Photos, videos and docs of Janet Brien, with the keywords: "HFF"

Happy Fence Friday from William Tugman State Park! (+3 insets)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 18:53:08 +0000

(+3 insets)

We Live for the Morning Light!
There are few things as breathtaking as taking a nature walk on a lovely morning. It's something to look forward to, it's something that fills me with excitement the moment I open my eyes at the start of each day, and no matter how many glorious starts that I have enjoyed, I will always look forward to the next one! They are all different in some way and each is full of its special gifts. And aren't we lucky that we can take pictures to share?

Every day at Tugman, I hop out of our trailer, walk around the edge of the nested campground loops and make my way past the entrance to the cement path that will take me to the Eel Lake trails. This footpath leads through a huge meadow which skirts the lake and leads to the boat launch for fishermen and kayakers. The glowing, green glade is dotted with picnic tables and has a gazebo for family gatherings and there's even a wonderful small playground too. I've shared a few pictures already, showing the robins who charge around the meadow, but there are so many other special sights to see!

Art News: New Doodles!
When I was exploring doodles online, I was intrigued by the premise behind a popular style called "Zentangles," which are drawn on 3.5" square pieces of heavy paper. Instead of just scribbling doodles, artists are encouraged to sink into a meditative state while doing so, using the drawing to keep thoughts from wandering away. It is a very pleasant feeling to "zen-out" this way and it's become a great therapy to many people. Of course, just creating the doodles is wonderful all by itself!

However, one thing I can't stand is when someone takes something nice and turns it into a marketing ploy. In the case of Zentangles, the people behind it want everyone to purchase their "official" square tiles and special kits. Which, of course, are outrageously expensive. I really can't stand that crap! So, I looked around and found the perfect alternative--cardboard coasters at a quarter of the price!

A couple of days ago I got my package of 100 3.5" x 3.5" cardboard coasters and immediately created a doodle! Now there are two, and soon there will be more! I've included a picture of my first two tiles, aren't they fun?! :D

Today's Picture
One morning the sun was shining at just the right angle to cast enormous shadows through the meadow's oak trees. I stood for a long moment, drooling at the lovely dappling on the grass, admiring the gorgeous silhouettes against the cloud-streaked sky. You will see in the background to the left, the fence on the small dock. There I have seen fathers fishing while their kids play, sometimes reaching into the water to catch salamanders which make their home there. You'll also see a few picnic tables with wonderful views of the lake too.

Today's Insets
I'm also sharing another picture of sun shining through oak trees on the meadow, an image of the straight path that heads to the boat launch, and a picture of my two doodles!

Thank You For Stopping By--Keep SAFE!
I sure hope everyone is doing ok with all of the crazy virus developments these days. I enjoyed reading that so many of you have your boosters and doing your best to be careful. No guarantees but it helps. I was in a store a couple of days ago and there were a couple of people who didn't have masks on, instead wearing defiant faces and just daring anyone to say a thing. I sure wouldn't want to be a store employee these days--it's no wonder there is such a shortage of people willing to take these jobs. What a strange world we're in these days. Anyway, I hope you folks have a fabulous weekend!!

Explored on 12/10/21; highest placement #1.

Happy Fence Friday from William Tugman State Park! (+8 insets)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 17:58:38 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+8 insets) (cool at full size!) (Please scroll down to "Today's Image" for photo info)

Back to a Favorite Park!
From Harris Beach State Park, we drove up the coast for 2.5 hours and landed in William Tugman State Park, hooray! It was so nice to be back at this lovely place again. Our stay would only be for seven days but we'd be back in a couple of months for another five days, so we were very content. Also, there's a big difference if you've been to a place before. Fewer days is acceptable because you've already become familiar with it.

I wrote about our stay here back in April with two different posts which you'll see as inset pictures. Please take a look for more pictures and some fun stories about our trip! I'm also posting a picture of our trip map so you can see where we went!

Current News: We Got Our Moderna Boosters!
We've been keeping an eye on vaccinations with the hopes we could get our boosters soon. We got our first shot in April--just two days after becoming available--and the follow-up in May. Just like before, the boosters were first granted to those in most need. But unlike the months it took to wait for our initial shots, it was only a couple of weeks before the gates were lowered for everyone to get their boosters. We'd wondered about that because Moderna was a bit behind the others for getting the go-ahead but in the end it was no problem!

Instead of making an appointment, we decided to go to our local fairgrounds where they have a drive-through clinic. We imagined it would be a 20-minute affair…drive up, get our shots, wait for 15 minutes to make sure we didn't explode, and then off to continue our day. We're such silly rabbits! There was quite a long line when we pulled into the queue, and it moved very slowly. We spent over an hour slowly creeping forward in line but it went by quickly. The folks there prepared everyone beforehand by handing us forms to fill out and checked identification, etc. And of course we had our phones with us to amuse ourselves with on the internet. Before we knew it, we pulled up to the clinic and got our shots…YAY!

What a relief. It's no guarantee, of course. Plenty of you here have confirmed this with your stories of getting Covid despite full vaccination. But it does make a difference, and even if one is unfortunate enough to get the virus anyway, the symptoms will usually be much milder. With this new variant we were bouncing up and down with our desire to get our booster.

Since the numbers of infected began rising again, we reverted to our most careful habits of masking up and disinfecting. It's such a bummer though, and I'll admit that I'm feeling a lot of anxiety about the future. I have a difficult time refraining from my mental chess games but there isn't anything more we can do so I'm

Today's Picture
There is a gate into William Tugman State Park which I've never seen closed, but every single time I've walked past it, I wanted to take pictures with my macro lens. You can see why…what's not to love about a rusty, dangling chain, padlock, and the edge of a fence with an interesting gate closure?! I was so happy when I finally got out there with my camera. The moody images were such fun to mull over!

Today's Insets
Insets 1 and 2 are clickable and will bring you to the posts I added back in April when we began our trip. You'll find more images and lots of information about our stay!
Inset 3 is our trip map so you can see where we went!
Inset 4: There's a beautiful grassy meadow which looks out onto Eel Lake with a path that leads through it from the campground down to the dock, boat launch, and to the trails that I love so much. Walking through the meadow, there are always American Robins there, hunting for tasty tidbits and I love to watch them as they charge around and stop to turn their heads and listen for movement to jump on!
Inset 5: I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw a perfect family of geese and goslings! I was lucky enough to get bunches of pictures and this is one of them! (there are others if you click on the first inset picture)
Inset 6: While I was watching the robins one day, I spotted this couple walking their old Great Dane across the meadow. They were so sweet. I would later encounter the fellow and his dog on the short nature trail and pointed out some mushrooms to him, something that totally enchanted him! :)
Inset 7: Have you ever seen shelf fungus that looked like this? The shapes are so interesting!
Inset 8: I am always fascinated by the dew that you can find on fungus, and learned that it's an excretion that happens with the fluctuation of temperature from evening to morning!

Thank You For Stopping By!
I hope you guys are all getting your boosters too. Please stay safe and don't take chances--the consequences are unthinkable! I hold all of you close to my heart and we've had some tragedies in our community and some other close calls too. Let's do what we can to keep this virus at a distance!

Explored on 12/03/21; highest placement #1.

HFF from LL Stub Stewart State Park!

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 15:49:50 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(please view large for the pretty details!)

Hello everyone! I'm so sorry to be out of touch--we've had literally weeks and weeks of zero internet on this second part of our trip! In fact, we had to drive our truck for miles just to get a signal. Finally we're back to better data connections and since today's Friday, I thought the picture I took a couple of days ago would be perfect! :D

One of our favorite parks, LL Stub Stewart, has a maze of wonderful trails and this one, the "Timber Beast Trail" wanders through forest and then down through a steep ravine, where it crosses over this marvelous little bridge before ending at the area's famous and popular rails-to-trails Banks-Vernonia bikeway. (Looks like my phone geo-tagged this image so you can see by clicking on the map link to the right "Location: View on map) exactly where I took this shot! You'll also be able to see all of the wonderful trails we get to explore on foot or bike! :D)

I hope everyone is doing well! I'm sorry to hear that Delta has returned us all to quarantines and wearing masks...once again, the United States is leading the way to stupid behavior and outrageous infection numbers. Ugh.

Have a wonderful weekend! I'm hoping to visit some photo streams if I can!

Explored on 8/28/21; highest placement #1.

Happy Fence Friday from Tugman State Park! (+5 insets!)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 16:54:13 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+5 insets!)

Safe Dental Visits During Covid?! YES!!!
Steve and I have been wanting to go to the dentist now for ages! Both of us have needed work done--from normal cleaning to extreme procedures--but everything's transpired against us! The financial burden was the biggest problem but a while back we got a new medical plan which has made it feasible to schedule appointments. But at the same time…COVID became a thing. Just thinking about the issues of dentistry, germs, proximity, potential spreading…Steve and I threw our hands in the air and put it off. For a whole year!

Did You Know a Pistachio Shell Can Become a Tiny Bear Trap?
One day I was eating pistachio nuts, shelling them and munching happily. I used my teeth to crack open a shell as I often do, but this time the shell slipped and closed like a bear trap…right on my lower frenulum just in front of my front teeth (a frenulum or frenum is the little stretchy connection between your gum and lip, above and below. Also under your tongue…and there's another one too, look it up!) The odds of this accident happening were ridiculously low but there I stood, looking in the bathroom mirror, unable to get the mini bear trap off my frenulum. I finally succeeded but in so doing, caused a bad injury which really hurt! However, I also knew that mouth sores heal really fast and I figured this would heal quickly too. To be sure, I searched the internet and learned that injuries of this sort are common in little kids who often fall on their faces, etc. Poor little guys! Poor me! :D

I kept an eye on it. Time passed. Days…weeks, nearly a month, and it still hadn't healed! I was worried about Covid but I was worried about my mouth too. Looking into dental safety procedures, I learned that they are really careful. I was surprised and encouraged by this, and when Steve called to ask about coming in, our dentist staff explained everything they do. We were convinced it would be fine and with that…we made an appointment to check out my injury.

Our Dentist is Totally Safe!
We went to my appointment and the safeguards were awesome. Only one person in the waiting area, required masks and hand washing, sanitizer, temperature check and checklist of where I'd been and so forth…and when I was called back to my room, everything was perfectly clean--even the places where the staff touched were replaceable tapes to keep everything sanitary. The dentist looked at my injury and as I suspected, told me that I just need to be patient. Sometimes those injuries take longer to heal but it wasn't infected. I just needed to wait. *sigh* Ok…but you know what? The very best thing happened: we learned that it would ok to go to the dentist!!

Teeth Cleaning and Dental Work!
Both Steve and I set up appointments for teeth cleaning, checkups, filling replacements and much more. It's been really super. Today I am sitting here with a very puffy face because I got a badly-needed gum graft for a terribly receded gum. Day two and I'm doing well, so delighted to have the procedure done! And Steve's had work done with more scheduled to come. We've been to two different offices--dentist and periodontist--and in each case, they've been fastidiously clean and careful. What a relief to finally get our teeth cared for, hooray!!

Go To The Dentist…It's Safe!
If you've been like us, you've been putting off your dental visits because of Covid worries. However, if our dentist is any indication of how the majority of dental offices are handling safety, there is nothing to worry about! Naturally, everyone is different. Call beforehand and grill your dental office on what their procedures are for sanitizing and caring for patients, and for staff safety too. Use normal care--touch nothing if you can help it, etc. You owe it to your mouth! Go to the dentist! :)

Today's Picture
It's Happy Fence Friday and I'm sharing a picture of one of the lovely little bridges I crossed each morning on my daily Tugman walk around the edge of Eel Lake. There are four bridges in all on this short hike--what a surprise that such a lot of effort was made for this minor trail, but I sure loved being able to walk along without hopping over streams or miring in muddy slop. The trail makers did a bang-up job and I appreciated the heck out of this gorgeous path every day!

Insets
I'm including five more pictures of a few sights on this trail--I have so many to add! Today I'm including another trail picture with a tree's branches sweeping over the trail; a pictures of one of the trees along the way which has a fascinating, toe-like trunk; a wonderful image of water at the shore with beautiful rippled and a water plant; a tiny trio of velvety-looking mushrooms I found; and finally, some colorful leaves that caught my eye.

Thank You!
I really appreciate all of your visits, comments and favorites! Also, I apologize for not stopping by recently, there's been so much going on! But you'll be seeing me today, yay! Please stay safe and once again…the dentist is SAFE to visit! Take care of your chompers, they will appreciate it, and you'll be so much happier! :)

Explored on 2/13/29; highest placement #4.

HFF from Tugman State Park! (+1 inset)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 16:25:57 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+ 1 inset!)

This is just a quick post so I can participate in this weekly event!

About this Picture
This image was taken at the third stop of our trip last season. There is a wonderful hike I went on every morning and I walked past a utility building surrounded by a cyclone fence. There were bunches of flowers in the grass and I got some really lucky shots including this dandelion fluff! (I have also included another inset with a lovely clover in full bloom at the same location!)

Have a lovely day and stay safe!

Explored on 1/25/29; highest placement #1.

Leaf Balancing on Wire Fencing…It Must Be Happy Fence Friday! :D

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 16:42:35 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

What is it about Happy Fence Friday that's so much fun?! There's something about nabbing a picture of a fence of any type that's really hard to resist. I'm not alone, as you guys know all too well! I have to admit that when I first noticed this crazy photo day many years ago, I didn't get it. What's the deal? Who cares?! As it turns out, the subject really does merit its own special day. Those of us who love to participate in this weekly frolic know that fences--in all their zillions of iterations--can be appreciated and shown off to an almost worshipful greatness from near and far and in all conditions. And yes, it's true--any picture can be a bore if taken without care. Certainly the same can be said of a fence picture, but more often than not, fences add more interest to an image and can really be jaw-dropping to look at. How wonderful to have the excuse to take that picture or go the extra mile to produce something really special! In any event, I love seeing what everyone's come up with for their weekly offering and it's great fun to toss my picture into the pile! Hooray for Happy Fence Friday!

Today's Picture: A Fence at Oregon's Champoeg State Heritage Area
When Steve and I were out on our "Covid Summer" RV trip, we visited a bunch of Oregon state parks, and one of the places we visited was Champoeg ("Shampoo-ee") State Heritage Area. Turns out it's the site of the very first Oregon government, and Steve and I enjoyed visiting the various monuments and historical buildings in the area.

The campground also had access to a number of wonderful trails to enjoy on foot or bicycle, including a lovely paved path that led through the forest and alongside the Willamette River. This river, Oregon's largest, was visited by the Lewis and Clark expedition and is an important waterway for shipping goods to and from the Pacific Ocean.

To keep people in the campgrounds on the trails and off the plants, fencing lined this paved path in many places. The moment I saw this fence I knew there would be a host of images for me--one good look was all I needed to see! I returned the next day with my macro lens and flash, spending an hour creeping along and finding stories and images there that I hoped to share.

At one point I found the leaf you see, and I burst out laughing as I stared incredulously. "WHAT THE HECK?!" I exclaimed in amazement, "How does this even happen?!" I studied the seemingly impossible way the leaf got itself so firmly stuck in the fence, shaking my head in wonder. I came to the conclusion that this leaf isn't going anywhere until it disintegrates with the passing of time.

I took an assortment of pictures with and without flash and a slew of apertures too. Who knew what would look best, or if any of them would look good at all. When I looked through my pictures, this one was an instant favorite, even though the subject and background are yelling at each other for center stage. The background, with its juicy color and bokeh, form an almost stained-glass appearance. The foreground with its crazy leaf stuck in the fencing, stand out with great detail too. I think this is one of those pictures that breaks the rule of having one primary element, and I love that! What do you think? Too busy? Did I hit the mark for you? :)

Anyway, I've got a pile of pictures for this fence-filled presentation but I'm still working on them. Stay tuned for more discoveries in the future! Until then, stay safe, dry, warm and comfortable on what is for us a soggy, cold and miserable day outside! Thanks for all of your visits, comments and favorites, you guys are the bestest! :)

Explored on 11/13/20; highest placement #1.

Qualicum Cheeseworks and HFF! (Set 1 of 2) (+8 insets!)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 18:27:40 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+8 insets!) (please view large!)

Trip Talk: Visiting Morningstar Farm
If you can believe it, on the same day that we went to Englishman River Falls and Little Qualicum Falls, we also visited the Qualicum Cheeseworks! It was actually our first stop because it was a mere 10 minutes' drive from our campsite so we began our day there (I have included a map inset that shows the three locations we visited that day so you can see how close all three destinations were).

I was really excited about visiting this cheesery because it wasn't just a store to buy dairy products from. Instead, the shop was located on their busy farm which was also a totally accessible tour destination. Visitors are offered a self-guided tour map that included clear signage along the way and explanations of what happens on a dairy farm. Other than the complete cow-to-dairy process, there was also petting area to meet farm animals, antique equipment to look at and even a video area with seating to watch their farm presentation! How cool is that?!

Steve and I were extremely impressed by the Qualicum Cheesework's operation. We are fascinated by how things work so getting a chance to look behind the scenes of a dairy farm was so much fun!

Today's Pictures
My main picture isn't really beautiful but it does show the main stars of Morningstar Farm! Every day the cows are fed in the main barn and nearby is a robotic milking system which cows line up to go into! They are treated to the most delicious food inside, individually blended for each cow and based on the data gathered by the special collars they wear!

The process goes like this: a gate opens, a cow enters the milking machine area and the gates close behind her. A milking machine washes and disinfects her udder, attaches onto her teats, checks to make sure the milk is free of issues and then proceeds to milk her. When no more milk is detected from any teat, the machine then detaches and pulls away, the gate in front of the cow opens and out she walks! Meanwhile, the next cow is waiting for the gate to open so she can have her turn! This entire process takes less than 10 minutes per cow and results in content and happy cows which aren't over-milked and have current information on their health and well-being. I invite you to watch this video which shows what a robotic milking operation looks like--it's totally fascinating! Video: how automatic milking works (By the way, you'll also see an automatic rotary brush as an enticement for the cows and Morningstar Farm has one too! It's so funny to watch the cows turn this way and that to get the brush scrubbing exactly the right spot!)

Insets include pictures of a day-old Holstein calf licking Steve's hand and another one which shows it relaxing in its softly bedded stall (there were three other babies for company!); there's a picture of workers using farm equipment with a grain silo in the background, an image of a darling goat and finally three pictures of lovely pair of Welsh ponies relaxing in the warm sunshine.

Pam, I can't remember if you mentioned living on a dairy farm before. I think you grew up on a farm though, yes? You lucky stinker. I know it's a lot of hard work but it was always a dream of mine to live in such a place. It's no wonder the James Herriot books continue to be favorites to this day! I would love to stay at a farm for a week sometime to get the opportunity to experience this life. :) Hey, thanks for your lovely comments on my last presentation--you left me all a-glow! :D *BIG HUGS from southern Oregon* :D

Explored on 2/29/20; highest placement #7.

Bridge over Englishman River Falls (Set 2 of 2) and Happy Fence Friday! (+6 insets!)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 18:29:24 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+6 insets…please be sure to look, there are some pretty views of the park and waterfall!)

Trip Talk: Enjoying Beautiful Englishman River Provincial Park
There is something extra wonderful about the parks on Vancouver Island. I believe the forests here are healthier because I feel such strong and vibrant energy from them. Don't get me wrong--the forests we visited in Oregon and Washington were also glowing and rich, but it seems that global warming has not affected this place as much as others. Or whatever it is…less people, a more wild state…I cannot tell you exactly what it is but I do know that the feeling of immersion was remarkable and has stayed indelibly in my mind.

Established and protected in 1940, Englishmen Provincial Park has always been a very popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Visitors are drawn by its pair of gorgeous waterfalls and lovely forest trails which give hikers a glimpse of the park's 240 acres (97 hectares). For some historical background, Wiki says the following:

According to a local legend, indigenous people in the area found the skeleton of a Caucasian man near the waterfalls, thus giving the river its current name; the river was given its name because "an Englishman was drowned while attempting to cross." Spanish mapmakers originally named it the "Rio de Grullas," presumably because of the large number of great blue herons living at its estuary (grulla being Spanish for "crane")."

I must admit my confusion regarding the two waterfalls because Steve and I only saw one. I wasn't sure where the other one was but apparently we missed it. However, when I was looking up historical information for my post today, I suddenly saw the answer to my question! There on the wiki page was a picture of the second waterfall…and when I looked at my pictures, I was delighted to see that I'd gotten a wonderful picture of it after all! The only difference was that there was no water flowing over the falls in my picture--in other words, the water level had dropped by the time we visited in August…which of course makes sense! Many waterfalls cease to flow in the dry months of the year. (I have included a picture of the second waterfall with an attribution to the author--DG Brown--noted on the picture)

Today's Pictures
My main picture today features one of the two bridges that cross the Englishman River on the way to the top of the waterfalls. The picture by itself wasn't all that interesting so I took some creative license with a few filters--I hope you like the outcome! I thought it would be perfect for the day--HAPPY FENCE FRIDAY!

My first inset shows the second waterfall--without the waterfall! I laughed out loud when I found the picture on Wikipedia because I instantly recognized the rocks and deep canyon that form the area. You'll see my added inset from DG Brown that shows what the waterfall looks like. The cool thing to me is that the huge rock jammed into place, which is the basis for the waterfall, is really neat looking and something you'd miss when the water flows over it!

Other insets include a picture of water rushing down the narrow canyon, complete with logs stuck in place; there's a close-up of water crashing over the waterfall, a view of lovely water making its way around rocks in a slower part of the river, and finally, another breathtaking forest view that we saw along our hike. I hope you like the show! :)

Pam, I was amused to learn that the photos in the link I sent you were from an area not even remotely close to you. *wipes egg from face* LOL, oh well! Thanks for the info on the place that is actually near you, what a bummer that it's not a very impressive, boo! Well, hopefully you can enjoy some watery beauty through my photography and tales! Anyway, it's an absolutely gorgeous day here which started with sparkling frost and promises to warm up to be tee-shirt weather! Maybe your day is equally lovely! *BIG HUGS from southern Oregon*

Explored on 2/21/20; highest placement #1.

HFF and Happy Valentine's Day! (+7 insets)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 17:39:20 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+7 insets!) (view large to see the sunset reflection even better!)

Happy Valentine's Day and HFF!!

This is my last sunset presentation from Surfside! I hope you enjoyed the show and can see why I wanted to share all of these images! It was a truly magical evening and it pretty awesome to be able to capture a bit of what we experienced.

This last presentation begins with my main picture, featuring yet another sunset! This time, however, it's reflected in the windows of the lucky row of RVs which have a front-row seat to this totally spectacular view every day. Steve saw the reflections and immediately went crazy taking pictures. His turned out so well that he added them to the Google Map location for Surfside and the one similar to mine has gotten nearly 1,000 views! That's pretty cool!

My other pictures show views along the popular path between the park and the water and a fun pair of flags we saw that feature Canada and a pirate motif…I had some fun playing with filters for that one!

You will also see a pair of pictures that show the lovely view from behind our trailer (daytime and at dusk)--a beautiful pond which rose and fell with the tide. And finally, a picture of our old Grey Wolf trailer and our truck, all set up and ready for a fun stay. We had such a nice time at this place. People have said they thought it was "stuffy" or overly policed, but we didn't find that to be the case at all. This "RV resort" is directed towards long-time stays for those wealthy enough to afford the $100k + price tag to do so, but we were delighted that they offer affordable stays to travelers too.

Pam, just THINK of what it would be like to retire in a place like this! Would it not be a slice of pure heaven?! :D Steve and I were dazzled by this park. Even the places that weren't "front row", even when they didn't have a spot next to the lagoon or marsh, they were still nice. The place has a wonderful, spacious clubhouse, they have a bunch of different groups that do lots of activities--they even have a fishing group with contests! Steve talked to the people in charge for more information just for the serious details. It's no small feat to get into a fancy spot like this and they actually have waiting lists, spots that are willed to the next generation, and the credit checks are worse than an IRS audit! Insanity! But it was fun to look into and some day far down the road we will probably find ourselves settling down at one place after another for 6-month stays. It would be pretty ideal! Here's hoping you have a fabulous Valentines, Pam!

Explored on 2/14/20; highest placement #1.

Nanaimo Ferry to Newcastle Island (Saysutshun) + HFF! (+4 insets)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 18:41:13 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+4 insets!) (Please view large for more details!)

Vancouver Island's bustling city of Nanaimo is perfectly located between the rugged, sparsely populated northern town of Port Hardy and the metropolitan city of Victoria in the south. I mentioned in my last report how unfortunate it was that we weren't able to book a 5-day stay at our campground. We had to make due with three days and because we wanted to be in the area for a total of at least five days, we found another campsite just a bit north which we booked for four days. However, as I've mentioned on other posts, any "travel" day, no matter how short, is a complete disruption and we hate it. Usually we cannot do anything at all on those days other than get from Point A to Point B, set up, eat dinner, and then wind down before bed.

In this case, we had exactly ONE full day to be in this area and throwing out all the other excursions around, we decided to go to Newcastle Island for the day. Located just off the coast of Nanaimo, it's just a short 10-minute ferry ride over to this sizable and culturally significant island.

Owned and managed by the Snuneymuxw First Nation people, the proper name for Newcastle Island is Saysutshun, which means 'training for running.' This island has always been hugely important to the Snuneymuxw as a place of physical and spiritual healing and to prepare mentally for races or battles. There are no cars or motor vehicles allowed (except for First People's maintenance-related) and there is something really wonderful about being required to walk or ride a bike to get anywhere.

This being said, we decided to take our bikes with us on our adventure, as it is a fantastic way to see the island and travel on its 22 km of well-maintained trails.

Saysutshun's little ferry runs to and fro every 30 minutes with a modest fee of $9 for a roundtrip ticket which includes a bike and we were so excited as we parked and made our way over to the pier.

Today's Pictures
My main picture today also works for Happy Fence Friday! It shows the walkway down to the docking area for the ferry and temporary docking. Our ferry, the Grey Selkie, is docked in place on the left side with another boat docked on the right. This picture was taken after we returned from Saysutshun but I wanted to use it so you could see the ferry. I was so excited when it arrived that I totally forgot to take one! :D

We only waited for about five minutes before the boat pulled up and while we waited I got a picture of the cute little blue boat docked there. We initially thought it was the ferry but realized that it probably wasn't, especially when the actual one pulled up! Once it was tied to the pier, Steve helped the captain and assistant to lift our bikes up to the cargo area on top of the boat. After we were seated I took a picture of the inside which I thought was really interesting. I'd never been in such a small ferry before and was overwhelmed by the "cute" factor of this little work boat!

I have also included a panorama that I took as we motored from Nanaimo to Saysutshun. You can see just how close the island is to the mainland on the left side of the picture. You can see the Nanaimo harbor and also, near the right side of the panorama, Saysutshun's harbor! Pretty cool! :) (The land mass on the right side is Protection Island, a First People's private land, not normally visited by non-indigenous people and a home to many of these folk.)

Pam, I hope that you are comfortable and resting a lot. You've been in my thoughts so often and I am very relieved that all went well. This hurdle out of the way, now you can focus on being as well as possible. I hope that you get a little better quality of life with this stress out of the way. Maybe there is a possibility that your Left Side Neglect will fade some as time passes from your procedure. You mentioned that what's done is done but I can't help hoping for some improvements for you. *BIG HUGS* from southern Oregon.

Explored on 1/24/20; highest placement #4.

Victoria's Butchart Gardens, Part 9: Ravishing Roses--HFF!--and the Last of My Butchart Show! :D (+10 insets)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 20:12:35 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+10 insets!) (View Large!) (Please scroll down to "Today's Pictures" for image information)

Trip Talk: The Installation of our Pullrite Continues!
I am married to the handiest man I've ever known--other than my father of course! It's said that men marry women that most resemble their mothers and women find those who have traits of their fathers. Think about it…is that true for you? I always considered my father to be a superhero…he could do anything, fix anything, create anything, and he was my personal hero, protecting me and teaching me as I grew up…he was the most amazing person to me, so it's no wonder that I found Steve. He shares so many of my father's most admirable traits!

With the same caliber of brilliant mind as my father, Steve is totally amazing with creative solutions and problem-solving. In regards to our truck's hitch, Steve seized the opportunity to research and zero-in on exactly the right hauling solution for us. He learned that it would cost $500+ to have the Pullrite installed--on top of the expense of the hitch itself. Wondering if it was possible to do the installation himself, he watched a number of videos which showed exactly how a handy person could do this job and save the money. Though tricky and requiring some exacting work, Steve was totally confident that he could do this himself.

As he expected, the job has been more difficult than what he learned in the videos and installation how-tos. Nobody ever talks about the physical weight of the various parts, nor does anyone mention the awkwardness of working around a truck's underpinnings. We were both overjoyed that the most critical--and unforgiving--step of the job went perfectly! He had to use a hole-saw drill to cut a round hole through the bed of the truck, which needed to line up perfectly with the installed underparts of the hitch. There could be no error. The strength of the truck's bed depended on this cut being exact, and he nailed it!

What he didn't count on was the poorly added suspension bar that he encountered when he came to another critical point in the installation. An important part that needed to slide into place…couldn't. There was something in the way and upon scrutiny and comparison to videos and pictures, Steve learned that the previous owner put in a bar as part of their own hitch setup--it needed to go! This removal project added hours to the installation but he was successful and very pleased when he was able to complete the important step he'd been working on initially.

The Pullrite is nearly 75% installed now and Steve's delighted at how things are going. Yes, it would have been a much faster job for a professional mechanic to do, but being able to do this himself is incredibly gratifying and satisfying for Steve. Don't we all feel best when we can achieve a very challenging and important goal?! Down the road, as we pull our trailer around the country, we'll have that extra glow of knowing that part of our hitch solution came because Steve is such a handy guy! Hooray! :)

Today's Pictures
Among flowers, few are as popular as the rose. With over 300 species and well-over 1000 cultivars, the variety of these flowers is completely mind-boggling. You may be surprised to learn that roses are native to most areas of the world, though the largest number of native species are found in Asia. Here are a few other things you may not know: not all roses have a scent! The act of hybridizing new cultivars will often kill the scent in a rose, which must then be carefully re-hybridized to get the fragrance back! Also, did you know that a rose's fragrance is strongest in the early hours of the day and fades as the hours pass? (I found a really neat page with a list of interesting rose facts if you'd like to know more about these wonderful flowers. )

Naturally, Butchart Gardens had an enormous area devoted to roses of all kinds. Specifically, they have 7 types of roses, 280 varieties, 2,500 rose plants and 30 rose arches! Upon arriving, you sort of have to just stand there and gawk with glazed eyes, while drool gently trickles down your face. Preposterous!

The rose in this main image is one that I particularly liked because of the wide panorama view as it looks out over the splendiferous (Thanks, Keith! *high five*) view beyond--which includes a lattice fence covered with more roses!

By the way, my many presentations of Butchart Gardens has finally drawn to a close. Truthfully, I could process another 25-50 winners but honestly, 100 pictures is enough already! Believe it or not, we actually visited more than just this incredible place on our 5-week adventure around Vancouver Island! :D So for now, I hope that you enjoyed the show. If you ever had a question about the high price to visit (US for Summer was $27 for the day; www.butchartgardens.com/rates prices are less at different times of the year), I hope my pictures and commentary have convinced you to build a trip with Butchart Gardens in mind as a delicious destination for you. Without question, we will be back. It was an incredible experience and I'm so happy that I could share a small taste of what it was like to be there.

Inset 1: this shaded-cotton-candy-pink rose is totally perfect in my opinion with its elegant petals and marvelous details! I'm so happy I found it so I could share it with the world!

Inset 2: a classic open rose in tints of pink and white with a warm glow of gold in the center, you have to wonder how in the world it was developed this way!

Inset 3: an unusually-shaped peach rose with pink outer petals leaned down from its bush so I could freeze its beauty for immortality.

Inset 4: glowing like a beacon, a bright red and yellow rose beams radiantly in the fading afternoon light.

Inset 5: Steve posed for me in one of the many arbors around the rose garden.

Inset 6: Wait! This isn't a rose! No, it's a gorgeous yellow and gold rudbeckia! (I would have filled this last presentation with roses but I had extra pictures from the rest of the Garden so here they are!)

Inset 7: what a wonderful surprise to find a Bucket List Bug! :D This little beauty is a Candy-Striped Leafhopper sitting on a golden rudbeckia…what a beauty! Unfortunately I wasn't able to get the best pictures but this one turned out pretty well.

Inset 8: this is the other picture I got of a Candy-Striped Leafhopper after it hid on a shaded petal. The image is dark and grainy but I wanted to share it anyway because I'm so happy I found one of these marvelous insects!

Inset 9: you may remember the coleus leaves I shared on the first day of my presentation. That one was highly filtered, but this is the original; I'll include the filtered version below this picture for comparison.

Inset 10: last but not least, this is the entry sign for The Butchart Gardens. It, like everything else about this park, is lavish and beautiful!

Pam, do you have any roses on your property? We have a number of them out front and one in back, but I'll admit that I don't care for them at all. They're rather a mess but the flowers are wonderful! I love to step out in the morning when their fragrance is strongest and bury my nose in their petals. Thanks for all of the great comments you've been leaving for me, I'm so glad you've enjoyed the Butchart Garden show and I'm with you--I'd LIVE THERE if I could, lol! Here's hoping you're having a good day! *BIG HUGS!!!*

Explored on 10/19/19; highest placement #6.

Pictures for Pam, Day 209: HFF: The Stout Tree in a Double Dedication with Marie-claire Gallet

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Fri, 07 Jun 2019 02:34:41 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+2 insets!) (please view large so you can actually see me!) :D

Steve and I have been so busy since we got back from our trip a week ago. We've been working around the house cleaning up, preparing for our next trip and doing errands, all of which have taken my time from processing pictures. However, the past couple of days have been a lot more relaxed so I've been able to focus on a few folders that were really important to me.

Specifically, I wanted to make sure I attacked the pictures I took at Jedediah Smith State Park. This lovely place was the first stop on our Oregon Coast trip--though it's not actually on the coast itself but instead a mere five miles inland. Within Jedediah are a number of specific groves, one of them being the magnificent and popular Stout Grove. That was where we decided to enjoy Jedediah's wonderful redwood forest.

Stout Grove was awesome. Although it rained before and after our visit, for some lucky reason the downpour stopped about 15 minutes after we arrived and started up again as we headed out a couple of hours later. What are the odds? I would say that they were in our favor because throughout our trip we were blessed by this happening over and over again. We dearly appreciated the amazing luck we had and made the most of our rain-free opportunities!

We hiked on lovely trails covered in pine-needles, making our passage a silent one. Far above us we could hear birds twittering and sometimes we'd see one fly by and land on a branch just out of our view. We admired the incredibly lush ferns that were absolutely everywhere, as well as the flowers and other plants along the way. The smell of a redwood forest is rich and instantly recognizable and I reveled in the aroma I knew so well as a kid up at our summer cabin that was nestled in a redwood forest too!

Here and there, immense toppled trees lay on the mossy floor, slowly turning into the earth below them. The forest was deeply shadowed and felt very reverent and special. Talking in low tones, we passed only a few other people, all of whom were as awe-struck as we were; they too recognized and honored this ancient forest and its rare trees.

We wanted to find the most famous giant of this grove, "The Stout Tree". It was named after Frank D. Stout, a lumberman whose wife donated the tract of land which is the home of Stout Grove. This incredible behemoth is one of the tallest trees in the world at 340 feet and 16 feet in diameter. It is the tallest tree in Stout grove and when we found ourselves standing before The Stout Tree, it literally took our breath away.

My picture today was actually taken by my husband, and shows me standing in front of the marvelous Stout Tree. (Since I'd just taken a picture of him in front of another tree and also some other places, he didn't care about having his photo taken and really wanted to take a picture of me in front of it!) :D How convenient that there's a fence here…since after all, today is the day I post my picture for Happy Fence Friday! :D

I have also included a fence picture I took within Stout Grove, as well as a picture I took of Steve in front of another truly massive Redwood. Aren't these trees just amazing?! :) (I'll be showing lots of redwood tree pictures in coming days but I don't want to drown you in them all at once!)

Pam, I can't remember if you mentioned visiting a redwood forest while you were in California…I think you might have told me you'd gotten to visit Muir Woods? What a place. It's just nutty there, so many incredible beauties to see. What I love about these trees is that they really let you know how small and insignificant you are! Also, it seems that the older the tree, the more I feel their spirits, so walking among these giants is like communing with family that I deeply respect and love. If only we knew how to communicate with them but they're just so different. Maybe someday someone will figure out how to do it. What I would pay to hear their stories. BTW, I've been really enjoying our chats and you've been on my mind so much today! *BIG, BIG HUGS TO YOU MY DEAR!*

Explored on 6/7/19; highest placement, #2.

Pictures for Pam, Day 202: HFF: Rugged Coos Bay Coastline

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Fri, 31 May 2019 02:53:25 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

We are still busy settling into our home after our last RV trip. I've been refilling supplies that were used, stripping the beds and washing all of the linens and so forth. Not too much left to do but I like to get it done and out of the way.

This morning we also got a delivery...a replacement for the rinky-dink, cheapo plastic toilet that came with the RV! The new one is ceramic and normally-sized instead of feeling like something you might find at kindergarten. Steve was so excited that he had the old one replaced within an hour! It's a really nice upgrade, especially for 6'2" Steve because the original was so short and small. It made us wonder—we are both slender and yet that toilet made us feel like elephants...what are these standard RV toilets like for people who are even the least bit heavy?

We realized soon after we bought this trailer is that the original owners did almost nothing to upgrade the RV except to put in a new dinette table...we figure it probably broke so they had no choice but to replace it. Having spent about a month living in our trailer now, it's amazing that they put up with all of the annoying little problems we needed to fix right away.

RVs are CHEAP. The workmanship is truly abysmal. Anything that isn't visible is shoddy...there are missing screws, nails, boards, you name it. Rough-cut wood, uneven, lopsided, poorly done everything. "Care" is not a word used in the behind-the-scenes building of an RV. At least, that's been our experience. It didn't take long to learn that unless you pay top dollar—and I mean a LOT of money—an RV is just barely held together and must be upgraded, altered, tuned up and fixed if you hope to use it for a lot of traveling. Basically, getting an RV means that one or both of you must be handy and clever about the myriad fixes that are required to turn an RV into a comfortable home away from home.

You won't believe everything Steve's done to the trailer! He's changed out the light bulbs, added a dozen light fixtures, put up at least a dozen hooks all over the place, replaced both the kitchen and bathroom faucets and the shower head too. There's a paper towel holder now, and every cabinet is full of removable baskets to keep everything organized. He added proper towel racks and a toilet paper holder in the bathroom and put in a super fluffy bathroom rug! Both the smoke and CO alarms have been replaced. All four of the tires are brand new and he had the brakes professionally worked on so they are factory fresh. We now have a runner carpet that goes the length of the coach so our 3-legged dog is comfortable and has traction. He's added a bunch of space under the counters just by making the hoses and wiring neat and tidy. He'll be creating a cubby hole cabinet by the door because the space is available and we have to wonder, why didn't they do this to begin with? Space is such a premium in an RV! Likewise, he'll be building two large pull-out drawers under the dinette seats instead of the stupid situation it is now: pull off the cushions, lift up the cheapo piece of plywood and get into the huge space on either side. A sliding drawer will be perfect and should have been there to begin with! Because of Steve's skills, we've got an RV that's really becoming an awesome place. We'll probably need to upgrade our refrigerator/freezer to a larger one but for now it's fine. Oh, and my bed required another topper to make it useable...and now it's perfect! We also have other things to fix and change but the changes we've made have made such a big difference. How could the original owners have put up with it as it was?!

Oh yes, my main image! Today is my day to put up my Happy Fence Friday picture and I'm choosing one that I took on our Coos Bay hike. While we were at our turn-around point and eating our late lunch snacks, we noticed a fellow photographer off in the distance at another point. He was there for some time, enjoying the view and we wanted to see too, so after our break we found the trail that took us out to that point and...WOW! WHAT A VIEW! While I was walking over to get a better look, I was surprised to see a chain-link fence that didn't seem to be doing anything but stick out like a sore thumb. But then I thought, "What a perfect picture for HFF!" So here you go! (very busy tonight so no insets!)

Pam, we have thought so many times how nice it would be for you to live out here on this coast. We don't know where we'll end up settling down after we've finished having our adventures but Steve feels the same way you do. I don't want to be in cold, foggy, windy conditions that the coast is so known for, but inland a bit would be ok for me. Access to the beach would be lovely. We'll have to see how things shake out way down the road! Wish we could wave a magic wand for you though! *BIG HUGS MY DEAR* :)

Explored on 5/31/19; highest placement, #6.

Pictures for Pam, Day 195: HFF: Deer Behind Fence!

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Fri, 24 May 2019 04:37:48 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+2 insets!)

Hooray for a day without rain!!! *dances around the RV*

This morning Steve and I checked the forecast and the weather didn't include rain until tonight! We were so happy! No matter how positive we tried to be, it's a bummer to have bad weather ruining all of your plans for most of the trip. :P

We were ready for action and after our brunch we packed up and headed out to a trailhead about 15 minutes away, just north of Lincoln City. Once a well-kept secret hike in the area, the God's Thumb hike was recommended to us by a camp host as something we must not miss.

The only way to get to the trail is by following breadcrumb-like directions to traverse the steeply inclining but lovely streets and then finally to the trailhead which was at the end of a beautifully forested residential road. (One of my insets shows the gate and fence where the trail begins.)

The trail was absolutely INCREDIBLE! Gorgeous ferns and glowing green plants everywhere, mottled birch and ash-like trees crowded close to the trail and flowers were everywhere! We walked silently on the pine-needle and moss-covered path that led up and up and up, eventually coming out onto a breathtaking knoll that showed Devil's Lake off in the distance and a view of the ocean and beach as well. What a lovely view!

We continued on, descending down, down, down into a verdant valley that felt as if we must be in Jurassic Park! Horsetail ferns intermingled with many other types of unfurling ferns, lovely mosses climbed all the trees and were so soft to touch. Steve and I were in absolute awe of this place.

Eventually the trail led down and out onto a bluff which overlooked the ocean and there it was! "God's Thumb" is a basalt rock formation at the edge of the sea and the sight of it and the rough and rocky coast included a gorgeous beach far below for those bold and adventurous enough to make the trek town and back up again. Far in the distance on one side was a lovely bay, and the other side showed the seemingly endless beach which began around a long stretch of impassable rocky coastline.

Before we climbed up to the top of the "thumb", we found a spot out of the wind and ate our afternoon snacks, enjoying the lovely views and the splendor of the area. How lucky we were. I remarked, "This is why we have an RV!" Steve couldn't agree more…we were so happy. This hike was every bit as wondrous as our Coo's Bay hike. What fun. And so much more hiking like this will be in our future now, how awesome. :)

Climbing up onto the knoll which made up the "God's Thumb" afforded amazing, breathtaking views in all directions…we were overjoyed that the weather allowed us to do this incredible hike. It was absolutely spectacular!

As for heading back, we initially wondered if we could make our way down to the beach and walk back the several direct miles back to the truck. But that idea was out of the question. The impassible craggy, steep and greenery-covered coast would never allow a way to the beach which started probably a mile away. We'd be returning the way we came but we certainly didn't mind that we'd have to return the way we came.

On the way back, Steve discovered that he could do "wide-angle macros" with our Mark III and 24-40 lens and he had a great time capturing some of the lovely subjects we found. I was delighted for him, and hope that his pictures turn out well!

By the time we got back to the car we were both totally spent from the hours of hiking we'd done, but at the same time we felt fantastic. There's just nothing like the feeling of exercising yourself to the point of exhaustion.

We returned to the RV and had our espresso and dinner, and I'm now finished up the evening with this post before we watch part of a show with Pumpkin and fall asleep, so happy with our day!

OH YEAH, it's my day to post my Happy Fence Friday picture! I have THREE that I took today! On the way back to our car, we saw deer on a property behind a rustic fence! And at the truck I saw an opportunity for a fence and ocean panorama! And finally, there's a picture of the trail's beginning at the end of the residential road! I hope you like them all! :)

Pam, I enjoyed your info about tornadoes and the like--oh boy…I know all about fracking and it's so incredibly bad, where do you even begin. Seriously people, if what you're doing is making EARTHQUAKES happen when they never had them before…maybe you ought not be doing that? *sigh* Big money doesn't care. It's horrible. Anyway, here's hoping you had an ok day my dear! You're in our thoughts!! :D *BIG HUGS* from Devil's Lake! :)

Explored on 5/24/19; highest placement #4.

Pictures for Pam, Day 181: HFF: Bridge & Steve

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Fri, 10 May 2019 03:34:39 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

Steve and I are back from our trip to Lost Creek Lake! What a great time we had. It's hard to believe that such a lovely campground is a mere 45 minutes from our house. It really felt like a place for the elite and well-to-do, and yet, it was a state park! We paid only $24 each night, what an incredible deal!

After lunch yesterday, we planned on going on a long photo walk, but as we were about to leave, our plans abruptly changed.

RVs have three tanks that need to be monitored: the fresh water tank (50 gallon), the "grey water" tank (42 gallon) and the "black tank" (26 gallon). "Grey water" is from the sinks and shower; the "black tank" is just what you are thinking it is! There's a gauge that gives a readout on how full each tank is and they are notoriously inaccurate. Still, we have no other way to read the amount, ugh.

We were surprised to see that our grey water tank was nearly full at mid-day on our second day. Then, when we were about to leave on our walk, Steve checked it again and it was reading full. ACK! That put the brakes on any other plans and became our top priority.

Not that it was a huge deal. The campground had a dumping station that was only a couple of minutes' drive from our site, but it did mean hooking the trailer back up to the truck and driving it over there and back. Our initial thought was, OMG what a Pain In The A**!! But it only took a few minutes to stow anything that might fall over. I put a few things on the picnic table--including Pumpkin in her travel cage! Before we knew it, the trailer was hooked to the truck, the wheel chalks were out of the way (in case there was any slope, "chalks" anchor the tires to keep the trailer from rolling) and Steve left me to guard the fort with Molly in her outside pen and Pumpkin on the picnic table. We were all happy as clams. The last detail was our walkie-talkies! We have a pair of very powerful walkies that are sensitive to more than a mile away!

I chilled out in our super-comfy bungee lounge chairs while Chicken chortled at all the things she saw. I was working on a crossword puzzle when I heard Steve over the walkie..."I'm done and heading back!" It had been just 15 minutes! WOOT!

A couple of minutes later he was backing the trailer into place and soon we were all settled. Hooray!!

We decided that dinner was in order so Steve fired up our grill for a pair of burgers and I set the table with all the condiments a person would want—avocado slices, onions, mayo, ketchup, spinach leaves and just in case, dill relish! The burgers came covered with melted cheese to die for—and we'd forgotten what grilled burgers tasted like! What a delicious meal we had. This camping business seems to suit us I think. :)

With our hunger out of the way, we rounded up our gear, stowed the chicken (Pumpkin, of course!) and Molly in the camper and headed off for our little hike.

We ended up heading out to the same area we'd been cycling on our first evening and it was just wonderful. I was hoping to get some pictures of three things:
1) I'd found some plants that had tiny white flowers sitting in a bed of great big green leaves.
2) There were some plants with lovely stalks of white flowers that I wanted pictures of.
3) Ferns!! I saw lots of them on our bike rides and hoped to get some pictures

In the end, I was 100% successful! And then some! Steve and I had such a wonderful time. We strolled along, enjoying the incredible beauty of this place and I got so many lovely images! We had marvelous conversation as we went and soaked up the soothing atmosphere aw we went.

The funny thing is that we both knew and enjoyed this place in the past. But it was only as a very temporary visitor. As a several-day resident camper, we could know this place at a different capacity. It was so much more. Both of us could see what it was like as a drive-in hiker...it was like a watered-down cup of coffee compared to this new experience. How amazing to have a new understanding of this place. And the revelation that, as RV campers, we would have deeper connections with all of the places we stopped at in the future. Something to think about...how awesome.

Today's picture is my choice for Happy Fence Friday! It's really a "double fence". Ok, it's a pedestrian bridge, starring Steve! We went on a walk from our campsite and down to a view of Lost Creek Lake. There was a beautiful little bridge nestled in a deep forest of ferns and thick woods and I asked Steve to walk to the far side and pose for me. Voila! My Happy Fence Friday picture! :)

Pam, I did a search for "fence" and found some of your "ice storm" images...this one with ice-laden branches and a fence in the background were just right for a HFF image but still...*shakes head*….what a shame. I hope that you had a good day. Thank you so much for your enthusiastic comments about our trip. *BIG HUGS* You're the best! :)

Explored on 5/10/19; highest placement #9.

Pictures for Pam, Day 174: HFF: Lady on Barrier (Nice, France Presentation +10 insets!)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Fri, 03 May 2019 00:48:30 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+10 insets!) (This is another installment of my trip to Provence, France. If you would like to see my other pictures, please visit my album, "Provence, France 2018"--most of the pictures are presentations with many insets on each entry!)

It's another lovely day full of flowers and glowing greenery! Today I've been working on my Upper Klamath Lake pictures but since today is Thursday, I'll be posting my Happy Fence Friday picture late this afternoon and thought it was about time for another visit to France!

It's been more than a year now, since Steve and I went to France. Much has changed for us, and we've learned and grown a lot since we returned! I don't know how many of my pictures I'll get through now that we've begun our RV trips but at least I'll be able to share our visit to Nice! Here is my next set!

The Promenade de Anglais hugs the meandering coastline around Nice and bends inward towards the main part of town, along with the barrier that lines the walkway. While Steve and I were strolling along, we noticed a handsome couple who were enjoying the late afternoon and obviously quite smitten with one another. The fellow wanted to take pictures of her and so she hopped up onto the barrier and posed. I happened to be close enough to get a picture too. The portrait turned out nicely enough that I thought it would be a perfect main image for HFF! For the rest of my presentation, I'm choosing images that include some of the artistic things we saw on this lovely day.

About these pictures:
PiP #1: Steve and I stepped into a building and though I cannot remember where it was, the outside wasn't remarkable but as you can see, the ceiling inside was spectacular! :) (I did do a bit of filtering to make it dazzle)

PiP #2: Walking to the grocery store on the first morning that Steve and I got to Nice, we walked past the Nice Chamber of Commerce. The top of the building was really pretty to look at as you can see!

PiP #3: I was really surprised to see a copy of Michelangelo's David in a little park that Steve and I walked through during the day. Such a lovely sculpture in bronze, I have seen at least two other copies in my travels. I have also seen the original marble piece in Florence, Italy, when I was just 21 years old, and it completely changed my understanding of what art was. I remember walking in there with the tour group I was with and, though I was interested, I wasn't expecting anything special. No big deal. I walked into the room, looked up and BOOM! I just about fell over from the power of this piece! David is HUGE! Looming over you, it literally glows with energy and I was simply unprepared. I stood there and just gaped. The gorgeous details, silky smoothness of the stone, the angles and grace of this lovely sculpture…it utterly blew me away. Until that moment, I didn't really "get" sculpture. I appreciated it, but I didn't realize that an artist can truly become part of the artwork in a way I can't explain. It was an amazing revelation to me and changed my life, just standing there and staring.

But it got better. There, at the Accademia Gallery, is another room, where Michelangelo's unfinished pieces are housed. After I was finally released from my hypnotic state with David, I turned and wandered, punch-drunk, into the adjoining room. I found myself staring at many pieces of partially finished sculptures. What was this? I stared. Slowly my jaw dropped and again I gaped in complete wonder. There, in front of me, I could see the pieces inside the marble, and could imagine the shapes within which joined with what Michelangelo had exposed. It was incredible. The chunks of rock were just boulders. How could there be anything inside? Looking at just the stones, I saw nothing, but Michelangelo could see the sculptures inside. He could see where to tap, to chisel, to break, in order to release the sculpture locked inside. When he exposed part of the sculpture and I had something to direct my attention, I could then see below, inside the marble, the sculpture which he was able to release. Standing there, I felt a new awareness bloom within, brought to my senses by Michelangelo himself. I wondered how a person can see something that is hidden inside a rock, without even a bit of guidance whatsoever. It is the kind of artistic prowess that I find truly incredible in every sense of the word.

To this day, my life is changed for the better because of my visit to the Accademia Gallery in Florence. I see sculpture and artwork at a much higher level with an understanding that allows me to appreciate everything so much more. How lucky that I was brought to this place at the tender age of 21. I am convinced that the quality of my art has been influenced by what I saw that day and I have always paid attention to art (man or nature-made) that moves me because it continues to broaden my scope and understanding. :)

PiP #4: This is a sign I saw above a shop that I thought was fun…I don't know why but I love the word "fromage" (cheese), and I can only imagine that a bite of cheese with a sip of whisky might be a very delightful combination!

PiP #5: A lovely monument and sculpture of a man named Giuseppe Garibaldi, a military figure who lived in Nice during the 18th century. It stands in a square by the same name.

PiP #6: This beautiful artwork was found outside a popular bar by the same name. Captured after nightfall, the tastefully directed illumination made this an irresitible picture for me! :)

PiP #7: What an odd and interesting artistic creation of light fixtures! When I first saw this I thought, "An egg-beater sculpture, neato!" It was only when I looked closer that I discovered that the "egg-beaters" were actually light bulb cages. I had hoped to learn more about the artist, "E. Mosser: architect/designer" but alas, I was not able to glean anymore information to add here. (If you are luckier than me, please let me know so I may update this information!)

PiP #8: This colorful group of lounge/beach chairs made a really nice arrangement and by desaturating the background, the chairs popped right out of the image!

PiP #9: Steve and I loved this wonderful bag and purse shop, overflowing with beautiful leather workmanship in all sizes and shapes. There were several displays found outside the shop and this is the other picture I'm posting which turned out nicely!

PiP #10: Having visited Europe on several occasions, I know that balconies are often turned into gardens, stuffed to the brim with plants that hang on for dear life. Here is such a display, one that brought a beaming smile to my face!

PiP #11: Finally, I saw this neat sign as we walked along and thought it would be fun to turn it into a filtered image!

Pam, I hope your day went well. I'm so glad you enjoyed my sunrise picture with the ducks flying through the sky. I really couldn't believe my luck. The sort of thing you dream of but it never happens. And yet, as I looked out at the sunrise, I heard the quacking of ducks…and incredibly, they were flying in the path of the sunrise! I took the chance of clicking away with the hopes that maybe one would turn out. Success. I'm floored. What a bucket list picture…I'm so glad I could share it! :) Where are we going next? To a lake about 30 miles away! We'll be going in just a few days, hooray! *BIG HUGS* :)

Explored on 5/3/19, highest placement, #3.

Pictures for Pam, Day 167: HFF: Old Barn & Fence

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 02:13:09 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(By the way, this picture is not from Upper Klamath Lake because my images are on my laptop which is still packed away!)

We are home from our wonderful trip to Upper Klamath Lake! It may be only a couple of hours away but both of us are totally exhausted from our adventure. :)

My morning was absolutely amazing. As dawn lightened the sky, I awoke in my little nest. I had a bucket list item that needed tending to. The internal argument was on…

"Janet, you have this one last chance to see a sunrise over Upper Klamath Lake." "It's too earlyyyyyyyy!" "If you don't get up you will be so unhappy with yourself and you'll be kicking yourself every day and totally regret it." "But I'm too tired!" "Oh come on you big baby, get up. I promise it will be worth it!" *GROAN* *MOAN* "Get up!" "No!" "Yes!" "No!" "YES!!" "AWWWWW, ALRIGHT ALREADY! STOP YELLING AT ME!!" "YES!!!"

Once I kicked my *** into gear, I was instantly excited and couldn't wait to get out there. I dressed quickly, grabbed my camera and let Steve know what I was doing. He hoped that I had a great time before rolling over and going back to sleep. (Actually, he told me later that he peeked out and smiled at the sight of me out on the dock enjoying myself.)

Scampering out of the trailer, I took a picture of the leafless trees on the way to the dock and couldn't believe how beautiful the sky looked through the branches. Stepping onto the dock, I was awed by the sight of the colors on the horizon. There were birds on the water which made lovely silhouettes. I made my way down to my favorite spot and sat down to watch the show, taking pictures every few minutes. Looking around, I noticed the moon was in the sky and made a pretty picture too.

The sounds of the waking birds was so wonderful and I watched some geese and ducks flying by, each honking and quacking to one another. It was incredible to be out here to experience this sunrise, and as the sun's beams finally broke the horizon I could not control my emotions, tears brimming over as I welcomed this new day. I'd done it. I got to see the sunrise on Upper Klamath Lake. It was an indescribably beautiful and special gift and I was so happy that I coaxed myself to get up and witness it.

After a little while I made my way back to the trailer and went back to sleep for a little while before snuggling with Steve and beginning our last morning here.

Getting things stowed and ready to go was really easy and fast. We prepared as much as we could and then sat down to an incredible steak, mushroom and onion omelet made by Steve while I prepared our espressos. As we enjoyed our breakfast, we beamed at each other. Both of us were completely delighted by this trip. It was the right length for our first time out. We learned a lot, figured out a few changes to make for the future, and felt great about our fabulous RV! We were both looking forward to our next trip but also comfortable going home today.

Our trip home was easy and uneventful but our initial attempt to leave our site was quite exciting, and not in a good way, lol. When we backed our trailer in originally, we were further over to one side than was ideal, putting us very close to the water hookup pipe which stuck up a couple of feet. When we went to pull out, we were too close to the pipe to actually clear it. Because it's counter-intuitive to maneuver a trailer, Steve was actually doing the opposite that he should have, which boxed the trailer into an impossible-to-get-out-of situation. However, one of the guys from the resort noticed that we were having a problem and came over to help out. Steve realized what he was doing wrong and switched his tactics to the opposite of what made sense and finally he was able to work the trailer out of the predicament. All of us cheered when Steve pulled the trailer out of the spot without a scratch to the RV or any damage to the water pipe! Hooray!

We arrived home at about 2pm and had the easiest parking yet! We were both totally bushed but managed to get most things that belonged in the house back inside. I took a nap and Steve chilled out. Our animals were very mellow and tired but happy too. Our trip was a complete success! :) YAY!!

----

Ok! Well, it's 7pm on Thursday so I'll be posting my Happy Fence Friday picture! I had a picture from Upper Klamath Lake but honestly, it's not as striking as I would like, and on top of that, it's on my laptop, which isn't unpacked. So I'm posting another picture from the motorcycle trip that Steve and I went on a few years ago. I really did get so many great fence shots and it's wonderful to have the opportunity to post some of them! :)

On our first day we rode from our home in southern Oregon out to the coast and south to Fort Bragg, California. Day two was from Fort Bragg south past San Francisco to Santa Cruz, California. Along the way, a bit north of San Francisco I took the picture I'm sharing today. Once again, at about 80 miles per hour from the passenger sit behind Steve! (no more pictures today, I just don't have the brain power to do more!)

Finally, I would like to say thank you to all of you for your support and amazing comments and stars. I'm so touched. It tickles me that my writing is fun for you to read. It means more to me than I can say. *BIG HUGS TO ALL OF YOU* Tomorrow I'll be able to visit your wonderful pictures again and I'm so looking forward to it! :)

Pam, I'm about to fall asleep in my soup but I did want to say thank you so much for your dear comments and warm wishes for our adventure. Wish you could have been with us! I'll be visiting your pictures again starting tomorrow now that things are settling down again! :) *BIG HUGS*!!!!

Explored on 4/26/19, highest placement, #6.

Pictures for Pam, Day 153: HFF: 2 Guys on a Guard Rail in Nice, France! (+11 insets!)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 22:38:43 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+11 insets!) (Please view large, you won't regret it!)

Today we're all stirred up! Steve's sister is coming to stay with us for the next few days so we've been cleaning up and getting ready. It's been a while since I've seen her so it will be nice to catch up. The weather isn't going to be super but we'll get to take her to the Pear Blossom Festival and Parade this weekend which should be fun! I don't know how busy I'll be so my commenting is likely going to be spotty at best...my apologies in advance!

Today is also the day when I post my Happy Fence Friday picture! Lately it's actually turned into my own Happy FRENCH Fence Friday! Along with a fence picture, it's been a perfect opportunity to share another set of pictures from our trip to Provence, France last year!

If you've been following along with my trip so far, you may be amused that I've only shared pictures from our very first stop--Nice! We arrived late one night, spent a full day and left the next morning. However, in that time I got so many useable pictures that so far I've posted 41 and today I'll be posting another 11! I'm not quite finished processing the last of them but I have about 25 more ready to go--which will be two more sets at this point…I expect there will be another set at least, if you can believe it!

As I've mentioned before, it's been really fun exploring my France photography because it's such a different style than I'm used to. I'd like to say thanks for all of your enthusiasm--I know it's not my usual type of photography but the positive response I've gotten leaves me glowing and so appreciative! :) Ok, let's go to Nice, shall we?!

My main picture today was captured along Nice' famous Promenade des Anglais, a busy avenue and wide walkway that hugs the coastline of Nice. This particular spot featured a sweeping turn and heavy-duty guard rail, along with a pair of fellows who sat conveniently on one end! The picture cried out to be a very wide panorama in strong silhouette--I hope you like how it turned out! :)

The insets cover a lot of the time that we spent walking along the waterfront but includes a couple of others as well. Here are details about the insets! :)

PiP #1: Near where I took the guard rail picture there is a pull-out and this enormous sign to promote Nice. Kids were attracted like bees to honey and crawled all over it incessantly! The fellow in the bicycle taxi tried very hard to solicit our business long before we arrived at this spot to find him here, watching the kitlings play on the sign. He was listening to very loud music but it was really fun and it added to the enjoyment we were having this late afternoon. :)

PiP #2: There was a rocky beach which ran along below the road and Steve and I enjoyed looking down to see the various clusters seated here and there or walking at the water's edge. This group was having a wonderful conversation and I got several pictures of them laughing and having fun.

PiP #3: At the bend there was also a nice view in both directions. This picture shows Old Town Nice as it reaches out to the edge of the sea.

PiP #4: As luck would have it, we arrived as the sun was beginning to set and we got some very dramatic images of the sun sinking below the far hills. What a view! :)

PiP #5: We also saw lots of fishermen along the way, and many of them set up their poles on this point. Great people-watching here with folks looking at things on the ground and chumming around with one another. Good times!

PiP #6 : Walking along the popular Promenade, this picture is an artistic, blurry impression of the people enjoying an early evening stroll--or run--with colorful lights beginning to show themselves in the background. I think the runners on the left might have noticed me…do you think?! :D

PiP #7: I found this old man, down on his luck, snoozing on his bike to keep it safe from thieves. You can't deny his great style with his bright red sarape and sombrero hat. Entering the frame from the right is a pigeon who I distinctly heard say, "OLE!" :D

PiP #8: Everywhere you go in Nice you will find inviting restaurants with plenty of outdoor seating. This nicely-furnished business had just opened up for the evening…pizza anyone?!

PiP #9: Nearby a very busy café vibrated with great energy as friends and family enjoyed delicious food and drink a-plenty. I took this picture without even noticing the star of the show. When I took a closer look on my computer I burst out laughing…would you just LOOK at that dog?! Its master is clueless and deep in a conversation with his friend (who thinks I'm taking a picture of him, lol) but his dog is at the leash limit and in seventh heaven from two-scoops of love from a pair of joyful ladies who love this darling pooch!

PiP #10: A close-up of the belly-up pup, showing her delirious state of happiness…"DON'T STOP!!!" :D

PiP #11: And finally, as the evening grew darker, a beautiful cobbled alley, bedecked in pretty light prompted my eager attention. What a cool sight!

Pam, I expect you've seen plenty of places similar to this in your caravan days, no? I have been so surprised to discover the wonderful seaside scenery in England. Of course I shouldn't be surprised but for some reason I didn't think England would have pretty views, isn't that odd? Ipernity has certainly opened my eyes to the splendor of England. As well, seeing all of the amazing pictures you shared in the book version of your 2011 Snowdrops Anglo-Saxon Chronicles I especially loved the sunset at the Valley of the Rocks at Lynton, what a gorgeous picture! :)
Here's hoping you're doing well today! MANY HUGS from southern Oregon!

Explored on 4/12/19, highest placement, #1.

Pictures for Pam, Day 146: HFF: Cool Fence in Nice, France (+10 insets!)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 23:40:17 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+10 insets!)

As I mentioned yesterday, Steve and I spent the night in our house--not our RV--because our "gray tank" is full and we can't use the sinks until we go to one of the nearby RV tank dumps. The break was nice but both of us really missed our cozy RV and would have slept there if it made sense. What a great sign though, that things are going to work out for us! Even Pumpkin was fussy because she loves that we're always right there when we're in the RV!

When I went for my walk today I was amazed at all of the mushrooms that had popped up in the meadow and alongside the driveway. It was an overcast, dewy day and I knew that rain was forecast for the next week so I grabbed my camera to take pictures before it started pouring. Happily I beat the rain and I also managed to get some real winners! Can't wait to share them but that isn't today! Why? It's time to post my Happy Fence Friday picture for tomorrow!!

My pictures today are also the next installment of our trip to Provence, France, starting with Nice. The main image is a lovely latticed fence that we walked past on our first morning. We were on the way to a nearby grocery store to get supplies and this beautiful fence captured my attention. What's not to love about this awesome fence?! I was totally smitten and how lucky to get a picture without anyone in view! You will also find the next set of 10 insets showing some of our adventures that day--there will be about 3 more sets of Nice when I'm done. (You may notice that some images have a lot of process filtering because they were taken in stealth mode and turned out blurry but were fantastic for artistic creativity.) Here's more information about each PiP:

PiP #1: We walked into Old Nice and wandered up Rossetti Street. At the top was a staircase and as we paused to look up, I saw our shadows on the wall! Shadow selfies for the win! :)

PiP #2: This is a view of the Jules Eynaudi Steps, which lead up to a cemetery and castle above, as well as an incredible view of Old Nice and the sea beyond.

PiP #3: This plaque commemorates Jules Eynaudi, writer and poet who lived and died in Nice (1871-1948). His most famous work is his "Dictionnaire de la langue niçoise". By his writings, by the associations he created, his whole life was devoted to the defense of the Nice culture. (text from A Walking Tour of the Streets & Monuments of Nice )

PiP #4: Halfway up the steps is this lovely sculpture, which I believe is St. Mary holding baby you-know-who (There is a cathedral named as such nearby)

PiP #5: This is the view down Rossetti hill from the top of the stairs.

PiP #6: A road from the Jules Eynaudi Steps exits onto a road which meanders around the hill and opens up to incredible views of Old Nice and the sea beyond.

PiP #7: Steve and I discovered that in France, dogs are treated even better than in the US! These beloved companions are absolutely everywhere! It was fun to get pictures of some of the folks walking their dogs and I really enjoyed this pair trotting along with their best biped pal--the boxer in the background was a wonderful bonus!

PiP #8: We saw lots of fun things in the windows of businesses we strolled past. This electric bike was made to look like a vintage relic and we just loved its old-time charm!

PiP #9: In Nice, people commonly used a large variety of transportation other than cars, busses, bike and motorcycles. These push-scooters were very commonly used by teens and adults. Coming from San Francisco, it was a rare sight to see anyone other than a kid on one of these.

PiP #10: As we were making our way back to our Air BnB apartment, we stopped to admire this beautifully lit Palace of Justice. This tan Neoclassical building dominates the Old Town square that holds its name. Its many steps lead up to the entrance for Nice's law courts.

Pam, I enjoyed reading about your grape hyacinths--they really are so easy to keep and safe from varmints. Gophers and squirrels eat all of our bulbs too, boo! And finally, it is nice that you got to visit Peggy several times…something to look forward to in the future I hope!!!

I thought it would be fun to look up "Friends" on your stream and what do you know? A picture of Peggy! :) How sweet and wonderful. Ipernity has been such a wealth to us for friends and community. How lucky we are. And what a fantastic picture of Peggy! :) *MANY HUGS FROM SOUTHERN OREGON* :)

Explored on 4/5/19, highest placement, #2.

Pictures for Pam, Day 139: HFF: South Lake Tahoe Meadow

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 23:30:23 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+3 insets)

Yesterday afternoon I was out at our RV trailer assisting Steve with a project but I couldn't help hearing the ruckus going on next door. It sounded like a turkey-fest going on! They were chirping and cheeping loudly, gobbling and making all kinds of calls. I kept looking to see if I could catch sight of them but they were behind trees. I hoped I might see them and figure out what all the fuss was about.

Near dusk, Steve and I wheeled our garbage and recycling cans down to the road for pickup this morning. Halfway down the hill we finally got a view of the turkeys and all became clear. We stopped and watched the show with delighted grins on our faces. It wasn't possible to keep from snickering at the sights and sounds of it all but we tried to keep it down. After all, we didn't want to be rude. :D

In front of us was a veritable turkey extravaganza! There must have been about 20 and nearly half of them were males. They were spread out for quite a distance on each side of our road and beyond our pond. My goodness, what a display. All of the males were in courtship mode in their finest regalia. Feathers puffed to maximum enormity, tails fanned spectacularly above their backs. Each of them turned slowly this way and that to catch the light, creating even more glorious, rainbow-metallic shine.

The ladies were unimpressed. They walked along, pecking at dirt and plants, looking for insects and other things to eat. Those boys. They were ever-so-tedious. If they weren't trying to convince the other toms around them of their superior status, they were cruising slowly around the hens, trying to herd them by use of turning their tails as they moved towards them. We call it "ruddering" and it's completely hilarious to watch. Ineffective much? The hens couldn't care less about the interest of the toms. The mere idea of these slow-moving, ostentatious motorboats gliding around and trying to direct them…well, it was sheer hilarity as far as they were concerned. Ignoring the outrageous runway show going on all around them, the hens stayed together in a close, protective pack to keep from being harassed.

Steve and I finally started to head down the road again and the noise of the cans caused all of the turkeys to raise a flock-wide alarm gobble, 20 heads pivoting our way. We burst out laughing and then Steve did his best gobble back at them. They gobbled loudly in reply! We howled in laughter, Steve and the turkeys traded gobbles and we parted the crowd so we could open the gate and put our cans at the side of the road.

Walking back to the house, we wiped tears of mirth from our cheeks and affirmed our love and adoration for these amazing modern dinosaurs. How lucky we are that our property is part of their territory. What a true joy to see them.

This morning I went down to the gate on my walk and heard a couple of turkeys taking turns with their loudest gobble. Then I saw a sight that instantly brought a vision into my head of (spaghetti Western) Clint Eastwood facing a foe. The soundtrack to The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly followed to color the scene.

Out in the middle of the road I saw an enormous tom at full, outrageous fluff and about 30 feet up the road was his twin. The two took turns gobbling as loudly as they could, trying to best one another. How grand they were!

The pair was unconcerned by their treacherous location but I was immediately--and extremely--alarmed. Instead of admiring their grandeur, I began clapping my hands and marching quickly towards them to get them off the road. All manner of trucks, cars, and semis roar down this road, especially in the morning, and there is no end to the dead animals who aren't quick enough to get out of the way. That would NOT be happening to this dueling pair of desperados. Thankfully they dropped their tails and trotted off the road and I sighed in relief. Showcasing is fine and dandy but BOYS! NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD!! Sheesh.

Well, as you might have noticed, it's HAPPY FENCE FRIDAY in much of Europe! I like to post mine late on Thursday so I can be part of the crowd. Today's picture is from the motorcycle trip Steve and I went on a few years back with our friend Andy. This fence was photographed as we passed a pretty meadow in South Lake Tahoe…at about 80mph! :D (I'm also including some archive images of turkeys since that was the topic of the day! :)

Pam, I did a search for turkey on your stream and found this gorgeous tom turkey gleaming in dappled light. Incredible!! The colors on this guy are amazing. What a stunning boy! Here's hoping that you had something fun happen to you today too! :)

Explored on 3/29/19, highest placement, #3.