“It only takes a moment
To be loved
A whole life long” ― Jerry Herman (from Hello, Dolly!)
Since moving to Oregon from Wisconsin last summer, I have had numerous “Pinch me!” moments when I can’t believe the everyday beauty of this place. I live in a studio apartment over the garage of a big house in a forest in the foothills of the Coastal Range. Travelling into town, I pass orchards and wineries and tree farms. My mailbox is .6 miles away. The creek is a few hundred feet downhill. It is quiet, secluded, wild in places, ever-changing, and constantly stunning. 
“The moments of happiness –
We had the experience but missed the meaning,
And approach to the meaning
Restores the experience in a different form
Beyond any meaning
We can assign to happiness.
The past experience revived in the meaning
Is not the experience of one life only
But of many generations.” ― T. S. Eliot (from Cats)
I often find myself in a moment of profound awareness of the beauty of my surroundings here. I have dreamed of living near mountains ever since I was 10 years old and traveled from the flatlands of Chicago to Colorado to visit my cousins. I was so envious of the views from their home and their proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park. I lived in California for 15 years, but always in a heavily populated area. Here, the mountains are forested and human dwellings are few and far between. It’s peaceful. It’s slow. It’s quiet. 
“Let the moment go
Don’t forget it for a moment though
Just remembering you’ve had an ‘and’
When you’re back to ‘or’
Makes the ‘or’ mean more
Than it did before
Now I understand
And it’s time to leave the woods”
― Stephen Sondheim (from Into the Woods)
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scillagrace 
What a wonderful post. I can feel the specialness of the place as I view your photographs and read your words. I can smell the air. Thanks for the retreat.
You’re so welcome! Thanks for visiting!
I am so happy to hear you loving your new home Priscilla. It looks really beautiful and I can just imagine the peace and calm so beautifully presented in your images.
Thanks, Tina! 🙂
I understand why you love it there. I’ve always wanted to live near mountains and did for a few years after college. While I don’t think that will probably happen now, I do get to spend part of every summer in the mountains of Wyoming and that’s a joy to my heart. There are mountains surrounding Phoenix but not the same sort. 🙂 I especially enjoyed your second photo of the fence and barbed wire.
janet
Wyoming is beautiful! I haven’t spend enough time there, just briefly passed through. Thanks for your visit to my mountain home!
My pleasure. I love mountains everywhere. I hope you get to spend some time in Wyoming one of these days. Now that we live in Arizona, we’re looking forward to getting to some of the Southwest’s wonders.
Lovely pictures Priscilla! I especially like the mailboxes and the country landscapes.
Thank you, Anne! 🙂
😊😊
Wow. Beautiful! Almost ‘pastel’ in those first two. Excellent.
Thank you, John!