Friday, August 30, 2013

33/52 and 34/52 - Photo Project 2013



Week 33:

A quintessential urban decay shot:

Downtown STL Explore - Week 33/52 - Photo Project 2013

Close runners up:

Downtown STL Explore    Downtown STL Explore    Downtown STL Explore

Week 34:

My brief attempt at a blue moon from my front portch:

Blue Moon

Thursday, August 29, 2013

30-32/52 - Photo Project 2013

Major catch-up post!!

Week 30: I couldn't resist this flowering artichoke:

Beaverton Farmers Market

Close second, Oregon blueberries:

Beaverton Farmers Market

Week 31:

There were FAR too many photos to choose from. I was really pleased with a lot of my shots but this is one of my favorites:

Olympic National Park - Fawn

Close runners up:

Mt Rainier National Park - Reflection Lake
Olympic National Park - Ruby Beach        Olympic National Park - Dandelion

Week 32:

Again, a tough one. This one encompasses a lot:

Seattle, Day 1 - Chihuly Garden

Close second,

Seattle, Day 1 - Chihuly at Night

Weeks 33 and 34 coming soon! And then, I think I will be all caught up.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Exploring Downtown St Louis - Through New Eyes


One of our latest photo floods (with Photo Flood STL) was in downtown St. Louis. We have set map borders but I didn't fully pay attention to where we were going. I usually hang with the group's creator and his wife, so I kind of just followed them. We actually ended up in one of my favorite places in St. Louis. It's where urban decay beauty abounds.

I've obviously been there before, but I captured some great images that late afternoon/evening:

Downtown STL Explore

Downtown STL Explore

Downtown STL Explore

Downtown STL Explore

Downtown STL Explore

Downtown STL Explore

Downtown STL Explore

Downtown STL Explore

Downtown STL Explore

Downtown STL Explore

Downtown STL Explore

Downtown STL Explore

Downtown STL Explore

And my favorite!

Downtown STL Explore

You'll be seeing this one again soon...

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Road Trip, Day -1: Portland, OR

The two days before L and I embarked on our road trip adventure, I spent a little time in Portland.

A high school classmate and friend of mine, D has lived there and while we've kept up a bit on Facebook, we hadn't spent any amount of time together in a long while. I spent a majority of the day with her - getting to know her again, playing with her two adorable children. D is the mom I'd like to be when I grow up. I've always been a fan of D, but I renewed my membership this trip! But we had a great time just hanging out and playing with the kids but broke away for an AMAZING dinner at Pok Pok for fish sauce wings which are out-of-this-world amazing. I didn't break out my camera at all because I was having such a good time that it didn't occur to me.

The next day, I spent with W & G. W, G & I met in Houston and we've maintained the friendship ever since. I definitely count W as one of my best friends. We started out the day at the Beaverton Farmers market where I tried beer flavored from matzo (no kidding) as well as admiring all the wonderful goodies. I didn't get to try it until later, but I had my first taste of Rainier (yellow) cherries and I'm hopelessly addicted. They are honey sweet in comparison to the tartness of the more familiar bing cherry.

But look at all the beauty found here:

Beaverton Farmers Market

Beaverton Farmers Market

Beaverton Farmers Market

Beaverton Farmers Market

Beaverton Farmers Market

Beaverton Farmers Market

Beaverton Farmers Market

Beaverton Farmers Market

These must be from another planet:

Beaverton Farmers Market

Did you know that artichokes flowered?

Beaverton Farmers Market

I wanted to buy everything in sight!

Beaverton Farmers Market

I clearly need to hit up farmer's markets more often... I'm so glad they're popular again!

From there, we headed to Seaside Beach where I learned that Pacific Northwest Oceans can turn you into an ice block within seconds! Brrrrr! 

Jellyfish were scattered on the beach - puzzling:

Seaside Beach

Seaside Beach

As well as sand dollars:

Seaside Beach

And crab bits:

Seaside Beach

Later, we explored Cathedral Park where we happened upon, but didn't stay for,  a free orchestra concert:

Cathedral Park

W&G have turned their patio into a beautiful hanging garden and they have a hummingbird feeder. One came to visit:

Hummingbird!

Hummingbird!

Hummingbird!

I wish my time there had been longer - so I'll have to return when I can really stay and play! 

Monday, August 26, 2013

Road Trip, Day 8/9 - Pike Place Market

Seattle, Day 1 - Pike Place

Seattle, Day 1 - Pike Place

Seattle, Day 1 - Pike Place

Pike Place Market opened in 1907 and is one of the oldest continuously operated public farmers' markets in the United States. It is far younger than it's smaller but older counterpart in St. Louis - Soulard Market. I love Soulard Market and don't go as often as I should - but I am forever glad that Soulard isn't a tourist destination like Pike Place is in Seattle.

That being said, if I lived in Seattle - despite the tourists, I would be there often. The flower bouquets are out of this world and ridiculously cheap:

Seattle, Day 1 - Pike Place

Seattle, Day 1 - Pike Place

Seattle, Day 2 - Pike Place Market

And the fish, the famous fish place was a lot of fun. This is the one where they throw their fish at each other. It's a little stage-y but they are certainly entertaining:

Seattle, Day 2 - Pike Place Market

Seattle, Day 1 - Pike Place

Seattle, Day 1 - Pike Place

Seattle, Day 2 - Pike Place Market

There's a smaller one down the way, which looks similar but without the fun:

Seattle, Day 2 - Pike Place Market

There's tons of tasty looking fruit:

Seattle, Day 1 - Pike Place

Seattle, Day 1 - Pike Place

Seattle, Day 1 - Pike Place

Seattle, Day 1 - Pike Place

Seattle, Day 2 - Pike Place Market

Seattle, Day 2 - Pike Place Market

Including this amazingness that I was introduced to in Oregon: Rainier cherries:

Seattle, Day 2 - Pike Place Market

On the second day, N & I had a delicious lunch here:

Seattle, Day 2 - Pike Place Market

I highly recommend it - it reminded me of a great food truck here in St. Louis called Seoul Taco.  I had bi bim bap with bulgogi and the fried rice underneath was the best I'd had in a long time.

Here are more pictures of the market in general:

Seattle, Day 1 - Pike Place

Seattle, Day 1 - Pike Place

Seattle, Day 1 - Pike Place

Because I can't get to Seattle soon, I will be getting my happy self over to Soulard and hoping that Rainier cherry season will come again soon. I had no idea how delightful those cherries were. Thanks W & G!!