Sunset from my front porch
Inspiration…that moment when you draw in breath, a gasp, an awe-filled audible inhalation, the desire to take in the spirit of something beautiful, breath-taking.
Strawberry Mountain Wilderness, Oregon
Lupines on Marys Peak, Oregon
I moved to Oregon exactly one year and one week ago. I have been inspired by something about it every single day I’ve been here, I think. The natural communities are incredibly diverse and resilient and interesting and beautiful. Today, for example, I joined a work party collecting camas seeds. These little seeds are nestled in the dried flower petals like beans in maracas. They shake and rattle as you walk through the meadow grass. Indigenous people roasted the bulbs of these plants as a food staple, high in natural sugars, similar to sweet potato. When I returned from this adventure, I walked down my driveway and began collecting blackberries from the invasive Himalayan canes that grow as a huge, prickly nuisance to most landowners, a deliciously irritating problem. They are everywhere. Free food!
This has not been an easy year for me by any means. It hasn’t been an easy year for most people. On top of the universal griefs and fears, I am new in town, isolated, unemployed, and missing my mother who died in October. There are always mornings when I find it hard to get up and get on with my life. But when I look out my window at OREGON, I find motivation to join the young hawks and the gentle deer, step outside and breathe in the rich scent of Douglas fir.
Home, nicknamed Climbing Cloud
scillagrace 
Beautiful thoughts and images Priscilla. I’ve followed your journey this year, which like so many includes moments of sadness and pain. Good for you for finding your strength in the beauty around you – I wish you only the best in this new phase of your life.
Thanks so much, Tina!
Dear Priscilla…I shall try to send you a photo of the dogwood tree in front of my church, St Mary’s, here in Tuxedo Park, where I live with middle daughter Anne. The dogwood tree is dedicated to your Mother, and is part of a curving line of memorial dogwoods in front of the church. Love, Aunt Sandy
Oh, how lovely! I would like to see that; thanks! ā¤
Hi, Priscilla. What a lovely inspiring place! I’m so glad it has helped you stay engaged and motivated and uplifted this year. It has been a struggle at times. I love your appreciation of nature and its beauty…the sunset, the blackberries, the dew on the lupines. All beautiful and inspiring.
Thanks, Patti. We all need to cling to our inspiration this year – thanks for focusing on it!
Oh sorry for your loss and for the tough year – and the way you wrote it we could feel the Oregon uplift and the way nature and god’s encouragement is often felt!
Sending a smile your way today
Thank you so much! š
I love these photos, especially the bowl of blackberries
Thank you!
When I am in need of inspiration–I go to nature and surething I am recharged. I love the wild nature selection esp. the wild strawberry mountain–lovely place, like a piece of paradise, away from harm and pristine beauty.
I can feel from your writing that you have rooted yourself in these places so it came out as a powerful message.
Connecting to Earth in its natural state is absolutely restorative and essential. It’s so important to love and protect her! Thanks for your visit.
Truly lovely images, Priscilla. In these difficult times we are out as much as possible, soaking in the land and its beings. Yes, this is a particularly difficult time for losses and isolation. My Nature continue to be a salve for you.
Thanks, Michael. Nature does continue…and I am ever grateful!
Great, great photos. Well done.
Thanks, John!
These photos are drop-dead gorgeous
Thanks!
I loved catching up with your blog and the way you go about it. Free food indeed. ā¤ Much love and waves over the ocean. I've just had a blogger Crystal and her boyfriend, both from Oregon, over for a week and we toured Italy and Slovenia briefly. Oregon is clearly the place to go next. š (I wish!)
My sister and daughter were visiting this last week. I love proudly showing how gorgeous Oregon is!