Sharing photos and stories from my travels.
Portland has some beautiful gardens, several of which theTravelsketcher and I have enjoyed visiting this spring. Here are the links to the ones we’ve seen so far: Portland Japanese Garden Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden Lan Su Chinese Garden Elk Rock Garden My personal favorite is Leach Botanical Garden. This beautiful, sixteen acre property was originally... Continue Reading →
Spring is the perfect time of year to visit Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens located in the Eastmoreland neighborhood of Portland. This beautiful, 9 acre (3.8 hectare) botanical garden is currently bursting with rhododendron and azalea blossoms in a variety of brilliant colors. What started as a rhododendron test garden in 1950, has grown substantially over... Continue Reading →
Last Saturday, March 28, 2026 was the third No Kings protest here in the US which drew millions of citizens from across the country, and others in countries around the globe. In fact, there was even a small rally in Antarctica, meaning that there were protests on every continent around the globe. Click here to... Continue Reading →
Located in the Central Pacific Ocean, just below the Tropic of Cancer, about 2,500 miles (4,023 km) southwest of the west coast of the USA, are the beautiful Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii consists of 132 islands, 124 reefs, shoals and islets, and stretches over 1,500 miles, with just eight inhabited islands. Volcanic activity over many centuries... Continue Reading →
Do thank you notes really matter in this day of instant messaging, texts and emails? Is a quick text with a thumbs up, 👍🏼 or “TY” rather than a hand written note, a sufficient way to respond to a gift, a dinner party or a job interview? There was a time when a hand written... Continue Reading →
If there is magic on this planet it is contained in water. Loren Eiseley Sunrise, San José del Cabo, Mexico
Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home. Edith Sitwell A cozy fire on a snowy night.
I intended to write about the last of Oregon’s Seven Wonders today, but when looking at the Bing Photo of the Day, I saw that today, November 21, 2025 is World Hello Day. Today’s Bing Photo Brothers Brian and Micheal McCormack established this day in 1973 in an attempt to diffuse tensions and to promote... Continue Reading →
Don’t forget: beautiful sunsets need cloudy skies. Paulo Coelho Sunset, Portland, OR
Travels Through My Lens 