Author Archives: makielb

I like taking pictures around town, here or in Ann Arbor, when it is dark. The cannabis industry is thriving in Oregon. Street art outside of a café, just like the next one. And a pretty wild set of windows with a dancer going across three window screens. And finally a snowman painted on aContinue reading “Oregon – downtown Eugene at night”

But first – the elves built a lego train and had fun last night. Getting Milly to school and Oscar to day care during the pandemic. And finally a tea party! We might be able to get out later today. The temperature this morning was 31F and everything was covered with ice. I’m not sureContinue reading “Oregon – helping with the kids”

Yoda on a dreary morning. The view from our rental in Eugene. Facing murals in an alley in downtown Eugene. One of the many window paintings. The windows of an interesting bar. Yet another dragon. Voodoo Doughnuts a must visit. More tomorrow…

The market days started with visits from Milly and Oscar’s elf friends. One day they were playing with little dragons by the advent tree and another they were snacking on twist-twists (we knew from the crumbs). Milly getting a braid, then it was time to head off to the market. Besides shopping and a foodContinue reading “Oregon – Eugene Holiday Market and more”

A 50m Douglas fir separating the park from the nearby homes. Some critters at a building in the park – a European earwig, a False black widow and a moth that is perhaps a Winter moth. There are even liverworts on the trees near the stream. The electric car charging station at Lane Community College,Continue reading “Oregon – a neighborhood park and more”

We walked the trail at Wild Iris Ridge south-west of Eugene yesterday. The trail was dominated by Oregon white oak and Pacific Madrone, which is pictured above. The trees were covered with lichens, which is typical of trees in Oregon. This is an Usnea called Methuselah’s beard. Another interesting lichen is Lobaria pulmonaria, Lungwort. SpottedContinue reading “Oregon – Wild Iris Ridge (part-1)”

We found this on a walk in the neighborhood. Note sure what’s going on here, but the mosses seem happy. A nicely branched liverwort that I am working to identify. It is quite nice finding liverworts on the bases of conifers along the streets in Eugene. Getting ready to watch the Red Wings play afterContinue reading “Oregon – discoveries and a hockey game”

When you are half-way across the Continent you want everything that you see to be something that you can’t see back home. But that’s not reality. But seeing birds or plants that care common back in Michigan is still fun. We started a walk the other day with a flock of crows at the corner.Continue reading “Oregon – A walk in Eugene”

The first photo is from Ann Arbor. Over the past eight months I have collected a large number of photos of cannabis related material (stores and billboards) just as a fun little project. I have now added some “weeds” from Oregon. I had never seen prices advertised on a street-side sign in Michigan. Apparently, inContinue reading “Oregon – a little weed and more”

Milly and Oscar singing happy birthday to Grandma. Milly watching the Red Wings game when a goal was scored. Monroe Park, waiting for Milly’s karate lesson. The street trees in Eugene are quite large and always a pleasure for me to see. As ere the patches of rosemary in the park, available for anybody toContinue reading “Oregon – fun with grandkids”