Splendor in the Grass

Jewell Meadows Elk Refuge, Oregon ~ December 3, 2011

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Theme Day: "Photo of the Year 2011"

Astoria, Oregon ~ January 19, 2011

Although I've taken a lot of time off from posting this year, I came up with quite a few contenders for my favorite photo of 2011. This sunset series taken on January 19th was way up there among the most memorable for me. The "Sunset Empire" offers many opportunities for amazing evening light shows, and on this day I was in the right place at the right time. Brilliant color infused not only the sky but also the expanse of Young's Bay. The evening kept glowing and changing, and the subtleties were almost impossibly beautiful. The last of the series can be seen here with links to the three earlier posts.

Astoria, Oregon, Daily Photo is a member of City Daily Photo, a fascinating site where you can see bloggers from around the world who are committed to showcasing their cities and towns one photo per day. To celebrate the new year, many members are featuring their favorite or best photo of the year. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

The first of each month is Theme Day at City Daily Photo. The theme covers a wide range of topics and is voted on by the members. I don't think I've taken part in any theme days this year, but they are fun and add to the sense of community. Maybe I'll remember to try some in 2012. 

May you all have a wonderful, peaceful and happy new year, and thanks so much for your interest, encouragement, and your comments!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Christmas Day on Commercial Street

Astoria, Oregon ~ December 25, 2011

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Ilwaco Cemetery

Near Ilwaco, Washington ~ December 2, 2011

One of our goals for the visit to the other side of the river was to help some people on Find-A-Grave.com locate their relatives. I got some nice photos in the beautiful late-afternoon light (Cold day, though! Very cold.) but due to bad planning on my part, we may have missed the one they wanted most. Lee tromped all over the cemetery looking for a particular name that I hadn't had the foresight to locate before we left. Actually, the marker may not be there, as others had failed to find it. So, that's a mystery to follow up on - an excuse to go back to Ilwaco on another beautiful day (with better planning). 

I did take some really nice pix of markers for the graves that we did find and soon I'll be uploading them to Find-A-Grave. This is a cool web site where you can locate your ancestors, relatives, genealogical search subjects, or conversely, supply photos and information for others looking for someone departed in your part of the country. You can enter requests for photos and info from far-away locations, or you can put yourself on an e-mail list to find graves of people in your area.

January 1, 2012: I've just discovered "Taphophile Tragics" thanks to Clytie, so am linking this post to it today. Thanks, Julie, this should be interesting!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Over the Hump

Astoria-Megler Bridge to Washington ~ December 2, 2011

I may have shown this view at some time in the past on Astoria, Oregon, Daily Photo, but it's always a thrill to see that wide expanse in front of you and wish you could drive 100 miles an hour over the hump and down the other side. Let me guess - I'm sure some of you have done it, but you don't have to admit it! Today we were just enjoying the view. The tide was low and the sand bar was in full view. On either side of the bridge you can just see dramatic ripples in the mud. I'll post another photo on another day showing them more clearly.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Young's Bay Bridge, Evening Gray

Astoria, Oregon ~ November 12, 2009

Typical winter colors around here, although taken a couple of years ago. Young's Bay blends with the 4-mile-wide Columbia River somewhere in the right-hand side of this photo.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

December 2, 2011

The Megler end of the Astoria-Megler bridge is still under wraps due to painting.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Expansive

Near Chinook, Washington ~ December 2, 2011

When it's a nice day here in the Pacific Northwest, it can be glorious. We'd just crossed the 4-plus-mile Astoria-Megler Bridge and were on our way to Ilwaco, Washington.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Coast Guard Training on a Cold River

Astoria, Oregon ~ December 14, 2011

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Jewell Meadows, Oregon ~ December 3, 2011

Here's another of the critters living in Jewell Meadows besides the elk seen in an earlier post. I couldn't have told you what a sapsucker was until I looked it up, but a sapsucker is a kind of woodpecker. The "woodpecker" part I could have guessed. Take a look at his handiwork on that tree! The red-breasted sapsucker lives all along the West Coast of North America from the southern tip of Alaska to Baja California in Mexico.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.