San Rafael Valley, AZ ~~ Photo by Bill Haas

Friday, August 31, 2012

SEEN BETTER DAYS


Sorta like yours truly!

Friday, August 24, 2012

DAHLIAS AND ROSES AND BEGONIAS, OH MY!

And a few others I couldn't pass up...found in the Botanical Gardens at Shore Acres State Park, Oregon on a sunny, windless day.
 The Dahlias
 


 
 Not a Dahlia, but with flowers like an Orchid, leaves like a Day Lilly, exquisitely painted by Mother Nature
Another "Not a Dahlia!"
 
 The Rose Garden scented the air with heady perfume

 


The Begonia Greenhouse displayed a distinct collection.  Someone had been having a great time developing unique varieties -- a few looked like they had been crossed with Petunias! 
Or an egg, over easy!

 

Thursday, August 23, 2012

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

Well, actually nothing is wrong with the picture, in that it depicts Todd Akin's true beliefs no matter how he twists and turns in the wind about words and semantics!  

The thing that's actually morally "wrong" with it is that the hypocritical Grand Old Party is using Mr. Akin as a scapegoat.  Why all the uproar when Atkin is just echoing the party line? The R&R's have similar views; they just don't want you to know it!  

The record is well documented, for example, that Mr. Ryan co-sponsored a bill with Mr. Akin to redefine rape in order to distinguish "forcible rape"  (and what, "invited rape" maybe?) so that federal funding on abortions for rape victims would be limited.   In addition, Mr. Ryan supported a bill that allowed anti abortion hospitals to refuse emergency abortions.

You can run, and attempt to label these critical women's issues as "distractions," and you can refuse to answer whether you believe rape victims need to be protected, but you can't hide, Mr. Ryan.  You and Todd Atkin are joined at the hip.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

SENDING YOU SOME COOL..

...AND SERENE, FROM OREGON

Alsea Bay Bridge, Waldport

 Yachats 

Cape Perpetua




Heceta Head Lighthouse (being renovated)

 Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

 Umpqua Lighthouse, Reedsport

 Cape Arago Lighthouse, Charleston

 Sunset Bay State Park, Coos Bay











 Shore Acres State Park, Coos Bay

Friday, August 3, 2012

CREAMY POMPOM-ON-A-STICK

Of course you were all just dying to know the true name for "Creamy Pompom-on-a-Stick," right?

And I'm sure some of you already knew it's really called "Seacoast Angelica," right?

OK, but did you know that Seacoast Angelica is in the carrot family, grows on coastal bluffs right where I found it, and is so named because Angelica ("angel") refers to the medicinal and angelic protection against evil properties as revealed to mankind by an archangel?  Well, that's what the book says.  Also, seeds of a European species were used to make gin and absinthe.

I hope some day you get to see some with your very own eyes.  And save the seeds!

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

OMG!?!!

So THAT'S what happened to my bra!!