A FOGGY AFTERNOON

We were at a friend's for dinner last night and the deck overlooked a forested area
that had this wonderful soft fog enveloping everything. But there was a brightly
colored geranium that didn't look the least daunted by the fog, in fact looked all
the more cheerful because of the contrast.

THE SENATOR

For some reason the name "The Senator" pops into my head whenever I come
across this particular photo. Anyone care to venture why?

NORM & LUCY

I love this photo of Norm and his sister, Lucy. They hadn't seen each other in
quite a while and Lucy couldn't seem to keep her eyes off Norm for the first half hour.
They're the last of the siblings of their generation.......both keeping a good sense of
humor in spite of having experienced many of life's trials. Lucy says "You have to
laugh because otherwise you'd cry all the time." Basic, honest and salt of the earth
people. Look at Lucy's eyes......don't you see a peaceful acceptance reflected?

I do. Something for me to work towards.

WILLIE

Meet Willie, my kitty. She (yes, she) was a stray that adopted us a few years back,
after I 'accidentally' kept dropping food out on our deck. She was starving but very skiddish
and would run off whenever she saw us open the door. One day she saw me outside and
was alert and ready to run. I said a few words to her...she answered.....I said something.....she
answered. Well, within 2 minutes that cat was not only over to me, but climbed up on my
shoulders and meowed and meowed her delight. She has not been an easy house pet and
has an ornery streak that has tested my patience more than once....my husbands gave out
a long time ago. But because she was someone's throw-away and her miserable disposition
has me caring for her because there doesn't seem to be too many others......at least not for the
long term. Now she's getting very old, quieting down, and only sometimes biting.....lucky me.
She has her health problems and nothing does she love more then to sit up on my lap in the morning
when I'm at the computer, and snooze.........but if she could talk she'd probably say that dinner
time would rate much higher than that 'touchy-feely' stuff.

JOHNSON FISHPOND

I went on the Port Orford Garden Tour today and saw some beautiful gardens.
We sure have some talented garden artists around our town! Above is the lovely
fishpond at the Johnson place. There were VERY large koi and beautiful lilies
that were just beginning to open. Great place to just sit and be still.

THE GOATS

I was busy snapping some other animal when at Animal Park Safari. I happen
to look to the right and there were these two, heads down and just studying
me intensely. They might have thought (hoped!) I had some kind of hand-out
for them cause they stayed in this position long enough for a number of photo shots. I had
goats at one time and really enjoyed them. The kids.....well, the adults goats too,
they are such characters! The antics and games they play are a lot of fun to watch.
I even managed to milk the does and make up some batches of cheese too. Yum!
But that was another lifetime ago when I was playing the farmer-ette.

B&W LEOPARD

A friend, who is also a fantastic photographer, wondered what this cat would look like
in B&W rather than the blue. I do think I like it better. He has a little more 'presence'
doesn't he? Thanks, Gerry!

LOW TIDE

I took this photo of the Coquille River in Bandon, last December. The day was a little hazy which gave the water it's
lovely soft shade of light blue. It was so smooth and flat, with barely a ripple. A very calming picture of a beautiful
river.

ANIMAL PARK CUTE

I just don't know how much more cute I can get!!

How about a profile? More dignified?

Both very cute and very dignified......I rest my case.

PEACOCKS

I've seen many beautiful peacocks display their front feathers as in the above photo, but how many times have you seen the display from the back? Look how beautiful it is. I had to work to get this boy to cooperate. He kept turning towards me when I'd try and circle around. Finally he got interested in something else and gave me the chance to shoot his backside. I understand how he feels though.

BRIDGE

Another example of how different the same bridge can look from color to B&W.
I'm a Libra and am forever have difficulty making a choice. This blog suits me
perfectly since I can post both options!

DANDELION

This dandeloin looks entirely different to me when the photo is B&W. I enjoy
color but there's something dignified or stately about the B&W's, don't you
think?

PARADE'S HORSES + 1 LLAMA

These are a few of the animals from Saturday's parade. The first is another llama, as you might have guessed. And the others are various horses.......beautiful.....all of them.

4TH OF JULY

I love this photo from the parade!! These two nice looking people were in the Native Sons and Daughters car. I believe this couple were looking up at the Coast Guard helicopter. It looks like they're waving to the flag, doesn't it? Reminds me of how much we have to appreciate in this country.

THE 4TH OF JULY PARADE!!

There was such fun today at the 4th of July parade. I wish I could post all the photos I took, but 296 would be a bit over the top, huh? Well, the Coast Guard helicopter is always one of my favorites. Today they circled around through the trees and wisps of fog, flying low and waving to one and all. They make such a beautiful contrast against the blue sky.

This gentleman was on one of the many floats and he set such an interesting scene with his cigar and that neat looking hat. The surrounding red, white and blue just set the scene.

I love the animals...all of them. There were a number of llamas and this one with the young girl who was leading him/her/it gave an interesting profile.

The Jensen Band is one of the faithful entries every year. They are much loved and the parade wouldn't seem complete without them. This gentleman is giving it his all, as you can see by the puff of his cheeks. I have so many great photos that it's hard to choose which ones to post. So many happy little children all running out for candy. I even captured one little boy, just out of toddler age, sharing a piece of candy with another younger boy who'd turned up empty-handed. A good little soul.

THE NEW LENS

I had to give my new lens a try and I'm very pleased with my new purchase. We went down to the dock. The fog was beginning to float in which made a nice contrast between the ocean, mist and mountains. The first photo is a gull hanging around a trash can, hopefully. I know they're rather common, but I do love the gulls. They're such characters!

This is one of the rocks off of 'Dog Beach" with the fog in the background.

And here's one little guy, taking a bow......."Thank you, very much!"