Deserted Street

(San Juan, PR)

Check out other Monochrome Weekend images.

Smokin' Special

I just missed catching the chef put the evening special on this sidewalk smoker.  It not only increases productivity of the kitchen, it's also a "smokin'" advertising campaign.

Open Door

With every new opportunity a door is opened. It's our choice to either walk through the door or stay where we are. If we choose to walk through the door we usually don't know where the opportunity will lead. Ultimately we must either trust in ourselves or the One who opens the door.

Afternoon Still Life

Hummingbird Silhouettes

The last two evenings while eating dinner, we've noticed our hummingbird feeder outside the window doing a booming business. Saturday we saw as many as six hovering around the feeder.

We'll have to ask our neighbors if they took their feeder down, because we're getting more action lately.

Soft Morning Layers

(Lake Lytle on the North Oregon Coast)

Playing Chess on a Rainy Weekend

Check out other Monochrome Weekend images.

Humid Afternoon

(San Juan, PR)

Portland's Benson Bubblers

Yesterday I was in the South Park Blocks area of downtown and decided to take some photos of these iconic drinking fountains known as Benson Bubblers.

There are 52 four-bowl fountains in various locations around the city.  They're made of copper but years of weathering has given them that antique patina finish.  The following is some information about their history.


"In 1912, Simon Benson, a local businessman and philanthropist, donated $10,000 to the City of Portland to purchase and install 20 bronze drinking fountains, now known as Benson Bubblers.

Local folklore tells us that Simon Benson donated the 20 bronze drinking fountains as an effort to keep loggers out of the saloons at lunchtime. Others say that Benson was inspired after seeing a little girl crying at a 4th of July parade because she couldn't find a drink of water. Either way, the Benson Bubblers have become a historical and enduring legacy here in Portland." (Courtesy of portlandonline.com)


The fountains run from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., daily. They flow 365 days a year unless we have a freeze, in which case the water bureau shuts them down.  

So if you're ever near Portland and you're thirsty you know you can always get a cold drink of water here! 

Dominoes Anyone?

(San Juan, PR)

There's no telling how long these tables and chairs have been in this Caribbean city.  It looks like they've been used quite a bit and weathered many tropical storms. 

Oregon Crab Pots

(Newport, OR)

Can You Spot the Lizard?

(El Yonque Rainforest - Puerto Rico)

Saturday Walk

Our granddaughter and I went for another walk yesterday afternoon.  Except for a multicolored mailbox we found, it turned out to be a yellow theme for the walk.

North Coast Playground

Dodging waves at low tide on the North Oregon Coast.

*****

Check out other Monochrome Weekend images.

Little Pink Speakers

Sometimes do you wonder if spring is shouting to us?  By the way, I don't hear voices... really.

Hospital Waiting Area

Many prayers have been made from these chairs. With God, anything is possible.

Little Beach Feet

Warm sand on your feet, fresh air to breath, the sound of waves breaking on the shore, and maybe a little sand in your cuffs.  A great day at the beach!

Tunnel Reflections

The access tunnel for Multnomah Falls goes under the east bound lanes of the Columbia River Highway in the Gorge.  This couple and their reflections were heading back to the parking lot.

Distant Shower

While riding my motorcycle to the jail last evening, I kept an eye on where the scattered showers were developing.  I have a couple of routes I can take in the country that help me avoid getting wet. Sometimes it's a game to try and stay on the outside edge of a passing shower. Looking west to the coastal range I thought this distant shower made a nice backdrop to what I refer to as the Four Trees.

Sunday Walk

Yesterday afternoon our 4 year old granddaughter and I went for a walk to hang out together and see what we could discover.  I told her we should look for birds and interesting plant life.

She found these and said I should take a picture.  I don't know what they are but we both like them.

At the beginning of our walk we spotted this Flicker on our neighbor's chimney.  We like their sound.  We also saw a Robin take a worm out of the ground.  I got some shots but none of them turn out well.  As I write this I realize I should have let her take some photos.  Next time we'll do that!

Saturday Spring Yard Ballet

It's Saturday. The grass is long and there's no rain in the forecast. Throughout the neighborhood the sound of mowers pierce the subconscious like a distant orchestra.  All of this is done with the grace and precision of a ballet.  Actually, I just took a quick stop to capture my neighbor mowing his lawn.

Campfire Memories

After having a mild winter, lately we've been experiencing a cooler than normal spring.  It doesn't matter what season it is though, the smell of a campfire in the woods is always good.  It can trigger good memories with family and friends.

Columbia Gorge Spectacle

Multnomah Falls is 30 miles east of Portland in the Columbia River Gorge.  

Here's the Benson Bridge near the bottom of the falls. Both images were taken on Tuesday.  Click on the link for other Monochrome Weekend submissions.

What is it?

Don't look in the "Labels" box below because the answer is there!  Here's a hint.  While taking pictures of the family on Easter this item was captured in motion.  It created an interesting blur effect.  I tried duplicating that blur and couldn't so I took this photo.  It looks a little bizarre.  Maybe a DNA sequencing chain.

Another hint:  our 7 month old granddaughter was playing with it.

Oooh, you looked didn't you?

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls is about 30 miles east of Portland in the Columbia Gorge. It's probably one of the most visited spots for tourists.  Here's how it looked yesterday afternoon with new spring growth on some of the trees.

I took plenty of photos so over the next couple of weeks I'll be sprinkling them into the blog.

I wish you could hear the sound and feel the spray!  What a spectacular display of creation!

McDonald's Sunrise

I left early for work last Thursday morning and stopped at McDonald's for coffee.  After going through the drive-thru I noticed this view of the sunrise.  I did some maneuvering with the car and snapped this shot.  I tried to frame it so it didn't look like it was taken from a grocery store parking lot.

Saturday morning I had breakfast with a couple of friends at a different McDonald's. This is how it looked from the window right next to me.

I really don't hang out at McDonald's but I found last week that sometimes they can offer some interesting photo opportunities.

New & Glorious!

Saturday afternoon I was out riding my motorcycle.  The sky opened up and we had a slight reprieve in the rain.  I stopped on a gravel road to snap some photos.  The road was lined with Flowering Plum trees.  It's fitting that the day before Easter everything is in full bloom; new and glorious!

He is Risen Indeed!

A blessed Resurrection Day to you and your family!

Porsche Nostalgia

When my wife and I were dating I had a Porsche convertible.  I wish I could have kept it but it's long gone.  Some years ago our son and I use to go each year to the historic car races in Portland.  I would always gravitate to the Porches.  Here are a couple of images I've posterized to give them an enhanced look.

Our Savior and Hope

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24)

Northwest Texture

Monday I happened to park right next to this tree along a Northwest Portland street.  It was right outside the passenger window of my car.  I thought the various colors of lichens with the moss and texture of lumpy bark might make an interesting image.  It rained all day so the moisture popped the colors and texture out a bit.