70th Anniversary of D-Day

Today I'm remembering a trip that we took in March to the beaches of Normandy.
Omaha beach looks very different today,

but you can still sense the horror of all those who fought and lost their lives here.

The French are still grateful to the Allies as liberators.

Over 9,000 Americans are buried nearby.

Mt. Hood

This was the view from my window seat on the flight from Portland to Denver yesterday.
I'll be staying in Colorado until the end of August.

Mt. Hood

Portland Rose Garden

Portland's Rose Festival is in full swing. It's a great time to visit the International Rose Test Garden located in Portland's Washington Park. See for yourself!

 

Hunting for mushrooms

It's morel season! At least it was two weeks ago when a friend of Rachel's came back with these:

We went out last weekend to the same area hoping to find more of the precious treasures. It was a bright sunny day with a rare view of Mt. Hood.

Wind surfers on the Columbia river with Mt. Hood in the background

 As we neared the target area near the base of Mt. Adams, we found plenty of flowers

Fairy slipper orchid

Huckleberry

Don't know the name of this one

 But we found no mushrooms. :-( 

We came home empty handed, but with lovely memories of a fine hike.

Rachel and Philippe with Mt. Adams in the background

My new habitat

I've left behind the sights, sounds and tastes of Paris in exchange for a much quieter existence in Portland, Oregon.   I am now spending my days reading, writing, and cycling in my new neighborhood near the Willamette River - enjoying the sights and sounds of nature.

Sellwood riverfront park

Springwater corridor bike trail - a 40 mile loop

Houseboats and sailboat on the Willamette River

Portland skyline seen from the Willamette

 

Heron in the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge

I've also seen a family of bald eagles. Too bad the eagles are hard to photograph in flight.

Portland Japanese Garden

A perfect place to meditate on my decision to leave Paris and to return to the U.S.

Sunday bike ride

Cool temperatures and menacing clouds didn't prevent us from taking our Sunday afternoon bike ride along the Seine.

But several minutes later we had to take refuge under a bridge during a cloudburst. Brrrr!