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

American Robin at Tugman State Park (+4 insets)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 17:24:16 +0000

(+5 insets)

Creativity Exploration, Incoming!
I have always been a creative soul and have really enjoyed exploring my artistic interests as I've grown up and matured. Photography and writing are my greatest passions--they allow me to express myself so clearly in the ways that I feel and what touches my heart.

I've explored many outlets though...my career in graphic design gave me freedom to play with typography, composition, colors, layers, etc. As a younger person I loved using acrylic paints to customize model horse figurines. I've also used a lathe to turn pens from pieces of wood, something that's really amazing! Those are just a few examples of my creative journeys.

Watercolor
Lately I've been seeing watercolor paintings and suddenly it hit me: I've always wanted to try painting and watercolor really sings to me. I should give it a try! WHY NOT? What am I waiting for?

So I placed an order the other day, I now have books and have also been watching YouTube videos. Soon I'll embark on this new adventure...I'm so excited! Stay tuned!

Doodling
At the same time as I was looking into watercolor, I discovered another pastime that people enjoy called doodling, That's something I've always enjoyed (especially during a mind-numbing meeting or being stuck on the phone with someone reciting War & Peace), but I didn't know there was a huge following. Do a search on Google and you'll be amazed! It's a scribble-filled-extravaganza out there!

Reading more, I learned there are some important benefits to making doodles. Artistic pastimes of any type are recognized as a creative way to meditate, as most of us know. But doodles too? That got my attention. I've always dismissed my scribbling as a gigantic waste of time, but in fact, they are a good thing to do, especially if you feel out of sorts or want to chill out and relax.

I noticed something called "Zentangles" or "Zendoodles," which are practiced on 3.5" square pieces of heavy paper or framed as 3.5 squares on larger pages. The small size is attractive because it's inviting instead of intimidating. Seeing the beautiful designs pushed me over the edge and I've decided to play in that arena too. I never realized that I felt like I needed permission to doodle and now that I'm getting a green light, I'm all over it!

Today's Picture
Robins are so much fun to watch! Our American species isn't related to the darling and smaller robin in Europe, so I bet it has different mannerisms too. Our birds charge around in the grass with purpose and then stop to look and listen for sounds of animals stirred up by their actions. Bugs and worms are their favored prey and they spend hours stomping across lawns and open ground with creepy meals on their minds. Often a meadow or lawn will have a dozen or more birds all running around this way and that, and it makes for a great show to enjoy.

This bird was just one of the many I saw at the big meadow along Eel Lake at Tugman State Park. I've shared other pictures of them, and this one I thought would be a nice pick for a main image. Magnificent bird! :)

Today's Insets
I'm also including some other neat finds, discovered on my daily walks....
Inset 1: Wooden bird houses erected at the shore's edge were ready for families to move in and this barn swallow was hard at work!
Inset 2: One morning I saw a Mallard hen swimming with her babies and managed to get this small picture before she led them away from me!
Inset 3: The vibrant, lush forest that borders the trails at Tugman State Park are incredible!
Inset 4: I couldn't help myself from capturing the cool texture from a saw on this log.
Inset 5: Here's a picture of my first two (current) doodles! I wanted to color them in because I just couldn't resist but in the future I'm going to concentrate on black ink and pencil because I'd like to focus on the meditative aspect of creating new doodles until I have done a bunch of them. :)

Thank You For Your Visits!
It's great to hear that my babbling doesn't put all of you to sleep, so thanks for letting me know! :) Thanks too, for all of your nice comments too...I have been fighting depression again--it's hard to beat back the sad news hitting me from everywhere--but when I read your thoughts, it brings me right out of the doldrums! :) Here's hoping that the rest of you are doing great! Have a healthy, happy week!!

A Happy Starfish at Harris Beach Tide Pool! (+5 insets)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 17:33:02 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+5 insets)

Memories of Tide Pools as a Kid
I remember when I was a kid, raised in San Francisco, and one day my elementary class went on a field trip to the beach where there were tide pools. I'll never forget the first time I saw a starfish clinging to the rocks, sea anemones, mussels and limpets. There were real crabs--Dungeness and hermit--scrabbling around too! It was incredible to me and I hoped to visit more tide pools whenever I could!

What I didn't know is that those were the very last tide pools on San Francisco beaches. The next time I went to visit the same area, the tide pools were gone. The only thing that remained were bleached limpet shells and some remaining but empty mussels. What a shock to my pre-teen eyes to be faced with the reality of over-visitation and pollution on a delicate biome. There are still plenty of fantastic tide pools to explore near San Francisco but as far as I know, the tide pools never made a comeback.

Harris Beach has Tide Pools!
I was really excited when I read about this popular state park and learned about one of its popular features: tide pools! Between this park's south and north beaches is an area at the water's edge littered with tightly packed rocks and boulders of all sizes. When the tide is out, careful visitors can discover the incredible diversity of life that makes its home there.

One day I made sure to time my visit so I'd have plenty of time exploring the pools without worrying about waves catching me while I was taking pictures. I was immediately transported back to myself as a child, exploring with rapt joy and discovering the special plants and animals that made their home there. One thing I love to do is find a perfect pool, freeze and wait. After a few minutes, the seemingly empty pool wakes up and out come different species of crabs and other life forms, crawling around and looking for food. What fun!

Today's Picture
Who doesn't love a star fish? I was so excited when I found this perfectly-shaped Sea Star in a place where I could get a nice picture. I think it looks very happy to see me, don't you?! I'm lucky to see it too, because in 2014, a horrible wasting disease hit the west coast of North America and killed off millions of starfish between Alaska and Mexico. Recovery has been slow in many areas but some places, like Harris Beach, have sprung back in a wonderful way! I had no idea about this tragedy and I'm so happy I got to see some beautiful star fish on my visit to the tide pools on Harris Beach! (For more information, please visit this link: www.nps.gov/im/swan/ssws.htm )

Today's Insets
I'm including a really cool find--a group of sea stars partially buried by sand, right where the waves were lapping. I'm also including a picture of barnacles with barnacle bokeh, an image of striped Shield Limpets with barnacles and a bit of kelp, a photo that shows a pair of closed-up anemones and Northern Stiped Dogwinkles and finally, a picture of the tide pool area! I have gotten so many countless pictures of the treasures there, I could spend weeks sharing my discoveries! I'll be posting another set in the coming Harris Beach report, maybe more!

Thank You For Stopping By!
While Steve and I were away on our trip, internet was often not available and it was frustrating that I couldn't make my rounds to say hello. So I've really been enjoying myself as I hop from one stream to another, reacquainting myself with all of your wonderful photography and chatting happily back and forth! Thanks so much for coming by and leaving comments and stars! It totally makes my day. I hope that each of you has a wonderful new week as we march into November!

Explored on 11/8/21; highest placement #4.

307/366: Bi-Colored Flaxflower

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 04:27:17 +0000

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This exquisite little flower measures about 1/3" in diameter, and is a perfect example of why I love macro photography. Unless I told you the size of this flower, you might have thought it was much larger. The joy of being able to share the details of something so small is hard to put into words, but anyone who's into macro photography will know what I mean! Isn't this tiny flower just beautiful?! :)

Gosling Portrait

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 17:39:55 +0000

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Canada Goose Hen & Goslings at Eel Lake, Tugman State Park (+2 insets)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 17:35:27 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+2 insets!) (please view large for the most adorable view!)

Bucket List Shots
Do you have an actual list of pictures you hope to take some day? I don't, because it would take a lifetime to list them all! However, when I find them out in the world, I am catapulted star-ward and over the moon!

Steve and I left Harrison Beach a few days ago and arrived at Tugman State Park several hours later. This is one of our favorite spots with its beautiful Eel Lake, skirted by two outstanding trails that we adore.

My first morning I went to the end of the wonderful 1-mile long trail that leads out to a bench on a point where one can sit and enjoy the lovely view. When I arrived, my motion disturbed a family of geese--with BABIES!!!--and I wasn't quick enough to get decent pictures before they were too far away. I stared, cooing and in love, at the fluffy babies and their attentive parents. Maybe I'd see them again, I hoped.

The next day I was all-consumed by macro photography and as luck would have it, didn't see any geese, though I did hear them.

Yesterday though, I took my Sony bridge camera with it's marvelous 600mm zoom lens and crossed my fingers. Soon I got to the park's wide-open meadow with its picnic tables, gazebo and playground. The dock sat peacefully at the edge of the lake and I wandered over to the water to look at the view.

Jackpot!
Just then I spotted motion in the water. OH!!! The goosey family was there!!! And LOOK at how ADORABLE they were! One parent in front, a stream of fluffy babies, and then another parent. They motored along and I had my camera out and clicking away like a fiend.

Then I noticed more movement...ANOTHER FAMILY!! OHHHHHH!!!!! So many chickies! I counted...one, two, three...four, five, six...SEVEN! My lucky number! I moved along with them very quietly and slowly, hoping they wouldn't swim away.

The first family I spotted did swim away, but the second family wasn't worried about me and they swam closer and closer! In fact, the goslings emerged from the water at the boat ramp and walked around, their parents right there to keep an eye out for danger. Conveniently, there was bench and I sat there taking pictures and resisting the urge to coo at them out-loud! :D

They all began to move towards the bank where I was seated and to my delight, up onto the grass scrambled a baby! And then two...three, four! One parent in the water with the other goslings, one on the grass with the adventurous kids; I sat, completely enchanted, and watched the little ones plucking at the grass and running around.

I got to experience this magical scene for about ten minutes before one by one the goslings plopped back into the water, popping up like fluffy yellow corks, and rejoined the other chicks and parent, and the other parent slipped into the water behind them. Off they went and my beaming smile followed them as they cruised away.

"Bucket List: Goslings and family"...COMPLETE! :D Hooray!!! (I have a couple of insets of the babies too! :)

I hope you guys are all doing great!

Explored on 4/24/21; highest placement #1.

Tiny Queen Carpenter Ant at LaPine State Park (+6 insets!)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Sun, 28 Mar 2021 16:14:27 +0000

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(+6 insets!)

The Magic of Being In The Moment
As creative spirits, all of us seek to slip into that special time when we are experiencing the world in a kind of magical flow. We forget about time. We forget about problems. We forget about almost everything…except for what's exactly in front of us, shown through the lens of our camera. Being in the moment is sort of like being one with the universe, I guess. You feel it right down to the bottom of your soul and when you do, all is right with your world. What I've said will sound really weird to anyone who cannot tap into their creative spirit, but to everyone else, you Get It. Makes the world go 'round for us and every one of us--be it Leonardo DaVinci or Ansel Adams, George Carlin or Leonard Nimoy…everyone knows this pinnacle of creatives and we lust for it. Aren't we lucky to be part of that special group?!

Wandering in the Moment with Camera In-Hand
Unfortunately, you can't just flip a switch to get into this creative place. Everything has to be just right. If you're not in the mood, if something's off, there's no way you'll get into that space. I can feel when things are clicking into place and when I do, I grab my camera and pop out of the RV…

Today's Pictures
I felt the smallest sensation of something crawling on me and when I looked on my arm, I was amazed to find a tiny ant with wings--it was a queen! After carefully moving it to the sandy ground I got this picture to share.

Today's Insets
The first is another picture of the beautiful little flowers called Ground Smoke showing bokeh flowers behind. Then you'll see a mushroom that I found on my morning walk. I'm always triggered to look at anything round but I could hardly believe what I was seeing because it was so dry--how could a mushroom possibly grow in loose, dusty soil without moisture? It was also really big--at least 5" in diameter--what a find! I can only imagine it survived on the early morning dew but still, I was stunned. The next couple of pictures show a pine tree's shadows on the side of the RV, and I stood mesmerized as the shadows moved with the breeze. There's something so zen about watching shadows, isn't there? Next is a bone-dry, age-old stump that I couldn't resist photographing…the texture, still-visible radiating age circles and lovely gnarled edges are so wonderful! And finally, the yellowing pine needles of a dying branch were really pretty to me and interesting to appreciate.

Thank You!
Your visits mean so much to me, and totally make my day! Thanks always for your visits, stars and wonderful comments. You guys are the best! :) Have a wonderful day and stay safe out there!

Explored on 3/28/21; highest placement #1.

Coville's Ground-Smoke at LaPine State Park (+5 insets!)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 16:02:49 +0000

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(+5 insets!)

Oregon is Brimming with Natural Wonders to Discover
Since we got our first RV in 2018, we finally had the opportunity to explore, enjoy, and appreciate the boundless beauty of Oregon. We've been along the rugged coast and beaches and nestled in deep woods. We've experienced Oregon's version of a rain forest, and we've frolicked amidst gorgeous meadows that hug riversides interspersed with small forest nuggets.

Another area we've gotten to know is Oregon's "high desert" where LaPine State Park sits. Imagine a very dry area with lots of sandy, loose soil, but instead of cactus there are pine trees and hardy scrub brush. It's not so dry that rivers don't run through and the Deschutes River begins its journey here, travelling from Little Lava Lake, about 25 miles northwest of LaPine, and eventually joining Oregon's largest river, the Colombia, after a trip of 250 miles.

LaPine State Park is One of Our Favorites…What About You?
You would think that such a dry place wouldn't be high on our list, but it sure is. True, the plant life isn't as varied as a moister locale, but it's lovely nonetheless, and what it lacks in variety of plants, it more than makes up with all of the hiking and biking trails found here. Steve and I have such a great time here that since discovering this park, it's a "Must Go" spot every year. What about you? Do you have a special place that you simply must go to anytime you're in the area? I'd love to hear about it! After all, if we're lucky, we'll someday make it to your neck of the woods, so why not entice me with your favorite park(s)? :D

Today's Main Picture
Every morning when I'm at LaPine, I walk around each campground loop and then head up one of the trails to the park entrance before travelling back along the Deschutes River and finally back to our "home on wheels." One morning I was walking past a campsite and noticed a bush with tiny white flowers. A closer look revealed beautiful tiny blossoms which begged for proper macros. Later that day I returned with my beloved Canon and macro lens and managed to get a bunch of very nice shots. Isn't it wonderful when you are successful despite the fact that a breeze is trying to ruin every picture? I was delighted that within my large group of hopefuls, I got an assortment of crisp images amongst a bunch of blurry ones. This picture of "Coville's Ground Smoke" was my favorite, but I have two more to share in my next uploads for LaPine.

Today's Insets
LaPine is a very popular home to many species of squirrels, including one that's often mistaken as a chipmunk, the Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel. I admit being very surprised when I realized the "chipmunk" I photographed on a lava rock was actually a ground squirrel! Another common resident is both the smallest chipmunk and also the most widely spread, otherwise known as the Least Chipmunk. I got a fun picture of one working on a little pine cone which I turned into a b/w to show off the fun shadows. If you look carefully around a pine tree, you'll often see droplets of sap oozing from woodpecker holes or broken tree limbs and if the sun is in the right spot, the droplets will glow beautifully! I'm also sharing a crusty droplet of resin that's dried up but interesting to look at with lots of granulated detail. Finally, the last picture is a collage of images that shows a group of ants attacking a caterpillar to bring back to its nest. I appreciate these glimpses of nature's cycle of life, and though it's too bad for the caterpillar, it will be an important source of food for the colony and I was fascinated by this show.

Thank You!
I always appreciate your visits, stars and comments--my smiles warm the room! I am so happy that I can spread a bit of joy, interest and hopefully some education to your day--it's what I hope for every time I post one of my presentations. Please take care of yourselves and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Explored on 3/26/21; highest placement #3.

Amazing View on the Way Up to Lava Butte at Newberry National Volcanic Monument (+5 insets!)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 17:26:25 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+5 insets!) (Please view large, it's worth it!) :)

Mind-Blowing Landscapes
Do you sometimes have a hard time dealing with your pictures because they show such incredible views? There are some days when the sky is so beautiful that any picture you take is incredible. There are some places that are so staggering that you could close your eyes and click the shutter release at anything and every picture would be amazing. When you have jaw-dropping skies combined with unbelievable scenery, the combination can cause a meltdown!

Our visit to Newberry National Volcanic Monument was just that sort of experience. It was hard to choose which pictures to process and which to leave out, but I tried for picks which weren't too similar. I am sure you know what I'm talking about! It's been a terrible struggle but here's today's batch.

Today's Main Picture
The main image today shows a panoramic view from the road that leads to the top of Lava Butte. It was absolutely amazing to see this eerie, incredible sight as we made our way up the hill to the lip of the caldera and lookout tower. Happily, the road was closed to vehicular traffic--it would have been miserable to deal with bunches of tourists driving up and leaving us to deal with choking car fumes in the heat.

Today's Insets
The first inset has a story to go with it. As Steve and I stopped, yet again, to take in the vista on our walk up, we noticed movement on the road. Eyes goggling, we saw that it was a cyclist…heading up this steep grade (about 10%) in the glowing heat of the late morning. We stared at each other…it was Insanity! As the rider eventually passed by, huffing and puffing like a properly-cared for engine, we congratulated him on the impressive effort. At the same time we couldn't help wondering what demon possessed him to climb this steep hill. Our amazement was eclipsed later when we headed back down an hour later and saw him climbing the hill…AGAIN! He was so fit that he spoke to us as he chuffed by, saying he does this three times in a row for training, three times a week! Incredible!! He wasn't the only one either. We saw several other cyclists making their way up to the top, and others who abandoned their bikes on the way, clearly misjudging the challenge of this monstrous hill. I will say that when it comes to a challenging bike ride, this is not what I'd want to do. Long-distance works for me but crazy climbs are not my thing, and especially not in the heat. UGH!! :D

Other insets show the brick-red road and hillside, a view of the lookout tower as we walked up the hill, and a crazy panorama that shows the lookout tower and the magnificent view from the lip of the caldera. Finally, a peek through the trees to see a view of the Cascade mountains in the distance.

I hope everyone is doing well! Stay safe, dry and warm! :)

Explored on 3/16/21; highest placement #8.

Coastal View South of Heceta Head Lighthouse and More! (+7 insets)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 17:15:09 +0000

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(+7 insets)

Learning a Lesson About Popular Destinations During Covid
Steve and I figured tourist spots had plenty of visitors but we weren't prepared for the zoo of crazy idiots out there at Heceta Head Lighthouse. However, in the end it turned out fine. I got a real eye-opener for what Steve went through every time he did our errands and shopping and we got the reward of seeing this cool lighthouse and awesome coastline. We even got to see colonies of cormorants and common murres hanging out on their huge rock!

Today's Picture
As we drove away from the "plague zone", we made sure to pull off at the lookout which showed the lighthouse and guesthouse seated in their beautiful settings nestled along the magnificent coastline. Looking north showed the view I shared a couple of days ago, and looking south is the view I'm showing today. What a jaw-dropping scene! There's even a peek at a little lake just inland from the coast, which has a loop hike for those who are interested. Us? We were ready to get back to our home on wheels, though we did stop at the grocery store on the way back. (I decided to go into the store to see what that was like…not recommended! Scary people being rude and stupid! :D However, I wanted to know what Steve went through and came out of the store with even more respect for what he does for us every time we need supplies.)

Today's Insets
The first picture is another view north that shows the lighthouse and guesthouse off in the distance but this shot shows a secluded beach without anyone on it. I thought that was interesting because the beach closer to the lighthouse is just around the next outcropping and there were people everywhere! Goes to show--no matter how crowded an area may be, if you add any challenge, only the most resolute will go. In this case it was zero!

The next three insets show the guesthouse, which was originally one of a pair of lighthouse keeper's quarters. Built in 1900 to house the lightkeepers, the second house was razed in the '30's when only one keeper was needed. The last keeper moved away in 1963 when the lighthouse became automated, and from 1973-95, the house became a satellite campus for nearby Lane College. The U.S. Forestry Service then decided to turn the house into a bed-and-breakfast as a way to incorporate tourism and also generate funds for the ongoing upkeep of this historical landmark.

I'm also including another picture of the beautiful forested road up to the lighthouse and its pretty fencing There's an image of the pair of giant rocks jutting from the sea, and isn't it interesting that one rock was packed with birds and the other was not? Finally, while snapping away with my Sony, zoomed in as close as I could, I managed to get a fun picture of a Common Murre flying in with a fish for its hungry family!

I'd like to apologize that I've fallen behind in my commenting--projects abound as we get closer to leaving on our next trip! However, I really appreciated every one of your comments and favorites! I hope all is well with everyone. Spring is showing its face around here with greenery popping up everywhere and the season's first blossoms! Please stay safe, dry and warm!

Explored on 3/8/21; highest placement #2.

Happy Valentine's Day from Animals at Tugman State Park! (+6 insets!)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 16:23:35 +0000

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(+6 insets!)

"I Caught a Salamander!"
On one of my morning walks I took a camera with me to capture some of the beautiful things I saw every day at Tugman State Park. I had a specific mission though. I made a bee-line for the Eel Lake dock because I hoped to get some pictures of a wonderful and unusual sight I'd discovered the other day. In the early morning, if you looked carefully, you could see salamanders swimming around! They were so darned cute! This is something I've never seen in my whole life! (I believe these are juvenile Coastal Giant Salamanders, Dicamptodon tenebrosus.)

Moving slowly around the wooden dock, I got some neat images of barely-visible salamanders swimming along just under the surface. I guess they must live under the dock…perhaps on the wood? In the mud under water? I don't know for sure but I was full of joy as I saw each one, cooing happily at their cuteness.

At the same time as I was there, a father and his young daughter and son were there. Dad was fishing while his kids were laying on the deck with hands positioned over the water. They were hoping to catch salamanders and had a water-filled bucket next to them if they got lucky.

"I CAUGHT ONE!!!" I looked over to see the young boy with an ear-to-ear grin, standing up with a salamander held very gently in his hands. He saw me looking with my matching smile and asked if I would like to see his new little friend. "YES!" I exclaimed and asked if I could take a picture. He said sure and I got a nod from Dad before I captured the image you see as today's main image. I love this shot. It clearly shows how gently the salamander is being held and though the salamander doesn't look exactly thrilled, it's not freaked-out, which makes me happy!

Before I turned to go, the children said they were going to catch all the salamanders they could until Dad was done fishing and then they would let them go. I couldn't help but look back on my own adventures of capturing little salamanders under bricks in San Francisco when I was their age! :)

Other Insets
I'm including a salamander under the water, a darling chipmunk that posed for me, and a close-up portrait. I'm also sharing images of a lovely garter snake I discovered on the trail. It was so relaxed that it took about five minutes to slowly make its way over the trail and off into the bushes. :)

I hope you're all doing well today! Stay safe, warm and dry on this cold, wet day! HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

Explored on 2/13/29; highest placement #3.

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

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

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(+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.

Happy Bench Monday from Tugman State Park! (+7 insets)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 17:04:57 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+7 insets!)

Stop #3 of our 2020 Escaping Covid trip: Tugman State Park
Leaving Bullard's Beach after a wonderful week of fun, relaxation and adventure, we headed north for a new campground destination. Tugman State Park would turn out to be so wonderful that it now sits on our list of favorite Oregon State Parks!

Family Planning Not Quite According to Plan!
Before we found out that campgrounds were open again, Steve's sister called to let us know that things had changed. She lives in California (about 700 miles south in the Los Angeles metropolitan area) and since we had an RV, she thought it was high time we got together for part of our trips. So she and Steve coordinated a spot where we could hang out and that turned out to be Tugman State Park! However, our desire to reserve a nice long stay proved to be impossible. We ended up reserving four nights, followed by a two-night stay at a "glorified parking lot" private RV park, and then seven more nights at Tugman. Not ideal but at least the private RV park was only 45 minutes away.

Tugman State Park
Located just to the side of the lovely and large Eel Lake, this campground features closely-connected loops that are nested within each other--something that I haven't found in other parks. The result is a fairly compact park that can be a bit confusing when trying to remember where your camping spot is.

This campground has three unique and wonderful aspects: two trails which are just a walk from the campground, and of course, the lake itself. The shorter of the two trails is just 1.1 miles but don't let the length disappoint you--that wonderful trail will have me returning forever! It leads in and out of the forest and around the western shore--it's absolutely perfect to start each day with. I looked forward to every walk I went on and just thinking about it now makes me wish I were there! The trail terminates in benches that are perched on a spot that juts just a bit into the lake. Sitting there or standing out and looking at the twinkling lake, there are few places to match this tranquil beauty. The 6.1-mile hike along the eastern shore is outstanding and gorgeous, leading through the mixed conifer and deciduous forest and peeking out on the lake here and there with benches for anyone needing breaks. Finally, the lake itself is stunning and fantastic for canoeing or kayaking, or for those who'd like to try catching a fish.

Today's Pictures
I discovered that I've only posted a couple of pictures from our stay here so I'll be sharing pictures from our stay in this area for a few days! :) Today I'm featuring the perfect picture for Happy Bench Monday! Would you just LOOK at that crazy bench?! It sits at the end of the short trail I started every day with. As you can see from one of the insets, the view is wonderful! My insets show some of the beautiful things I saw on my walk and I'll be posting other pictures in the coming days to add to this.

I hope that you are all doing well. At our house it's very cold, snowy, rainy, mucky and pretty miserable outside, but in the afternoons it's sometimes gorgeous and sunny! Crazy weather! Stay safe and thank you so much for all of your marvelous comments and stars--your visits mean so much to me!

Explored on 2/9/29; highest placement #1.

Underside of a Fern at Humbug State Park (+17 insets!)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 16:51:30 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+17 insets!)

Our 2020 "Escaping Covid" RV Trip
I'm going to go through our trip, stop by stop and hopefully I'll be able to get through all the pictures before we leave for our next trip! (Hint...so many pictures!!!) I'm including links to other posts which show images from this stop as well.

First Stop: Humbug State Park
We were so lucky to book a week here because the dates included Fourth of July, our Independence Day. Trying to find reservations a week before and following this day is usually next to impossible but to our total amazement we got incredibly lucky! Furthermore, this park is small and we really didn’t think we'd ever get to stay here! We counted our lucky stars every day! :D

Humbug Mtn State Park--What Sets it Apart
This park's unique features are its small size and its own, almost private, ocean beach, complete with a creek that runs into the water. The walk along the ocean is fabulous! Another unforgettable aspect that wasn't so nice was the wind in some areas. This intimate park sits in a narrow canyon which funnels coastal wind under the highway 101 bridge and up through the campground in a ferocious gale that affects some areas. Yet, in protected spots, the negligeable breeze makes you question whether or not you were exaggerating intensity of the wind rushing into the canyon.

What a lovely campground it is! With an upper and lower loop, surrounded by lush forest with trails that meander up and out of the canyon and along the original Highway 101, this makes for a wonderful, wide walkway overlooking the ocean in some places. Of interest to bike riders, another notable point is that there is no cycling allowed in or around this park.

Today's Main Picture
My main image features the underside of a fern with its octopus-sucker-like rows of spores. These plants, which number over 12,000 species, are among the world's oldest and have been around for over 300 MILLION years! Isn't that incredible? I love their unusual appearance and never tire of photographing them! Humbug State Park sits in a lush forest which included plenty of ferns for my enjoyment.
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Insets
You'll find three other fern images to appreciate; I also included pictures captured on one of my trail hikes: a spike of beautiful purple foxglove blossoms that towered above me and a tiny wild purple and lavender geranium that peeked out shyly from the ground; a view of a dappled trail that lead up to old Highway 101 and another showing the highway-path so you can see how pretty it was! A wide panorama format was perfect for fuzzy red leaves stretching out from the main plant (Geranium?), and finally, a tall, narrow picture showing resin droplets that I found dribbling down the side of a fir tree.

I'm also including inset-links to the other Humbug State Park posts I shared some time ago if you'd like to see the beach and other wonderful sights of this gorgeous place!

Thank you for your visits!
It's been so nice having ipernity back up and running again! I've really enjoyed visiting you guys, and getting your comments, favorites and views has totally made my day! Please stay safe, warm and dry!!

Curled-fern-tip

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 16:51:20 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

fern-fronds-bending-up

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 16:51:11 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

Foxglove

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 16:50:43 +0000

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Humbug-Amphitheater-Trail

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 16:50:03 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

Old-Highway-101

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 16:49:35 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

Dappled-Ferns

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 16:49:54 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

red-leaved-plant

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 16:49:16 +0000

Janet Brien has posted: