Morning Glory on Fence

In another week one of my favorite walking places across the nearby wetlands will be off limits to even foot traffic (it's been closed to vehicles for a year or so to fix the road). So I'm glad I stopped the other morning and got some pictures of this morning glory peeking above the fence!

It's been a long time since I've been able to link up with "Friday Fences" - It's good to be back!

A Moment of Silence for the Bumblebees

I've tried to start this post about my neighborhood bumblebees a number of times, but find I am at a loss for words. What happened to the bees just hits too hard and close to home.

What happened is this.

About a week and a half ago, I went to our local Target store to get my sister-in-law a birthday present. As I pulled into the parking lot, the sun finally peeked out from behind the dense morning clouds. On my way into the store, I noticed a bumblebee skittering around on the pavement. If I had been carrying something to pick him up and move him to safer ground, I would have.

Instead I went into the store.

I was in the store shopping for about 30 minutes
.

When I got back outside, it was warm and sunny. And there were more dead/dying bees.

As I approached my car, I glanced around and was horrified to realize the entire parking lot was black with the bodies of dead and dying bumblebees, and a few honeybees. There were thousands and thousands of them. People coming out of the store stopped and stared in shock. As I was getting into my car, a bee dropped onto my window, and tried to climb in ... then fell to the pavement.

 

 Several days later it hit the news. The largest bumblebee kill caused by pesticides. Ever. Anywhere. More than 50,000 bees were estimated to be killed. That's over 300 colonies.

I was too upset to take a picture of the parking lot as I saw it.

It made me sick.

You can read the full story at the OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting) website. They are very thorough in their information, and they have a few pictures of what I saw.

I did get a picture of just a few of the 60+ sprayed trees after they were covered with bee-proof mesh.

They give me the creeps ...

But at least there aren't so many dead bumblebees.

It sounds silly, but an environmental group is hosting a memorial service on Sunday afternoon - in the Target parking lot - for the bees.

I'm thinking of going.

(even though the lady at the flower shop told me that I need to "get over it" - it was ridiculous to feel so bad about something so "stupid" -- can you believe it?)

Found Photos ...

When I go to the Goodwill outlet store, I always fan through old photo albums. On many occasions I have found photos still tucked into the pages ... 

I found 19 old photos on my last trip to the outlet store ... they were in the middle of an old beat-up photo album. I could find no names, and only a few dates (which ranged from 1918 to 1929).

This guy really caught my eye - he's in quite a few of the shots, and I am AMAZED by his hair!

Seriously - if you enlarge any of these shots, you will see what I mean.

I mean, it looks like the fellow is wearing a rag mop on his head!

But it looks good on him.

I think this is the same guy, only older. Same unruly mop ... different attitude.

Check out the old rifle ... and the ammo clip he's wearing. And he must have a horse nearby - judging from that bow-legged stance!

I love the silent stories these pictures tell.

This is my first contribution to "Vintage Weekly" in a long time.

It's good to be back!

Just Horsin' Around with Shadows

It's been a long time since I've posted here (computer issues, now fixed).

It's been even longer since I've linked up with "Shadow Shot Sunday".

But yesterday's weather was perfect to get out and take some photos ... (wouldn't you know it's raining today!)

What I found was this unique shadow ... what could it be?

It's a horse!

Well, an artists rendition of a horse done in stainless steel ...

Some people like it, some people hate it.

But on an early Sunday morning, he appeared to be contemplating his own shadow.

I don't think he likes it!

A Funny Sign ...

Copyright clytie garretson 2013

I was driving through a very busy strip mall parking lot in a nearby town, when this sign caught my eye ... I made another trip through the lot, then held up traffic while I snapped this shot through my windshield.

I offered to take mom to pick up one of those gift certificates ... she declined. She said she had to wonder about the quality for the price ... and the good ones her age are probably already taken anyway!

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

BBW Surprise

I was getting ready for BBW ... and I don't mean THE BBW (Big Beautiful Women) with which I am quite familiar ...

 I am referring to our local politically correct "waste management facility" and their yearly "Big Bulky Waste" day. That's where you can stuff as much extra-large trash into your car as you want, and, for a donation of non-perishable food for the local food bank, you can get rid of a bunch of unsightly garbage that doesn't fit into your regular can.

They were also taking e-waste, and I had 4 old dinosaurs, er, computer monitors (when I say OLD, I mean the ones that weigh nearly as much as my BBW self!) that needed to go.

Anyway, I had put the hand truck under the can and was getting ready to move the whole heavy mess, when I noticed something that didn't fit the (other) BBW profile ...

A cute little tree frog, basking in the sun on the back of one of the old monitors.

I watched him sleep for a while, then carefully lifted him up and walked over to the garden.

When I opened my hand, he sat there a moment, surveying his new home.

Then he peed on my fingers and leaped into the middle of the flower patch.

And disappeared.

Where Do I Park?

So ...

Do I try to park on the OTHER side of the sign???

Snicker.

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

Why I Took the Stairs

From the parking lot to the main lobby of the VA Hospital ...

Thank goodness it was only 2 floors!!!

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

Fender Bender Heart

I had to back up and return to the parking lot when I saw this fender bender heart!

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

Found Heart

In the rubble of the demolition of The Abandoned ...

A heart appeared.

In an unexpected place!!!

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

End of an Era ...

This is the front of the building across the street ... back when it was still a thriving mega-church in the early 2000's.

The entire complex is 42 acres, at it's high point there was over 40,000 square feet of main building, outbuildings ... and 69 retreat cabins scattered throughout the beautifully landscaped property.

Bankruptcy.

Sale.

Vandalism.

The beautiful and vibrant building became "The Abandoned".

(photo taken 2010)

 "New Owners".

Demolition.

The End.

February, 2013

I've Been WHERE?

A couple of years ago, Sissie and I spent several winter days at the Oregon beach.

It was cold, and in fact we woke up one morning to snow on the sand. If you look closely at the heart-shaped rock we found, you will notice a tiny bit of snowy white ...

Here's where the story gets a little off balance.

Because apparently I've been to South Africa!

Seriously!

Based on a tip I saw on a news segment, I went to Google's "Image" search, clicked on the little camera, and uploaded a random heart from my files. It was this one.

And found a huge surprise.

My photo, of a heart-shaped rock on the Oregon beach ...

Was apparently taken in South Africa!

And I don't even remember the trip!!!!!!

To see hearts from around the world (including South Africa!) - visit "Random Hearts" and share YOUR heart on "Guest Heart Thursday"!

Semi Salad???

Just in case you get the freeway munchies, and are tempted to nibble on this semi truck ...

Don't!

It's INEDIBLE!

Who knew???

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

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" ...