"I started photographing my domestic world and writing not just about what I had made,
but why I made it, examining the thoughts that accompany creativity and the act of making."
Jane Brocket from The Gentle Art of Domesticity p. 189 UK edition

Monday, May 6, 2013

Detour to Bluff Road









Such a fabulous stretch of warm and sunny weather we are having near Portland, Oregon, USA, it is tarnishing our reputation for being perpetually wet and cool :-) [I am not complaining!]

On the way home from church yesterday, Mt. Hood seemed to beg me to take the scenic route home.  I headed toward it, aiming to get on Bluff Road from which there are some lovely views of Mt. Hood, but I was soon detoured up and down and around many local farms and nurseries due to road construction.  I was giving up hope of making it to Bluff Road or seeing Mt. Hood when I came to a stop sign and was able to sit there long enough to take the first picture.  In spite of the power lines, I loved being surprised by a unique view of the mountain just as I was able to turn onto Bluff Road past my usual spots I like to stop to take photos.

When I got home I spotted a cluster of yellow wild iris on the edge of the front pond.  Then later the little grand girls got to play in the sprinkler for the first time in 2013!  I decided to tromp down around the ponds again and see if I could snap some photos of the Trillium I tried to snap several days ago, and this time I succeeded.  I also made a little audio/video recording of the brook behind the pond I wanted to share with you because it sounds and looks so lovely, but Blogger says there is some sort of error in downloading it...sigh.  Sorry!

On the way back to the house I spotted some feathers and took a picture of a pretty blue one [thinking of you Meredith as I did so.]

Last night I planned to start sewing the three bunnies I cut out from one of Helen Philipp's patterns from her book, Pretty Patchwork Gifts, when our lights went out for an extended period [not sure why].  Today all our technological gismos have been out of sorts and requiring resetting and my youngest daughter had many adventures getting to and from her work as a nurse at the VA Hospital because the public transit system was fouled up as well.  But I hope to do some stitching as soon as I press "Publish" on this post :-)

Are the lights on around you?
xx,
Gracie

19 comments:

  1. I really love your photos. I'd love to visit Portland one day, it truely looks like the most beautiful place.

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  2. You live in such a very beautiful part of the world.

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  3. Hello Gracie I'm just catching up and loved both your latest posts....gorgeous pictures of the trillium, the beautiful scenery around you and your sweet grand girlies....Sorry you had a power cut....so disruptive, especially when you want to start sewing! I hope you enjoy your stitching and have a wonderful week.
    Helen x

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  4. Your photos just make my heart sing!!! My cousin Kelly, who was just here last weekend for my Mom's birthday, works in Portland. She lives in WA though. I was telling her how much I want to come visit. And that I have several blogging friend who live in that area that I would so love to meet in person. Perhaps it will become a reality one day?
    Lovely post. And the stack of your crafting there on the table made me giddy too!!!
    Hugs,
    Kris

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  5. Our lights are on Gracie! What a beautiful post. I'm always amazed, astounded and in awe of our Creator when I see photos of Mt. Hood. I can't find the words to describe it.

    Love, love, love the pictures of your grand-girls with their arms outstretched just waiting for the drops to hit them.

    And your cozy room, all set up for crafting. What a pile of fun to dive into.

    I hope you have "another" beautiful day today Gracie. We're supposed to be about 85F again so I'm heading to the lake for the day. I'm giving a crochet lesson to a friend out there.

    See you very soon.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  6. Mt. Hood is spectacular as always. Lovely trillium and iris and stream and feather, and little girls holding out their hands to the spray! I'm glad you're having such a stretch of sunshine. It feels wonderful, doesn't it? :)

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  7. Gracie, thank you for the lovely thoughts as you found that feather. I have been feather hunting and have not found any, I think there must be a season for feathers and we are not in it. Lovely picture of Mt Hood, you must be so amazed each and every time you view it. But my favorite is cute, giggling girls waiting for the water to reach them, how adorable.
    Hugs to you sweet friend,
    Meredith

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  8. More fun photos of your world, Gracie! My favorite is the girls being excited by the sprinkler spray! My 2 grandgirls we doing the same thing in Ohio last week and my daughter posted the photos on facebook. We're heading off soon to meet up for lunch at Bumpers Grill in Fairview with hubby's sister and her husband. He's going through chemo.. poor guy. Talk soon.. ((hugs)), Teresa

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  9. My husband LOVES your mountain top posts.
    I LOVE the way you caught the stream water.....

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  10. Hello beautiful photos - I never tire of al the different views I see of My Hood. Like to think I might get to see it for 'real' one day. DH and I still talk about a possible trip- we'll see.
    We have had lots of lovely sunlight here. Though I think it is set to change tomorrow. Hugs Anne x

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  11. The girls are having a blast in the sprinkler! How fun. Your photos are really pretty.

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  12. I will have to ask my DH about the yellow pond irises:)
    Blessings, Aimee

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  13. oooh I can't wait to see the Patchwork Gifts ... !!! xxx

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  14. Gorgeous photos. I love the wee plume of cloud being formed at the summit of the mountain. And the wild iris and trillium! There are wild iris in Scotland but trillium only from specialist garden centres, I think. How fun for your little ones to enjoy the sprinkler. We had a cracker of a day here in Aberdeen yesterday. Back to rain today! And yes, the lights are on, luckily.

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  15. THankful to have the lights on here. Sorry your plans were foiled. Loved the picture of Mount Hood. I wish Ohio had a mountain or two closer by ;-)

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  16. Your photograph of the brook took my breath away - so beautiful! Lucky you, living in such a beautiful place :) Looking forward to seeing your patchwork creations x x

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  17. Love your crafty table there by the fire place!! There is just something so pleasing about all that fabric and knitting needles and yarn! :-) It must seem strange to see all that snow on the mountain in contrast to all the flowers and greenery. What a neat place to live!

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  18. Hello Gracie, Today while it is raining outside I am having fun looking and reading others beautiful blogs..Your Oregon photos are so very lovely.. The Pink Trillium photo is very pretty and your Mt. Stream is awesome.. I Look forward to looking at more of your blog.. I am your newest follower. Hugs Judy

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  19. Thought it must have been warm seeing the children enjoying the sprinkler. Cold and windy here.

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