Springtime Flood

It has been quite a week--lots of flooding in our town--though we have not been  hit as hard as Corvallis, Highway 34 was closed due to high water.  People's homes were flooded there and some lost everything.  No one has been reported as being hurt, which is miraculous.

This is the gravel business located mid-stream along Highway 22.

It is amazing how quickly the river can rise and how slowly it recedes.  Our own River Road is still closed to traffic.  I'm looking forward to being able to take the shortcut into Salem again!

You can find information about the Corvallis flood at the Linn-Benton Community College Commuter.   They've posted some amazing photos.

Have a great day!

Happy Fourth of July!

Every year I look forward to the Fourth of July.  This year the fireworks were more spectacular than ever.  Maybe it is because I forget how beautiful they are!

We had a houseful of guests again this year--and it was a rollicking good time.  Lots of wonderful company and a ton of good food.

Have a wonderful summer my Friends!

Heart in Ripples -Guest Heart Thursday

I was out for a walk to the park with my darling little niece, when she pointed out this heart in the ripples of the Willamette River.  In the sparkling sunshine--the heart made quite an entrance!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

Heart Reflections -Guest Heart Thursday

This is the Willamette River, taken from the bridge.  It is a very large span for such a small town--but we love to walk over it occasionally.  Here you see an upside down heart reflection in the swirling waters.

...So, if I were standing on my head, here's what this river heart reflection would look like.  It could also be ET. (grin)  Have a lovely day everyone!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!
 

Firework Hearts - Guest Heart Thursday

In our town of Independence, we celebrate the Fourth of July in a big way.  We look forward to the Fourth almost as much as Thanksgiving, or Christmas.  This year my sweet Sister Clytie couldn't come because she was feeling ill.

So I watched for hearts to send back to Sissie, since she could not be with us in person.

My favorite is the one above.

This white sparkling heart shot over the river with its fabulous tail.

This incredibly colored heart happened quite by accident.

Do you see the giant red heart splashed across the sky?

There's a little puffy smoke heart flying in the midst of these little sparklies.

There's a heart to be seen in the middle of this beauty.

I love the glorious exploding heart at the center of this one.

Here is the last heart--do you see it?  It's a puffy blue bit of smoke.

I missed you, Sissyboo--I hope you enjoyed these hearts I found for you.  ((hugs))

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!
 

Topsy Turvy - Weekend Reflections

This is the view from beneath the Independence Bridge.  Can you see the cloud profile reflected in those still river waters?

For more wonderful reflections from around the world, be sure to visit James at Weekend Reflections.

 

Heart of the River - Guest Heart Thursday

I hardly know how to put yesterday's experience into words.  As we floated into the air, flame pushing the heated air into the balloon--I finally discovered how a cloud must feel--or a bird.  Because of the air currents and the variable temperatures, our trip was a half hour longer than most.  We landed on a gentle swell of grassy mountain with a hop and a skip.

One of the most thrilling sights of the trip was that of the Willamette River which winds through Oregon's capitol city, Salem.  The river was spectacular--I couldn't help noticing the island near Marion Street Bridge is heart-shaped.  The island is a designated rookery where Blue Herons and other wild birds nest.

Just after I shot the Heart of the River, our helmsman began to lower the balloon toward the river.

A lady standing on the shore urged him to get a little closer--and he did!

We were so close to the water I caught this picture of myself taking a picture.  Then our helmsman actually dipped the basket of the balloon into the water of the river!  We were so close to the riverbank we bumped a boat moored at the edge and the basket caught for a moment on the side of a dock before we shot straight up the face of a wall of trees growing on the edges of the waterway.

What an adventure!  More pictures to come!!!

For more spectacular hearts visit Random Hearts' Guest Heart Thursday!