First of Many

I have a few goals for this year, and one of them, as usual, is to get fit(ter).  That's pretty broad, because I've not fully defined the goal yet, but I have decided on a few particulars, and one of those is that I will walk my dog every day, unless I'm really sick, out of town, or somebody else has already walked her on a day that I'm already doing other active things. This is for her as much as for me, actually.  I have let her down this past year.  She hasn't gotten out on enough good walks and hikes, and she seems a little depressed.  I aim to change that this year.

Yesterday I went on an organized hike with a group I'd not hiked with before, and I wasn't comfortable taking Molly with, but my kids' dad took her on a good, long walk early that morning.

Today was my first Molly of the year.  I got up around 6:30 and sat around a bit contemplating the cold before finally taking her out around 7:15.  We walked her from my house over to Gabriel Park, and we did the loop around the whole park and returned home about an hour and fifteen minutes later.  It was quite chilly, but we kept moving and I stayed warm enough.    Pretty morning, too, though, I didn't get out quite soon enough to catch the prettiest part of the sunrise;  only saw it from inside.  I did take a few pictures anyway, since there was still a bit of color in the sky. 

I like the park in Winter.  There aren't as many people out, so there are often more birds and other small animals to see.  And, I even enjoy the stark trees silouhetted against the blue/gray sky. 

Most importantly, it felt good to get my blood pumping and see my dog so very happy!

I need to do a "Lonely Bench" blog.   I am compelled to photograph them!



One of many clouds of blackbirds we saw rise up from that ballfield.




A small "cloud" alighted on this tree.



Blurry, but I like the intensity of her expression as she watches the blackbirds rise and swoop.

Springtime Pilgrimage

Well, I made it out to Smith Rock afterall, and I'm so glad I rolled myself out of bed before dawn to get there early.  The drive was perfect, even through the snow on Mt. Hood.  And the light was still pretty when I arrived at Smith Rock.  One of the fun things about this trip was all the wildlife I saw:  lots of geese (must be mating season - they were very vocal!), a coyote, a little cotton tail bunny, which Molly wanted to go after soooo badly.  I also saw some eagles and one falcon.  I'm too tired to write much, but the pictures say it all, anyway.  It's kind of hard to take a bad picture in a place like this...

(click to see larger)

Mt. Jefferson through the gap.  Taken near the bivouac area.

The morning light brought out the reds quite well.

The Crooked River winding around the Rocks

Deep Shadows

Like a cathedral!  I love this place.

This lone goose looked kind of funny playing "King of the Hill" :o)

Prettier from this angle.

Stunning colors - I love the green wash in some areas.

Molly, wet from fetching sticks I threw in the Crooked River.

A coyote!  (severely cropped - my lense couldn't quite reach him.)

Molly heard the climbers talking waaaay up there!

Good ol' Monkey Face!

I'm calling this "Skull Rock" - but it kind of looks like Edvard Munch's "The Scream"

Even prettier with the vapor trail in the sky.

Nature's artwork.

Other side of Monkey Face.

Monkey Face with Mt. Jefferson in background.

Mt. Jefferson from atop Smith Rock.

My heart went into my throat when Molly walked into this shot, so close to the edge!

Dead wood and flowers - two of my favorite things!

The Desert Sage is very pungent and freshly green this time of year.

A big juniper.

On the way back...

Lots of climbers out today.  Wish I'd caught up with Connor, but I just hiked and didn't ring him up to rendevous.

Spider Woman.

UPDATE:  This is Connor's girlfriend, Allysa in the pic above!  Looks like I ran into them afterall - sort of!  She looked like her from a distance, and I wondered if it was her when I shot this. I was too far away to see if Connor was in the party and I considered just asking, but I was on my way out and would have had to hike up to where they were, so I took the photos and moved on.  Turns out they left shortly after, because the winds were really picking up.

Amazing!

Bottom's Up!

Such a lovely place in the late afternoon light, too.

Happy Hiker! (taken with cell phone camera)

Spiritual Getaway

Update:  It's now Saturday afternoon around 2:45.  I got up at 6:45 this morning, ready to get rolling as soon as Ron picked up the kids this morning, but I started doing laundry while listening to music, and that led to cleaning my bathroom and vaccuuming the house and other cleaning.  Now my house feels pretty good, and it occurs to me that I haven't been able to just sit quietly and  read a book or even actually listen to music in my house without bickering and interruptions.  It's wonderful!  I'm going to stay home and enjoy the time alone here.  I may get up really early and spend the day out at Smith Rock tomorrow, instead - or maybe go hiking somewhere else.  I will get a hike in.  In any case, I'm really enjoying the freedom to do whatever I feel like doing!  Since I'm home, I called Scott and he's just finished his ride.   I've invited him over later to spend time with me in my home without kids.  What a treat for us!  Time together in Portland without kids.   :)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's Friday evening and none too soon.  I've really been looking forward to this weekend over the last couple of days.  As I sit here after dinner sipping on a bit of tawny port, I am happily anticipating the next 48 hours, because I'm going to do something I've been craving. For the first time in a long while, I'm able to get away sans kids for more than a few hours, and I don't even need to hire a sitter!  Their dad has actually made plans to keep the kids overnight on Saturday.  They are so excited to have some time with him, and I'm thrilled at the prospect of taking Molly out to Smith Rock to hike and enjoy a night out under the stars.  She and I are going camping!

View of the Crooked River from Smith Rock in May, 2009

Scott's going on a 100 mile bike ride with his cycling friends this weekend, and I have no obligations otherwise, so it's the perfect opportunity for me to have some extended time and the joyful companionship of my sweet puppy all to myself!  I've felt a deep longing to get out and hike lately, but with Stella's softball games, Evan's t-ball games and other commitments, I've really not had an opportunity.  When Ron first mentioned that he might be taking the kids for the weekend, I had a glimmer of hope, but didn't want to get too excited.  But when I asked him on Wednesday if he still intended to take them, he said he would.  That's when that wonderful swell of anticipation started to grow.  I love watching my kids play sports, and I enjoy my time with my sweetheart, too, but I have always thrived best with regular doses of "me" time in nature.  It's my version of church, since it fills my spiritual cup.  This will be a delicious, much needed time away for me.

Molly after playing in the Crooked River, May 2009

It should be a really great time to photograph, too.  I spent a beautiful long day at Smith Rock last Spring and took lots of pictures with my phone's camera.  They were fun to post on Facebook for my family, but my camera now is a far superior tool.  I look forward to capturing some beautiful images of one of my very favorite places to share with my family and friends who live elsewhere outside of Oregon.  Also, my friend, Connor will be rock climbing with his girlfriend and some of their friends on both Saturday and Sunday and I plan on stopping by their hang-out to try and shoot that action, too.  Should be so much fun!  Here's a link to his blog post about a climbing trip to Smith Rock last year:  October at Smith Rock

Joy in a Special Place

More than anything, I look forward to sleeping in a tent and waking up to the sunrise in such a place.  I'm all tingly with anticipation!

Puppy Love!

Our friends, Dan and Shannon, came to visit us today, and they brought with them the newest member of their family, Luna! 

Molly loved having a youthful playmate!

Luna was bold!

Taking a break.

Luna needed a breather, too.

High ISO and LOTS of noise, so I made it a black&white photo to disguise that.

More roughhousing.  :o)

Stella and Shannon in a rare, non-silly moment.

Back to being goofballs.  :o)

Daddy and daughter. 

I was enjoying this far more than I appear to be.  I love lab puppies!!!

Luna on my sofa - see what a sucker I am for her gangly, cuddly, cute self?

All tuckered out. 

Lunch Surprises

Today I went home for lunch, so I could eat cheaply and surprise my dog with a mid-day walk down to the little park near our house.  I got a few surprises of my own when I when I walked into my kitchen to make a burrito.  I found one of the stove burners on underneath a pot which had obviously been used to make poached eggs. 

Now, not only did I not leave any burners on, I did not even make eggs this morning.  I distinctly remember enjoying a toasted bagel and some yogurt with my kids.  So it looks like my ex decided to come in and have breakfast on the house before attempting to burn it down. 

I turned the burner off and cleaned up the mess before getting out the ingredients for a quick bean burrito.  I’m talking microwave-quick, so I could hurry up and get out with Molly and maybe have time to play with my camera, too, during my one hour lunch break. 

Well, that was the plan, anyway.  When I opened the microwave to put my burrito in, I found a bowl of…well, a bowl of something.  I recognized penne noodles,  along with chicken and some other unidentifiable things in it – I’m not sure what you call it.  Just another lunch break surprise left for me by my ex, sitting there looking congealed and smelling disgusting.  It was there for me to clean up, obviously, so I did - gagging and cursing a bit under my breath. 

Finally I made, heated and ate my burrito, then took off out the door with Molly and my camera.  I knew I didn’t have as much time at this point, but I went for it anyway, since it was a warm and dry day and I often stay late and come in early to get things done at work.  Molly and I had a fairly nice time, which in this beautiful Spring-like weather, was no surprise.

Here are a few pictures: