adjust his care accordingly.

He becomes more sensitive and loving with each passing day.  My beautiful boy.

I hope your day just got a little sweeter.

Sunshine!

Oh, my word, the sun came out and it made us all very happy!

Our spring lawn is so lush Rich can hardly keep up with the mowing.  Wally and LuLu enjoyed a romp with Wally's pillow:

There was also the business of helping Rich trim the ferns:

Back to the pillow... oh, that joyous face!

Naturally, I had to add some color with my earliest blooming azalea and violets.

A female Acuba in the back yard shows plump red berries and speckled foliage:

Wally does know the proper way to handle a pillow.  Just taking a little rest:

Before the day was over he'd carried both his blankets outside, too.  Routine stuff.  He's very fond of his blankets and pillow.

A little bit of sunshine sure can lift your spirits.  I'm so looking forward to more!  Have a happy day!