Orchids - Part Two

My friend Dan had called me while I was on vacation to let me know that some of his orchids were blooming. I had asked him previously to let me know when such an event occurred, so I could take pictures of them. Lovely, aren't they! I'll e-mail him and have him tell me what they are. So, check back, for soon I'll have their precise species names.

UPDATE: Dan tells me the first orchid is a 'Phalanopsis 'Guadalupe Pineda', a hybrid of a Phalanopsis amboinensis and Phalanopsis bellina, both of which are from Indonesia.

The second orchid is a Sedirea japonica, which comes from Japan and Korea. It doesn't have a common name in English, but the Japanese call it Nagoran (nahgo ron), the Nago orchid. Nago is a city on Okinawa. Please note the very pretty and authentic vase he has it in!

Camping at Perrot

I returned from vacation and worked two shifts, then had a rare two days off in the middle of the week. With the spring season underway, and no classes right now for a couple weeks, I took myself camping for a night. I've not camped at Perrot State Park, in Trempealeau. It's a short drive from La Crosse, so that clinched the decision on where to go.

When I arrived I was able to select from several tent camping sites. The choice for me was between an isolated spot on the perimeter, quiet, remote, or one on the inside circle that currently has blooming trees. If it was not for the fact that the center position also had some workmen noisily felling trees nearby for some project, I would have selected that. So I went with the remote. As I made my choice and registered at the office another couple was doing the same, and were my neighbors for the night. But there was enough brush between our sites to still make it feel isolated, and they were quiet and kept to themselves.

I had a lovely evening, after an afternoon nap once my tent was set up. I cooked my dinner, steak and beans and corn-on-the-cob, over an open fire. I read a book. I retired to sleep not long after it got dark. I awoke to the morning chorus of birds. I snoozed until some crows flew right over my tent and woke me again. I was up and secured everything, and went and climbed Brady's Bluff in the park, almost twice, after first drinking my tea and watching herons in the marsh fish for their morning breakfast. The first time up the Bluff I forgot my camera, so decided to just climb it all the way to the top. That done, I sat and had a spartan breakfast of a bread roll from yesterday, and a banana, and water. It was about 6:00 AM. I then went down and got my camera and climbed it again, at least half-way, and took pictures of spring flowers. Those are below. Wildflowers are not as showy as our garden variety which have been selectively cultured. But they are beautiful! It was a quiet morning that I had all to myself.
Hepatica of some kind.

Trillium - most of what I saw blooming was white trillium. But there were a few that had a pink blush to them.

I don't think I quite captured the beauty of the Trillium. They dotted this ascending hill, evenly distributed for quite an area. Very stunning in their simplicity!

I'll include both of the pictures of this flower called Shooting Star. My house-mate's flower book says they are in the Primrose family. Very pretty!

There was an entire hillside of them. Again, I don't think the landscape picture captures quite their beauty. Many of these flowers that spread out into an entire field were exclusively in that area, not sharing much with any of the other wildflowers. I'm not sure if this is simply competition, or just that each flower was taking advantage of the unique micro-climate of where it was growing. Click on the picture for a larger image which bring out the flowers.

Wild columbine.

I'll include both pictures of the wild columbine . . . for they are quite an interesting flower, and I managed to get good pictures of them.

Blue Phlox

Again, a landscape picture which simply does not capture the subtle beauty of these wildflowers. Maybe if I get a better camera some day! Again, click on the picture for an enlarged view.

Blue colored violet. They actually come in many shades. White, Yellow, Blue, Violet.

After my morning reverie, my house-mate Liz joined me about 10 AM and we took her new canoe out for its maiden voyage. We paddled the Trempealeau Bay backwaters, seeing bald eagles and herons and very large fish. Afterwards we went to the Trempealeau Hotel and had lunch. It was Liz' gift to me for my birthday . . . and a wonderful morning it was!

I certainly don't want to seem unthankful for the blessing that I do have, when I complain here sometimes about where I find myself in my life. My house-mate is a very cool person and I'm glad I found her and that she lets me stay in her home while I work to accomplish my education. I could not have asked for a better living situation.

I think we'll be taking her canoe out a fair bit this coming summer, as we are able to.

Prior to my trip to Oregon, I camped up north.  However, Blogger only lets me post so many postings per month.  So here is a link to that blog post:

Camping

Final Days

Blogger has hidden many of my postings when I exceed a certain number per month.  So I am placing some hyperlinks here to access the missing blog posts.  These postings pick up where the end of this page leave off.

Coastline Pictures

Yet More Pictures Of The Coast

Lincoln City And An Awesome Souvenir

Missed Picture

Pacific Coast, Ecola State Park, and Cannon Beach

Spring In Portland

Oregon

Vacation To The Pacific Northwest
Saturday the 17th was the last full day of my vacation, and I had also designated it my official birthday celebration day. I was traveling on Sunday, my actual birthday. The trip was somewhat of a gift to myself. But I did arrange and hope for some company on my designated celebration day. I was fortunate enough to make the acquaintance of and enjoy the kindly attention and hosting by a new friend in Eugene.

Thank you Andy! You accepted the 'job' of birthday date and went well above and beyond the task. I have you to thank for a very memorable experience!

We began the day exploring the Silver Falls which are located east of Salem. This is a winding path of water which cascades down multiple scenic drops, many of which you can walk behind. There is a trail around the entire area, and you could walk well over 7 miles if you choose. We did maybe 3 to 4 of them. I've included a few pictures below. My computer is filled with pictures! I've tried to pick some of the best. Really!

After our hike, and my getting sun-burned, we made our way to Troutdale, Oregon, and the McMenamins Edgefield. I had mentioned earlier the establishments by the McMenamin Brothers. What a concept these two have hit upon. Old properties are totally restored and artfully decorated, and dot the social landscape of Oregon. Edgefield is a resort! But unlike many a resort, it is affordable. We arrived with no reservation, but here again, I do seem to have some luck in some areas, a suite was cancelled just prior to our arrival. We took it!

How to describe this place? Words really do fail. You must see it. It was once a home for those down-on-their-luck. A refuge for those who had lost property. A poor farm, worked by those who lived there. Later in its existence, it became a nursing home. Then time and use caused it to fall into disrepair. The McMenamin Brothers acquired it and totally fixed it up in the late 1980 to 1990s. I'm not seeing a precise date. There are no TVs or phones in the rooms. Many rooms are in a dormitory type setting, allowing for very affordable lodging. There are vinyards and gardens all around the property. We were there at the height of the spring bloom. An evening stroll was quite aromatic!

The place is exquisitely painted throughout the main lodge. You can spend a couple hours walking the hallways and looking at the art. Each room is designated as one for a real person who lived there at some time in the past. There are elaborate quotes and calligraphy and sometimes the surprising painting in some out-of-the way corner. I decided to not even attempt to take any pictures, other than the one on our suite door.

There is a fine restaurant serving a lot of food out of the garden on the property, and fresh items from the surrounding area. It is called the Black Rabbit Restaurant, and there is a theme of a black rabbit throughout the resort. We dined there, and it was delicious!

The property includes a winery, pressed from their own grapes, and other local wines from throughout the Willamette Valley. We visited there and had a tasting of wines. He the reds. Myself the sweet whites. There is a distillery, which we did not visit. There is a brewery! We did visit one of the pubs and enjoyed hummis and various drinks.

I stayed up late, and was up early as I had to catch a plane by 7, and was off to the airport by 4:30. It was a wonderful experience that I hope to return to at some point. Upon my return to La Crosse I lamented that we do not have anything like what the McMenamin Brothers have created . . . really comfortable bars and pubs, warm, friendly, with WiFi. A successful combination!

OK . . . here are some final scenic picturs of some of the Silver Falls.

I had a fabulous time in Oregon!! I have fallen in love with the state . . . I think! Or at least, infatutaion! I was seeing it at the best possible time. Maybe I should plan to visit again in February, when it is cold and rainy and gloomy before I make my final decision. Also, the whims of where I find a job will hold some sway on where I go.

In Oregon, I saw rhododendrons and azaleas to fill the eyes. I tasted gelato, and wausabi. I brought back a smooth rounded rock from the Coast and a volcanic rock from the Cascades. I found a coveted glass globe. I brought a stick that was smoothed from the ocean. I visited one of the largest bookstores I have ever been to (Powell's City of Books in downtown Portland). You need a map to find your way. I drove over a thousand miles in winding ocean and mountain roads. I left something of value at the bottom of a crystal clear alpine pool, to maybe pull me back to the area.

I made two new friends!

Memories to feed a soul that sometimes is terribly hungry for social food.

I hope it is a love affair that will blossom . . . and that my association with Oregon is only at its beginning!

Post Trip - Return to Reality

It's a Tuesday morning. I've returned from my trip, and already worked a shift. I was a bit rusty at my job. Amazing how just a week away and you lose some of the finesse of what you do. Sure, what I do is not terribly complicated, but it does take some skill and a lot of multi-tasking to direct calls appropriately and quickly.

I'll post a few more pictures here, and wrap up this section on my visit to Oregon. My time there stretched out, and seemed like a long time. This is good! I totally enjoyed my trip! And I was happy there, even and especially during the times I was on my own. I really shouldn't whine, for I am in a good enough place right now to accomplish those things which I must accomplish. Summer classes will start up again in two weeks, and then it's one full core year of learning how to be an RT. That accomplished, I can leave and hopefully find my life again.

There is a restlessness that makes its presence felt. I've expressed it before here, as well I might, as this is a blog, and an appropriate place to vent things. If I offend any of my readers, I'm sorry. I don't want to be that whining person no one wants to be around. But here, in Wisconsin, where so much has been lost, I feel a total disconnect. I sometimes feel I'm serving a solitary confinement sentence. I have one more year, and I hope I can then find and create for myself someplace that I'll be happy again. So often, I still feel lonely. I try to make contacts, and do, and allow myself to feel emotions for people, but often those too just seem to reinforce that there is something . . . . not right. It's like there is some plan for my life, and close companionship of any kind right now is not on the agenda. But I wish I could somehow find a way to turn off that little voice that whispers my perceived social flaws. However, to totally turn that off would be to will the death of something that I believe is intrinsic to my core being.

I don't know why I am where I am, most of the time. I'm working on my confidence! I hope once my education is done, and I am moved, and return to being an independent woman living on my own, with a career, and goals, and my own purpose . . . . someone might like to be a part of that person. For now, most of the appropriate candidates that I have met . . . don't seem to be a part of that.

There is still a healing process underway. I guess it is a path I must walk in order to be at the appropriate mental and spiritual space for that hoped for day when maybe all my perceived needs are met. Is it the neediness that is the problem? Possibly! But we are social creatures . . . and too often I feel my social network is lacking. I'm willing to give to build that network . . . but too often my efforts seem to be rebuffed. Or, those who do respond have severe flaws themselves that I'm not able nor willing to help fix. And most people are distracted with their own lives.

The clock is ticking . . . I should post some final pictures, and then get on with things I should do today. Routine . . . . moves the clock and the calendar. I don't want to be guilty of thinking that finishing my goals and moving away will somehow CHANGE anything, for I take myself with me. But is the myself that I am . . . such a horrible person? Or just terribly picky? Is it wrong to be that? And is it wrong to hope and to expect that someday someone will be absolutely enthusiastic about who I am?

Am I such an odd duck that I get to swim by myself now for some unknown amount of my future . . . or forever?

Silver Springs

Silver Springs has many water falls in a chain, some of which you can walk behind. The force and sound of the water is sometimes deafening.

Silver Springs - and possibly the best Birthday ever!

I'm sitting here in the Portland Airport, waiting to board my plane. They have already begun the process of admitting those in first class, so this will be very brief. I'll return and upload more pictures, and more text.

Today is my birthday. I am 43 now! Yesterday my friend Andy took me to see Silver Springs, and I have many nice pictures of that. Afterwards, for my birthday, this gentleman from Eugene took me to the McManamen resort, Edgefield. All I can say at this point . . . what a wonderful place . . . and a wonderful experience. I'll come back and write more later. Time to catch that plane!

Mount Hood! Even at this distance, it is huge. I was finally able to catch a picture of it.

Hiking the Cascade Mountains - Tamolitch Pool

Today I got to see a very good example of the Western Cascades forest. My friend from Eugene, Andy, took me on a very nice hike up to an alpine pond, called Tamolitch Pool. The hike was wonderful . . . such beautiful scenery . . . and the pool, so very clear and blue.

The forest was filled with many of these beautiful spring flowers.

The water rushed down the valley floor, in greater turbulence higher up the valley.

There were many great pines tipped over possibly by some past storm. The soil is not very deep, for the entire valley is upon a volcanic bed. Many of these root systems were still gripping the large stones that ripped up with them as they tipped over.

Tamolitch Pool . . . it is strangely blue from minerals. It is surely terribly deep. And I can say with confidence, it is incredibly COLD!! We worked our way carefully around the edge and down into the valley. The river that feeds this pool comes out from the volcanic rock. The sharp stones were terribly hard on my feet. But with reckless abandon I simply had to jump in. We were both pretty hot from the climb around and down into the valley. But it was also for the experience. There was actually another individual, a rather beautiful water nymph, who was down and in the water before us. We announced ourselves to her as we descended down into the pool. She dressed as we worked our way down, and left as we arrived. Sorry . . . no picture of her beauty.

My friend joined me in a quick swim. After the dip, we sat out on the volcanic rocks to dry off. In the sunshine it was very warm, in comparison to the deeply cold water. Even just putting your feet into the flow which came out from underground was quickly numbing.

Upon our return, Andy showed me the GPS reading he took of our trip. The distant view looks straightforward enough . . .

But the close-up view in and around the pool, where we wandered around a bit trying to find a way to get down into the pool and back out . . . was rather round about! There was no clear trail to the water, and I believe we wandered a bit in the effort.

The Cascade Mountains

On Wednesday I took a drive inward to the Cascade Mountains which run north-south in Oregon forming the Willamette Valley between themselves and the Coastal range. The Cascades are volcanic. There are many natural hot springs, and for the time being, sleeping volcanoes. But some mountains in this chain are active. Mount St. Helens is one of them, though it is a bit away in the north, in Washington. The western side of the Cascades are very moist, wringing out all the water out of the clouds in order for them to get over this chain of mountains. The eastern side is incredibly dry, and forms the high desert. I did travel over to see Bend, OR and decided I did not care for Bend. It's dry and not green, and too much like El Paso. I was happy to return over to the moist side of Oregon.

Now, these are MOUNTAINS!! They are still very covered in snow, and frequently the clouds scrape them, or totally enshroud them.

There is a particular gathering of three high peaks that are called the Three Sisters. I'm not sure which sister is which!

From a distance my camera did not do a very good job of capturing the view.

This is one of the Three Sisters, and she is covered by clouds, so is much higher than appearing in the picture.

This is one of the more recent volcanoes which erupted. It is central in a volcanic natural park. Now, isn't this just a really nice picture!

What follows are pictures from Oregon's largest Ponderosa Pine. I wanted to get a pic with my arms stretch around it, but they have fenced it off and ask people to not go into the fence, as all the attention it has garnered has been too compacting on the roots, and harming the tree. So, you'll just have to get a sense of the size from the series of pictures. It's quite large. Remember that the Redwoods are in California!! If I move to Oregon, I'll have to go see them.