Memorial Day 2012

I attended my first Memorial Day service in a small pioneer cemetery in Brownsville Oregon.

                                              

Color Guard

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow.

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flansders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

to you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields

A life time ago, yet, only yesterday

Remembering

In Memoriam 2012

 

 

Paying Tribute

Playing Taps

I went up to the cemetery the day prior, to get photographs of the flags that were placed at the headstones of the veterans who served our country.


While I was walking through, and listening to my own thoughts and the wind and the silence, I began to see the lives of these people, and the families who let them go, for us.



I came across this flag, marking the grave of one of our soldiers. Alone.
I couldn't help but cry.

God Bless America

When the ceremony was about to come to a close, one of the coordinators said they don't usually have such a big crowd, but they would like everyone to take and hold the person next to them, their hand.

As everyone sang God Bless America.

We thank our veterans on this special day, we can not forget the families either, as their sacrifices have been just as great.

This will not be my last service.


Thank you.

Rhody Fest 2012

I spent the day in Florence at the Oregon Coast this last Saturday with a couple of my friends. I have lived here in Oregon for 12 years now, and only learned about the Rhody festival over the last couple of years.

Rhody Fest

And all the while, I was under the impression it was in celebration of the Rhododendrons in bloom!

Ketchikan, the small town I grew up in holds a Blueberry Festival every year, in celebration of the Blueberries, so I assumed this festival being held in Florence was the same type of thing. It makes sense right?

Everywhere you looked, you would see a motorcycle! and if you didn't see one, you were sure to hear one! There were old and new and fancy and not so fancy. There were Harley's and Ducati, there were green ones and blue ones and red ones and even pink for the ladies.

And all that leather! Oh My!

Florence Or. Rhody Fest

After a little research, yes, it is the festival of the Rhododendrons in bloom!


The first annual festival was in May of 1908! and it consisted of a clam bake on the beach and a parade through town. I am inserting the link from which I found the information.

It states the Rhododendron Festival, (Rhody Fest for short) was started in order to attract business.

The "bikes" started showing up in the 80's which was fine by them, as it afforded even more revenue for the township.

So the Rhody's, whether flowers or bikers go hand in hand.





http://www.northwestmagazines.com/oregon_coast_florence_rhody_days.php

Eclipse,

I gave it a good effort to watch the eclipse this evening.

The sun peeked out of the clouded sky, so I made my home fashioned eclipse viewing box and followed the instructions, but alas, it was not meant to be.

I do wonder if I will ever see one in my lifetime.





Going through my photo's, I came across these and thought they would be nice to share.

I took them during our super moon a few weeks back.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. The Willamette is a pretty place.

S ~

"Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I'm going to take tomorrow"  
                                                                                                                     - Imogen Cunningham

Between land and space
the wind whispers her beauty

I have to agree, because I can't seem to get the next shot off of my mind, and I have no idea what it will be! Photography is always ever present in my mind.




I wonder where I will be, what I will see or more importantly, what I won't see! I am constantly aware of my surroundings, will there be a place to pull over to take that shot, and if not, will it still be there when I turn around and come back? Will I have lost the moment? or is this the perfect moment?




Photography is about moments and it is about light, and it is about being who you are. When I have my camera in my hand, the world disappears. My worries or troubles or past or future are simply gone, and it is simply me in that moment of space and time. And my biggest joy is to share what I see with you.

Daisies,

Those who know me, know that the ever beautiful Daisy is my favorite flower! I guess I am kind of like them in a way.  They are persistent at times and don't give up easy!

Yellow Gerbera Daisy

You know those cute little daisies that grow just a few inches off the ground? They were taking over my yard. I felt just horrible, but there I was, this spring in my Ketchikan sneakers, coat, gloves and hat walking like a duck back and forth in my yard, digging up every single one who dared to show their pretty little white petals!

I was determined to win! And I did....  until it started to rain more and more, and there, from the safety of my home I watched on a daily basis as they came back one by one, and I decided to let them be.

I still love Daisies, don't get me wrong, but some things are meant to be admired from afar.

I took this photograph from a friends gorgeous patch of Gerbera Daisies, yellow....my favorite color!

Back in the Saddle

Night Lights

Giddy~Up!

She's been around the block a time or two

Paying the undertaker in advance is required

The Undertaker

A lifetime of memories

He loves me...

Waiting for my prince to come

Summer

The town I live in is quite active during the summer, there is always something going on. The most recent photographs I am listing are from the Carriage Me Back celebration held every year.

Strolling in the park

He sure could play that harmonica!

That's a cool wheel!

Somebody's new baby!

After having to take some time off I am back in the saddle! I wanted to share some photographs I have taken over the past month.

I can't seem to get enough time behind my lens!