Flower Power

 I love taking photographs of flowers, I don't know what it is. Maybe it's because I can get so up close and personal, the colors, the details. I always finding myself going back to a local park I love, the gardeners always do such a beautiful job keeping up the flowers there. Enjoy.

These photographs were taken at Bush's Pasture Park, if you're in the area you should really check it out. 

Some photographers don't like to give out their location due to they want to keep it to themselves or if in a nature setting want to make sure that a lot of public don't go in and destroy the beautiful area, I believe that to some degree. I feel if you take photographs in a local park some people will figure out where it was, why not just let the pubic know so they can enjoy doing the same the photographer has done. i understand about in a "secret" location I love nature, and get very upset to see people go in and leave trash around. 

Texas Time!

Welcome to Texas.. Clearly if anyone knows me, I am the one who makes the travel plans in the family,  If you can't tell from the photographs O'l man winter was done yet. But it was the best time we had in a long time, from going to our old stomping grounds, to just sitting around the living room catching up and watching the kids play, to driving down to see our niece at Texas A&M!

The One & Only 12th MAN!

To our Family & Friends, until we meet again. 

Take care & Love each other Every Day!

Love you

Family History

 When planning our trip to Texas, I ask my husband if we could do a little road trip to Oklahoma where I have cousins on my Dad's side of the family. We traveled to the little town of Shawnee, Oklahoma where my dad grew up.

Here is the church/school that my dad went to when living here so many years ago, I would have loved to go inside but unfortunately there was a church bazaar going on.  Just seeing it though brought tears to my eyes.

Karen on the far right drove us around while I snapped some photographs and she played tour guide. I found out a lot of information besides family history like this is the building where Brad Pitt was born when it was a hospital back in the day.

O'Connor Cousins

Capitola 2020

After getting a new car I felt like going on a little road trip, after talking to my husband who was not happy about it, I think he finally gave in after I promised to call every time I was to stop. I set off to see my mom who lives by herself in California. I know what you're thinking, but I love it there, cute little town nestled between mountains, speaking of that is what the town is called Mountain View. While there we went to Santa Cruz my all time favorite place, it seemed eerie that there wasn't that many people there and some were wearing masks. 

 We went on the pier and did a little shopping, at one store, they were only letting one family in at a time. Then ate lunch right next door, where they had every other table available. We walked a little bit then decided we had enough and drove back to my mom's before the traffic got too bad. 

The next day we drove down a little further into the cute little town of Capitola, one place where I have wanted to go for a long time. While driving down the streets I couldn't believe all the people, it was like driving down Miami Beach during spring break, I found the what I thought were houses which turned out to be a hotel I was looking for took some quick images, and we were out of there. 

I am not sure when I will make it back there but I think I found my new favorite beach town. 

Thank you Mom for the Memories of California 2020! 

RoadTrip

 Mt. Jefferson

Mt. Washington

When going on a road trip with my husband we decided to go to Central Oregon, It was a beautiful day, we drove into Camp Sherman to Wizard Falls.

 I could've watched forever, the sound of the rushing water, and for me the color, the water was so clear. We then drove onto Bend and explored a little there, I know if given more time I would have found somethings that could catch my eye. You definitely need more than a day to explore.

Roadside Treasure

I recently went on a drive with a co-worker, as we are driving along they pointed out this as someone called it "roadside treasure" to me. I was in awe and knew I had to go back and take some photographs. My husband and I drove to the place that fascinated me earlier that week.

 After getting home and looking at the images on the computer my husband and I looked at each other and I almost had tears in my eyes, I loved them so much. I have never felt this way about photographs before, my husband made a comment of "I can just see the little fairies or elves walking through" 

I can't wait to go back after a snowfall.. 

Then it would be even more magical than

 it already is. 

Pittock Mansion

All I can say is wow, only being there once before it was almost like going for the first time all over again..  Nestled at the top of the West Hills in Portland the views alone are worth going, but I suggest paying the extra to look around and

 

seeing how the other half lived.







The music room was just one of the most beautiful rooms I have ever seen, and believe me photographs do not do this elegance and grandeur justice.
I couldn't even imagine living in a house that even had a room like this.

Then coming around the corner to see the most amazing staircase, I was in awe. I can just see the elegant ladies coming down those stairs in their formal wear going into the dining room and then sitting room after dinner.

       This was at the top of the stairs, another wow. Then into the bedrooms and sitting rooms. I don't want to give all the rooms away, I want you to see them for yourself, I would wait to see what it looks like at Christmas, which is when I am going back, with the tree and decorations it will remind me of Downton Abbey. 

Cape Perpetua

Living in the Pacific Northwest almost all of my life, you would think I have explored more of the region. I achieved two things at once, went somewhere I have always wanted to go, and it was also on my bucket list..

It starts out at what is called the Devil's churn, a lot of photo opportunities there with stairs that take you down to the beach and rocks below. (I wasn't daring enough to do that so I stuck to the stone railing that was there). Once done there I asked how do you get to the "stone house" I am not sure if that is what it is called but I went with it. The person asked, "do you want to hike or drive?" Me not being in the greatest of shape said, "drive" so she said, "when leaving go to the next left and stay to the left at the fork and follow all the way to the top. Let me tell you there is no way in the heck I would have made it walking.. I didn't even know if the car was going to make it, but once to the top and a little hike this is the view that awaited me...

I was in awe of the beauty, when they say that photographs don't do it justice, they are so right. Going further down the path which winds along in the trees is very calming, you can hear the wind rustling the tops and the ocean below. The sounds are perfect.



Still walking around the path this is what I was waiting for, the moment of excitement felt like I was a kid in a candy store going around the corner and seeing this...

 

I know it's just a stone "house"or "shelter" but to me it was more, it was something I have wanted to see for a long time. You can walk thru and there is a bench inside to take a rest and listen to the ocean or watch the birds fly by. In my case it was taking photographs galore. 

 On the way back down we seen a coast guard helicopter fly by if that gives you any indication of how high we were.

Added bonus when on the way back home after getting something to eat there was the bridge, stopping to take other photographs I noticed this and for me, it was the ending of the most perfect day because I love to take photographs of interesting things and this to me was interesting because you don't see it everyday and wouldn't expect it to be on a bridge...