What To Do in The Desert?

On November 15, 2025November 16, 2025 By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS266 Comments

When an atmospheric river,

dumps torrential rain,

spawning dozens of high mountain waterfalls,

that crash down right by the door of your condo rental,

creating flash floods?

What to do?

Get wet,

and take photos too!

It is an amazing experience because it happens so incredibly quickly. It starts with serious torrential downpours that are fast in onset, next you hear roaring, go outside, and see dozens of waterfalls falling from the 8000+ peaks of The Santa Rosa Mountain Range, to the sea level and below, and since your vacation condo sits at the foot of these mountains, the show is quite spectacular! The photos can’t do it justice in the midst of the storm. Lakes and rivers have formed where dust and lizards were sunning yesterday! Now I personally see why you do not want to be in a narrow desert canyon in a flash flood situation. It’s way too fast and way too intense.

Cheers to you from the flooding desert~

Sonoran Badlands~

On November 6, 2025November 6, 2025 By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS205 Comments

(click/tap to enlarge)

Stark,

stunning,

solitary,

soulful.

Badlands have a beauty,

that calls you back,

year after year.

Be safe & well. Cheers to you from The Sonoran Desert~

Blue Footed Boobies~

On September 19, 2025November 6, 2025 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, TRAVEL REVIEWS255 Comments

(click/tap to enlarge)

Are grace,

in the sky,

and charmers up close.

Mexico,

off season without the tourists.

Arte de Mexico,

on every street and every home.

I have been flying around like the birdies and am not posting quite as frequently, but just like the birds, I will always drop by to see what you’re up too!

Cheers to you from Mexico & Hope you are safe & well~

Falling~

On June 19, 2025November 6, 2025 By cindy knokeIn Uncategorized210 Comments

(click/tap to enlarge)

Waterfall Alley,

alongside The Columbia River Gorge,

in Oregon,

has eight,

named waterfalls,

and endless beauty to explore.

Cheers to you from Oregon~

We See You~

On June 4, 2025November 6, 2025 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life273 Comments

(click to enlarge)

You bird watcher,

you.

You think,

you watch us?

Our lives depend,

on watching you.

We appreciate,

your jelly,

but we don’t really trust you.

You are a human after all.

Cheers to you from the wise and wonderful Holler Hooded and Bullocks Orioles~

For more on these orioles see:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bullocks_Oriole/overview

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_Oriole/overview

Blooming~

On May 22, 2025May 22, 2025 By cindy knokeIn Conservation, Flowers, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS214 Comments

Squirrely is waiting for the blooms to turn to berries.

The cherry blossoms,

and shallon blooms will soon make him fat & happy.

The rhododendrons,

are a blooming,

glory.

While the iris,

are dramatic divas.

Piers Japonica looks like sci-fi critters ready to up-root and walk away!

Cheers to you from blooming Washington & Oregon~

Columbia River Gorge (Oregon & Washington Side)~

On May 12, 2025May 12, 2025 By cindy knokeIn Conservation, Flowers, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS189 Comments

The Astoria-Megler Bridge is the longest continuous truss bridge in North America, connecting Oregon and Washington State and spanning The Columbia River.

On the Oregon side is Fort Clatsop,

and the temperate rain forests of The Pacific Northwest.

It is the home of the rebuilt Fort Clatsop which was the winter home of Lewis & Clark in 1805-1806.

On The Washington side, Cape Disappointment in the south west corner of Washington State, is where the mouth of The Columbia River meets The Pacific Ocean. The Cape was named by a British fur trader who was searching for the mouth of The Columbia River, but mistook it for a bay after he was unable to navigate his ship through the treacherous sand bars protecting the mouth of the river. He didn’t know he actually had found the river mouth he was looking for.