The Spectacular Ms. Luna

Wasn’t she beautiful?!!  The clouds parted in the Columbia River Gorge and presented the spectacular Ms. Luna.

OK You Can Have It….For Now

Guess who was back in my garden this morning?!!  Yep, you guessed it.  OK you cute little critter, you can have my garden for now.  But come next spring I’ll chase you out again.

Daffodils ~ Happy Earth Day!

My studio sale is over for another year, and my attention turns to my garden.

My daffodils are blooming like crazy, just in time for Earth Day – Spring is my favorite time of year!

I feel revitalized, energized and I fly out of bed each morning to see what’s new.

Right now a new daffodil opens each morning!  Beautiful colorful sunny daffodils.

I love variety – color, size, plain and fancy; and a variety of bloom times.

Daffodils emerge from a bulb, and are also called narcissus and jonquils.

As you can see I have a lovely collection.  These are just my early varieties.

Other spring bulbs are also blooming – fritillarias, hyacinths, and more.  A few of my early tulips are showing color but not open yet.

Today I’ll just show you daffodils.  When my daffodil clumps are large enough I divide them and plant them in empty spaces throughout my garden.

I don’t always wait until they die off.  I’ve moved them while blooming so I know what variety I’m planting and can see where they belong!

Large and small, tall and short.  Multi-stemmed and regal tall singles.

I love them all and when I see them smiling like this, I smile back!

Happy Earth Day everyone!!

 

Please Vote for This Sunset

I entered my ‘Sun Setting Over the Columbia River Gorge’ photo in the Daily Depictions of Nature weekly challenge.  I would be ever so grateful if you’ll take a moment and vote for it.  Here’s the link:    http://dailydepiction.com/nature/?page_id=396

You only have until Sunday.  It’s a quick, easy vote & you can only vote once.  Thank you!

Thanks to YOU for a Successful Studio Sale!

Thanks so much to everyone who drove out to the Columbia River Gorge & to the top of Burdoin Mtn to see my studio & purchase my work!  You make it all worthwhile!!  I’m open by appointment and you can see my work in my ArtFire & Zibbet shops.  Now for some R & R in my garden!

Wait. Its Autumn?

I know autumn has arrived, but It still feels like summer in the Pacific Northwest.  We’re enjoying sunny days close to 70º, calm with no wind or rain.  I will not like saying good-bye to my daily hikes in the Columbia River Gorge where I live and work as these lovely days finally come to an end.

The photos in this post are from my daily bird sightings in the forest behind my garden and along the Columbia River.  Many birds have migrated south but many remain here through the winter.  Above, a Pileated woodpecker flies overhead.

On the wings of change…eagles have returned to the Columbia River while osprey have left.

Herons are more easily found along many of our rivers right now.  I don’t know if this heron was dancing for joy because he caught a fish…or looking for a mate.

I’ve enjoyed the challenge of photographing a pair of Red-breasted sap suckers all summer in addition to several woodpeckers….

…like this Lewis’s Woodpecker – an exciting first sighting for me.

Another first sighting this summer for me was a Townsend’s Solitaire that I saw in September.

I managed to catch up to this flicker before he flew off – the top photo shows him flying away.

I think the western bluebirds may be gone now, but for awhile they were plentiful.

I’ve fallen behind in my garden blog but I’ll catch up – when dreary weather forces me back indoors.

Thanks for stopping by!

Keeping a Friend’s Garden

Earlier this month I was photographing my garden and planning blog posts.  Then one of my favorite friends was in a horrific accident and all my attention went to her:  http://www.hoodrivernews.com/news/2013/jul/13/local-artist-hospitalized-after-motorcycle-acciden/   We had just finished a meeting for an August art show and as we stood on the corner chatting afterwards, I remember thinking how cute Kathy looked in her motorcycle leathers & helmet.  Everything changed less than an hour later.

Her friend Dana set up a calendar of tasks for friends to help with, like feeding her cats and watering her garden.  Once a week I water her garden and pet her cats, filling up the food bowl if it’s empty.  I gathered some photos of our mutual friends to paste on her hospital wall so no matter where she looks, she’ll see someone who loves her. It doesn’t feel like enough.  Kathy has many friends that are thinking of ways to help, to show our love and support.  Along with many other artists, I’m donating my work for upcoming fundraisers and I don’t know if that’ll be enough.

I decided to give 20% of my sales towards Kathy’s fund. If you’ve been thinking about buying a gift of glass, garden art, or something for your home; notecards or photograph prints on metal or canvas, you’ll also be contributing to Kathy’s fund and I thank you in advance!  http://www.zibbet.com/SteiderStudios  No, this is not a plug to get you to buy something….I’m simply looking at any possible way to help my friend & her family.

Kathy is one of those people who everyone loves. She’s full of life, energy and effervescence. She sits on many committees with me and keeps a beautiful garden as you can see in these photos. I’ve been her student & she’s been mine. She is a sports enthusiast, skiing and snowboarding during winter months & windsurfing in summer.  I could go on and on about her but I think you get the idea. She smiles at everyone and they can’t help but smile back. She radiates positive energy.

It was my honor to spend a day with her in the hospital, tending to things staff has little or no time for.  Misting her face, helping her eat, holding her hand, turning her fan, getting more ice…anything she asked of me I did.  It was one of the hardest days I’ve ever spent because of the circumstance, yet I witnessed her joyful spirit courageously fighting.

I already adored her husband, but I have renewed admiration for him in watching how he lovingly tends her.

If you can send a prayer or positive energy with healthy vibes, they’d be appreciated.

If you’re in the Columbia River Gorge, watch for announcements of opportunities to help.

I don’t know when Kathy will be back in her lovely garden, but perhaps the best way to show support later will be to purchase her enamel jewelry, wall art and switch plates.  I’ll post a link to her on-line shop when she’s ready to return to work.  In the meantime, if you’re in the Columbia River Gorge, you can purchase her jewelry now at Columbia Arts in Hood River.  She’s also one of the featured artists for First Friday in August with her enamel wall hangings.  The show, ‘A Glass Act’ runs through the end of August, so you’ll have all of August to look for Kathy’s work!

Columbia Gorge Art Festival

My last show of the season is this weekend in Corbett Oregon at the Corbett Grade School.  I’ll have glass garden art and jewelry; plus botanical, scenic and nature photography to share with you.

A glorious scenic drive takes you to the western part of the Columbia River Gorge.  Take the Corbett exit off I84, come up the hill & turn right on Historic Columbia River Hwy.  The grade school is just down the highway at 35800 E. Historic Columbia River Hwy.  Hours are 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

A fundraiser for Corbett Education Foundation, this is one of the best spring shows I participate in.  Festive, friendly and fun you won’t find more creativity and wonderful artists anywhere else.  The entire school is filled with amazing art and handmade fine craft with attention to detail.  I always find treasures at this show for gift giving and additions to my personal collection.

Not to mention a free lunch!  Donations accepted for a fantastic grilled cheeseburger with sautéed onions and mushrooms.  I can’t wait & hope to see you there!!  Let me know you follow my blog!

Decompression from an Art Show

Thanks to everyone who came to my studio sale, making it a big success.  We had so much fun but like every weekend art show, I’m left utterly exhausted.

Yesterday I began the clean up, but I move fairly slow after a big event.

Today I hiked Rowena Crest, with magnificent views and wildflowers galore.

The drive is breathtakingly beautiful this time of year with bright green bursting out everywhere.

Looking down at Meyer Park and the Columbia River from the top of Rowena Crest.

Fields of Balsam Root above the Columbia River from the top of Rowena Crest.

The Lyle Bridge from the top of Rowena Crest.

What is the name of this tree?  I know I should know it, but can’t remember.

Time to head back.  Wonderful day of R & R.  My energy will return soon.  I hope!!

Back at the highway, looking up at Rowena Crest, you’d never know what immense beauty rests there.

One more look back at bright yellow beauty before heading home to finish packing up from my yearly studio sale.

Thanks for stopping by!

Geese in the Gorge

I think our eagles have left the Gorge.

I checked at all my usual haunts.

Not one did I see.

In their place I found geese!

They were fun to watch and I was the only one at the park.

Not one other hiker, biker, walker, birder or hunter.

Just me and my dog alone on the beach with geese.

Thanks for stopping by.