picture of bumpersticker borrowed from a friend of a friend on facebook....

No it's not Obsidian Falls but a cool feature on my el cheapo cell phone camera...

177 ft. South Falls in the reverse

View between some trees of one of the meadows in the park

Can you believe this cell phone tower? A hundred feet away it's really hard to tell what it is...it blends in so well. Apparently it's an Oregon thing....way cool in the woods

see below for the rest of this Silverton mural.....

Beautiful old Silverton Victorian . Maybe it's the Pacific Northwest air...but I have seen more old great vics here in Oregon than anywhere else I've been. Or maybe Oregonians are just smart enough to not tear them down...

Stone Buddha a cool shoppe on Main St. in Silverton, Oregon
The Historic South Falls Lodge built by the CCC in the 30's SFSP


Bobbie the Wonderdog mural in Silverton

Bobbie went with his family on vacation to Indiana in the early 1920's

He was lost but eventually found his way back to Silverton by I think 1924...


Moi in front of South Falls my first week here...

I've got Rocks in my Head too...
WOW a Rock shop too...am I in paradise or what?
it's on Water St. in Silverton
Owner Walker Yeates sez he gets rocks from about 5000 different people around the globe....

mmm Thai food....
water st. Silverton

from behind south falls


Crochet flags on water st. Silverton
The same owners of The Stone Buddha own this...
way cool knitting shoppe called

"The Purl District"

Silverton is a gold mine for old victorian houses and old bungelow/arts and crafts era houses. I am crazy about both....


another old vic, Water st. Silverton This was/is a B and B thats for sale...time to buy a lottery ticket?

One of the remnants of the old logging town "Silver Falls City" that is still in the park. These apple trees are over a 100 years old and were planted by the Volz family...


The base of the same tree...

Another of the great Silverton murals. This one highlights The Mammoth, apparently the worlds largest camera in 1900....

southeast corner of my summer abode

plenty o'room on the floor for say an air mattress

and a coupla really cute little dogs...

Sent out an email to try and i.d. this a week or so after I first posted it.

Jury might still be out but I am going with Yellow Parasol for now.

Thanks Jodi.

A Cabin built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 30's.

They refurbished it for me to live in and I Love it.

In the following years other Seasonal Naturalists will now have housing. So cool.

I am happy to be back in the Pacific Northwest.

I think it must be the mushroom capital of the world.

I am determined to learn mushrooms (besides Chanterelles , Puffballs, Shitakes,Amanitas and morrells) as well as Lichens and mosses this summer. Big long time holes in my Natural History knowledge.

"I got half-a-dozen paintings from that shattered plate".

Georgia O'Keeffe

"Those who love you are not fooled by mistakes you have made or dark images you hold about yourself. They remember your beauty when you feel ugly; your wholeness when you are broken; your innocence when you feel guilty; and your purpose when you are confused."
African saying from Gratefulness.org

The Willow Farm

It took me reading Lloyd Kahn's recent post to find out about this cool farm in a town (Pescadero) that I lived in / near for years. Way cool willow sculptures and ideas for you gardening/farming types out there. Willow is so abundant in so many places and just as beautiful (if not more) as bamboo! They even do commisions for small garden houses... www.thewillowfarm.com

South Falls, Silver Falls State Park 177 ft

Tuesday June 8

A low flying Hot Air Balloon was the first thing I saw upon opening my eyes and looking out the window of my new summer cabin this a.m.

My plan (after being here a few days) was to try and hitchike to the (other) nearby town of Silverton, Oregon. I needed to buy more food and get some things from the thrift store and call some folks as there is no cell coverage in The Canyon. I walked out to the road and waited about 2 hours to get a ride (fear based American society, this would never happen in Europe). But as you know, everything happens for a reason....THE BALLOON PEOPLE are the ones who I finally see stop with their large basket on the back of their van. They brought me all of the way into Silverton(14 miles) and dropped me off with some pointers on cool places. This was their first time ever launching from Silver Falls! If you ever are in the Salem area and have a few extra hundred dollars, check out http://www.balloonflying.com/ . Below are owner Jim and his seasonal help, Cecil! Really cool, really friendly (and obviously trusting Thank God!) Yes, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

Thanks Guys!

The picture on top is my new office. Well it's actually a little ways up the trail from here. This is the main attraction, South Falls with a 177 ft drop. It's raging now. You can walk behind it. I'd never really truly known the meaning of the term "breathtaking" until now. I gasped the first day I saw it. On the second day when I finally went down and stood in front of it , I cried. A spiritually moving place indeedy. Negative Ion Capital of the World. NI's cause positive feelings of elation in people (long ago blog subject (for moi).


Without this man, June Drake , who was a photographer living in Silverton in the early part of the 20th century, we might not have SIlver Falls at all. June Drake was/is to SFSP what ANsel Adams was to Yosemite. Except June Drake did the work of both Adams and John Muir. His tireless work over many years and trying to get the word out about this place is what saved it.
Search Silver Falls S.P. for more on that. I am on a limited use library computer right now but hope to write about Silver Falls more. I feel that all of my life's work has led me to this one seasonal position. I actually have Drake in my ancestry. I sure do hope I can connect our families somehow.



I definitely feel like I have landed in the most recent Ken Burns National Park Documentary. It is what inspired me to return to my field of Natural History Interpretation. I am so very glad that I followed my heart.

The meadows in the park right now are filled with these Oregon Iris. Hmm, Lavender colored Iris, my favorite, go figure.

I will write more about Silverton later...but click on http://www.silvertonchamber.com/ . Am I in the right place or not? Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. I am truly BLESSED!



"Thankfulness brings you to the place where the Beloved lives."

Jalaluddin RumiCamille and Kabir Helminski's RUMI: JEWELS OF REMEMBRANCE