I Vote for Fall!

Down By the Deschutes River Trail

It's that time of year again... voting!  Yes, people!  VOTE.

In Oregon, you receive a booklet in the mail that informs you of all the candidates and measures that will appear on your ballot.  We do not vote at polls, but rather, receive our ballot in the mail and can either drop it off at a location or send it in.  I imagine it's because Oregon is such a freakin' huge state that it makes it easier for people to vote out in the middle of nowhere.

I really appreciate this booklet, however, it is difficult to sit down and make sense of some of the issues.  This makes me think that democracy may not be the greatest system - who am I to decide whether we should amend the constitution regarding the government's ability to tax groceries or not?  I am not nearly knowledgeable enough of all the intended and unintended consequences on this decision.  And that's just one of them.

The booklet includes arguments in favor and opposition, so that you can maybe get a better sense of what is going on.  It also includes descriptions of candidates that they have written and sent in.  While reading them, I tired to imagine what I would think about their descriptions without looking at which political party they're affiliated with.

The thing is, gosh, every decision comes with consequences.  I guess I just want to vote for some smart people to do the work for me, please.

I remember learning about Kurt Hahn and John Dewey and their different takes on democracy.  Kurt Hahn was coming out of WWII and believed you couldn't trust people to vote in a democracy due to propaganda.  He was Jewish and experienced the effects of a government going haywire by the votes of the people, having to flea to England.  He believed that the best way was to have the educated, wealthy, elite make the decisions as they may be more knowledgeable than the vulnerable everyday person easily taken in.  John Dewey, on the other hand, believed that everybody needs to be properly educated so that they can become a responsible citizen.  Things to think about.

Now get on out there and be a wicked smart voter.

Dillon Falls

The Lovely Deschutes

Aqua Love

Lavaaaa

Fuzzy Branches

Fluff is in the Air

Those Aspens

Those Aspens 2

Rainbow Aspen

Prehistoric

Grace

Jefferson Park, Mt. Jefferson Wilderness

There's something about Cat Power.  She's got a new song out, Wanderer, that I already just love.  The Greatest used to echo the walls of our post-college rather empty apartment, during a time when we had cardboard boxes for side tables and no furniture.  I easily romanticize it now - backyard fire pit and hammock is all you need, within walking distance to a coffee shop - even better.  The room had to be empty in order to hold our thoughts and feelings - 

and dance parties. 

Now, listening to her lyrics, and actually reading what she's saying, I'm realizing that she is, in fact, a poet.  Her voice is her instrument and I'm hearing what she was writing all along. 

Once I wanted to be the greatest
No wind or waterfall could stall me
And then came the rush of the flood
Stars at night turned deep to dust

Sunrise from Aubrey Butte

It's been a summer of biking.  I've been riding my bike in the early morning and was seeing the sunrise, but this has slowly shifted to the moonshine and stars.  The other morning, the moon almost looked like an eclipse - a silhouette of a circle in the curve of a bright crescent.  Sometimes the horizon looked like it was on fire, or actually was on fire - with the haze of the smoke.  I dive down Mt. Washington drive and cruise past the sprinklers through a burst of cool moisture from the Deschutes River.  I've been more in tune with the tilt of the earth and the changing of the seasons, when the night sky is emerging and the temperature is dropping.

Book Party on Orcas Island

It's been a summer of books.  I've completed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, An American Marriage, The Testament of Gideon Mack, The Dive from Clausen's Pier, and am currently working on The Ensemble as well as Little Fires Everywhere.  I have rediscovered the value of the library - having forgotten that it was there.  Free books and movies?  How could I have forgotten?!  I have not read this much since The Babysitters Club and Nancy Drew.  Here's a memorable quote:

“But home isn't where you land; home is where you launch. You can't pick your home any more than you can choose your family. In poker, you get five cards. Three of them you can swap out, but two are yours to keep: family and native land.” - Tayari Jones, An American Marriage

Puppy Headed to the Ocean

Me and Puppy at the Coast

Mt. Jefferson

Mt. Jefferson, Sunset, and Moonrise

Mountain Flowers

The Reality of Mosquitos

Flower Fields for Days

Spoiled by Feasts on Orcas Island

Just Both Needing Haircuts

Paddling with Puppy

The Madrona Tree on Orcas Island

Arriving at Waldo Lake

Night Sky Over Waldo Lake

Last Morning at Waldo Lake

An Evening Paddle at Crescent Lake

It's been a summer of adventures.  Memorial Day weekend kicked off our summer with a backpacking trip to to the coast, followed by days of my parents visiting, a trip to the East Coast, reunion with camp friends (and the unsuccessful search for the tin), girls' trip backpacking through the Jefferson wilderness, weekends spent lake swimming and SUPping, celebration with friends on Orcas Island, and topping it off with camping at Waldo Lake.  Now I can feel the heat leaving us and can't believe the leaves are starting to change.  I'm starting my search for pumpkin-flavored items.  

Me, Ander, and Mr. Buckley

It's been a summer of grace. Little moments of gratefulness have flooded this summer in the midst of changes, challenges and the usual curve balls that life tends to throw at you. There's a sweet spot between struggle and success that keeps you alive - in the sense of, you feel the moves and shakes of this world rather than caught in a hamster wheel of routine. This is growth. It doesn't happen all the time, but when you're in it, linger uncomfortably just a little - life can be full of too much numbing routine that lets us settle for too long.

Florence and the Machine came out with a new album. Her song Grace speaks to it.

But this is the only thing I've ever had any faith in
Grace, I know you carry us
Grace, and it was such a mess
Grace, I don't say it enough
Grace, you are so loved

May you continue to wander with grace.  Now, bring on the Fall.

Girl-cation

Newport, OR

Girl-cation.  

That's all I'm saying: 

Necessary, always. 

Maybe some of you know what I mean - 

(I mean, if you're a girl and you girl-cation)

Or even if you don't.

Or aren't. 

Isn't it nice to surround yourself 

with the words about 

what is coming 

and going - 

no matter where you are, really: 

here, there - 

as long as there's thoughts

put into words and dreams, 

hopes and fears turned into 

questions, answers left 

at the door - 

and contemplations

sing.

The Metolius

What I couldn't get over about the Metolius River is how big, how blue, how beautiful the water is.  This "river" is a tributary, meaning that it flows into a larger river rather than the ocean.  It's not uncommon out here to find rivers, lakes, and basins, with this gorgeous turquoise or blue color that makes them look so very fresh.  It just springs out of the ground this powerful, mouth-watering, blue water.  You just want to dive in and float along the rapids, even though they would probably swallow you up immediately.  It's just so inviting.  You want to drink it (and maybe you could). 

From what I could tell on Wikipedia, meltwater is what produces this kind of tint - coming from the grinding of rocks underneath the glaciers.  Apparently the cascades have some hefty glistening glaciers at the top, which have been shrinking in size over the past century.  The rivers, streams, and springs depend on the snow melt of Spring.  Walking through Shevlin Park, many of the little streams are dry river beds until the snow melt happens. 

On our little hike up to the fish hatchery, we saw a couple of fly fisherman.  This is actually the only kind of fishing allowed on the river.  They only added to the rustic and beautiful feel of such a pristine spot.  Can't wait to check out this trail in the summer when we can go for a little dip.  Some spots are so clear and deep, begging to be jumped into.  

Around Bend

Meet Bend.  It's a nice lil place. 

Hissing of the Summer Lawn

Hey, Elliot. 

Backyarding

Mountains, Bikes, Trees: Check check check

Yes.

Mmmhm.  Except for pets. 

Des Chutes

The Town of Colorful Chairs

Aqua Chair

Courage!

Green Chairs

Gray and Green Chairs

Tiny House - maybe?  And Kayak. 

Swing Chair

Colorful Porch

Wooden Bridge

Hammock by the River

SUP

Back Streets Back

Biking

Hi hi

Rock Down To

Ander!

Such a Good Idea

Seedling

Health!

Macha & Sarah

Art + Books = Good Day

By the Ford

Sunglasses

When You Extend the Bendy Straw, You Don't Need to Even Bend Your Neck to Have a Sip (of Kombucha)

Cheers to good, sunny, adventurous days!