Wild and Free

Some birds and some ponds. And some birds on the pond.

There are three ponds at Golden Gardens. This is a small part of the main / largest pond. Folks do fish here, but it's shallow and too reedy for swimming.

I saw these two wild turkeys on the back side of the main pond, just outside the boundaries of the park. They were heading toward the shade of the big trees. I had to zoom my phone's camera w-a-y in, and it was pointed into the sunlight which was no help at all. My hand was shaky and it was hard to keep the turkeys in the viewfinder. I was lucky to capture these two at all.

This flock of geese - and some ducks - were bathing in the small south pond. 

I must, must, must return more often!

Golden Flowers

On my second day at Golden Gardens Park I photographed these flowers in bloom 

Poppies

The cottonwood trees are in full shed mode. This fluff is the size of a tennis ball.

I thought this was a young thistle. But Professor Google says it's red clover. Quite purple and quite pretty. Thistle heads are spherical. This has more of a cone shape.

 Flax. These delicate flowers are about the size of my thumbnail.

Daisy Days

I had the opportunity to stop by Golden Gardens Park twice this week. I was reminded how good it is for my soul to take a walk around the ponds.

The daisies are in bloom all over the park.

Fields and fields of daisies swaying in the breeze.

I've promised myself to return more frequently.

Mimi-Abby Time

Jodie and Kenny received some much needed rest and recouperation while I had a couple hours with Abby at their neighborhood park. This little two year old is such a joy!

On our walk to the park, she named the colors of each flower we walked by.

She took quite a bit of time following a bee who was flying from dandelion to dandelion. She'd bend w-a-y over and remind herself, "Don't touch!" even though she kept reaching out.

Take off! 

She liked blowing the seeds of the ripened dandelions, too.

We played on slides and the rock wall and the ladder and the twirling pole and the bouncing bug. We counted holes in the play structure's platform. We went from tree to tree, finding big sticks. She paraded around with the stick that was even taller than she is.

But her favorite thing to do at the park is to play in the sandbox. I helped her form a forest of sticks ... which she counted as she pulled them out and tossed them.

Dale and I are incredibly blessed to live near this little sparkle girl. The sun and the outdoor play were good for both of us. Mommy said Abby was well worn out and took a good nap that afternoon.

Charmed Life: An Anniversary Stroll

On Monday, Dale and I will celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary. We wanted to do something a little special -- like go to Cannon Beach to see Haystack Rock or maybe check out the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival just south of Portland. Unfortunately, at this point in his treatment, Dale is easily fatigued. Even driving on day trips becomes too strenuous. 

So today between visiting the oncologist and having lunch, we stopped by Eugene's Owen Rose Garden. It's still a park. It's still admiring flowers. But it's a lot closer to home and has paved paths that allow for steady walking.

The roses, of course, are not yet in bloom. Some of them are trying, though! Bundles of buds are beginning to form.

The early Spring flowers are already fading, like the narcissus and magnolias.

The gigantic Owen Cherry Tree, designated as an Oregon Heritage Tree, is barely beginning to bloom.

The tulips and bluebells and violets are in their full glory

And wildlife is making itself comfortable in the shade.

Dale and I plan to treat ourselves to a few more simple pleasures over the weekend for our anniversary. He'll need plenty of time to rest, though. His fourth chemo infusion begins on Monday.

Saturday Scenes: Shotgun Creek

Guest blogger Jodie here!

Some days are harder than others. Unfortunately, I've been having a string of harder days. Last week I had a morning that was tough enough that I got stuck. Mom and Dad asked what they could do to help, and all I could think was, "I just want to go for a long drive."

They said, "We can make that happen!"

The three of us drove north of Springfield on one of my favorite country drives. Something you should know about me: I'm a sucker for brown road signs. Those are the ones that point you to recreation areas and scenic views. I remembered that one of my favorite brown signs on this road points to Shotgun Creek Recreation Site.

This area is mostly designed for people to have thrill rides on their ATVs. But our adventure was up, up, up into the mountains to Cascade View.

For a slow five miles we drove through forest in all its states: lush with ferns, burnt from wildfire, logged, and regrowing. As we climbed, we even passed through a dense cloud. Finally, we made it up as high as we could go, and our reward was an incredible view point.

We marveled at how far we could see - at least eight ridges deep. I joked that even Bob Ross wouldn't dare to paint a mountain scene with that many ridges. I've been there before, but I never get tired of it. And the journey was all the more special because I got to share it with my parents.

Some days are harder than others... but this long drive and distance vision gave me the perspective I needed to press on.

* Note from Margaret:

            It helped Dale and me, too! Time with Jodie is time well spent. 

            Jodie plus wilderness? Bonus points!

Eugene Park Tour: Friday Blitz

A few weeks ago it was raining on Friday, so Dale and I took an unusual Friday Fieldtrip. We visited (drove by) nine of Eugene's parks. There was a lot of Fall color in the trees to enjoy.

Most of these are neighborhood parks, fairly standard with a kid's play structure, an open field, perhaps a basketball hoop and walking path.

Others are more like a nature trail or an open space with a place to walk your dog that's the home of a future developed park.

We concentrated on parks mainly in residential areas in the center of the city and included:

1. Chase Commons Park
2. Glen Oak Park
3. Hawkins Heights
4. Marche Chase Park
5. Melvin Miller Park
6. Tugman Park
7. Warbling Creek
8. Willis Park
9. Willow Creek Natural Area

Occasionally we saw some wildlife.

Now that we know where they are, we can revisit each park again and spend some time enjoying them when the weather is more favorable.

Leaf Peeping

After running an errand in town, Jodie and I decided it was too pretty of a day to go back home. Instead, she and Abby and I headed southwest of Springfield to do a little leaf peeping. It's not quite the peak of autumn color yet, but it's close. 

I picked the general direction of our ride, then Jodie knew of a park I've never been to before to use as our destination. Along the drive, Abby sang to herself in the back seat. She's 21 months old now, and can sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star all by herself -- and holds a tune well!

Since the trip was spur-of-the-moment, we weren't wearing the correct clothes and shoes for an impromptu hike. So we stayed in the car and made the park's rounds on the paved road.

This park has a large, excellent disc golf course and plenty of picnic shelters for group gatherings.

We couldn't have asked for a prettier day, and would have stayed out longer, but Abby started rubbing her eyes and saying, "Tiiirrred." So we got her back home where she quickly snuggled up into her crib for a nap.

Friday Fieldtrip: McDowell Creek Falls

Dale and I had our first Friday Fieldtrip in early September. We drove out into the country to McDowell Creek Falls, northeast of Eugene. This was Dale's first country hike since his heart surgery. We figured it was a decent attempt since the waterfall loop trail is only a couple miles.

We started at the lower parking lot early enough in the day that we practically had the park to ourselves for the first hour. 

Taking it nice and slowly, we started down the well-marked trail. It smelled delicious that morning. The first waterfall we encountered was Royal Terrace Falls.

Since it was late summer, there wasn't a lot of water flow in McDowell Creek. Our very first glimpse of the falls was not all that impressive.

Our map showed us the trail split. We could continue on a low trail, or climb this intriguing rock staircase. 

We started up. And up. And up. At one point we weren't sure if there were more "up" stairs or if we should retreat "down." It was hard. And sweaty. We continued up.

We were rewarded for our climb!

The path led us through more forest, across the road, along beautiful trails, across long bridges, and past more waterfalls.

It was an absolutely lovely day and a great hike (that we felt in our muscles and bones for a couple more days).

Dale's heart was going strong and his spirits lifted from the effort. It was good for both of us to get out into the woods and away from our computers and the news for a while. We're incredibly lucky to have such wonderful places to visit within an hour from home.

I'm looking forward to continued Friday Fieldtrips and exploring more of our hometown and beyond.