• Oregon Summer 2025
    We stopped at a privately supported rest area in rural Oregon on our way to Walla Walla.
    The ranch supported rest area is at the location of an former school and post office.Phil at Amavi Cellars.Grapes in the background.Phil having an ice cream and wine pairing.Back at Malheur with another sunset.The hummingbirds are still coming to my feeder.Bats on the umbrella when I opened it today, so we just closed it back up and let them sleep.Barn owl brought in by visitors in the hands of Travis, one of the naturalist staff.

    Wine tasting and barn owls

    July 25 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    We made a long trip to Walla Walla, Washington, this week. It is right across the Oregon border. Phil and I have been lovers of Washington Wines since we lived in Spokane 2009 to 2013.

    We went to a few tastings and had a couple of great meals. We bought too much expensive wine, too!

    We have new volunteers to help fill the gaps. Chaunte arrived this week in her Sunseeker motor home. She is from Arizona, but volunteers are state and federal parks. She came here from Humboldt Park (part of the redwoods) in California. Linda is also back to help for a few weeks in the bookstore.

    This morning, a couple brought an injured barn owl in to us. It was caught on a fence. Thankfully, one of the biologists was here to help us and will take the owl to see if it can be saved. There is no raptor center here. Barn Owls are under pressure here due to Great Horned Owls not tolerating them in their territory.    Read more