The town is gone, and kids go to school somewhere else, but the Friend school is still good for a potluck or other good times...

Once there was a town here. It was called Friend.

Yes, but I brought them water--- Water for the people, water for the garden, water for the animals. I was important then.

Sharing today with Mersad's Through My Lens

No school today...

Golden glory...

Once he worked hard for the people who loved him-- a long time ago...

Standing together...

The other side! From the Oregon hills to the Washington side of the river, with Mt. Adams and a distant Mt. Rainier...

It's all big... the hills, the sky, the land, and the river in the gorge below.

Goodbye to a landmark...

This old abandoned farmhouse delighted us when we came upon it while traveling on the backroads in North-Central Oregon.  It's gone now, burned to the ground just last Wednesday-- lost in a huge 80 thousand acre wildfire.  The people who own the land had gone to great deal of effort to keep it as a memory of past hopes and dreams.


Sharing today with Mersad's Through My Lens

Who needs flowers when the leaves look like this!

Morning at the wetlands...

Summer evening at the clear-cut...

A little bird told me...

Wild roses saying hello to the sun...

Framed...

The huge tree made a perfect bed for his favorite little flower...

Sharing today with Mersad's Through My Lens

Just sit-- Reality can wait!

It's cloud illusions I recall...

... I really don't know clouds at all

The forest glows in the light. So many colors, shapes, and textures!

Fall in...

Mid-Century Modern...

I am here, my darlings! We will make beautiful music together...

I have no idea what they are, but they sure seem happy!

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A beautiful day on the Cowlitz River...

It's MY ball!

A wetlands walk

Fred says NO MORE KA-BOOMS!

Reminder:   There are no harmful snakes in Western Washington State.  This little garden snake is less than 24 inches long.    He'd be holding his ears if he had something to hold them with.  Very loud fireworks tonight!

Sunny and just warm enough...

Wildflowers in the late afternoon sun on Johnston Ridge

The barn door is open...

Sharing today with Mersad's Through My Lens

Nature's own stained glass window...