IT'S TIME TO SPRING INTO SPRING!

Spring has sprung and the red, red, robin has come...bob-bob-bobben along. In the words of William Wordsworth, while he was out for a walk on a spring morning: "...when all at once I saw a crowd, a host, of golden daffodils." Well, what better pictures to embody our opening of this season of rejuvenation and renewal.  Winter has kept us all cooped up and inside, but now we await sunny warm days, gardening, hiking and all the wonderful activities we live here to enjoy. 

It's time to make a list, check the calendar and dig out the hiking shoes. Perhaps I will even get some inspirational photos to share with you. Perhaps, we will even meet on the trail. I hope! In the mean time, take a deep breath of that terrific air, hear the red-winged black birds sing and put one foot in front of the other...keep on!

NOVEMBER HUG

It's November. The long hot summer of 2015 is in the record books. Whether you live in the city or the country, take a few minutes out of your busy day before the holiday season smacks you upside the head. Get out, breath some cool air. Splash in a puddle, pick up a beautiful leaf. Anywhere you are, there are lovely spots where you can refresh and renew your spirit with a brief walk along leaf strewn paths (or sidewalks). Kick some leaves, pick up a few, revel in the small works of art placed at your feet. 

November, 2015 will not come this way again so don't let it pass without giving it a proverbial hug. Embrace the illusive sun as it dips behind a rain cloud. Rejoice in what rain does fall. Our parched Earth is thirsty. Hum as you go. Put any worries you have in a sack and leave them on the porch for later. Who knows, when you return, maybe some stranger will have picked them up hoping for a surprise. Novembers freshness has a way of offering a different perspective to those worries anyway. Especially if you take time to kick a few leaves, splash in a puddle, and smile, smile, smile. 

DRINK IT IN, AUTUMN & MINERAL SPRING WATER

Welcome to Autumn in the Pacific Northwest. Here it is--nestled away in this little remote park tucked into the Cascade foothills. Wilhoit Springs sports one of the few mineral springs in Oregon. Tasty mineral water bubbles up out of the ground to offer you a bit of Middle Earth liquified so take some drinking cups with you. Since I was fortunate enough to tag along with family members who knew the way, I was allowed to gawk off and not pay attention to how I arrived at this little known wonder. So my directions would be less than desired. Google and a good map will get you there. I do know it is out of Molalla. Take a lunch and plan to spend some time soaking up the woodsy-ness of it all. It is to good to pass up on these crisp lovely days ahead. The long drive will be made on narrow two lane country roads that twist and turn, go up hills and down thereby keeping your speed in the 15 MPH to 20 MPH range. Plan to allow enough time to enjoy it. The beauty surrounding you will be worth the slow trip. Roll the windows down, put on an extra sweater and breath the rarified country air. Ahhhhhhhh! Don't forget your drinking cup.

WALK FOR THE SMELL OF IT

Those of us who live on the western side of Oregon, revel in the beauty presented by our forests, rivers, lush flora and fog. Traveling along the Umpqua River this morning, I couldn't help but "gawk off" as I drove along that beautiful diamond encrusted river. Gold maples punctuated the emerald green forests while perfect white fog highlighted the deep blue sky. I even saw a fish jump. It happened only because I had no hook in the water. 

But, I wasn't there for the fish. I was there for the beauty that resonates with each of us who live here and walk this side of Oregon just for the autumnal smell of it. Don't miss it! 

GO WILD!

This year at the Oregon State Fair Author's Table I was privileged to meet a number of you folks and pass my blog info on to you. I hope you subscribe by placing your email in the subscription field on this blog so you can receive future blog posts as I do them. 

This blog is just a reminder that if you didn't pick up a copy of either (or both) of my books at the fair, they are available by emailing me at tripshoe@gmail.com or you can get them from Amazon or on your eBook. 

In light of my photo for the "Shoestring" cover, I want to share my personal philosophy with you. It is a quote from Henry David Thoreau. "If one advances confidently in the direction of his (her) dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he (she) has imagined, he (she) will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."

So, folks, GO WILD! You can only succeed if you proceed!