Toketee Falls
I’m back from my technology-free vacation. I didn’t take my computer with me, didn’t watch a minute of television, and I read a real honest-to-goodness paper book. It was heaven.
Sarah, over at Art Expedition, offered up a 7-day B&W street photo challenge of people. Well… erm… here are my 7 color, non-people, no streets, nature photos of my trip. Sorry, Sarah, for not following the rules very well at all. I encourage everyone to browse her lovely artful blog and give her challenge a hearty try.
I’ve lived in Oregon for 7 years and haven’t explored this big state. It was about time. Randy and I traveled downstate into the dense smoke of forest fires, detoured to the Pacific coast and headed north in the fog. So much for “seeing” the state. But I gathered a few photo-memories nevertheless.
We hiked along silver rivers…
…found waterfalls…
We traveled on to Crater Lake. Looking down from the crater’s rim, you can see the thick blanket of smoke. Yes, that dark layer in the background isn’t land – it’s solid smoke.
The view of the lake was hazy with light smoke.
With scratchy throats and eyes, we headed for the coast. The Oregon shore is cold, windy and foggy.
And a B&W picture of a person… still no street.
I’m doing the princess wave by the waves.
I have a ton of catching up to do, but I shall visit you all shortly. ❤
Myths of the Mirror 
These photos bring back memories of my time in your part of the world. Waterfalls are magical, and Oregon is blessed with so many. Multnomah Falls is staggeringly beautiful. Silver Falls SP near Salem has such a primordial feeling to it. There’s a waterfall route that bypasses Portland that features several falls. So many others I never got to see. Your photos are amazing, Diana! 🙂
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Thanks for browsing, Mike, and for your lovely comments about the photos. Here’s my haiku/silver falls post, if you want to take a peek. It’s a short one. https://mythsofthemirror.com/2021/05/31/backyard-haiku/
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Thanks for the link. I just checked it out and left a comment. Wonderful haiku and images! 🙂
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amzaing picks i love these picks
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Thanks for the visit. I’m glad you enjoyed them. 🙂 Have a great week!
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This one elegant dreamy challenge. Actually it relaxes the imagination. (-:
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Good morning! Thanks so much for the visit and comment. It was only a month ago and yet it seems like last year already. 🙂 We are surrounded by waterfalls here and I’ve just started exploring. I’m glad you enjoyed!
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When I was up in Ithaca, New York, a few weeks ago on a research trip, I made a point to visit some of the spectacular waterfalls up there. None of our modern technology is as hypnotically captivating as one of those beauties! Great photos, Diana — thanks for sharing!
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Thanks for taking a peek! I agree completely with your description of how mesmerizing they are. I climbed to the top of the Tumalo Falls, and it was amazing how little water it took to make that huge white frothy wall. I’m on a quest to collect waterfalls now. 😀
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Hey Diana, It is me hunting you. haha! I was gone for long time, and sorry, I am now back at blogging. I just love this post, I adore the pictures, it freshens up the mind. I hope your summer was great!
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Hi Juli. I’ve been thinking about you. I hope your break from blogging was to enjoy the last of summer. Thanks for the visit and checking out my vacation photos. There are waterfalls all around me and I finally got out to see a few. 🙂 I’ll be over soon. ❤
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Hey Diana, I could imagine it was nice to get out and visit the waterfall after the hot weather, you needed to closer something like waterfall, so cool and fresh. I am glad you got out and visited some places. I have been thinking about you too.
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Beautiful shots!
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Thanks. It was a fun trip, and they’re so many I haven’t seen. It was time to catch a few in person. 🙂
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Amazing photographs. Thank you for sharing with us.
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Thanks for taking a peek. There are a lot of falls out here and I’ve only started exploring. I suppose its the upside of all our rain! Have a lovely September! 🙂
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Glad you’re back! Sounds like a heavenly technology free vacation, and the pics are gorgeous.
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Other than the smoke, it was amazing, Teri, and we did manage to get (mostly) above the smoke now and then. I love being offline and hope to get in the habit – more frequent but shorter breaks. 🙂 Thanks for taking a peek at the photos!
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Marvelous photos, Diana. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks, Suzanne. You’re browsing today! It was a fun trip despite the smoke. I needed a bit of time away from the computer! 🙂 ❤
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You’re welcome, Diana. I get behind in the emails every so often and have to catch up. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Beautiful pictures of the waterfall, and I also love the striking blue of the sky.
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We had so little blue sky with the smoke and fog, Inese, but when we got high enough, it was brilliant. Thanks so much for stopping by to take a peak at my photos. I wish I had your talent with a camera, but waterfalls never make bad photos! Lol. Have a lovely week!
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Diana, to be honest it is not easy to take a good picture of waterfalls even though they are beautiful to behold 🙂 The light is a mighty factor.
I went to a waterfall recently and got quite miserable results 🙂 Had to walk around and try different angles. Well, there was not much water either 🙂
Have a lovely week you too! xx
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My husband shot video and that was much better. The roar of the water was amazing. 🙂
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Yes, exactly, video works the best.
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Beautiful pictures, Diana! I love the waterfall! Oregon is such a beautiful state, I’m glad you have taken some time to enjoy it. I haven’t been in a long time, but really loved it.
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It was about time I left the home base. We landed a dog-sitter and that was key! I hope to do more roaming around the west coast in the near future. I’m so glad you enjoyed the photos! 😀
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Wow! Those are some amazing photos, Diana. Kudos to you for being able to disconnect from all electronics on your vacation. It is something we should all do at least once a year.
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I have to disconnect once a quarter, Jan, but usually not for this long. It was a fun trip despite the smoke (which is getting a bit old about now). I’m glad you enjoyed the photos, too. My camera is ancient, but it’s still holding up. 🙂
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Welcome back, Diana. Your photos are gorgeous, even with smoke around Crater Lake (one of my favorite spots). Reading a paper book instead of reading on a screen is heavenly. 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by, Jennie. Sometime I’d like to stay at the Crater Lake lodge. That would be fun. The whole trip was smoky, but we got above it now and then. 🙂 Have a great week, my friend.
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You are most welcome, Diana. I would love to stay at the lodge. Did you see the old photo the have posted of the snow? Enjoy your week, my friend. 🙂
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I didn’t, Jennie But I did read that they get about 75 feet of snow a year! Yikes!
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Yikes, indeed! That amount was pretty close to the photo they displayed.
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Oh my, I love the pictures.
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Thanks for stopping by. It was a fun trip and not too much driving. I may do it again sometime when the forests aren’t burning. I’m glad you enjoyed the pics! Have a wonderful day!
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We are keeping track of the fires on the west coast and it’s very disturbing. It doesn’t seem like there is any end in sight. Meanwhile, we are experiencing multiple layers of sogginess here and I wish I could share some of it!!
Love your photos – especially the waterfall! I feel in love with Oregon when I saw the movie Sometimes A Great Notion back in the 70s. Someday I hope I will see it in person!
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You would love the landscape, Joanne, but must come sometime when it’s not raining or burning. We get 8 months of rain, then it stops during the summer and everything dries up and turns crisp. Weird weather. I haven’t seen that movie – thanks for the recommendation!
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A technology free vacation? That sounds splendid! I hope mother earth left your spirit feeling refreshed 🙂
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I seem to need one every 3 months or so, Liv, and I always come back with more energy for my blog-friends. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day.
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In the words of Liz Lemon: “I want to go to there.”
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Someday you should, Mike. But wait until the west coast isn’t on fire! There’s so much to see out here… and if you like glamping, it’s not that expensive. 🙂 In Bend, OR, it was really hot, and the strangest sight was seeing hundreds of people (and a dozen dogs) floating on rafts and tubes down the river through the middle of the city. Apparently that happens all summer long. This state is weird, but fun. 🙂
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I’m going for a fellowship in Oregon, so it just might happen.
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Well, that is cool! Can you bring the family? The state is gigantic, but if you’re in the general area of Portland, we can do lunch! Ha ha.
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It’s a date! (Maybe.)
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Sounds like you had a lovely vacation, Diana. I’m sad for the smoke though. Is that from the California fire or a different one? and waterfalls. we had so many in Brazil but i always found them beautiful.
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The entire west coast is on fire, Jina. From Canada to California. It’s awful. Including the small ones, there are over a thousand burning. Today the sky is brown and I’m keeping the windows closed. But… we didn’t let that stop us, and there were times when we were above the smoke, for the most part. Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. 🙂
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That’s horrible. A friend talked about the fire near her home in Utah but she said a few days later it was almost under control. And it was about a week or so when my aunt marked herself as safe from some fire in California. I had no idea it was all over.
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The fire-map is a little frightening. But the wind changes today so some of the smoke should blow off, and another month it will be non-stop rain! 😀
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i’ll pray for you guys.
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Great to have you back, Diana. Your technology-free vacation sounds ideal, and the lovely images bear witness. 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by, Khaya. It was wonderful being technology-free for two whole weeks! And I’m finally catching up a bit on the blog. I’m so glad you enjoyed the photos. 🙂 Have a lovely week, my friend. ❤
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What a wonderful break, Diana. I know such a trip would seem to truly replenish a person inside and out. I love your photos, I’m sure lovely Sarah will forgive you 😀
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Sarah forgave my failure. ha ha. I suspected she would. I read your book and will review… today. It was great to be offline, Lana, and outside, even with the smoke. Thanks for stopping by, my friend. ❤
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I’m so glad you had a nice break. Taking a break is so very important especially with these hectic day-to-day lifestyles that we have. Thanks so much for reading my book, Diana! You are too awesome for words. xoxo
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It was wonderful, Lana. I didn’t grow up in Texas, but so much of childhood in the 60’s rang true. I loved it.
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Thanks so much, Diana! xx
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Posted a review this morning. 🙂
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Thanks so much, Diana. I will head over and check it out. xoxo!!
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I sent you a FB note about being featured on my blog with the review. No pressure. Just send me an email. 🙂
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Thanks for the superb shout-out, Diana. I loved the review and thank you again for your kindness and support. I would love being on your blog! I can’t even thank you enough. I’m glad you liked my little book. Childhood really does have so many universal elements that most everyone experiences. I think the 60s and 70s were special times, and I would imagine that most people do look back on their formative years as very memorable indeed.
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Oh good. I’ll think of a question to pick your brain. 🙂
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Beautiful pictures, Diana! I need a vacation like that––completely unplugged. Sounds like heaven. Welcome back! 😀 xx
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Thanks, Vashti. I’m finding that I need to unplug once every 3 months of so, just to get outside and connect with my husband. And halfway doesn’t seem to do it – it has to be all the way. I’m glad you liked the pictures! Have a great week and Happy Writing!
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I may have to follow your lead. Thank you! 😀 xx
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The last photo is my favorite! 😊
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Thanks, Ellen. It’s about as good as the photos of me got. Ha ha. Thanks for stopping by to take a peek. Happy Writing. 🙂
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