I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life, and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing that I’ve wanted to do.
~ Georgia O’Keeffe
Two-striped Garter Snake (Thamnophis hammondii), Whelan Lake, California 2008
Author Archives
Erin
Coddiwompling through life, guided by my love of nature and insatiable curiosity.06-20 Sol Shine
Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
~ Buddha
Snow on Tumbleweed, Balmorhea State Park, Texas 2006
06-19 Sol Shine
If you are to be, you must begin by assuming responsibility. You alone are responsible for every moment of your life, for every one of your acts.
~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Immature White-crowned Sparrow, Whitewater Draw, Arizona 2008
Nice in Newport
There are just under 16 hours of daylight up here this time of year (if the clouds and fog allow the sunshine to reach the ground, and that is one big if). Which means that I can pack a lot of activity into each day. It also means that I don’t go to bed early. Unless I’m sick, it is hard to prepare for bed when the sun is still shining at 9pm!
It was easy to while away a long afternoon in Newport. There is a lot to see, if you take time to wander: spouting Gray Whale, Art Deco elements of the Yaquina Bay Bridge, Rogue Brewery, fishing boats at work and at ease in Yaquina Bay Harbor, undulating sea jellies, blue ribbon commemorating a fisherman lost at sea, sleepy Sea Lions, murals, and a good reminder.
Gray Whale Spout
Yaquina Bay Bridge Arches
Rogue Brewery Mash Transit
Rogue Brewery Oak Barrels
Crab Pots Inbound
Knott Yoars
Port of Newport
Water Jelly (Aequorea victoria)
Sea Jelly
Blue Ribbon Honoring Fishermen Lost at Sea
Comfy Sea Lion
Sleepy Sea Lion
Sea Lion Yawn
Bay Street Pier Sign
Salmon Nation Mural
Ship in Storm Mural
Dory Boat Mural
Wreck of the Pilgrim Mural
Moby Dick Mural
Be Nice…
06-18 Sol Shine
I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.
~ Excerpt from Sea Fever by John Masefield
Sea View, Lincoln City, Oregon 2018
06-17 Sol Shine
You see things; and you say, “Why?” But I dream things that never were; and I say, “Why not?”
~ George Bernard Shaw
Juvenile Gilbert’s Skink (sp.), Whelan Lake, California 2008
06-16 Sol Shine
I feel that there is an angel inside me whom I am constantly shocking.
~ Jean Cocteau
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado 2010
06-15 Sol Shine
Treasure this day, and treasure yourself. Truly, neither will ever happen again.
~ Ray Bradbury
Widow Skimmer Dragonfly (Libellula luctuosa), immature male, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio 2011
Alder House Glassblowing
A mizzly afternoon seemed like a fine time to watch an artisan ply his craft so I drove over to The Alder House. The studio sits in a wild meadow on the southern edge of the Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge. It seems an inspiring place to create art as there is beauty both inside and outside the building.
The day of my visit Treasure was the glassblower on duty, capably assisted by his wife Michelle. Both were welcoming and patient with my barrage of questions. (Hey, in my defense, I’m a very curious person.) I was so captivated by the transformation of molten blobs of glass that I stayed to watch multiple pieces.
Glassblowing has been a big part of Lincoln City for decades (The Alder House opened in 1971). I imagine in the early years some of the glass art was inspired by the Japanese glass fishing floats that washed ashore. The North Lincoln County Historical Museum has a huge display of glass floats of all sizes that were found on local beaches.
The Japanese glass floats are highly prized by collectors but are rarely found any more since most floats are now made of other materials, like plastic. Some coastal towns have cashed in on the craze by placing locally-made glass floats on their beaches. Lincoln City has elevated the concept with their Finders Keepers campaign; during winter and spring they place around 3,000 colorful orbs on the beaches.
The last drop for the season was Memorial Day weekend, so I’ll have to wait until mid-October for my chance to find one. Perhaps I’ll find one made by Treasure, since he’s one of several local glassblowers that create the orbs for the city. A glass float by Treasure would be something to treasure!
Rose, in progress
Rose, changing color as it starts to cool
Blowing a sphere
Shaping with wet newspaper
Shaping a ball of glass
Adding colorful, raised spiral
Adding frit
Blowing and shaping a vase
Reheating vase rim
Trimming vase rim
Adding vase rim
Treasure and Michelle working the ovens
Spent Crucible of glass
Alder House Sign
06-14 Sol Shine
If you do nothing unexpected, nothing unexpected happens.
~ Fay Weldon
Lobster Buoys, Boothbay Harbor, Maine 2007
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