TTV Fence

This fence is one of the first TTV shots I took with an old Kodak Duaflex II camera I found at a thrift store last year.

I played with TTV for a while, then misplaced my Kodak ...

I recently found the old camera again, and can't wait for the weather to improve a little so I can go out and take some more OLD shots - "Through The Viewfinder".

It's "Friday Fences" time!

I have just heard breaking news about a horrible school shooting in Connecticut. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those affected by this senseless tragedy. I just don't understand.

Please Pull Up ...

I know the sign itself isn't so funny ...

It's the mental image I got when I read it.

I kept seeing myself in my car ...

"Please pull up to pay for your order ..."

"Please pull up to flush ..."

Ack!

To see signs from around the world, visit Lesley's "Signs, Signs"!

Reflection of Mom

I took this picture a couple of years ago. Mom was asleep in the chair, with the sunlight warming her face. When I looked out the window, I saw mom's reflection superimposed over the cedar trees out front.

To see reflections from around the world, visit James' "Weekend Reflections"!

One Word ...

Dang.

One word says it all.

Today the new owners of "The Abandoned" are firing up the big machines ...

To chew down the building.

Soon there will be nothing left ... except memories.

And pictures.

 

Dang.

 

Linking up with Lesley's "Signs, Signs"

 

 

Abandoned Fence ...

Last week was so hard, with Dad being in the hospital after a major stroke (his prognosis is not good) ... all the running back and forth ... the stress and worry ... the grieving that comes when you have to prepare to lose someone you love ...

A bright moment in the darkness came when the abandoned church across the street was over-run with activity - an episode of the TV show "Grimm" was being filmed there.

I have never seen Grimm, but I from the sounds I heard coming from the set, I can only imagine what kind of creatures and situations they deal with! There was lots and lots of gunfire, and the occasional howling in the woods.

After 2 nights of shooting, they packed up and left.

They didn't pick up their props (like this chain link fence and barrels in the usually bare hallway) for a couple of days -

I was lucky to be able to get a couple of quick shots!

I specifically took this shot because

It's "Friday Fences" time!!!

Fencepost After the Rain

 The raindrops kept dripping, long after the rain had stopped.

They seemed to glow as they fell past the old fencepost ...

Bringing a splash of beauty into my world!

It's "Fridays Fences" time!

Capturing the Sun

Photo copyright ClytieGarretson

The sun was starting to burn through the fog yesterday morning as I dropped mom off at the train ... I was driving away when my eye was drawn to the metal sculpture greeting the travelers who pass through ... I quickly parked and .........

I had time for one quick shot before the fog closed in again!

I am linking this up with "Skywatch Friday" ...

A Seagull Picnic

I watched the gull, perched on the wooden fence, as he carefully inspected each and every car that passed by. 

My guess is he was waiting for someone to bring him a snack ...

After all, it was the perfect place for a seagull picnic!

(We did, however, decide to do our own lunch elsewhere)

It's "Friday Fences" time!!!

They Say There's a Bacon Shortage ...

Not in Yamhill County!!!

To see signs from around the world, join us for Lesley's "Signs, Signs"!

Bolt with Shadow Heart

The sun was lower in the sky than it usually is when I go for my walk.

Maybe that's why I never noticed this rusty bolt with shadow heart before!

To see shadows from around the world, join us for "Shadow Shot Sunday"!

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts" - and share YOUR heart on "Guest Heart Thursday"!

Defeat on Defense

Oops, I meant

"De Feet on De Fence"!

It's time for "Fridays Fences"!

"NO".

Just "NO".

To see signs from around the world, visit Lesley's "Signs, Signs"!

Autumn Leaf

Oh look - Autumn is officially starting!!!

While most of our leaves are still green ... I found a bit of color.

Deer in the Distance

I probably wouldn't have seen her relaxing in the sun ...

Except she seemed to glow in the distance!

And that's exactly what my camera picked up.

So I decided to play with the shot ...

(For those who don't know, I'm "photo manipulation challenged";

So when I say "play", I really mean "I-don't-know-what-I-did-but-I-did-it-anyway"!)

I kind of like how she turned out!

It's been a long time since I've linked up with "Camera Critters"!

The Fence That Was

What used to be gravel is now pavement ...

Mailboxes that once nestled back from the street are now terrifyingly close to speeding traffic ...

The fences separating the rural properties have been torn down to make way for "progress", expansion and an ever-widening road ...

 

Like this one-time fenced-in mailbox.

With rusty chains hanging mutely ...

From the fence that was.

And now is not.

It's "Friday Fences" Time!

No Hunting Here ...

Don't bother setting up deer camp here ...

The deer have been warned!!!

To see signs from around the world, join us for Lesley's "Signs, Signs"!

A Single Perfect Day ...

A perfect day at the Oregon coast ...

The sand was scattered with treasures.

In fact, the sand WAS treasure!!!

A gull at the water's edge shared his reflection ...

As the sun set on a single perfect day.

To see reflections from around the world, visit James' "Weekend Reflections"!

Paint Splatters

At first I was angered.

At the vandals who had used the paint can to deface the sidewalk ...

Without regard to others who walk along this same path ...

Not caring for the plants splattered in bright yellow paint ...

For the critters who wander here as well ...

Then I saw the hearts.

The beauty in the ugly ...

And realized that, as in life, good really CAN be brought out of adversity!

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts", and share YOUR heart on "Guest Heart Thursday"!

No U-H@ul Here!

I noticed this sign at the local U-H@ul rental store ...

Good thing that's not a U-H@ul parked past that "point"!!!

To see signs from around the world, visit Lesley's "Signs, Signs"!

Isn't She Cute???

Happy First Day of School, Jenna!

(And Jon, Derrick, Tiffi & Mark!)

Late Summer Beauty

Thistle seeds mingle with dried grasses ...

A lone late flower hides from the sun ...

Waiting a little longer

To scatter.

A change of season is nearly here.

When it's time to buy a longer shirt ...

She had beautiful hair ...

A pretty face ...

Nice legs ...

But she was a fashion disaster in the mid-section.

(please don't get me wrong ... I couldn't fit one leg into these pants ...

But if I did, I would definitely choose a different shirt.)

Facebook Sign Gone Wrong

My brother saw it first ...

Huge letters on the window of a local car dealership ...

He could hardly stop laughing long enough to point it out ...

Fortunately the light stayed red - in time for me to pull out my camera ...

Seriously???

"F like us on facebook!"  ???????

Ack!!!

To see wonderful signs from around the world, join us over at Lesley's "Signs, Signs"!

((I apologize if this offends anyone ... that is not my intention!))

My Heart Friend

This is Mika, my very special friend.

She chose me 4 years ago, when she was just a kitten.

My cat Lucky had passed away and I was devastated. I swore I'd never ever love another cat.

Mika had other ideas.

She demanded love, and I was the only one she wanted.

It didn't take long before she wormed her way into my life, and into my heart.

I couldn't find Mika on Monday evening (she is an indoor/outdoor lady), and I was concerned.

I finally found her Tuesday, curled into a ball under a bush, totally unresponsive ... unable to even walk. She couldn't eat, nor could she drink. She appeared to be dehydrated.

I couldn't get her to the vet right away ... so I used an eye dropper to force feed her some water.

She improved slightly, and I drove her to the vet hospital as soon as I was free.

To make a long and expensive story short, Mika has an internal infection of some kind, and was indeed dehydrated. Because I had force fed her the water, she ended up with only slight liver damage, which the vet says she can live with (special diet, now, though).

It could have been much, much worse.

 

And it was worth the cost.

 

Because Mika is my very special friend.

Who filled a Mika-shaped hole in my heart ...

 Before I even knew it was there.

To see special hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts" - and share what fills YOUR heart on "Guest Heart Thursday"

Do Not Drive on the Runway

According to Wikipedia ...

"Memaloose Airport (FAA LID: 25U), is a public airport located 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Imnaha in Wallowa County, Oregon, USA."

What is left out of this description is that ... it's in the middle of nowhere!

I know I've posted this sign before ...

But I just have to revisit one of my favorite signs of all time!

 

This picture was taken back in the early 1980s by my (ex) husband while taking a sight-seeing trip through Eastern Oregon with my fabulous B-I-L Alan.

To see signs from around the world, visit Lesley's "Signs, Signs"!

Leverage - Signs, Signs

I was on my way to the dentist's office ... in a town nearby ... when I came across a small yellow sign temporarily placed at a busy intersection.

I know the TV show "Leverage" films their series in Oregon ...

Could they have been filming nearby?

Unfortunately I will probably never know - the dentist had priority!

By the time I remembered to look (2 days later), the sign was gone.

To see signs from around the world, visit Lesley's "Signs, Signs"!

The Gate to Nowhere ... Another Take

When Farmer Bud decided to fix the hole in the barn door, he failed to keep in mind that he would eventually have to LEAVE!!!

It's "Friday Fences" time!!!

Tractor Repair ... Cheap!

I'd think twice about having my tractor repaired at this shop ...

I do kind of like the "Diagnostic Dice" though.

Hmmmm I think I've seen them before.

The last time I got my car serviced maybe???

(LOL)

To see all kinds of signs from around the world, visit Lesley's "Signs, Signs"!

Because of You ...

Don't you just adore this card?

I knew there was a reason I smile in my sleep ...

and YOU'RE it!!!

Be Careful How You Word Your Ad...

I was surfing through a popular arts and crafts site ...

Looking at the different art supplies being offered.

The search category I chose was  "Assemblage Art Supplies".

(This wording is important!)

I was amazed at the variety of stuff being sold ...

Then I came across this ad ... which had been thumbnailed and shortened by the listing site.

And nearly laughed myself off my computer chair.

I have blurred out the name to protect the identity of the person who is selling this unique "Assemblage" item. I don't think they worded it this way on purpose! However, I doubt I will be purchasing it soon.

Even though this is a digital sign, I think it still qualifies for Lesley's "Signs, Signs"!

(Note: For those who don't know me, I am a bit (insert snicker here) technologically challenged. My daughter rolled her eyes and said "why did you take a photo when all you had to do was a 'screen capture'"?

I am wiser now.

Next time I will know how to properly capture the moment)

The Whispering Fence

It stands in mute testimony of times gone by.

When the fence at the edge of the property stood tall ... guarding the rest of the world from entering the grounds ...

Not that many tried to get in. 

It was scary, they said, to see the inmates.

Those labeled by society as too eccentric to be allowed to live among the rest of us "normal" people ...

Yes, most of them needed to be behind this fence.

Not to be hidden away, but to be safe. Safe from themselves; safe from the judgment of the world.

The fence was there to guard those locked inside from leaving.

To stay safe.

To stay medicated.

To recover, maybe, a semblance of life.

The "mental hospital" (it was NEVER called an "institution") closed a long time ago.

It sat vacant (and some say haunted) for years, then suddenly a housing development started to sprout.

The main building was torn down; an apartment complex sprung up in its place.

The owners of the new complex never told the tenants about the history of the land they were living on. They told them it was a research facility; or a retirement home.

The truth eventually came out, of course, but most of the tenants decided to stay.

And only the fence posts remain on the edge of the property ...

In mute testimony of times gone by.

Whispering memories to the grass.

Of those who once called this place home.

Friday Fences

Warning - Slow Down!

The signs on the post said "SLOW - curves ahead - 20 MPH".

Someone apparently failed to heed said warning ...

And this is what's left of the sign.

It's time for Lesley's "Signs, Signs"!

Wow What a Walk

The sun played hide-n-seek with the clouds as I started out for my walk ...

I went down the driveway, and started up the road.

And stopped dead in the center when I saw ...

The doe and her baby watched me for a few minutes, then bounded into the woods.

A red breasted sapsucker looked harried as he fed his young, hidden in a hole in a dead tree.

They were LOUD too!

A beautiful orange day lily caught my eye, just as the sun went behind a cloud.

Then the storm hit, and the rain came pelting down.

I took refuge in the abandoned building ...

Boy did it rain!

And then it stopped.

I left the enticing puddles and reflections within the building and headed back outside, where the sun once again peeked from behind the clouds ...

And found the world completely altered!!!

(same orange day lily - 20 minutes later!)

I'm sharing this with "Your Sunday Best" over at "A Rural Journal"

Mika's Eyes

I couldn't believe it when I realized the reflections in this beautiful raindrop look just like Mika's eyes!

To see reflections from around the world, visit James' "Weekend Reflections"!

Fence in Forest ...

I was walking in the woods when I came upon an old barbed wire fence ... it was all crunched up into a ball, and was slowly becoming part of the forest floor ...

It's "Friday Fences" time!