GARDEN BUDDY

The other day when I was taking some autumn photos I almost stepped on this
little garter snake.....I think it's a garter. The only snake I'm positive in identifying
is the rattlesnake. This one is pretty harmless and I'm sure helps in keeping some
of the garden pests under control. After quickly moving out from under my foot
it thought it was safe, and who knows....maybe invisible, in a raised garden bed.
Course he was sitting right out there in full view, not at all camouflaged and actually
could very well have been posing for the camera!

SOME COLORS OF FALL

While we don't get the vivid and wild display that other areas get in the autumn, it
makes what we do get that much more valued. Here are some colors I found
around my yard. Maple leaves, mums and a fairie pink rose blooming along side
a plentiful bush of rugosa rose hips. Jam, anyone??

WEATHERED PETUNIAS

It's coming to an end for the petunia plants. I cut them back after some late
summer rain that made them unslightly. I guess that was a mistake because
they never did regain their former glory....and they were glorious this year!
This little one, all by it's lonesome, still caught my eye, and attracted with it's
wonderful fragrance. Today it's raining and I'm afraid that's it for the petunias.
We'll see them again next year.

TRIP TO TOWN

Last week we went up to Coos Bay to do our weekly shopping.

I love the morning light hitting the hills and valley of the Langlois area.

The light is soft and seems to glow on the crests of the hills. I don't know

if my photo can really do the scene justice but this is the best that I've had

since I've been trying to capture it as we drive through.

The second photo (opps......reverse the order of the photos) is of another

scene I always try to shoot.....to catch the smooth reflection of the trees, and

whatever else the water is showing for the day. Sometimes it might be a boat.

Othertimes, a seal or some particular bird. It's almost always beautiful. And

the shallow waters there on the left bank are a favorite with clam diggers

during low tides. Since it's always changing, I'll probably continue to try and

catch that one elusive photo that will end my craving for perfection.

TWISTED BRANCH

I saw this twisted branch out toward Paradise Point the other day. Pretty unusual
looking, don't you think? And I like the way the branch contrasts with the dark
green leaves behind it. The lichen covering the dead branch adds that gray-glow,

making it stand out even more.

CLEMATIS

These are what's left after the clematis flowers lose their petals. They look
pretty ordinary when I looked with the naked eye. But I rather like the effect
I achieved when I cropped and enlarged.

MORE LATE BLOOMERS

I had read about a new way to photograph flowers to make
them a little more interesting. So here are my attempts.
This particular day the sky was such an incrediblely beautiful
blue! Since it was mid-day, I tried to have the sun shining
through the petals, and to get under the blooms rather than
looking down at them. I like the effect.

ITSY-BITSY

"The itsy-bitsy spider went up the water spout, along came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain, and the itsy-bitsy spider crawled up the drain again."
And so he built himself a beautiful web!
And it just so happens that the left hand side of this web is attached to our rain spout. So....the
little story must be true.

CHARLIE THE TUNA

On the drive into Charleston, just before you go over the bridge,
you see Charlie, the tuna. He's been a long standing Charleston
symbol of their town and fishing industry for a number of years. Last year sometime, some dire
things happened to Charlie, but those responsible stood up, apologized
and made things right. I was as proud of them and their sense of
responsibility as if they were our own boys. So....now you see above you
the new and improved Charlie! And he looks quite happy to welcome
you into his little town....enjoy yourself, enjoy the sights and maybe even
spend a little money, hmmmm?

MORE CAPE BLANCO

The first photo is of that unusual rock on the south side of the Cape Blanco
Lighthouse parking lot. It reminds me of a giant Indian arrowhead. If
you look closely it even has unusual markings on it. The second photo
was taken on the drive down the road to the Hughes House. The
beautiful Sixes river and valley. The clouds were moving in for our little
weather disturbance (it didn't disturb me at all!) and looking up to the
mountains in the background, you had been able to see the light vs dark that the sun and
clouds were playing against each other. A few minutes later and the
photo would have shown the river as gray rather than that pretty blue.
And do try to ignore those '*!##!*' wires across the middle of my
lovely photograph!

FIRST RAIN OF FALL

Norm and I were out a Cape Blanco the other day and
were able to view these glorious clouds moving into our
area. I have A LOT of photos of the clouds as they
seemed to change more, minute by minute. These
were two of my favorites. Don't we live in a beautiful
part of the world??

CAPE BLANCO LIGHTHOUSE

This is Oregon's most westerly spot and the windiest, I think. Winter storms can
offer winds of upwards of 160 MPH to those adventurers who think they can stay
put on the ground. It's had it's photograph taken many thousands of times but
I haven't shot it before. In fact, this was the first trip out to the cape that we've made
in a good couple of years. I really love the top photo....it shows the wildness of the
area as well as the beauty. The lens in the lighthouse is very unusual, but I sure
don't remember why. Those who might be interested will find out that info, I think,
by 'Googling' it.

THE MOUSE & THE HOLLYHOCK

I'm so glad that I didn't give into my urge of a few days ago and uproot the
remaining hollyhock of this summer. Look what I would have missed!
Actually, there were two mice but I missed capturing them both with the
camera, but this one was so busy stuffing it's fat little cheeks with seed, that it never even heard or reacted to my banging my camera against
the window. Sure is a cute little thing, isn't it?

BOUTIQUE

This little building used to be a garden nursery and over the years fell to
disrepair. And the weather up here doesn't help matters. A year or so ago, some
new owners painted and gave some cosmetic charm to the old place. I just
love it.....it reminds me of a little shop maybe in France or in our New England
states? I've been meaning to take some photos of it for a while and
yesterday I did the deed. I popped my head in first to let the owner know what I
was doing, and she seemed so happy that I admired her shop that she just sort of glowed. She was giving foot treatments to a couple of women, and they had big grins on their faces, too.
Sometimes the simplest little things we do can give others much pleasure and
cost us nothing.

LITTLE BLUE GARDEN HOUSE

I took this photo a while ago at the MacDonald's place. I love the bright blue
paint against the red and pink roses that were in bloom then.
This posting gives me the chance to tell you that, with the help of some
faithful friends, we all got my photos hung today for a photo exhibit at the
Port Orford Library......between 45-50. Most of the photos will be of various children that
attended the Port Orford Art's Council sponsored Saturday program for kids.
The exhibit will run for October, November and December. It's all been
rather exciting to me........and I know I'm very fortunate to have this
opportunity to show some of my photos.....and the children hold a special
place in my heart. For those of you that are in the area to view the exhibit,
I hope you enjoy it.