Week #52 - P52 Completed!

A dramatic sundown seems to be a good way to end my Photo Project 52 of 2019---a week late.  Winter hasn't been very forceful yet this year. We've had hints of snow and lots of rain.  It's cold and windy and dark.  This past week, I could see that there were pretty horizons with clouds and lots of color, so we drove up and out of the valley to Cricket Flat, where I could pick any horizon I desired.
Now I can order the photo book.

Truly Miscellaneous

I'm behind with my monthly blog post...so this one is a mix of photos without a real theme.

 A road on the south side of Cricket Flat outside Elgin, Oregon...from the east toward the west, looking toward the Blue Mountains

Whitetail does 

A dry leaf on a formidable thorn bush

 The road into the wilderness

 Baker County....and the magnificent Elkhorn Mountains (east side)

 I think this is the "other" side of the Elkhorns as seen from Sumpter

 An "oldie" near Sumpter  

 This beautiful buck was herding a harem of does

 Back to my "back yard"...and the Grande Ronde River at the edge of Elgin

 Another trip to the summit of the Blue Mountains on Hwy 204

 Snow "fall"...as pretty as any waterfall

Traveling North Again

Just north of where I live is part of the Umatilla National Forest; roads wander here and there, crossing county lines.  Recently, my husband and I took a drive which was essentially a "loop" into some territory I hadn't seen before.  (I've lived here almost 45 years, but there are still places I haven't been.) Although the temperatures have cooled considerably, it is still very dry.  But there is something special about being able to drive "into the woods."

                               

This canyon must have a name, but I couldn't find it on the map.  It's fairly deep. 

I love the look of young Tamarack (Western Larch) trees; they are bright green in the fall landscape. Soon, they will turn yellow and drop their needles, unlike any other conifer. 

The road looks smooth...but it's gravel and and it's rough in many places. 

A terrific view to the south: Mt. Harris (5000+ feet) on the left, Mt. Emily (6000+ feet) on the right, and Pumpkin Ridge in the right center.  This land formation separates Indian Valley, where I live, 

from the huge Grande Ronde Valley to the south. 

Lookingglass Creek is the home of the Lookingglass Fish Hatchery

 The Grande Ronde River, which is very low at this time of year. 

From the river to Cricket Flat is a gradual climb.

"Stay Out"

I'm falling behind in my plan to make a blog post at least once a month; I'll blame it on old age, busy-ness, and a bit of disorganization!  So a long drive in the country (we have a lot of it around here) produced the images for this post: signs on private property.  Because we are a hunting area, private landowners "mark their territory" with No Trespassing and No Hunting signs.  As simple as the message is, it's available in a variety of presentations.

Hey Spring!

The country roads are clear of all the snow now (heavy rains took care of that)....and spring is edging closer.  No real warmth yet--it frosts at night and maxes out around 50 during the day.  It's a tease!

Snow still lies in scattered drifts. The blue birdhouse is one of many along the road.

 This old manure spreader is almost intact, wooden frame and iron wheels indicative of its old age.

My first buttercup sighting, always a good sign of spring. 

Another birdhouse among my favorite quaking aspens; this one doesn't seem habitable.

Many areas around this little pond still had drifts of snow. 

Above the Valley

Many times, I've stated that I live in a valley, so many of my landscape images require me to "go up and out" to have any kind of view.  Recently, I went up and out a little road that I hadn't driven for months; it requires driving through someone's barnyard.  But this time of year, the scenery is beautiful--it is truly pastoral. Up and out on this road leads to The Flat--Cricket Flat.

   To the south is Mt. Harris, which borders the neighboring Grande Ronde Valley

 Haying season has begun.

 South Cricket Flat -- the white dot in the back right is a schoolhouse built in 1867. It has been maintained as far as fresh paint and a roof; it serves as storage for hay now. 

"Down" onto the Flat