Living in the Pacific Northwest for the past 20 years, I've been introduced to a variety of architectural splendor and nature's beauty. From the Vista House to the Portland City Hall, there's never a lack for sources of inspiration. What draws me the most about living in a Oregon is the fact that there's an abundance of "green" - that is, hiking trails, mountains, rainfall that leaves trees glimmering, plus fruits & vegetables at the farmer's markets.
Hence, the collection below exemplifies a small snippet of my every day life. Through the lens of an iPhone, the essence of nature's bounty, lines of symmetry in buildings, Mother Nature, and outdoor activities all enhanced by the beauty of today's times coupled with the simplicity of being close to nature.
I truly believe that everyone deserves to live in a place that they love, and I am fortunate to be able to do so. So I encourage you to go out, take a walk, go to the nearest river, down the street, or your neighbor's yard, because you never know what you may find. Take a hike just to experience the quietness and smell the fresh air, for in today's busy, fast-paced world, we are constantly on the move and it's nice to be able to sit still, breathe in and out, and do absolutely nothing for awhile.
Below, I share some of my favorite places to be & things to do.
Angel's Rest is on my top favorites list of places to hike. But then again, I like any hike that's a little bit challenging - because it allows me to complain a little bit, but in my mind, I'm ready to troop on, even with these rocks and the possibility of slipping is near me. Here I caught my husband trying to take a picture of the view below. We'd only just begun the hike.
Ask any parent of a typical toddler, you'll find out that their child loves to splash in puddles. My daughter is no exception. Recently, a rainy day hit us with a big puddle of rain in the parking lot, and once I took her outside, she couldn't stay away from it. She splashed and splashed and splashed. Her curiosity and naivete (she didn't care about getting wet) is inspiring to me as a parent, and reminds me that I should just let kids be kids.
People 'bathing' at Horsetail Falls. I stopped here briefly before heading off to my REAL destination, Oneonta Falls.
Dog Mountain is definitely one of my favorite places to hike to. Its paths are windy, narrow and awe-inspiring. On a chilly day at the end of last year, my husband and I descended up this path to be presented with one of the most beautiful views of the Pacific NW ever - from the Washington side, we could see into Oregon and the Columbia River.
Down this street (NE 41st & Davis St) is where I'd often park my car to allow my daughter to take a nap. It's a street filled with beautiful homes with perfect landscaping, flowers and bushes. Underneath a shady tree, I'd sit here and admire the view and daydream about how I'd like to own a house on this street someday. If only I make 125K per year...
I am lucky enough to live near Laurelhurst Park, where turtles, birds, and ducks graze the giant pond in the middle of the park. Often times, we'd go with my daughter Lily and in one of those times, this guy was preparing for flight. This is bird watching at its best - 20 minutes away by foot.
It's funny how when it's cold and dreary in Portland, everyone complains about it, especially myself. On such a day as evidenced above, I was outside with my daughter, who was happily trotting away down the path towards our apartment. Now, when I look at this picture, it reminds me of a moment to treasure - and that fall is beautiful.
Every year, thousands of blooms arrive at the Rose Garden in Portland. Although we don't go as often as we'd like, this is one of those places that a visitor should consider seeing, if not just for the photographic opportunity, but also for a picnic. It's truly a place where you can "stop and smell the flowers."
Although the path towards Dog Mountain in Washington was long, and the hike was a slightly challenging uphill battle, the view of Oregon on the other side made it a much better experience and provided plenty of inspiration to reach the top.
And finally, at 17 months, my daughter, still sporting her short bob, sprints off on her own at the Rose Garden.
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