Sunset Sentry

Tualatin River National Wildlife Preserve has been a frequent visit for walks and watching the bird life. Heron, ducks, geese along with many others have been spotted. In addition to my watching, the bald eagle frequently is watching from this fir tree.

Perhaps the bald eagle and I were just enjoying the same thing -- a sunset.

70

It's only a number. Don't feel any different. Just another day. 

So true.

Thanks to all for the birthday wishes on the Wandrin blog; at Facebook; the emails; and the phone calls.

Symbolic Candles

Driving up the driveway at Rich and Cyndi's house, I could hear my voice say say, "Oh no". It was a surprise birthday party. Friends and co-workers were gathered in front of the garage holding a large sign wishing me a Happy Birthday (for my 60th - ten years ago). They had pulled it off. They were surprised that I didn't pick up on all the slips that had happened during the previous week. I had missed them all. That should make my employer wonder about my marketing skills -- if I couldn't pick up subtle signals.

Putting 60 candles on a cake sounded like a good idea. However, getting all those candles lit was an effort that took several people lighting simultaneously. Just in case, the fire extinguisher was handy. The result was a mini forest fire that creating its own firestorm. Note that large flame in the center. The photo was taken and with a effort and lots of wind -- not just my own -- the fire was out and we dined on chocolate cake.

In retrospect, there was agreement that each candle symbolizing 10 years would have been sufficient. But survival of risk provides a rush and that alone is reward to consider doing it again next time.

All the invitees were generous with cards and gifts. The gifts were bottles of Crown Royal. The supply was enough to last a long time.

Once again, thanks to all who attended to make it a memorable day that I will never forget.

Fast Forward

Following that 1944 photo featured in yesterday's blog entry, this farm kid spent time in grade school, high school, University of Wisconsin (Madison), and off to San Francisco in the mid sixties. When the San Francisco area was too crowded for this farm kid (and farm kid former wife Eileen), we headed to Denver. That is where TJ and Vanita are sitting on my lap for my 33rd birthday.

The candles on the cake were symbolic of 33: three on the left and three on the right. (Hmm. Does that say something about my politics.) Those were the days when I still had hair and color in the hair. And of course the beard was de rigueur at that time.

In yesterday's post I had commented about not doing 70 miles on a bicycle to celebrate the upcoming historic event. Boonie wondered if 70 kilometers might be an alternative. Maureen suggested 70 minutes. Now we're getting closer to reality.

At one time there was a bicycle hanging on the trailer. Fortunately, the bicycle found a good home in Durango Colorado last summer. Walking is my style. So with that in mind, I will go for a walk -- someplace. How long. It doesn't matter. Just getting out and walking is the reward.

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A story to share when the beard was cut off five years later.... After the beard was cut and with a clean shaven face, the startled expressions and the stares I received from TJ and Vanita will never be forgotten. Returning to work that next Monday morning was most informative about what people see or don't. The comments that I recall: "I recognize the voice, but not the face." "Looks like you traded in the glasses for contacts." "You look ten years younger."

That last comment was also the one I most frequently heard from Wisconsin relatives.

Big Day Anticipation

The big day is getting closer.

A few days ago in the post about covered bridges, I noted meeting Brad who was celebrating his birthday by riding an equivalent in miles to his age -- 40. A comment from an anonymous reader (Dee) wondered if I was going to do a similar ride for my birthday. 70 is a lot of miles. The short answer: NO.

Searching for photos from the past (thanks to Mom) to accompany some of the photos this week, there were many to choose from. Some were just interesting. Others were memories. There were studio posed shots. There were group photos from grade school. Lots to choose from, but nothing really embarrassing. This may be the closest. The photo dates to 1944. That kid with the scrunched up face on the right is Wandrin Lloyd.

The short pants are still part of daily attire. Plain colored shirts have been replaced with Hawaiian themes. Gave up on the high top shoes -- except for hiking.

So what will I do to celebrate that special day. Don't know. How about doing something Zen-like and live in the moment. With that as a pretext, I will celebrate every day.

Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian Home

Coming into Silverton from the south, there was The Oregon Garden. That sounded like a good place to take photos. Those spur of the moment decisions and quick reflexes barely gave me chance to warn those drivers in the rear view mirror of Silver Slug. "Hey guy. That license plate on this truck says I am a tourist." 

At any rate, once off the busy road and following the road back to the gardens was when I noted the sign pointing to the Frank Lloyd Wright designed home. Over the years, I have toured several of his designs. This was the first of his Usonian home design that I had an opportunity to tour. Built in the 1960s, the Gordon Home was moved to the grounds of The Oregon Garden less than ten years ago.

Designed for Gordon, a gentleman farmer, there are two entry doors -- one for the guests and the other for the dirt dragged in from the farm. 

The interior is the usual Wright maniacal attention to detail and the horizontal lines within the home. The entry area has a low ceiling like all of his homes -- opening into the great room of the home. I would have taken a photo, but the room was full of materials for a fund raiser. I opted for the corner sitting area to give a feel for the fret work theme of the windows that is throughout the home.

In the home's original location, this guest room allowed a view of Mt. Hood on the horizon. Wright designed all his homes so there was privacy without drapes. This was in complete contrast to the Victorian homes of his youth. His approach was to let the outdoors in.

Note the floor to ceiling doors. These doors are on all sides of the great room between all the supporting columns. This could certainly be described as an "open floor" plan.

After that wonderful tour of the Gordon home, I opted to pass on The Oregon Garden -- and headed back into the traffic that moves too fast on these back roads.

Covered Bridges

For getting off the beaten path, my source for each state is the Road & Recreation Atlas from Benchmark Maps -- this time the Oregon Edition. That was where I found the "Covered Bridges of Marion County." As I drove the back roads, I found five.

The oldest of the bridges was built in 1916. Incorrectly, I assumed that covered were old and built before I was born. The bridge built in 1966 disproved that assumption. Sorry, but the brushy undergrowth along the river kept me from getting one of those scenic shots of the bridges.

When I was snapping photos at one of the bridges, a bike rider came through and stopped to rest and snack. A day off from his pipe fitter job, he was celebrating his 40th birthday with a bike ride to at least equal that in miles.

To find all those bridges,  Bike rider Brad told me I could get a map in the nearby village of Scio. Too late for that. At that point I was satisfied with the ones I had found. Besides a map would have taken all the fun out of the wrong turns I made.

Drive In The Country

Looking for my roots -- or at least a memory -- I headed out of Salem and into nearby agricultural country. With no Jeffersonian square mile checkerboard patterns placed on the physical geography, it is driving curving back roads passing through small villages where the many one time main streets are being recycled by Mother Nature.

I hadn't expected to see irrigation as I drove through the countryside, but later I found that the area gets almost no rain from about mid July to mid September. The agriculture was diverse with milking operations, wheat fields, vineyards, berry orchards, tree farms and other products that will eventually find its way to your dinner table or to decorate your home.

As I drove around another high point on one of the winding roads, there were acres of color. The only conclusion that I could make was that it was flower seed growers.

 
Considering the size of the flower seeds (the size of poppy seeds and smaller), I wonder how the seeds were actually harvested. No doubt there is machinery to harvest the seeds. To harvest the seeds by hand would take a lot of people.

After that great drive around the country, this wasn't the only marvel to satisfy my curiosity. It will take a few more posts to get current with this latest nomadic and aimless exploring.

What To Do

Sometimes I am happy with the results of my "playing" with Photoshop.

This was one of those days.

Oregon State Capitol Building

After fires destroyed the first two capitol buildings, the current building with art deco influences was dedicated in 1938. Oregon's history is depicted in numerous sculptures and murals throughout the building. The statue atop the dome is the Oregon Pioneer -- a woodsman with an ax in his hand.

A tour would have been great. However, the number of young children on the tour deterred me from following the group. The self tour is the alternative. Not as ornate as most capitol buildings and not looking like the nation's capitol in Washington, DC, it is refreshing originality.

The capitol building concept is retained in this art deco building with a large open space, long stairways and the dome over the entry area.

No 100 year old fixtures and desks in the legislative chambers in Oregon. Relatively modern looking -- although art deco in style.

Why do capitol buildings resemble cathedrals.