Tam’s Think Tank

Monday and beautiful outside. I love these days. Crisp air, blue sky, fall feeling, leaves changing and falling. This is an absolutely gorgeous place to live.

Bridge 99, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

There’s no better place to camp. I know that feeling in me is spurred on by all the great memories I have of the place, but seriously… gorgeous river, fantastic trees, the smell of the air is breathtaking, and the beauty unparalleled. Ah, it will be good to go back again.

Water, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

The Metolius is gorgeous as a river. Springs up, literally, out of a hillside, and grows ever larger as it moves along being fed by other smaller rivers, creeks, etc. It is clear, clean, and beautiful.

Ponderosa, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

It’s amazing in the Camp Sherman area of the Metolius. I love it there. My family went there nearly every year for awhile when I was young. I learned to fly fish on this river and loved every moment we spent there. Being there as an adult brings back all those great memories and the feelings associated with them. Fishing the river with mom and Kev,  Bill teaching me how to fish there, floating down it on inner tubes, catching fish and flopping them up onto shore right at my grandparents feet because I was small and didn’t have a net, freezing after spending too long in the cold water, sniffing the vanilla smelling goodness of the trees, exploring the area in the car with the family singing those crazy Bill songs, eating ice cream sandwiches purchased at the store… the list goes on. For me this is one of two apexes of happiness of my childhood. This place, and the farm my grandparents lived at when I was a kid, are tops.  What great warm memories. What joy. What happiness. I love the Camp Sherman area. I spend time there and not only enjoy the moments I have now, as an adult, but I remember all the good things about what it was to be a kid there. It’s a wonderful feeling every time I go.

In Flight, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

I took so many shots of the bald eagle. There were some as it was taking off, but sadly none turned out clear. This was the only one of it in flight that sort of worked. I like it.

Looking for Dinner, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

This bird kept looking down at the water. So fun to just watch it. We were worried it would consider the dogs as prey. After all, they are small enough to be an option for it. They must have been too camp nasty to look tasty.

Camp, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Our home away from home for a few days. Peaceful. Tranquil. Relaxing. I don’t have to say any more than that.

On The Move, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Love this time of year… so many baby ducks running around. Or should I say… swimming around. So cute.

Renewing, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

The Davis Lake West campground is an amazing place. Several years ago there was a pretty devastating fire in the area. All the area right around the campground was burned to a crisp. When you drive down into the campground it’s like going through a forest ghost town. Dead trees everywhere. Miraculously though once you get right to the campground… trees, green, underbrush. It’s like an oasis in the middle of the desert. Strange… and beautiful.

The area where the fire was is starting to show major signs of life… underbrush really starting to develop, small trees sprouting up that will one day tower over the landscape. It’s lovely. A beautiful reminder that life springs and moves forward, constantly flowing. There’s always something new, always something beautiful, always. If you look, and sometimes you have to look hard, you can always find it. Nature is amazing and life is a constant and stunning miracle.

Grazing, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

After the wedding last weekend we packed up the truck, jumped in with the pups, and drove south and east to Davis Lake for the annual family camping trip. Loads of visitors dropped by, including this beauty.

Splash of Orange, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

I did what I do and ran around taking pictures of our yard a couple of nights ago. It was almost too late in the day, light fading and all, but some of them actually turned out OK. Love these flowers. Not even sure what they are, but we have a little patch of them and they are lovely.

Wildflower, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Last Saturday we also stopped by Mom and Don’s place after lunch with the siblings. We were on a wood gathering mission. After last year’s winter we knew we needed to be better supplied with wood in case we experience another joyous long lasting power outage. So wood gathering we went. Mom and Don have quite the stock pile. They lost some big limbs in the storm last year and have also taken a few trees down themselves. It didn’t take us long to load up.

After loading I took a wander around the property with my camera. There’s always something to take pictures of there. Just so happens the wildflowers are blooming. It’s so lovely right now. Their whole place is actually. They are really turning it into quite the show place. Better Homes and Gardens is going to show up any minute.

Peter Iredale, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

A quick shot of the Peter Iredale as we sped toward the “exit”. Pretty cool.

On The Clam, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

I love this photo. All worn out from clamming, Karen wipes the sand from her eye. You can’t really see it, but it’s there.

Here Clammy Clammy Clammy, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

We limited yesterday… thanks to the fine professional stylings of our very knowledgeable and fast digging comrades. You guys rock. Or maybe I should say… you guys clam.

Clam Diggers, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Here are the very stylish looking clam diggers. Total bounty hunters. Faster than a speeding clam. Are you all just clamoring for me to stop?

Clam Digging, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

So… yesterday, after having a great Saturday I haven’t yet mentioned… loved having you over Maggie. Really nice to see you. It had been awhile. Yesterday… we got up at the butt ass crack of dawn (pardon me) and went clam digging with Stan and Connie. It was a really great day. We really enjoyed ourselves. Thanks guys for driving, for instructing, and for putting up with our sorry excuse for clam digging selves.

Mt. St. Helens, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

The Northwest is such a wondrously beautiful place. What else is there to say really… other than maybe… wow.

Sauvie Island, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

This last Sunday we ventured out to Sauvie Island with some friends for a little hike along the beach. The dogs, ours and our friend’s, loved it. As did we. It was gorgeous out there. What a beautiful spot and a lovely day. Just about perfect. The only thing that might have made it better would’ve been if we’d thought ahead enough to pack a small barbecue and some food. We could have stayed there all day. At a certain point the dogs got to be off leash and it was as if they were sprung from prison or something. I’ve never seen such happy dogs. Running, playing, chasing, rolling around in the sand (after getting a little wet in the river of course)…. happy happy joy joy.

There was a fantastic view of Mt. St. Helens on Sunday.  Pretty clear.  Plus, there was quite a bit of water traffic out on the Columbia.  Made for some good photo ops.

Flies, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Saturday… soccer game… warm… strange flies appearing out of no where to swarm around the wooden goal post. Luckily the kids were not shooting at this. They had temporary, and much smaller, goals to shoot at. If a person was wearing any bright colored shirt, mostly in the yellow family, these little buggers would not leave you alone. Luckily neither of us were wearing yellow, or anything in the yellow family. Luckily.

In The Clear, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

The theme for this week’s Photo Hunt is purple. I remembered that I’d taken a few shots during the fall of 2007 that might fit the bill and when I looked I discovered this one.  Then I realized I’d posted it here at the Think Tank before.  Ah well… I like it, so it’s getting used again, but I realize it’s a re-posting party foul.  What’s a girl to do?

If you’d like to join in all the amazing photo hunt action, CLICK HERE for details.

A Splash of Green, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Last, but not least, if you’re reading from the bottom up, is this beauty. We planted a bunch of succulents around in various pots hoping they would weather the winter. This one has, in terrific style.

Daffodil, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

These beauties are everywhere right now. Amazing.

A Stand of Daffodils, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Wow… what can you say. Nature does color better than any human can. Just breathtaking right now out there. Spring is wonderful.