I'M READY TO HIT THE TRAIL

 Well, I don't know about you, but I am ready to hit the road and find a good trail for hiking and communing with mother (earth). Winter has been very kind to us here in the Willamette Valley with record warm temperatures. In fact, I have burned exactly half the wood in my wood stove that I usually do by this time. While I won't complain, I know it will allow a profusion of insects to swarm and make life buggy this summer. Another repercussion is the low snow pack. We may have a bad fire year. So I will need to plan twice while making my itinerary for the summers travels. Once for where I want to go, and twice for where I may end up due to forest fires.

That all being said, I hope you are planning a season of outdoor adventure that will roll with you into the next winter; one that will keep you mulling over the beauty outside your window when the November weather graces us with bluster.

Tripping On Oregon's Treasures will be out in May. It is a book of my stories and will hopefully give you some ideas on which direction to "trip" off to this summer. I will keep you posted on actual date of publication. In the mean time, get out your maps and start warming up your hiking boots. It's almost time!

WE WERE BORN WET, ENJOY THIS WEATHER

As I have said previously, I love winter. We are currently in the midst of a "major rain event" which should bring several inches of rain to the Willamette Valley in the next few days. It is warm like the middle of spring with a wind to blow your hat to Portland. So my camera and I took a walk down to the Willamette River. 

In 1912 this bridge in the pix below was constructed as a railroad bridge. It was used for decades but after the trains quit using it, it fell into disrepair. Several years ago the city of Salem purchased it, retrofitted it as a pedestrian bridge connecting the Riverfront Park on the east to Wallace Marine Park on the west side of the river. It is a favored walking / biking spot for Salem folks. Note the blue sky. I wore my raincoat and hat. Not a drop! Oh well, my camera captured some shots. I included my two favorite ones here. The bottom one is "winter reflections in a city mud puddle". 

I hope wherever you are, you are getting out and enjoying this lovely weather we have right now. Even if you have to walk in "wind-driven rain" enjoy the heck out of it. It is every bit as fun as playing in the sprinklers used to be as a child. You won't melt and I'll bet you have a great time.

MA NATURE IN HER LICHEN LONG-JOHNS

I Love Love Love winter. It is a time for rest and renewal. Taking a cue from our Mother (Nature) I enjoy the peaceful quiet that comes from winter time. As Mother Nature strips down to her Lichen Long-johns for a foggy respite from creating growth, so do I take advantage of the short daylight hours. 

Have you noticed what daylight induces? One must weed, mow, rake, hoe, clip, prune, paint, mend fences, wash cars, and while the hose is out, wash windows...and oh, the house. None of which can be done if it is dark when you return home from work, or it is too cold out, or there is nothing to mow, weed, prune or rake. 

So who wouldn't love a cup of hot mint tea, a good book, and a foggy or rainy, or snowy, or darkening day? I do, I do. Ah, good old winter who comes but a few months a year. Can you stay? Have some tea? 

FIELD OF DAISES

I am currently right in the middle of writing my next book. It will be out in May. The title is: TRIPPING ON OREGON'S TREASURES Gathering Gems to Pave Memory Lane. It is solely a book with stories of my travels these past few years. Noted in the book are references to this blog so readers can find colored pictures of the black & whites published in the book. This beauty of the white horse in a field of daises has never made it into the blog so I figured it was about time. This being winter and all, we do need an infusion of Spring. So here it is. Enjoy, and just wait--in May the new book will be ready for you. In the mean time, I hope you are planning your adventures for next Summer. Now's the time. Planning is part of the fun. GO WILD! 

WINTER'S ON THE WAY

It's always such a surprise to me how beautiful Autumn can be. Even though I have experienced a "few" of them, I never tire of the exquisite beauty of a golden tree when the sun hits it square in the face or of a bush preparing for winter with all it's different colors.

Having just finished the Albany Bazaar, I had the pleasure of meeting a number of you. I thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Since most of you know "how to get out" the primary request has been for more of my stories. So, I will be spending my winter on my treadmill typing, typing, typing to get a book of stories done by May. The glorious part of doing so will be in the reliving my stories while I set them to print for you. Stay tuned, I will keep you posted.

If you are new to my blog, please subscribe by entering your email into the subscription field on the right. That allows new posts to be sent to your email. I wish you all a warm, snuggy winter with thoughts of hiking trails and bird song as you plan your coming adventures.