Home Free just released “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald “ a beautiful tribute to the #gordonlightfoot song. #homefree #edmundfitzgerald #homefreeguys

“Go ahead, it’s a free country” my son said. He was baiting me. He knew the tirade I would unleash, and I did. Folks, we do not live in a free country. I know I am preaching to the choir here. But we need to come out and say it as it is. To everyone. (My son agrees, it was a mood)

So, in Harrisburg, OR, the annual “old fashioned 4th of July” fireworks started like this: the first few lighted the field across the river from the town. Engines from the towns on both sides put it out, and the fireworks resumed. (Historically that field is hay, likely not yet cut)

1/2 Or even if you needed to stay in bed. Please reach out. You matter. Really, you do. #hotline #suicidehelp #chooselife

Be like a rose; no matter how many thorns you encounter in life, bloom.

Some beauty and calm. Because. #Flowers #Photography #Nature #Beauty

Close encounters. I am guessing the canine is more vicious than the feline and I have the scars to prove it 🤪.

On my soapbox again. Whatever person nurtured you, who shaped who you are, the one you turn/ed to when you need/ed a friend, that is “mom”. That is the human who mothered you. Don’t let another person dismiss you by saying that person is not your “real” mom. Dismiss them!

So I’ve had to call SSA 3x this wk. Hour+ on hold each, issue still unresolved. Next step going in (hopefully in person workers better informed- but with all the cuts, possibly not). But i have to make an appt first - fortunately I am in an urban area. Now, please pay attn: 1/?

Be who YOU are. Go your OWN way. Just be. Own it. #aquarium #oregonzoo #independence #freespirit #affirmation #photography

Happy Mothers Day to those who celebrate. Here is the sweetest mother/son music video done by bass (and so much more) acapella artist Tim Foust and his mom, Dena Foust. #timfoust #youaremysunshine #bluegrass #mothersday youtube.com/watch?v=tWaG...

A big kitty for #caturday. #oregonzoo #lioness #lion #photography

I’m weary. Tired. Not defeated. Just catching my breath. Soon be ready to actively resist more. Take a breather if you need to. Better to rest a bit than to burn out. We need you.

A large #paintedturtle sunning itself on the pond. There are several turtle species in it. #pondlife #turtle #photography

Robertson tunnel in Portland, Oregon - the deepest subway tunnel in the US, 5th in world. Serves trimet lightrail Max. This is the access to the #oregonzoo and other attractions. #robertsontunnel #photography #trimet

1/? An acquaintance posted something today that has spurred this rant. RE: going places with disabled persons. If you consider someone a friend, but won’t go anywhere with them because of their disability, then you are NOT a friend. Be you, that’s fine, but don’t pretend you are a friend.

Our ponds local egret. #pondlife #egret #photography

A sweet moment today. I use a rollator, and I am old. Walked to the pharmacy, then to bus stop - which is next to a middle school. I stopped to adjust some things, and this delightful boy, about 11, came from behind me and asked me if I needed any help. How thoughtful and caring. (See comments).

Asian elephant Mom #RoseTu and almost 3 month old baby #TulaTu at the #oregonzoo. 4/23/25.

Not a perfect photo because it’s zoomed in, but caught an #egret with a (relatively large) fish in our pond. They always seem to eat them on the far bank. #pondlife

The Rhododendron bush outside my window. Fortunate to live in a nicely landscaped and maintained complex. There are perks to higher density living. Appreciating beauty and positivity where ever it can be found. #purpleflower #rhododendron #photography #spring

A day on the pond. The #heron and ##•egret were having a turf war. The #Canadageese males were also having disputes. And the #nutria and #mallards were just swimming around. So love the #pondlife for moments of #serenity. #photography

A project I am working on keeps getting set aside because it feels too big. It’s a creative project, and I just realized that I need to just take the journey, regardless of when or if I make it to the destination of completing it. #creativity #inspiration

Tamu, juvenile (b12/05/23) #blackrhino #oregonzoo taken 04/23/25. #spring #photography

A smile for your day. Embrace little joys where you find them. #pdx #dogsofbluesky #chihuahua

Buttercup, one of the two #giraffe at the #oregonzoo. He is the one that usually doesn’t come up to the viewing platform when I call him, but today he did! To the surprise and delight of all. And yes, I talk to the animals. I am “that” crazy old woman. #photography

A great blue heron strolling by two mallard ducks. The pond was quite active today. A beautiful spring day with at least 10 bird species, nutria and turtles. Many humans young and old were out watching pond life too. #pondlife #heron #mallard #spring #photography

Natural beauty can be found even in urban areas if you look up or focus in. Breathe in deeply, exhale, and find the beauty right where you are. #inspiration #beauty #clouds #photography

A sequence of two young Nutria playing with each other in the urban wetland pond out my window. #pondlife #nutria #wetlands #photography

I post a lot of photos of bird life on the pond outside my window, and I’ve mentioned it’s an urban wetland. Here is the view I don’t show, 🤣. Several large apartment complexes, a strip mall, and a very busy main road surround the pond. Still, it’s a cool spot. #pondlife #wetland

Amur Tiger sisters at the Oregon Zoo, 2021. The #oregonzoo keeps young #amurtiger until breeding age or older, to be moved to zoos who have breeding programs. The Amur tiger is seriously endangered. The zoo now has two young tiger brothers. #tiger #photography

This is taken from the inside of the Vancouver Public Library in Vancouver, BC, Canada. It’s an amazing building and one of my favorite places when I lived there. #vancouverlibrary #vancouverbc #photography #favoriteplaces #architecture

I didn’t know that pigeon stalking was a thing. But lately I’ve seen it a number of times. Not pigeons stalking humans, but adult humans stalking pigeons around a city public square. Without cameras. What am I missing here? #pigeon #photography #weirdhobbies

Home Free just released a beautiful version of Jelly Rolls “I Am Not OK”. Worth the watch/ listen and sharing #homefreeguys #homefree #iamnotok #@homefreeguys youtube.com/watch?v=29Uy...

Spent some time yesterday at Pioneer Courthouse Square “Portlands Living Room” in downtown Portland yesterday. Didn’t have my camera, so these are iPhone photos. It was a beautiful warm and sunny day. #pioneercourthousesquare #portland #spring #photography

Spring is blooming! Trees here in Ptld, OR are budding, some blooming, ducklings and goslings are on the pond, and the sunny 70f days are bringing everyone and their dogs outside. #blossom #spring #floweringtrees #photography

On the Saskatchewan river east of Saskatoon #saskatoon #saskatchewan #photography #bridge #river

So, I need real ID for a flight early June. Arrived at DMV 15 mins after open, large waiting room, standing room only. (I sit on my walker, whew). Been here hour twenty, 2 more hours to go. This is nuts.

Well, it finally happened. I had to ask my adult grandson for tech help. A bit humiliating. I used to build computers, do programming, and was the resident tech guru in my circles. Now I have an app I need to use that baffles me. 🤷‍♀️. Guess it’s a good thing I have my grandson 😂☺️

Well, first personal experience of being affected by “all this”. I am on SS, medicare and medicaid. For years I got 90 day prescription fills. Today- because of uncertainty- just 30 day supplies. No change in cost to me though - yet. Not unexpected, but 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤔🙄

Philippine Sailfin Lizard at the Oregon Zoo. It was interacting with us for quite a long while. #oregonzoo #lizard

Beautiful spring day today at the pond. The turtle must be around 17” across shell. Biggest one I’ve seen. Someone tell me what it is. It’s not one of Oregons two native species. #turtle #oregon #pondlife

10 week old asian elephant Tula Tu and mom Rose Tu at the Oregon Zoo. 4/13/25 #oregonzoo #babyelephant #tulatu #asianelephant

Hey buddy! Whatcha got there? 🤣🐿️🐿️🐿️ #squirrel #behappy #photography

Peaceful life in miniature. Focus in as close as you need to, to find a moment of serenity. #monarchbutterfly #bumblebee #ladybug #flowers #photography #inspiration