OREGON INTERLUDE

In Blog-land, we've been re-living our June trip to Europe  and it isn't over yet.  But in real life we've been at home in Oregon since the first of July — and it's great to be here.   So this is a little break between Weeks One and  Two of our trip  — we need to catch up just a tiny bit on wonders that are closer to home.

 

Alsea Falls

 

 

Alsea Falls is a favorite place — we stopped  for a walk there after a trip to the Oregon coast last month. And were surprised and happy to see this much water at the falls in July.

 

 

 

Flowers collected on walks around our our daughter and son-in-laws country home and on the Willamette River paths near our home here in Oregon.

 

 

There are a few newcomers in that same backyard!   ….

 

 

Oregon Blues!

 

In that same backyard again!  I  picked that colander full of blueberries without moving more than 5 steps.   In July, those bushes were loaded.  The growth has eased off by now –  but their freezer is full and we have been invited to help ourselves as needed.    Those  plums are just coming on.  Blackberries are uninvited guests, but they are good to eat anyway.  (And of course we no longer  have to cut these invasive plants  back every year.   Many homeowners in this part of Oregon fight them constantly.  But in the meantime, everybody picks and eats them.)  

 

 Oregon Scrub Jay

 

Scrub Jays are seen often  in western Oregon — almost as common as crows and just as noisy.   The funny thing is that in Florida, there is a Scrub Jay that is rather rare.  I can't tell any difference — to me they look exactly alike!  But I've never been able to get  a good picture of one in Florida — that is one of my goals for next season there!  

 

 

And here is the ultimate Oregon Blue!  The Pacific Ocean near Waldport on a beautiful July day.  It was a day-trip for us — we just went to make sure the Ocean was still there.

 

LINKING this week to the following sharing opportunities.  Thank you to the hosts! 

SATURDAY CRITTERS; RATHER B' BIRDING ;  NATURE NOTES;   ALL SEASONS;    MOSAIC MONDAY;  THROUGH MY LENS;  OUR WORLD on Tuesday;   COUNTRY SCAPES; TRAVEL PHOTO SOUVENIRS; SAY CHEESE;  WILD BIRD Wednesday;   MY CORNER OF THE WORLD;  THANKFUL THURSDAY;   SKYWATCH FRIDAY; and   FRIDAY  BLISS;