The First Big Snows are Happening....

Wow! It has been a long time since I touched this blog and probably have a lot to write about but am just busting through some thoughts for tonight. I am also having trouble typing and a having to backspace to correct my mistakes!

Anyway, it started this past weekend (10/23-24) with our weather. We basically started getting our first big storms pushing off the ocean over the coast range, across the valley and hitting up against the Cascades. Mt Hood is almost close to "3" feet of new snow at timberline lodge as of this Tuesday! Our favorite little ski area 'HooDoo' has over 25 inches in their parking lot from the past four days. Hope it keeps up and makes for some great days on the hill and doing the snowboard thing. My daughter is chomping at the bit to get back on a snowboard as she was just learning last year. I think she will put it all together this year.

All of that got me thinking of some snow shots and will start to look through my records (photo achieves) and see what I can find. Until I get some more I am posting one from a few years back looking back at Mt. Jefferson from near the Detroit Reservoir in the Eastern part of Marion County.

Enjoy, Tim

Going into Fall

This past Sunday (9/25) was spent wondering if the rain might stop so I could ride a bicycle for a few hours...It didn't until later in the day after my desire had went away.

So I ended up going out around 11 AM for a few hours in the car to some areas in Polk county where I may capture some animals with the camera. I usually go out to Basket Slough NWR area and the surrounding lands to the North of there as there are some Elk that I know of and have seen but not close enough to get shots.

Today I did happen upon an Egret and some Black Tail deer and have provided a shot of one of the does in a small group that was in a field near where I parked. This one I would say is probably between 1-2 years based on it's size from the obvious older ones and one that looked like it was probably born this past spring. Anyway, they were kind of enough to let me get some shots and just sit and watch them which was a great way to pass a little time! The Egret did't pose itself very well with me looking through some tall grass in a little drainage on the North side of the NWR. I may post it in another posting.

Enjoy and thanks for stopping in. Tim -

On the Ride - Looking at Me!

What a beautiful day for a ride on the bicycle! Got in just over two hours today and used the Alloy/Carbon Diamondback bicycle for the road today. A little overcast but the clouds started to break up before I got home, with temps in the upper 50's to lower 60's.

Fun thing about this time of year is the various levels of harvesting that are taking place. Most of the grass seed fields, wheat and other grains have been brought in. Beans are getting close to being done and Corn is still growing but also getting close to coming in and processed! But Ah! The vineyards are still a month or so out from the start of harvest. The vines are getting heavy with the different varietals that will be cut, smashed and carefully crafted into another fine vintage of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay maybe some Cabernet out there also. The eola hills in which we live in are great hills for growing the Pinot grapes and there is some really great wine that is produced just miles from my doorstep!

All that being said I could not pass up taking a shot of me in this convex mirror that is opposite a driveway. They use it as the driveway has to contend with a slight curve on a gradual sloping road (Hopewell Road, I believe) and this I am sure helps them from doing some dangerous pull outs. I thought it was just fun to take the shot!

Have a great week and thanks for stopping in. Tim -

Poppies and Bikes

Back at the beginning of August I went out in Marion County as I was told of some Poppy fields that might make some nice shots. It was a Sunday overcast morning for the most part and just as told to me this one nice sized field was there before me.

I took a number of shots looking over the field, some close ups and wide angle shots but I decided to post this one with some bikes floating behind the poppies and in front of some trees from another farm.

I had passed the cyclists earlier while getting out of Salem, but didn't expect them to come by the very place I was at! The field was beautiful and I am glad I took the time to go out there that Sunday morning! Will post more of these on my regular photo website and maybe some further along in this blog.

August is winding down! Thanks for stopping by for a few minutes. Tim -

Art Show - Independence, OR

Hi folks -

I have two pieces of photographic art being exhibited in an art show in a little town about 12 miles from my home. The gallery is 'River Gallery' and is located at 184 Main Street in Independence, OR. It is a nice little gallery and is owned/operated by (I believe) 15 local area artists. They also have associate levels and what I am doing at the 'visitor' level for the show.

Anyway the show is called Fur, Fins and Feathers so you guessed it! It deals with animals that have any of the three mentioned items. There should be some really great stuff to see so try and make it if you can and all items from all artists are for sale! Oh yeah, about forgot to say that it started on August 3rd and runs through August 29th with a public reception and jury awards announced on August 7th (Saturday). I believe they might have some wine and small snack items there, but there are also some really good restaurants on the same street! We could all make an evening of it.

Well, I included one of my two pieces and it is of three Big Horn Sheep Rams. The other shot is of a Bison just outside of Yellowstone Park that I got a few winters ago. Both are matted and framed and look absolutely wonderful in my biased opinion.

Thanks for checking in and if you get a chance to make it to the gallery great or even spread the news. Tim