Molly
May 2007 - August 2009
Our sweet little rat Molly has joined our other rats that have passed on. She had a tumor on her spine, but had been eating and functioning normally until the last few days. We will miss her!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
In Memoriam
Molly
May 2007 - August 2009
Our sweet little rat Molly has joined our other rats that have passed on. She had a tumor on her spine, but had been eating and functioning normally until the last few days. We will miss her!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
O-Bon
In mid-August, Matt and I decided to attend the O-bon (pronounced oh-bowhn) festival at the Japanese Gardens. The festival is celebrated in Japanese villages sometime during the late summer and is an event that occurs after they invite their ancestors to join them for three days. The event we attended is intended to send them back to the spirit world. It is a happy occasion.
We got there a little early, so we decided to do a quick stroll around the Rose Garden. We found a little side garden that didn't have any roses it. It had a plaque dedicating it to the soldiers of world war I. We thought that these trumpet flowers were incredible.
We arrived at the gardens, and were seated outside the gates in folding chairs. Because we arrived early, we got front row seats. I even was seated by the "garden ambassador" from Japan that came to Portland with his family to celebrate the festival! The event began with three dances. They were initially performed by Buddhist Temple members, and then the audience was invited to join in.
This woman has been leading the dancing for the O-Bon festival in Portland at this garden for the last 60 years. Wow.
Members of a local Buddhist temple dressed in traditional clothes performed three dances, accompanied by the drum.
After the temple members had performed the first dance, they invited anyone who wanted to participate to join in.
After the dancing, we were invited to enter the garden, and each of us was given a candle. We formed a line around the main pond, and as a Buddhist monk chanted, we filed past and had our candle lit and placed in the pond. The candles were to remember someone who had passed on that we loved. The garden was magical with all of the lights on the water and about 200 people standing in silence with the chanting in the background. It was a fun foray into the customs of another culture.
We got there a little early, so we decided to do a quick stroll around the Rose Garden. We found a little side garden that didn't have any roses it. It had a plaque dedicating it to the soldiers of world war I. We thought that these trumpet flowers were incredible.
We arrived at the gardens, and were seated outside the gates in folding chairs. Because we arrived early, we got front row seats. I even was seated by the "garden ambassador" from Japan that came to Portland with his family to celebrate the festival! The event began with three dances. They were initially performed by Buddhist Temple members, and then the audience was invited to join in.
This woman has been leading the dancing for the O-Bon festival in Portland at this garden for the last 60 years. Wow.
Members of a local Buddhist temple dressed in traditional clothes performed three dances, accompanied by the drum.
After the temple members had performed the first dance, they invited anyone who wanted to participate to join in.
After the dancing, we were invited to enter the garden, and each of us was given a candle. We formed a line around the main pond, and as a Buddhist monk chanted, we filed past and had our candle lit and placed in the pond. The candles were to remember someone who had passed on that we loved. The garden was magical with all of the lights on the water and about 200 people standing in silence with the chanting in the background. It was a fun foray into the customs of another culture.
Zoo
Matt and I decided that since the zoo is one of our favorite places we would buy a year pass (pays for itself in three visits). We have already been there twice together (and I have been a third time with Mom and Megan.) I decided to lump all of my zoo pics together.
On our first trip, it was about 100 degrees and we were roasting!! We decided to do the northwest path last, but ended up being too tired after hitting everything else, so we saved it for the next trip.
Doesn't this remind you of a early Beatles haircut?
The elephants were moving around quite a bit (probably because it was hot!). They kept blowing dust on their backs. Isn't the baby CUTE!
The aviary is in my top three favorite exhibits. I like to sit (and wait for loud people to leave) until the birds get comfortable and come out. It is amazing how well they hide. I found at least 10 species, but the book they usually have all of the bird names and info posted in was "broken" and all but three were missing, so I don't know what the majority of them are. After I took this picture, this bird perched above my head and pooped on my camera!
Hammerkop. This guy made a really loud noise! He also had a huge nest. The keepers had posted a sign below it that said "Excuse our mess, we are under construction."
This bird was hanging upside down from the branches while eating.
Is it just me, or does he look like a pouting teenager...
We could not get over how long and skinny this critter's neck was!
This is a fulvous whistling duck. He is way at the top of my "want to see" birding life list. Unfortunately, I do not count captive sightings...
I love the bird exhibits here! This bee eater was magnificent!
Meerkat! (Finally got one holding still after about 20 shots).
Our second trip was early on a cool Saturday. We only stayed an hour, but saw the polar bears and sea lions playing, walked the northwest path, and checked out the wolves.
Cool fish "mural" (it was made of stone and on the ground...) on the Northwest path.
The wolves were howling and pacing. As we left we saw the keeper come in to feed them. Just like our dog....
Trip with Megan, Mom, and Jesse.
We enjoyed the birds of prey show. The eagle was massive! He was flipping his head around when he first perched on her as if he was trying to grab something near her face. It would have made me VERY nervous. Mom's pic.
Ground Hornbill. Cool, ugly bird. Again, mom's pic.
Tessa was very excited to be invited (by Grandma no less...)
Meg, Jesse and me!
This little monster was biting me - and not nicely! He drank nectar for a while, and then went to town on my hand. I had "beak dents" for the rest of the day....
On our first trip, it was about 100 degrees and we were roasting!! We decided to do the northwest path last, but ended up being too tired after hitting everything else, so we saved it for the next trip.
Doesn't this remind you of a early Beatles haircut?
The elephants were moving around quite a bit (probably because it was hot!). They kept blowing dust on their backs. Isn't the baby CUTE!
The aviary is in my top three favorite exhibits. I like to sit (and wait for loud people to leave) until the birds get comfortable and come out. It is amazing how well they hide. I found at least 10 species, but the book they usually have all of the bird names and info posted in was "broken" and all but three were missing, so I don't know what the majority of them are. After I took this picture, this bird perched above my head and pooped on my camera!
Hammerkop. This guy made a really loud noise! He also had a huge nest. The keepers had posted a sign below it that said "Excuse our mess, we are under construction."
This bird was hanging upside down from the branches while eating.
Is it just me, or does he look like a pouting teenager...
We could not get over how long and skinny this critter's neck was!
This is a fulvous whistling duck. He is way at the top of my "want to see" birding life list. Unfortunately, I do not count captive sightings...
I love the bird exhibits here! This bee eater was magnificent!
Meerkat! (Finally got one holding still after about 20 shots).
Our second trip was early on a cool Saturday. We only stayed an hour, but saw the polar bears and sea lions playing, walked the northwest path, and checked out the wolves.
Cool fish "mural" (it was made of stone and on the ground...) on the Northwest path.
The wolves were howling and pacing. As we left we saw the keeper come in to feed them. Just like our dog....
Trip with Megan, Mom, and Jesse.
We enjoyed the birds of prey show. The eagle was massive! He was flipping his head around when he first perched on her as if he was trying to grab something near her face. It would have made me VERY nervous. Mom's pic.
Ground Hornbill. Cool, ugly bird. Again, mom's pic.
Tessa was very excited to be invited (by Grandma no less...)
Meg, Jesse and me!
This little monster was biting me - and not nicely! He drank nectar for a while, and then went to town on my hand. I had "beak dents" for the rest of the day....
Kayaking
Mom and Dad decided to kayak the Willamette one weekend afternoon, so we dropped them off and picked them up. Don't they look cute in their sun hats!!
Japanese Garden and Rose Garden
A couple of days after mom's birthday, she and I went to Portland to try out her new camera lens at the Japanese Gardens and Rose Garden. I had never been to either and both were really spectacular. We went to the Japanese Garden first. We enjoyed the shade and bolted throught the areas of sun to return to the shade because it was so hot!!
This boardwalk was edged with dense irises. There were also HUGE koi in the pond.
One of my favorite "rock features" of the entire garden.
The use of rocks in the pathways was really creative. It was hard to get many good pictures because it was a bright sunny day and the trees made pretty dark shade, so the camera had difficulty getting the light setting right. I thought the rocks leading up to this resting bench were pretty, but I really liked where they mixed different types of natural (looking at least) stone instead of using concrete.
They have a beautiful long building built in the traditional Japanese style, including doors with paper shades, which is used for exhibits and can be rented for events. It had these lanterns hanging along the back porch.
City view from behind the entertainment facility.
After the Japanese Garden, we spent about an hour at the Rose Gardens, which are located across the road. I wasn't feeling well (and it was REALLY hot!) so I chilled in the shade while mom took lots of pictures. I did manage the three below though.
This boardwalk was edged with dense irises. There were also HUGE koi in the pond.
One of my favorite "rock features" of the entire garden.
The use of rocks in the pathways was really creative. It was hard to get many good pictures because it was a bright sunny day and the trees made pretty dark shade, so the camera had difficulty getting the light setting right. I thought the rocks leading up to this resting bench were pretty, but I really liked where they mixed different types of natural (looking at least) stone instead of using concrete.
They have a beautiful long building built in the traditional Japanese style, including doors with paper shades, which is used for exhibits and can be rented for events. It had these lanterns hanging along the back porch.
City view from behind the entertainment facility.
After the Japanese Garden, we spent about an hour at the Rose Gardens, which are located across the road. I wasn't feeling well (and it was REALLY hot!) so I chilled in the shade while mom took lots of pictures. I did manage the three below though.
Mom's Birthday
For mom's birthday I made an angel food cake, but forgot to buy candes...so we made due with one very large taper which was supported nicely by the cake when placed in the center hole (albeit at an angle...). Dad got mom a really nice camera lens...and I think the pictures speak for themselves.
Visit to Grams
In July, Matt and I took a short trip to Grams. We took the traditional drive to Barview and took the same pictures for the 100th time :>
I wanted a few more black and white driftwood pictures to fill some more frames, so I took a few closeups of the big stump currently placed at the entrance to the jetty. After I took this I thought it looked strikingly like the face of a whale...or a sea turtle!
I wanted a few more black and white driftwood pictures to fill some more frames, so I took a few closeups of the big stump currently placed at the entrance to the jetty. After I took this I thought it looked strikingly like the face of a whale...or a sea turtle!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
