BIRDS IN OUR BACKYARD

 We are so lucky to see so many birds in our backyard! We often use the Merlin app to help us identify ones we do not know. It sure comes in handy! Here are photos of our visitors.

PURPLE FINCH

GOLDFINCH

NUTHATCH

VARIED THRUSH

DARK-EYED JUNCO

FLICKER

CHESTNUT NUTHATCH

RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER

CALIFORNIA SCRUB JAY

WSTERN BLUEBIRD

DOWNY WOODPECKER MALE

THE TAIL OF THE DOWNY WOODPECKER HAS HEARTS!

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER

BEEWICKS WREN

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE

BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK

HUMMINGBIRD

COOPERS HAWK

GOLD-CROWNED SPARROW

TOWNSEND WARBLER

DOVE

BLACKHEADED GROSBEAK

LESSER GOLDFINCH

REDWINGED BLACKBIRD

A GANG OF BUSHTITS

ROBIN

STELLAR JAY

A CURIOUS BUSHTIT PEEKED IN THE WINDOW

JUST A LOOK AT OUR VISITORS!

AN ADVENTURE TO McMINNVILLE

July 19th 2026 Randy and I headed off to an Art Festival in McMinnville, OR.

I had seen the information about it on Facebook events and it looked very interesting.

We were both very surprised and enjoyed it so much!

I really enjoyed the creative people we met and talked to.

The man Randy is speaking to in the above photo created his art using sheets of copper

and different types of acid! Randy asked a lot of question.

The art is in the photo below. 

Check out his site at: StephenBruceStudios.com

The photo below is of a mural that I thought was interesting. 

I also enjoyed some of the architecture in this area of downtown McMinnville. 

Notice the details.

We both posed with ol' Benjamin Franklin!

GARDENS AT CLACKAMAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

 June 3rd after my Women writers group, I decided to take a stroll in the gardens area in the back of the community college campus. They'd been working on it for quite a while and I wanted to see what had been done. I used my phone to take photographs. Here is what I saw.

There was a little visitor who seemed unfazed by my presence.

It looks like it will be expanding as well!

They are creating garden beds which will have veggies!

They used to sell veggies every Wednesday and may do so this year.

The green houses in back hold many treasures!

Check out the gardens and have an inspiring walk!

Enjoy these photos!