Florence Rhododendron Festival and Old Boats

 This was the first time we went to the Florence Rhododendron Festival and it was a very nice and familiar drive to Florence. This event looked a lot like Sturgis on the coast with thousands of Motorcyclists. We tried to stay out of the more densely packed areas and started with lunch at Mo's seafood house then went to the Florence event center to look for the Rhody Show but were a bit early...

 ... so we ventured into the Arts Fair and were greeted by this short grey statue.

 Inside Sharyn found the "Given Back Bird Houses" exhibit.

"Our bird houses are made from dead wood or driftwood, and sized according to various song bird nest dimensions.  Each one is hand signed with the date the wood was Given Back to the wild birds."

The bird houses are terrific and you can go to their website to see more pictures. they ARE very cool.

It was a small show with some interesting work like this stained  glass...

Some great paintings by John Bradley...

... and as we walked out into a festive day even a nice woman in costume.

We were too early for the Rhododendron show we went to Gallagher;s Park to enjoy the flowers there...

... and they were all rhododendrons like this purple...

... and this very red..

...exquisite beauty.

I liked this pale yellow/white one...

... but they were all wonderful to see ...

... and some were still blooming...

... and some barely starting to bloom.

I really liked this one for the colors.

Some were passed blooming and forming new growth...

...with new green leaves forming over the red...

... or the time when the petals drip leaving what I call a Rhody "Spider.
"

While this pink one was in full bloom...

... this red bud was about ready to come out.

From every angle they are beautiful ...

... and even from a distance they can take your breath away.

Just for fun I tried a close-up shot of this tiny flower.

They decorate the sky...

...then fall to the ground like a red carpet...

... or become white stars to guide the way.

On the way back home we stopped to see the old Mail Boats next to the road. They were freshly painted by a local Artist...

...and they were fun to see all painted after seeing them earlier in pretty drab condition...

The boats are on a commercial property next to some wetlands on the banks of the Siuslaw river and the grasses were well fed this year and very beautiful with the green demarcated by many small rivulets...

... and the grasses looked like soft green clouds...

...and an occasional log, this one looking like a huge planter for flowers.

There was one more boat named the "Bronco" that was tiny compared to the others...

... and not much larger than these big buoys. All in all it was a very good day getting out with Sharyn and taking pictures and otherwise enjoying a warm Oregon day.

Quote of the Day ~

"Being on a boat that's moving through the water, it's so clear. Everything falls into place in terms of what's important and what's not." ~ James Taylor

I Love Vermont

 

The lake house in Vermont is a lot like heaven with many species of birds...

...woodpeckers, grosbeaks and goldfinches with an occasional osprey.

The second thing I love about Vermont are the quaint views...

...and great eateries like "Jackson's on the River" named after Craig and Jackie's dogs River and Jackson

I did get a shot of Doreen and Sharyn walking to the car...

...and turned for another shot back up the hill to the main drag.

Jim and Doreen are also the proud owners of the scariest tree in Vermont...

... and a very lovely home

Back in Middlebury we saw a spectacular river falls show...

... with the town for a backdrop...

... and I love this town for all the great things it offers.

I'm not sure but I think the brown color is from tannin leached from the trees...

Jim was far braver than I going down to the river's edge...

... while I took the high ground to shoot a steeple and large granite slab.

Speaking of spooky trees these woodpecker holes make an awesome face...

...and Jim got very close to the side falls...

...while I got a shot of a spider pointed out to me by a little boy on the bridge.

I went above near the shops to look down on the river run...

... and got a good shot ...

...or two.

I also got a great shot of Jim on the guardrail and it reminded me of Michelle hanging over the wall above a 500 foot drop at salt creek falls in Oregon taking a picture.

Kermit the frog with a blue tie was also there with a little Buddha friend.

Our second day in Middlebury we went to lunch at "Fire and Ice" a great restaurant ...

... with a salad bar in a boat.

After leaving Middlebury we drove to Texas Falls...

... and while it didn't have the quantity of water it as amazing for the chutes...

... and pools...

...and a park under construction funded by the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act a great stimulus created to help workers and improve our infrastructure in America.

 We then drove ro Rochester, VT on route 100 to met Shatryn's cousin Beth who owns a shop called Boysenberry - Smart clothes

I wasn't sure what the clothes IQ was but they look great ...

... felt soft

... looked great a great place to shop. After a short visit with Beth I couldn't help but think of Jo & Joe Sharyn's cousin also and Beth's mom. Great family and a great legacy from Ed.

There is one more thing about Vermont I love and that's Jim and Doreen we couldn't have invented better friends who always make us smile...

... even with their tee shirts.

Quote of the Day ~

"Vermont - What happens here stays here, but nothing ever really happens here" ~ Jim's Tee Shirt

 Magic Number is 144