Galloping Away

Horses have to be one of the most elegant creatures. These were happy to show off for me one afternoon this summer, dashing past as if to dare me to get a shutter speed fast enough.

Depot

Architectural detail from an old train depot in Bryan, Ohio. What must have been one of the bustlingest places in town now sits in silent neglect.

Black on Blue

A black bird's silhouette cuts across a steel blue sky.

Mercedes

An elegant Mercedes parked a few blocks away.

Hole in the Hedge

Curb appeal from a house down the street. I guess they got tired of walking around their 6-foot hedge, so they cut a hole in it and put in a gate.

Hood Ornament Quiz

Here's the hood ornament. Can you name the make and model? (Gotta leave your guesses in the comments.)

Christmas Kickoff

Turkey Day's over--let the Christmas festivities begin! I love poppin' on a favorite Christmas CD, opening boxes of decorations, and getting into a relaxed, creative flow. Now if only someone would invent a strand of Christmas lights that would automatically eject any burnt out bulbs and replace them without my intervention.

Stone Wall

An intricate pattern of masonry on a massive stone wall near the Portland Zoo. Someone spent a whole lot of time getting those blocks puzzle-pieced together. So much more beautiful to look at than a stark concrete wall, which would have been cheaper, I'm sure.

Red Line to Airport

After a month here, my sons still get a thrill anytime we take the bus or train somewhere. This is one of the on-board train signs showing the destination--though we didn't ride all the way to the airport. For us, the joy of riding around on an electric train IS the destination.

Evergreen Droplet

A water droplet balloons on the tip of an evergreen needle before falling to its demise. The rainy season seems to have drizzled its way into Portland. It's always a soft rain, with gentle trickles of water bubbling their music as I walk to the bus in the morning.

North

In case you were wondering, north is that way. This marker is embedded in the sidewalk for some random purpose.

Speaker Dots

A rusty speaker box along the train line that I ride to work every day.

Black Eyed Susan

What an odd name for a such a nice flower. Who gave Susan a black eye, anyway?

Don't Walk, Don't Drive, Don't Turn

Couldn't do anything else at the corner of Yamhill and Tenth, so I took a picture.

Peculiar Picket Fence

A ruler straight fence takes a sudden creative twist as if the posts simply grew tired of standing guard and decided to fly away.

Stone Stairs

Warmth of sun meets cold of stone on top of Mt. Tabor.

Put on a Happy Face

Odd bit of decor on Pioneer Square in the heart of downtown Portland. Seems like there is always something happening down on the square whether it's a publicity stunt, a protest, a concert, or some social event. Today when I rode by on the train, they were trimming a huge tree for the Christmas season.

Autumn Glow

Soft sunlight filters through autumn leaves on top of Mt. Tabor. Oregon is beautiful!

Quirky Peacock

A stray peacock shoots a curious look at the camera while strutting outside the Portland Zoo.

Black Pawn

A black pawn sits vulnerable on the front line of a friendly chess game. Weekends at Pioneer Square in downtown Portland often feature such games played in the midst of crowds waiting for the train.

Stone, Glass, and Leaves

I've fallen in love with downtown Portland which, like many cities, is rich in diverse architecture. We had a few extra minutes one night to stroll along and shoot some photos before meeting friends for dinner last weekend. Can't wait to find a free Saturday or Sunday to wander around again.

Browning Maple

A lonely maple leaf rests on the sidewalk wet with a morning mist.

Toothless Giggle

A snapshot of pure childhood joy captured in Cameron's smile as he spins on the merry-go-round, his first baby tooth missing out on the fun.

Multnomah Falls

The lower half of Multnomah Falls cascades in a silvery sheen on a crisp autumn morning. We're just beginning to discover the seemingly endless natural beauty of Oregon. This is just one of a series of seven waterfalls within a half hour drive from our house.

Endless Evergreen

The height of the evergreen trees in Portland astounds me. Their endless shadows scatter patches of warm sunlight along grassy paths, perfect for a quiet stroll.

Oh, A Leaf!

Eliana sits in the sunlight, fascinated by crisp leaves on top of Mt. Tabor.

Fall is Falling

The photoblog is back after several weeks off as we moved clear across the country from Ohio to Oregon. We're settled in and I'm finding time to shoot again thanks to the encouragement of some photoblog fans.

This Japanese Maple lives in the front yard of a neighbor down the block, shot on one of our first days here before all our earthly possessions arrived by truck. The leaves formed a vivid gradient from yellow-green, to bright orange, to crimson, splashing a warm rainbow of color welcoming us to the neighborhood.