The creative act lasts but a brief moment, a lightning instant of give-and-take, just long enough for you to level the camera and to trap the fleeting prey in your little box.
Henri Cartier-Bresson

Monday, January 31, 2011

Photo #31

Abandoned By the Roadside
For years I have watched this house
slowly slide into oblivion. I am not sure
what really is holding it up.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Photo #28

Sweet Temptations
As I was readying my camera to take
this photo an older man stepped in
front of me and avidly studied all
the delicious treats before heavily
sighing and leaving without even one.
I think I should have taken his photo.
Maybe later.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Photo #26

25 Years of Hammerhead

Over a quarter-century ago,the Hillsdale Brewery
turned dream into reality as creator of Oregon's
first "brewpub" produced beer since Prohibition.
Yesterday we went there to taste this historic beer
as they had rolled back the prices to the original $2 per pint
to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hammerhead.
For more information on the McMenamin Brothers
and their brewpubs go here:

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Photo #25

A Foggy Panorama of Luscher Farm
Looking south toward the farm and its'
CSA and community garden spaces.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Photo #24

Fern Shadow on Birch Tree
We planted three of these birch trees in 1996.
Only supposed to grow to 20'...hah...at this
point they are 30'+...guess it's all that rain?
Over time I have planted a variety of ferns
at the base and nearby these lovely trees.
It looks lovely.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Photo #23

Stellar Sunny Saturday
We spent a sunny, sunny Saturday
in Portland. Couldn't resist this shadow shot.
For more shadow shots check this out:
and to see my other blog go here:

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Friday, January 21, 2011

Photo #21

Mountaineering Boots
Well over 30 year old sturdy boots
used for tromping in the snow and skiing.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Photo #20

Full Moon
Full Wolf Moon – January
Amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter,
the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Indian villages.
Thus, the name for January’s full Moon.
Sometimes it was also referred to as the Old Moon,
or the Moon After Yule. Some called it the Full Snow Moon,
but most tribes applied that name to the next Moon.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Photo #18

Tomato Cages Waiting For Summer
They are all stacked and ready for
the little May tomato plants that by
August threaten to topple the cages.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Photo #17

Close to the top of Sucker Creek**

Yesterday afternoon when the rain stopped
I took a little hike along Sucker Creek to
see if I could get up far enough to photograph
all the water cascading out of the pipes.
(See photo #6)
Unfortunately I wasn't able to get up far enough
as the high water really intimidated me and
I was afraid I might slip on the mossy rocks
and go into the creek . So here's a shot looking down
Later on today I will go to the construction site
and see if they will let me into the area where I could
get a better photograph.
**By the way, I guess Sucker Creek was re-named
Oswego Creek, but I like the old name.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Photo #16

Looking Down on Sucker Creek
In 1847, Albert Alonzo Durham built a sawmill on Sucker Creek,
Oswego Lake's outlet to the Willamette River.
In 1850, Albert made the first Donation Land Claim
in the area, which he named Oswego after Oswego, New York.
I am standing on the foot bridge that passes over the
creek . The foot bridge leads to trails that go up the creek
and also to the nearby city of West Linn.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Photo #15

Looking south up the Willamette River
It was a balmy 59 degrees when I took this photo yesterday.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Photo #14

Ever Curious Lucy
Our newly arrived stray cat's first visit
to the veterinarian's office. Lucy was far more
interested in what was going on outside.
We found out that she is about a year old and
is at least part Korat.The Korat is an ancient
shorthaired breed named after a province of Thailand.
Read below for more info on Korat's. She has all the
personality and traits described. Lucy is a lot of fun!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Photo #13

Spoiled Rotten Douglas Squirrels

Our squirrels have us very well trained.
In the winter we do feed them nuts
and year round we provide water.
Some have been known to come into
the house while we are filling up
the bird feeders....oops...don't panic..
....they will obligingly leave.
And if you want to learn even more
about how we have cared for our
squirrels in the past go here:

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Photo #12

Mt Hood
45°22′24.65″N 121°41′45.31″W
One of the many mountains in the Cascade Range
A dormant volcano only 50 miles frim Portland, Oregon.
Only 60 miles from slumbering Mount St. Helens.
Photo taken from Lake Oswego, Oregon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascade_Range

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Photo #11

A grave marker in Oswego Pioneer Cemetery

I had heard that Linus Pauling was buried

here in our little cemetery, but evidently from

the information below, this is only a grave marker.

When my youngest son was in high school he

called Linus Pauling for help on a science project.

Linus Pauling was so nice and gracious to my son

and gave him the help he was requesting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linus_Pauling

Monday, January 10, 2011

Photo #10

How Green is Oregon?
It's so wet and green that ferns grow
on the moss that grows on the trees.
Some say that if you don't keep moving
some moss will grow on you.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Photo #9

Here's to Doug- a Good Sport!
Yesterday we drove into Portland to
have lunch at Hopworks, one of our favorite
microbreweries. While there we met Doug
who was a good sport and allowed me to
take his photo. Please note: his favorite
animal is the giraffe-hence the hat, shirt and socks.
He is recuperating from a New Years Eve
broken arm and came to have a few beers and watch
the Seahawks football game. It was such an exciting game that
we ended up staying and watching the entire game even though
we normally don't pay too much attention to football.
It was a fun game to watch as the Seahawks won !
Thanks Doug !

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Photo #8

I Gotcha Kitty!
While looking for todays photo Lucy
jumped up on the dining room table and presto
there was the snap of the day!
Maybe we should call her Lucifer as she can
be quite naughty? Nah-she's a good cat!

Friday, January 7, 2011

Photo #7

Swinging in the Park

I had to run errands in Portland so I

took this opportunity to take a quick photo

while it wasn't raining.


Thursday, January 6, 2011

Photo #6

Rainwater Being Drained Out of the Lake
During Sewer Replacement

Besides rain water constantly trying to
fill the lake, there is runoff coming from all
the little creeks that run down the hills to the lake.
That means that there had
to be large pipes set up to enable
constant draining of the lake so that the
workers could continue to work.
You can see two of the workers in the middle
of the photo working on the rebuilding of the dam
that normally holds the water back so
that there is a lake. Far off in the distance
you can see what little of the lake is still there
during this enormous sewer project.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oswego_Lake

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Photo #5

The Rain Has Returned
After many days of freezing weather
And stellar blue skies
The drip drip drop of rain once
again commences...
only 5 more months to go!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Photo #4

Our lake during sewer replacement
Not a very pleasant sight for
all these lakeshore homes.
By May the lake will be
full...of water.......hopefully!


Monday, January 3, 2011

Photo #3

Scarecrows in Storage
Every year volunteers make
scarecrows for our community garden.
When winter comes they go back into the barn.
Peering through a window-I found

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Photo #2

Frozen Still Life
It's been 28 degrees here for several days
and our little backyard water feature
is totally iced over.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Photo #1

New little paws in our home.
Lucy showed up about 3 weeks
ago- meowing and meowing.
We took her in while canvassing
the neighborhood trying to find
where she belonged. No such luck.
But lucky us- she lives with us now
and she is the best cat ever!