In Five Days

This will be a rather long photo post. In just five days the lake has gone from open to closed. I was hoping to kayak in snow, but I didn't really want to go through ice to do it. The first photos are on October 14th just after 7 pm. 

I had decided I should go out on the water while I could and while there was distracted by styrofoam bits floating on the water. I was confused as to why the stuff was coming out from inside the pallet. It was making a mess in the water and I didn't want any of the ducks to try to eat it. I scooped it up for the trash. 

This is what I found when I flipped the pallet over. I was very annoyed! I will staple a 'covering' of plastic on it and maybe that will help protect it. 

 As you can see, it was nice enough to go out in a tank top! I did have a sweatshirt with me and added it before too long. Once that sun went down behind the trees, it got quite chilly!!!

On Tuesday, one of our friends from the Senior Center came over to trim trees and take out the downed one. Jim was a blessing for doing this for us. It was cold out, but more crisp than numbing. 

 I was so glad he took out this dadburn bush thing. I'd tried using an axe on it last summer. Or was it the summer before? No matter, it is now shorn down!

 This is the most surprising part of the yard now. I hadn't noticed how tall these trees were getting. Now they are stumps!

 Several of the wild flower seeds I'd planted were finally blooming. There were tiny blossoms here and there. I'm hoping for more next year.

 I was told to not do any of the larger pieces. He'd get to them after he was done trimming. Jim was surprised I loaded them all. I told him I was a short violet, not a shrinking one.

 See how different it looks????????

This was today. October 19. The lake had ice on the edges a few days ago, then there was ice in just the center. Wednesday and Thursday, it was mostly covered. The neighbor's had some clear water and there was a bit up at the top of the key. I opted to put up the kayak anyway. 

 When I flipped it over, it was camouflaged! I didn't scrape it off, I figured I'd let it warm up a bit inside the garage before cleaning. The frozen mosses were fairly secure on the fiberglass!

So ends another season on the lake. The ducks are almost all gone, the few left huddle in the clear water. I reckon they'll leave for warmer climes soon. 

I'll follow them, eventually. Maybe! Gary's Weather station reads a high of 64 today and now it is in the 40's. He does have a reading of 74, but not sure when that was. Perhaps Athena's fall is further away than Halloween this year! 

Rivers and Trees, OH MY! (On the Wilson River!)

I believe this is Dorman Pond. An 8-acre pond west of Forest Grove at the junction of Hwy. 

8 and Hwy. 6. It always has fisherpeople there (although, this particular Friday all I saw were geese). 

 I believe this falls is called Bridge Creek Falls. One of the prettier spots to visit-if you don't forget to stop! It is easy to miss this place, but there is a good parking area.

 I took several photos of trees, roots, rocks, moss, and mud. These are the things I miss about the Oregon Coast!

 This irritates me-I can't move it the right way. So, you don't get the proper view of these incredible trees near the falls.

 Further down the Wilson River is another pull out. I loved the views I got from this spot! Tumbling water, pools, currents, and even some falls.

I kept waiting for a deer or other critter to pop out and sun themselves (am pretty sure people use this spot for sunning!). I was going to stop at the Forestry Center, but it closed JUST as I drove past it. Next time I'll stop!

Another Hunting Hike

The weather has been dreary, but the colors and scenery are amazing. It appears Jon shot the only buck on all 300 acres--they have seen a lot of does and fawns, but nothing with antlers. They'll show up next weekend, after the season ends.

The upper pond and reflections of the trees.

I love this one- Jon is an amazing photographer!
Steve looking over the ranch. The hills remind us of the time during the flood in Genesis. You can just imagine the water receding from the tops--if you don't agree the flood could change so much so fast, I remind you to think of Mt St Helens. In just minutes valleys were formed and entire trees were washed into lakes where they took up residence on the bottom as if they grew there.

Another favorite photo.

They also saw huge flocks of birds migrating. It took a while, but am pretty sure they are Sand Hill cranes. (he took a few that were blurry, but had more definition in the shape of the silhouette.)