Lazy Daze - 6/23/15

Or - I don't know, what do you want to do?

Carol's away for the week and I'm .... really bored. I mean, how many JAG reruns can you watch before you get antsy?  It's about 5 of them as I learned today. That's a lot of JAG watching at one time, Man.

That's the challenge of living alone. Trying to figure out what you can do. I mean, I know you can do anything you want, but that isn't the real problem. The real problem is, what is it you want to do ... by yourself. There's the rub.

Being by yourself.

That's the sticky part, isn't it? I mean I was given to watching the birds and taking their pictures just to have some excitement and a reason to get off the couch. 

And a Stellar's Jay stop by this morning for some suet along with all the usual suspects.

Then I wandered on over to see what was happening down on the beach. Not a lot, people-wise, but really kicking A and taking names, color-wise.

I just wanted to get out for a bit today and so I went on over to the bank. You probably already know that the U.S. Government has provided all my personal information, my identity, so-to-speak, to the Chinese Government. Gratis.

And so, fully aware that I am such small potatoes that no one would feel it was even worth the effort to hack into my account, I still felt like I should at least make an effort to try and protect my money. So I used that as my excuse to get out.

After I left the bank, I saw that the Ospreys were at home and it was dinnertime. You can see where they've built their nest while standing in the parking lot of the bank. 

It's built on top of one of the lamps that line the baseball field at Kirksis Park, just up the road from the bank.

Here's Momma; feeding her baby.

Quite a sight, isn't it? Look at the size of that nest? That's not your regular backyard bird's nest!!

This is one beautiful bird.

Then, because I had no where else to go, I drove down to the beach by D River. Not too much activity for the third day of summer but it a Tuesday, after all. I imagine this weekend will be a bit busier. Actually, it was kinda nice out today. The wind wasn't bad at all. 

And when you walk, you look up, you look down, you look big and you look small. And this is what I saw when I looked small. 

I know they're weeds but, c'mon, they do have a small beauty to them. A bit, anyway.

And when you look really small you can get these guys. I can't get this close with my naked eye. I really do appreciate the power of this camera with its zoom lens. 

And a testament to man's eternal optimism, these folks are counting on the winds to stay at a reasonable level so their little umbrella doesn't head south in a hurry. 

Hey, guys!! There's a reason they call this place the Kite Flying Capitol of the World.

Hahaha, I wonder who'll have to go and chase it down?

But it wasn't any fun just being there by myself. It's awkward and I'm not used to it anymore. Anyway, I wasn't enjoying it and so I bagged it, went to McDonald's for lunch and then back to Mi Casa.

Where I found this pleasant surprise.

This is part of an advertising campaign by the Tourism Board of Oregon. They're promoting 'The 7 Wonders of Oregon' and they've built a large campaign around these patches representing the Wonders of Oregon. They had a contest and the winner got a set of the patches. Oh, the patches are not for sale and, as far as I understand, the only way to get them is through this contest.

Well, I wanted me a set and so I entered. And I won!!

I know!! I was surprised, too!!

When I got back today I found a package stuffed under the welcome mat and inside this package were my patches!!

Woo, woo!!

So far, we've been to Smith Rock and The Coast. Hahaha, the Coast was an easy one. The others won't be so convenient but we'll get there. Some day.

Now I have to try and figure out what to do with them. Jacket? Frame'em? Dresser drawer? What to do!?! What to do!?!

Hahaha, it'll give me something to do now. So, on this lazy day I'll catch another rerun of JAG and then, maybe, just maybe, I'll go for a walk. Oh, and I think I'll walk on over to the Hansen Gardens later on. With my camera.  

Cuz that's the way I roll.

It's also because the days around here have been great lately. I mean they've really been spectacular. No rain and some blue skies. Wowsers!

Hahaha, look at those predictions for the next week. 

Wait a minute!! What is that, way down there? Is that a high of 70!?!?! How'd that get in there!?!

Whew, heat wave, y'all!!

It all works for me. I'll just open the windows and the door and get the breeze in off the beach. Hahaha, I'm such a jerk.

But a happy one. And cool, too.

And, now, The Factor on Fox is over and so I'll go for my walk.

(A couple hours later....)

And, walk is over, dinner is eaten and time to add some to my blog. I enjoy these walks. You get to see so much just walking through the neighborhood. 

And, you know, looking at life through a camera lens helps you to see a lot more. Plus, I'm starting to, as I go out with my camera, starting to think of things in the terms of telling a story with my camera. I know, it sounds silly but it's true. As I wander along now, I am seeing things in the way of a story

And so my story of a lazy day continues with the new sidewalk Whata-Vue across the street putting in. It's a cinderblock sidewalk. I'm not nosey, just curious.

And so off I went, heading on up to the Connie Hansen Garden Conservatory. And along the way I took a look at the neighborhood. I've had an interest in doors since my visit to Ireland. Hahaha, they know how to do doors in The Auld Country. 

Anyway, since I returned, I've looked at doors differently. And I'm finding that in beach communities, people are more prone to jazz up their doors than they are in the more sedate, inland towns. 

I've shot these mailboxes before. I keep feeling like there is a great picture in there somewhere. I just haven't been able to find it yet. But it's been fun trying.

And I quickly got to the Garden. 

Let the show begin...

OK, I got a lot of pictures of the flowers in the Garden. I honestly weeded out (Hahahaha,get it!?! Talkin' about flowers and I weeded out the ones I didn't need) a lot of them. 

So, you've been warned. Lots of flower pictures following.

We got nothing on Mother Nature.

Getting good pictures of these flowers is sorta like "... shooting Nerds in a barrel." as Stuart observed after selling a new Fantasy Card Game to Leonard, Howard and Rahj on The Big Bang Theory. 

I get a kick out of shooting flowers.

The garden is just up the block from us and open every day from dawn to dusk.

And it is a target-rich environment.

But it was getting late so I ambled on down the lane towards home.

There's a lot of what I call beach cottages scattered throughout LCO. There's a lot of cookie-cutter new homes but still, the majority are these one-of-a-kind cottages with these unusual personal touches that make them stand out.

And the National debate hits even here on the west coast. I wonder how long these will last on this truck.

And people put in these little touches to make their home feel more familiar, comfortable. To make them theirs.

And then, at the same house that had the wicker table with the potted plants I found this small garden on the other side. They really put some effort and planning into this.

They had a bowl of polished stones set out. Nice accent.

I thought the rusty bench a nice touch.

Walking on a bit further, I saw this arrangement. That's a Red Hot Poker, a Kniphofia Uvaria. It's also known as a Torch Lily.

I don't know. I thought it was interesting.

Looking north up NW Jetty. There's the Mini on the far left.

And some flowers from the house close to ours.

And, finally, this little patriotic 4th of July decoration we got at the Dollar Tree. Not bad for a buck, eh?

Hahaha, I'm willing to be totally American...for the right price.

And there it is. A lazy day. Passed by in a sort of a daze. No real thought or goals other than to go out and get a couple of half-way decent pictures. And tell a short story.

Hahaha, and it was more fun than sitting through another round of back-to-back reruns of JAG or The Big Bang Theory.

It was a good, nothing much, here and there kinda day.

Life is good.

     Hooah!!