Happy Spring!

Ah Spring!  That time of year when it's  apparent we aren't in Oregon any more!    There's really not a lot to mark the change from winter here in the subtropics.   So I'm celebrating  the season with golden memories.  And adding a few photos I managed to recover from the end of our season in Oregon.  Actually that was last December, so I guess every photo in this post is an oldie…. golden or otherwise.  

 

 

Oregon daffodils, 2021

Farmers  grow a lot of grass seed in our part of Oregon.  We don't miss the Spring sneezes and wheezes that come with the start of grass season.  But I do miss my favorite Spring flowers.   We see some beautiful blooms here in Florida of course, but they tend to be more flamboyant and just not quite the same.   

In the following photos we were still in Oregon, but not quite so long ago.   These photos from last December were still on the camera when we downloaded it here last month.  We went on a day-trip to Florence on the Oregon Coast.  About 60 miles from our Oregon home, this charming coastal town is a favorite  getaway.  

 

Siuslaw River Bridge, Florence December 2024

 

It was a gorgeous day — actually fairly typical of December in our part of Oregon.  We had a few chilly days before we left,  but mostly blue skies and mild weather.  The icy days came in January after we left (not by coincidence).   That actually is typical weather for the region,  although it definitely seems like the January ice and winds have gotten more severe in the last few years.  We count our blessings when we miss out on those days.   

Hooded Merganser, Siuslaw River, Florence Oregon

During this December day trip, we did check to make sure the Pacific Ocean was still there, knowing we wouldn't see it again for a few months.    However, the pictures are from the coastal Siuslaw River where we always stop to walk when we  go to Florence.         

 

It was exciting to see several  Hooded Mergansers enjoying the sunny day.  I've never before seen that many  of them in one place.  They were swimming quite near the shore and were fun to watch.  

 

Oregon family photo, December 2024

These two live with our daughter and son-in-law.   It never fails to amaze me the way their pets always get along so well.  And here's another golden oldie from the same household:

 

 

Literally a 'Golden Oldie' since we always called this tree a Golden Chain and the photo was taken quite a few years ago.  Sadly, it's a memorial picture now because our daughter told us that one of those recent winter windstorms completely uprooted it — the golden chain is no more.   When I posted this exact picture years ago, I learned from fellow bloggers that the tree's official name is Laburnum.  Blogging is an educational experience — I  appreciate all the help I can get.   

Just a bit more color for my virtual memory scrapbook:

 

Yellow flowers always seem like little spots of sunshine. 

 

Here's to more golden spring days ahead.  Thank you to all who visit and to the hosts of these sharing opportunities:

 

NATURE NOTES; MOSAIC MONDAY;  THROUGH MY LENS;   MY CORNER OF THE WORLD;  THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY  and SATURDAY CRITTERS;