A 14th Birthday - In The Style of Monkeypaw

Yesterday was my daughter's 14th birthday. So what did I do? Took her on a photo hike through Minto Brown's flooded terrain.

Yup.. her feet got wet. The water was still "flowing" over the road and we had to get past that to see more of the park. She cowboy upped and was rewarded with a photo shoot of epicosity. Happy Birthday!

Here are some of the images I walked away with:

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Above is a series from the first pond on the left as you enter the park. Below is a series of some rocks.

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Below is a series after we past the water running over the road.

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Lastly is a series of reflections I pulled from the water's edge.

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I hope you enjoyed the image. I know we enjoyed the two hours of shooting. She got some amazing images as well. 

A weekend at the beach

It amazes me how much beauty there is at the coast, even when you leave the beach. I am planning an outing for my photography club to this particular location.

Have you ever been camping in a yurt? I have; many times. It is always a great experience. If you haven't or even think I am making the word Yurt up, you should check it out.

A yurt is like a cross between a cabin and a tent. They have heat, power, and some even have cable hookup for those of you that understand what camping it about. The yurts can each sleep five people and a select few in Oregon are pet friendly.

Leaving the yurt, you are just minutes, walking, from so much natural beauty.

And you are only ten minutes from Newport's Historic Waterfront.

Check out SouthBeach State Park, at $40 a night, it makes a weekend at the coast affordable and just as enjoyable as the $120 a night motels.

 

Our Weekend with Wags and Friends

This weekend we were blessed with the opportunity to spend some time with a new friend, Wags. During the flooding in Salem, the Willamette Humane Society called out for help to their volunteers. The facility was evacuated due to the rising waters. We arrived after so many troubles with road closures and after a short time, we went home with three friends, a dog and two cats. 

I would like you to say hello to Wags. 

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Wags is a 2 year old Border Collie mix, and has almost as much energy as he does love. He is completely house broke. And while he had a few accidents the first night, he was nervous and had a case of the runs. After that first night he was accident free.

This weekend was our 6th wedding anniversary, and we had plans to go to coast this weekend. But because we also answered the call to help we had to make a choice. We had already asked our friend Liz to come over and watch our cat, so we confirmed with her that a couple of extra cats would be okay as well. Liz, being the kitties lover she is, welcomed the extra feline friends. So we took Wags with us to the coast.

Wags bonded with us completely. He was a complete companion. He loves other animals, he loves people and rarely left our side and he is always happy. He was so at home with us in our Yurt that he even smiled while he slept. It was hard for us to take Wags back. The bonding my wife and shared with him was deep. 

In addition to wags we brough home Bunny Boo and Duece. Both loving kitties and siblings, although they completely different. Bunny Boo, in the first photo is a playful and energetic girl that love playing almost as much a snuggling. Duece, is a calm quite boy that is shy at first, but warms up for some snuggles soon enough.

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Come on down to the Willamette Humane Society for and take on of these future family members home or if for nothing else, come down and see what you can do help, and say hello to Wags... it won't take long for his loving personality to touch you like he did us.