Light Morning Fog

"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."  C. S. Lewis

Autumn Colors

This makes me want a slice of pumpkin pie!

Faithfully Waiting

 Faithfully waiting to get back on the road.

Curved Steps

These are the steps leading to the Vista House from yesterday.  They remind me of a stack of large coins.  They have a different appearance if you squint.

Visit The Weekend in Black and White for more photos.

Vista House at Crown Point

Today I worked in the Columbia River Gorge, one of Oregon's favorite natural attractions.  This is Vista House which overlooks the Gorge at Crown Point.  The river separates Oregon and Washington.  The Gorge has some of the most amazing cliffs that were formed long ago.  It's described as a "spectacular geological wonder".

The building has been a landmark and visitor spot since 1918. 

Because of the natural funnel-effect that the Gorge makes, it's generally windy and it was very windy at the Vista House today.  My plan was to take some shots for HDR images but it was too windy for a tripod.  That will have to be on my to-do list. 

Floating Fuchsia

We looked out the front window this evening and saw this floating fuchsia between the two porch posts.  It's slowly spinning while hanging from a spider web thread.

It looks like it's defying gravity.

Maybe I should have waited until Friday to post this.  The title could be, "Friday Freaky Free Floating Fuchsia".

A Change in the Weather

Although this photo was taken last Saturday morning, it's evident that the weather is changing.  Cool night air passing over warm ground from the previous day gives the condensation needed for fog.   The fog makes this road look lonely compared to how it usually looks.

Our first day of fall today was cool and rainy.  I'm looking forward to fall, how about you?  I like the beauty with the colors, the food, the weather, and college football.  What do you like about fall?

Fishing Memories

Fishing brings to mind good memories.  Memories like when I caught my first trout near Lake Michigan.  I was about 6 or 7 and we were on vacation taking a drive around the lake.  We stopped at a trout farm, the kind were you catch fish and then the nearby restaurant cooks them for you.  I was so excited when I got my first fish onto shore that I let him wiggle back into the water after I got him off the hook.  Okay, so it was the second one that made it to the dinner table.  The first one got away.  He was a "practice fish".

Then there were a few times fishing with my dad and grandfather and times with my son and grandson.  And I spent many hours fishing various lakes with my father-in-law in a little 12 foot Sears fiberglass boat.  I don't know how we got all that equipment in there with us.  It wasn't so much about catching fish because truth be told we didn't catch many.  It was more about being together and building relationships.

These photos were taken this morning on Tillamook Bay.  I was working on the coast and noticed a handful of boats on the water in a light drizzle.  The scene brought back the fishing memories.

I hope you have good fishing memories with family and friends.

Duck Designs

I posted this photo earlier this year but it wasn't in black & white.  The other night while looking through past photos I converted some to black & white just to see what they look like.  Have you done that lately?

This black & white version emphasizes the designs in the water late in the afternoon in the fall a few years ago.  I guess I'm looking forward to fall.

Remembering 9/11

Today as we remember those who lost their lives in the 9/11 attack, let's also remember how we were united as one nation on 9/12.  We are one nation under God... always.

Portland's Living Room

This afternoon I made a sales call at a downtown Portland hotel.  The lobby is on the 8th floor because Macy's takes up the first seven floors.  I caught this view of the center of downtown.  The building in the foreground on the left is Pioneer Courthouse which is a federal courthouse.  Built in 1869 it's the oldest federal building in the Northwest and second oldest west of the Mississippi.

On the right is Pioneer Courthouse Square which is also known as Portland's "living room".  This is where concerts and rallies are held and where the Christmas tree is on display.  And since the Northwest is known for its rainfall, today we even had the usual fair on tap.

Mystery in a Small Coastal Town

At the coast this weekend I took some photos in Garibaldi Harbor in Tillamook Bay.  I thought the lady sitting on the end of the pier made for an interesting composition.  It wasn't until I looked at this one on the computer that I noticed it looks like no one is in the boat.  It could be an opening scene from a mystery movie set in a small North Coast town. 

Love Note?

I've been working in Southern Oregon the last couple of days.  After I got home tonight I took off again to get my wife and I some dinner.  This was the sunset as I was riding home.  I caught it on the late side.  A few minutes earlier it was more pink.

When I see colorful sunsets and sunrises I can't help but think that they are love notes from God telling us that He loves us.

I Wonder...

Sometimes I wonder what Adam and Eve thought while walking in The Garden of Eden.  How beautiful it must have been just after God created it and said that it was good.  I think the creation is beautiful today but to see it in the beginning would have been absolutely awesome.

I find comfort reading the Bible, especially in these uncertain times.  It's comforting to know that what we see is not all there is or will be.  What God has planned for those who love Him will be beyond what we could ever expect or imagine.  The Bible says, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him." (1 Corinthians 2:9) 

Cool Weather Scene

Here's a scene that might not be that common these days, but soon this will be familiar again as we enter into the cool nights of fall.  Today I stopped at the Heathman Lodge in Washington to use the wireless internet and lobby as a field office.  This fireside scene caught my attention as a relaxing place to settle in with a good book on a fall afternoon.

Towards the end of each season do you find yourself looking forward to the next one?

Fancy Squirrel Bridge

Yesterday while in Longview, Washington I thought I would show this unique squirrel bridge again with it's summer view.  This crosses a busy street in front of the public library and gives the squirrels a safe way to cross... in case they need a book.  I showed this bridge in March with a different view.

For Yolanda

 (Haystack Rock - Cannon Beach, OR)

The last couple of days I've been working at the coast.  Yesterday afternoon as I was approaching a favorite spot of Yolanda at Giving it a Shot, I decided to stop and take a couple of photos for her.  She's going through a difficult battle and I thought this might brighten her outlook these days. 

We all need a Rock in life.  Haystack is always there even when it's covered in fog and we can't see it. It's always there.

Yolanda, your positive attitude in spite of what you're going through is an inspiration to many.  I hope these photos don't make you homesick.  Just remember, you'll be back soon.

Anatomy of a Leaf

The other day while walking through a healing garden at one of Portland's hospitals I decided to stop and look at things. Just take a moment to bring the issues of the day to a scretching halt and relax.

After choosing a couple of photos for posting, I was prompted to do a search on the anatomy of a leaf. The cross section showing the complexity of it was a reminder of not only 8th grade science class but of the amazing world in which we live.

Years ago I took an astronomy class. I was blown away by the vastness of the universe and what a small piece we are to the entire puzzle. Can there be life on other planets in other galaxies? So far we don't know but one thing is for sure. The design and order we find in something as simple as a leaf is most definitely a love note from our Creator.

Isn't it Amazing?

Isn't it amazing that we're on a planet swirling around the universe yet we're surrounded by beautiful and orderly things such as this?  I know that there are some who believe in evolution, which is to say nothing + nobody = everything.  But the design in the universe doesn't seem to be random.

Over the course of his life Albert Einstein became a deist - a believer in an impersonal creator God.  He once stated, "I believe in Spinoza's God who reveals himself in the orderly harmony of what exists, not in a God who concerns himself with fates and actions of human beings."  Einstein was half right.

"Happy Faces"

This morning I had to stop the motorcycle and capture these "happy faces".  As I stood there taking photos I had the urge to say, "You're all probably wondering why I called you together for this meeting in this field."