Building Bridges -- June 2008

RuneE is sponsoring this monthly challenge on the first Monday of every month. Building Bridges is subject to open interpretation.


My "building bridges"entry is sorta unusual this month. The bridge is the river itself. When tall ships come up the Columbia River, the I-5 bridge has a section that rises and allows the ships to go further east or west. I moved here in 1985 and this was the first time I ever saw the bridge raise and lower again! The passage of tall ships from one side of the I-5 bridge to the other is my BRIDGES BETWEEN this month.



Saw these two ships in the Columbia River a week ago Saturday. They were here for the Rose festival celebrated this week. Their sails were too tall to go under the bridge so it a part of it was lifted and then lowered after their passage under it.





The two ships have reached the other side of the bridge and it begins to go down again.











Traffic resumes on the bridge between Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon.

ABC Wednesday - Year 2 --#18

Go here if you would like to join us for ABC Wednesday. . . Mrs Nesbitt

"R" is forRAINDROPS on leaves and flowers. (CLICK on these to see them better.)





"R" is also for RAILROAD (station, sign, crossing sign and tracks) photos.


And for RED tulips.


Also, for REFLECTION in RIVER,


And RAINBOW!


Also for the RAILING at the end of the Confluence Trail.


R is for the Columbia RIVER,







And my final entry for R is for the RASPBERRY vines in ROWS in the snow.


BUT IF you didn't see enough "R" posts, then look at yesterday's post and you will see a single ROSE.

Last night from the Confluence Bridge. . .

It was a warm day in the high 80's yesterday so when I was finished with the scheduled things I had to do, I went for a walk along the Columbia River. I stayed until sunset and then decided to walk the Confluence Bridge to go home. This was the first time at dusk that I had crossed it. Look at the beautiful sight that greeted me as I looked back over my shoulder! On the left, you see the iron railing separating us on the bridge from the railroad tracks and on the right you see a car emerging from under the bridge on Hiway 14. You will want to click on this one to see how beautiful the sunset and surroundings really are. . .

Columbia River. . .

One of my favorite spots to just sit and relax is at the Columbia River. This was the scene last week when I went there to watch the sun set and crochet hairpin lace.

Blog Your Blessings Sunday #15

(Click on photo to enlarge and see the bench in shadows of dusk)

Go here if you would like to participate: Blue Panther

In trying to choose among my blessings this week, I decided on "REST."
Whether we are taking a break from work or play, we all need rest. Even God rested on the 7th day. (Genesis) It wasn't because He was tired -- after all He is God! It showed completeness to his creating.

God knows we need rest to restore us. Strength is exhibited in quietness. . . when we are quiet, we can listen to God and hear His voice and become strong again because we know His love.

What a more restful place to listen to God while we "rest in His promises". . . the Columbia River at sunset on a beautifully constructed bench where we can take the time to think of our daily blessings!

Railroad trestle across Columbia River

Last night when I saw the barge that was shooting NOISE at the Starlings, I looked to the west and saw the train trestle that spans the Columbia between Portland and Vancouver. I like taking photos at dusk since I missed the sunset. . .

Starling problem. . .

It seems that our I-5 bridge has a STARLING problem each winter. The birds gather on the framing and makes it hard to raise the bridge when necessary. So for weeks, if you go down to the Columbia River, you will hear something like shooting off guns into the air. It is actually called a bird cannon. It makes a terrible noise for three hours nightly to get rid of the birds.

I was just hoping to get a photo of the sunset but I was too late. Had too much laundry to finish first when I planned another excursion outdoors yesterday because it wasn't raining. . . YES! Miracles do happen occasionally. It is raining again today. I wish I were in a higher elevation as it would mean snow!!!!!!!!

Anyway, I walked down to the river to see what that noise was. I still didn't understand although I saw a boat on the river where the noise was coming from. Finally, on the 11:00 news, they explained how they were trying to get rid of the Starlings and this was the only method that worked so we would have to put up with the noise for a bit longer. The Starlings nest and make it impossible to raise thebridge for taller ships.

Autumn on the Columbia . . .

Autumn view on the Columbia.


Barge on Columbia in autumn.


This is a resting place in the Columbia River for traveling birds. i believe this is an Osprey. Well, others disagree. . . i just know that the newspaper said that is what the pole is there for. I presumed it was that for this reason.


Autumn leaves on path.