Solstice 09!!

Summer Solstice -- (6/20) the longest day of the year for us here in the Northern Hemisphere -- followed by the shortest night. And then, summer officially begins!

It is a bitter sweetness, this my favorite day of the year. In addition to being the longest day of the year, it also marks that each day after will be incrementally shorter --- until winter solstice.

Here in these high Blue Mountains of Northeastern Oregon, summer solstice was spectacular.



On my morning run along Granite Boulder Creek, the sound of Sand Hill Cranes flying over head echoed into the day's first dawn -- opening my soul.


We worked a long day on the Middle Fork John Day River.....except for setting survey points, much of the day was in the water.
Fast, large, shape-changing white clouds moved overhead in a deep-blue sky.

After dinner back at camp we drove up towards Indian Rock. At about 6,500 ft we stopped at an overlook for a "bird's eye" view of the sunset.

Polly, Didi & Pat.........Indian Rock Lookout Mountain

We stopped where a severely forest fire had taken the forest in 1996. Seedlings and a lush diverse ground-cover indicated a steady recovery. A bed of low flowers and edibles. We also ate chocolate.














I took in the year. A time of growth and discovery for me. Ever so grateful that I live in such a magnificent landscape. I filled my soul with the cold air I breathed in, the season's new growth at my feet, and a view so vast that distance seemed irrelevant.

Thunderstorms -

Oh yeh .... driving rain, lightening, thunder .......... pretty interesting outside working conditions.

Pat and Didi -- waiting out a hard rain under some big pines along the river.

It was a good day. Just enough sunny patches to keep us warm (enough) and dry (enough) between the rains. Waves of crazy low, dark, fast-moving clouds full of precipitation -- then 20 minutes later was splashes of sunshine, humidity and puffy clouds.
Expecting waves of thunderstorms like this through the night and tomorrow.

Happy for the waders today -- they are good rain gear and I had lots of river crossings. We set monuments (2ft reebar with caps) for river cross-sections that we will be surveying later. Also GPS'ed in a couple of our survey control points.

MFJD Butterflies -- Neil B?

Yesterday (6/18) was a sunny beautiful day here in the Middle Fork John Day River Valley.

Butterflies everywhere ......

These are photos for my friend Neil B ........ what type of butterflies are these?



There were heaps of this guy -- everywhere!

Back out on a RIVER!!

Middle Fork John Day River for summer field work.

Feeling Good to be working, living, eating, sleeping, being outside next to this river -- in this beautiful hidden valley of Northeastern Oregon. Yes, I get paid to be out here in these high mountains..... can't believe it!




River Rat attire -- vest, hip-waders, felt bottom boots -- fashion extraordinaire (aka -- dork-wear)!
June Field Crew: Pat, Didi and Pollyanna

GRADUATION

I participated in my graduation ceremony (June 13) for my M.S. in geomorphology from the University of Oregon.

It was fantastic to have my family and some close friends there.......support and love are priceless commodities.




My adviser -- Professor Pat McDowell shows me how to prepare my graduates hood.

#9 - Spring at THE ROCK

OK -- so it's spring time and I (like many people) have deadlines stacking up on my. But, instead of being responsible to the "work" side of life -- I decided to fill up my soul this past weekend.

Oregon Coast Range Old Growth trail to The Rock


I went home (to The Hill). Sunday morning I woke to the sound of what seemed like a hundred different birds opening the day's light. Slipped into clothes, and up the mountain I went.
Through the forest of my childhood I wound myself up to the top for a view of Oregon's coastal mountains and valleys.














En route I witnessed many birds, flowers, etc. ... including barred owls tending a nest just above our well. After the hike I contacted Mary O'Leary (a biologist and cousin). I accompanied her back to the owl nest site and we sat in the duff of the forest floor for 1.5 hours watching them swoop and call in response to her bird-song tape and our presence near their young. We heard, but never saw the baby owl. These aggressive east coast owls are beautiful, but they are taking over the habitats of the native and endangered spotted owls. It is suspected that they were able to migrate to the west coast because of global warming effects on the northern boreal forests -- the forests now remain viable habitat year-round, so they were able to migrate through it.

Cecelia!!!

University of Oregon -- "On the Rocks" performing Cecelia (May 09)

Family visit

My little brother Gabby and his family (Missy and Griffin) came to Oregon for a visit during May. It was the best soul food I could have asked for.
AND, this trip wasn't just a visit for them -- they were scouting houses, school, jobs, etc! BECAUSE THEY ARE MOVING BACK TO OREGON THIS SUMMER!!!!


Gab and Grif playing on my floor -- early morning











Griffin and his favorite GUY in the world (Grampa John)


Me and Missy in Oregon's sunshine...................