ESCAPE TO NATURE

Yesterday, my son and I decided it was time to escape from the city. I raised my kids to appreciate nature and to hang out with it as much as possible. They spent part of their childhood years around the lakes and woods of northern Michigan.

Lost Lake near Hood River, Oregon was our destination, about two hours northeast of Portland, Oregon. A fantastically beautiful place where we used a canoe to paddle around its perimeter. My arms are sore today from three and a half hours of paddling. We did make a few stops along the shore to sit and observe nature. Above is what the shore lines were like -- stony and full of bleached tree roots as well as gigantic trees with water so clear you could see the bottom. I only fell in once while trying to exit the canoe to the shoreline. Oh well, it was a warm day and my clothes and tennis shoes dried quickly.

As we rounded one of the many curves -- we got a wonderful surprise. A great close-up look of Mount Hood. 

Few folks were out on the lake and at one section, as the above photo shows, there were no folks at all. So quiet, with soft fragrant breezes blowing from the many fir trees. Lots of dragonflies along with butterflies checked us out at shore stops. It was a fine day to enjoy nature.

MY MORNING VIEW

Mt Hood wears many faces as it shows itself throughout the day. This morning my window view was layers of gray -- soothing and cool in its appearance. However, the sun with hot rays will soon be arriving to again scorch my earthly space. Another hot day in the Pacific Northwest.

VINTAGE MICHIGAN HOUSE PHOTO -- THOUGHTS

Early settlement home in Harrison, Michigan

circa late 1800s

I found the above black and white photo on cardboard many years ago in the state of my birth -- Michigan. Printed on the photo were the words Harrison, Michigan but did not identify the family. Although taken many years before I was born it still resonates with me. I like that it speaks to me of my interests -- vernacular homes, history, Michigan, early photography, family/folks, landscapes and more. 

It was common, when this photo was taken, to have itinerant traveling photographers knock on your door asking if you would like a photo taken. If you agreed, he (not known if women took to this trade), dragged out his big tripod and huge glass plate camera and the household gathered before their home and soon they were frozen in time via a photograph. 

Today, a photo is taken in an instance with film or as digital. The way of life for those many glass plate itinerant photographers disappeared with these advances. 

I have moved recently to Portland Oregon. Can't say how many times I have moved around the country since I was young except to say MANY times. 

Now I am my own itinerant photographer taking my own photos with my own digital camera as I move about.

Below are a few shots of my current "new to me" home.

Mount Hood taken from computer work space window

Apartment complex was built in 1941 by a German immigrant architect -- it still feels like it probably did when it was first built. Not a large complex -- it is surrounded by mature trees and prolific gardens.  Several windows look out toward Mt Hood. 

Apartment gardens

Apartment's wood floors

Would love to find some old photos of this place. Will be doing some snooping around the area to see if there are any to be found. Maybe the Oregon Historical Society might have some?

AS THE CROW FLIES -- MOUNT HOOD

I took this dusky photo in the late afternoon with the city 

streetlights of Portland just beginning to come on. I was standing off a main road in Vancouver.

I am lucky. About three miles from where I live in Vancouver, Washington is this beautiful view of Mount Hood which is located in Oregon. I looked up the mileage between where I live and Mount Hood and it was sixty road miles. And, I would approximate it is about 40 miles  -- as the crow flies.

Mount Hood is the highest peak in Oregon -- it being twenty miles from Portland, Oregon which is just across the large Columbia River from Vancouver. According to Wikipedia, Mount Hood is considered to possibly have an eruption in the next 30 years -- it is informally considered dormant for now.


Early Native American cultures had various spirit tales about the mountain. Wy'east is the name given to Mount Hood by the Multnomah tribe.

Right now, as one can see in the above photo, the mountain is deep in snow while here in Vancouver, where I live, it has been rainy with moderate temperatures. 

Out west on a trip? I recommend motoring or hiking up to Timberline lodge near its peak -- it is full of beautiful rustic designs and furnishings handmade by Great Depression employed artisans. 

Visit this blog, Pacific Northwest Seasons, to enjoy interior shots of the beautiful Timberline's craftsmanship.

Mount Hood is a National Forest managed by the U.S. Forest Service.