#228 It's about Me and a Place to Visit

 

Random 1: Mission San Francisco de Asis, Rancho de Taos, NM

#228 It’s about Me and a Place to Visit

This post comes out of left field, right field, and down the road a ways—two photo essays and a recommendation. There’s no high purpose to the two photo essays other than I found some photos I could have fun putting together. The recommendation is a fun place to have lunch and a visit. There’s plenty to see here, so let me get started.

I remember a catchy advertising slogan of a “flowers-by-wire” service that went “Say It with Flowers.” The implication was that flowers can carry a variety of emotions and sentiments. I’ve pulled up a few flower photos to see what they say or might say.

Blue, blue, and more blue.

What message would a  large blue flower send?

Does a blue background compliment the pink hollyhock. Taken at the church in Taos.

Delicate, wouldn't you agree? 

Butterflies and bees.

Near Red River, NM.

Share the good stuff.

Oregon Gardens, Silverton

Flowers for sale.

I have no idea where this was taken 23 years ago.

Taos, NM

More or less color.

Near San Luis, CO

This is more colorful, but is it more interesting?

Vincent Van Gogh as well as many other famous artists believed that self portraits (now “selfies”) gave insight into the human soul. I can’t compare myself to any of those other artists, but I too believe that the selfie can lead to insight. I find it hard to pass up opportunities to add a selfie to my collection—and then see if it tells me anything.

Mirror images.

Another use of flowers. 

"Off with his head," said the Red Queen.

Windows as mirrors.

And what does the red light mean?

A picture in a picture. It's got to say something.

A shadow of the self.

The warrior kachina is my spirit (12% Apache) fighting Parkinson's.

The reality is most of the time even the sweater wins.

Am I just a shadow of my former self?

A Recommendation: The Historic Butteville Store

10767 Butte ST NE, Aurora, OR 97002

503-678-1605  www.butteville.org

Hours: closed Mon., Tu - Sun. 9:00 - 6:00

Breakfast (9-10:30), lunch, special Sat dinners twice monthly

Anne ordering lunch.

Library Room

Years ago Anne and I went to a nice Christmas High Tea and concert at the Butteville Store. Sadly, the Store no longer lists that type of entertainment in their scheduling. Instead the current management has earned a fine reputation for cafe or bistro-style meals and specialty ice cream dishes. 

We’ve gone several times, with small groups or by ourselves, to the Store and been delighted each time. The lunch sandwiches and home-made soups are interesting and tasty and the ice creams and sundaes are delicious. 

This was the wheel of the sternwheeler which used the Buttrville landing dock until the rail took over in the early 1900s.

The history of the community is not to be missed. The site’s web page gives a vary complete history of the Native American (Kalapuya tribe) background, the French Prairie area, the community (which is one of the oldest in Oregon), the sternwheeler landing, and the building. The Butteville Store is a museum of artifacts and pictures of the rich history of Butteville and has excellent seating both inside and out.

Ospreys (and sometimes eagles) can be seen on the Willamette River a block away from the Store.

Donated to the state of Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept. in 1999, the historic Store is now administered as part of Champoeg State Park with food service provided by HalfPint Bros. Only a few miles off the I-5 freeway between Canby or Aurora and Newburg, the Butteville store is a fun and rewarding stop. 

Random 2: a rough wood fence in Santa Fe, NM.

NEXT: We'll see what I can find.