Another Arizona Sunset

Last night gave us another fabulous afternoon sky

Traveling with Everything

Walking around the campground you see a wide variety of rigs.  Pup tents to very expensive motorhomes.  You see those traveling light and those that have brought everything.  This is an example of that.  The motorhome has a motorcycle attached to the back.  It is towing the pickup which towing a flatbed trailer which is loaded with two electric bikes and a side-by-side ATV.  I'm sure a kitchen sink must be in there somewhere.

My breakfast View

The hills are alive with the coming of dawn

If light was music, it would be a song

Wednesday Dec 6th 2023

Very nice day.  High temperature about 70-71, blue skies with some clouds.  I was only a trailer today, walk in the rear watching for touches, helping if a problem arises.  Also listening to the guide,. Observing style, learning information, picking up tips to better my presentation.

  My guide today was not one I want to emulate in any form.  Her tour was bland, facts inaccurate.  She will be my trailer tomorrow.  That should be interesting.

   After work our neighbors gathered around Mike and Julie's campfire and talked about work and told stories.  At least an hour of belly laughter.  Great fun and good for the soul.  This is why we do this.

sunset

Dawn in Nevada

This morning as the sun came up, the moon was setting.  In Goldfield, Nevada it looked like this.

Sights and sounds of fall

Fall is not my favorite time of year.  Summer is over . It getting colder.  The rain has started.

  There are a few good parts.  The fall colors are great, especially the Maples and Sweet Gums.  But my all time favorite song of fall comes from the sky.  The Canada Geese are gathering for their annual migration south.  For several weeks the skies are filled with strings of birds, honking to each other.  

The Call of the Wild.

Homemade decorations

Here's my latest holiday decoration.  I had some cedar fence boards and an idea.  It changed several times during the building process.  Currently it looks like this.

Four greyhounds and Nigel in the back seat

Fall at Canby Community Park

The boys and I had a nice walk.  Sunshine and blue skies for the first time in a week.  Great reflections.  Lots of ducks including Wood Ducks on the pond.

Clematis

Fall has fallen heavily.  Cool temps, lots of rain, leaves falling everywhere.  Only flowers are fall Mum's.  

Not so !  Our Clematis still has five blossoms.  Scraggly looking but still hanging on.  This is the second set of flowers.  There are actually three varieties on this trellis.  All three were blooming at the same time this summer.  We had never had the abundance of flowers before.  

  Hang on little bits of color.  Hang on.

Hosta in the Fall

Hostas are great outdoor plants here in Oregon.  They do well in shady conditions.  Now they "dying back" for fall.  I cut all the leaves and piled them on top for the winter.  Before I cut the last one I took this photo.

Oscar

Meet Oscar.  He has been visiting us at Halloween time since 1970. 



My Morning Delight

Rocco

Rocco was going to be our next foster dog. Black and tan, 12 years old.  We were he going to pick him up in a day or two.  I just got a call that his heart failed this morning.

Rest in peace, Rocco

Today;s Artist -- Lewis Capaldi

 Lewis Capaldi is a Scottish singer-songwriter.  

   Powerful voice, emotional songs

   Lost loves, Missed opportunities.  Things that should have been done.  Words that should have been said,

"Wish You the Best "

"Someone You Loved"

"Hold Me While You Wait"

The last of our apples

These are probably the last of the apples from our tree.  We have been in this house ten years and never have had a crop like this year.  Perhaps 2-3 batches.

Fall colors

The fall colors in the trees and Mt Hood in the distance with a coat of new snow.

The Morning Light

Yodi update

Remember Yodi , now Darrell?  When we picked him up the former owner said he was all Dachshund.  Well the new owners did the test.  He's 50% Dachshund, 48% Australian Cattle Dog and 2% McNab ( which is another herding dog).  That why he's so solid.  Go get 'um Darrell !

Road Trip for Greyhounds

Left our house at 6:30 pm Thursday evening as part of the transport team for Greyhound Pet Adoption - Northwest ( GPA-NW )

Drove down I-5 stopping only for fuel a meal.

Arrived in Pet Express in LA at 4pm Friday. Dropped off dog food.  Then to motel

Eight Australian Greyhounds arrived Friday at 8 pm.  Pet Express expedited them through customs and transported them to their facility.

At 8:30 we were there to pick them up and load them into our special trailer.  We then drove straight through to Portland stopping only for fuel and to let our cargo out of the trailer for exercise and to relieve themselves.

   

I was dropped off at our house at 6am this morning.( Sunday) 60 hours later.  The dogs will be at foster home for several days until  permanent homes can be found.  It was a tiring trip but more Greyhounds will soon be in loving homes

My latest project

Now that Fall is here the days are cooler and wetter.  Walking the boys in wet weather or dry. We use the side door and come in through the garage.  I got tired of draping my coats, parkas, and hats on shelf posts and bicycle handlebars, so I build this tree from scrap wood.

Full Moon

First day of sunshine for a couple of weeks.    On my morning walk with the boys I noticed the moon.  Evidently it was full last night. Enjoy

Yodi is gone

Yodi went to his forever home yesterday.  Fostering is a bittersweet action.  You get to spend time with the critter ( dog, cat, turtle). You give it love and attention.  You get love and attention in return.  You establish a bond , a trust .  It feels really good.  Uou know that it is only temporary, that it will end.  And when it does, you know that your friend is going to a good place, but it hurts a little.

 Yodi got a bath before he left yesterday.

Rememberinh Wally

The coast gives the greatest sky photos 

 But so does the desert 

Fall

FALL has arrived.  The Dahlias are getting to the end of their reign.  

But some are still showing their beauty.

 

Walking with Dogs

Always fun.  Always interesting.  Always worthwhile, especially for the dogs.  

  They get exercise. They get variety.  They get new and interesting smells to interpret.

   I get exercise.  I get variety.  I get some sights and smells too.  I also get to work on my dance steps.  With my current foster dog, Yodi and before that, Gimli, walking three dogs requires hand- eye- foot coordination.  The most challenging part is the initial ten minutes.  Getting everybody hooked up and out the door.  By the time we round the corner I have the leashes untangled and we are actually moving forward.  From them on it's a moving dance routine asy walking mates find interest along our route.

All in all, a good thing.

Yodi

Yodi is our latest foster dog.  We picked him up on Saturday so today is Day Three. He's supposed to be all Dachshund but I think that has somel other genes in him.   That doesn't make him better or worse, it just explains certain physical and emotional traits.

   As you can see he is either very overweight or just has a "hybrid " physiology.

I can tell you , he is solid.  He must be close to 30 lbs but he can jump up on our bed which is quite tall.  He must have slept in a human bed in his previous home but that's not allowed in our house.  Part of our job is to give him a stable environment, notice and address any issues, get him into a veterinarian to be checked out and updated.  Oregon Dachshund Rescue has the job of finding him a new forever home.

Today's Artist --- Mary Chapin Carpenter

 Mary Chapin Carpenter -- Singer Songwriter.  Pop, Folk, Country all blended together to form songs that are varied and meaningful yet are fun to listen to.  Her songs sound good with a band or just Mary and her guitar.

Listen to

     "Down at the Twist and Shout"

     "Shut Up and Kiss Me"

Today's sunrise

Back home in Canby

Left our view of the Pacific on Monday morning.  Lots of smoke in the Coast Range (Elkton, Drain to I-5 ).  Thankfully it lessened as we drove north.  Got home about 3:30.  It's Wednesday morning.  The trailer is parked in it's spot beside the house.  It's mostly unloaded.  Some weeding to be done, but happy to be here.

In the tower

Looking towards the west.

Today's Artist -- Nanci Griffith

Country / Folk.  Clear voice.  Simple, easy to understand lyrics about love, boyfriends, growing up.  Close your eyes and remember when.

Listen to :

" Love at the Five and Dime"

" Once in a Very Blue Moon"

Sunset last evening

Days are getting shorter.  I really notice it at the coast because you can actually watch the sun disappear.

Today's artist -- Lori McKenna 8.25.23

Lori:s songs are real.  Part of my life. Simple meaningful lyrics.  Sound good with a band or just a guitar. Put your feet up and listen to :

" People Get Old"

"All I Ever Do"

Lori McKenna

Morning artist - Tori Amos

I floated along this morning, Tori Amos in my ears.  How to describe her music. Complex, varying, truly unique.  Her vocal range is amazing and stunning.  I must admit that I have trouble hearing some of the lyrics which are quite intricate. That being said, I would listen to her music if she sang in pig latin.

" Silent for so Long"

" Cornflake Girl"

Morning artist Tracy Chapman

Best known for 

 "Fast Cars",, "Talking About a Revolution"

Gritty " protest songs.  Songs of poverty
, oppression, sadness.  Traci has haunting voice.

Listen to. " The Promise"   It will touch you.

Washing windows

Washing windows can be fun if you doing the lighthouse lantern glass.

Pacific scenes

Morning walk artist Love and Rockets

My son heard them this summer.  English trio.  Described as punk, rock,  fusion ( whatever the is).  My opinion -  Upbeat, lively.  Escape music.  I'd go to a concert if you bought.  Definitely bring hearing protection.

Wouldn't buy an album.

"Kundalini Express"

'Holiday on the Moon"