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Friday, July 22, 2011

114/365 Lost Lake

Mt. Hood reflected in the calm water of Lost Lake, Oregon.

Spent 4th of July at what I think is one of the most beautiful places God created, Lost Lake, Oregon. This pristine lake on the Eastern side of Mt. Hood has remained vastly the same way the early pioneers traveling the Oregon Trail first saw it.  Surrounded by protected forest land, there is very little in the way of civilization to destroy nature's view.  And since no motor powered craft are allowed on the lake...it's quiet, calm, and peaceful.

We spent the day picnicing, hiking, and relaxing.  We rented a rowboat for a few hours and rowed out to the middle of lake and then just floated for awhile in the shadow of that glorious volcano.  We watched bald eagles fly over head and had a falcon fly above us, then tuck his wings and divebomb the water, coming up with a fish in his beak. This is a place that feeds the soul.

Peanut enjoys a rowboat ride out to the middle of the lake.

Ok, Peanut was so cute enjoying the view, I had to include another photo.

This adorable girl was at the picnic site next to ours...she played in the lake for hours, only leaving the ice cold water when it was time for lunch.

Jessica and Skeeter on one of the shady hiking trails.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

113/365 Ellis kid's renunion

My brother and (most) of his family came out from Chicago for a visit. So my sister from Eastern Oregon decided to come over too.  So my daughter from Seattle and my daughter from LA decided to come too...and before you knew it, we had a family reunion on our hands (sans a few of my neices). This was the first time my brothers and sisters and I had been together since my Mom passed two years ago. I had everyone over to my house, including the spouses and the kids and grandkids, for a barbecue.  I am never happier than when I have my family around me, and I wanted the evening to last forever.

Eric, Chad, me, Karen and Laura (I didn't take this photo obviously, budding photog, Piper did.) I'm the youngest of us five kids, so I got bossed around a lot by all four of them, but I have to admit, I also got loved, protected and coddled by all four of them as well.

Brother-in-law Casey, son-in-law Jesse, and Eric sharing a laugh.  I love to watch the guys together...doing the "guy thing."

My grand niece Johonna (named after my Mother).  Could she be any more adorable?

Talking, catching up, laughing, sharing....this is family.

Brianna and Sara trying to catch a few rays of sun and sharing a sister joke.

The little "Ellis-ettes". My kids, my brothers and sisters kids, and a few babies in bellies.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

112/365 Pride-tastic Parade

Lots of photos from the Portland Gay Pride Parade.

Oh, so cheeky.

Loved her smile!


Entertaining the crowd before the parade starts.

Lesbian lawyers speak their mind.

Empress Tsunami Foxx and Emperor Chad Hammer.

It's a good thing.

The two men on the right came forward from the back of the crowd to cheer on their fellow Gay Men's Chorus singers. 

Black tongue...so strange!

This sweet little girl was determined to make sure I got a lollipop. 

Two of the ladies from Stark Raving Queens, that's the gorgeous Candy Wrapper on the right.  They perform the last Sunday of every month at Starky's Restaurant in Portland.

The band's shirts say, "I can't even march straight".

X marks the spot (or nipple).

Mr. and Ms. Gay Pride.

Big balls, little dog.

More of the lovely ladies from Stark Raving Queens.

Portland Gay Men's Chorus.

Not in the Parade, just one of the crowd.  Love the boots!

E'nuff said.

Perhaps my favorite shot of the day.  Check out the red-gloved hand on the right coming in to grab the "flawless ass".

Lady in red.

Sometimes too much fun, is well too much and ya just gotta take a little nap.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

111/365 Portland Gay Pride Parade - A few favorite faces

Went down to the Portland Gay Pride Parade to support my brother and enjoy the fun.  It was a chilly, drizzly morning, but it didn't dampen the energy and good mood of the day.  I wandered around the staging area for the parade watching the prepartions, talking with people, and taking a few photos.  I have to say, I love the gay community.  Now, I know there are good people and jerks in every segment of society, but  most of the gay folks I know are just friendly, non-judgemental, live and let live kind of people...and I find that very appealing. From the Dykes on Bikes, to the Queens, to the Bears, the flamboyant and the meek...I love their diversity and their spirit. 

I spied this woman from across the street and was drawn to her cool look and haughty attitude.  She let me photograph her, staring right into my camera, but never smiling.  I'd love to photograph her again.

She had rainbow from head to toe, from her multi-shaded eyes to her rainbow snakeskin peeptoe shoes...gorgeous!

Pride pooch rode with the Dykes on Bikes.

Imperial Rose Court Royalty...that's my brother in the middle (handsome, isn't he?).

Yeah, they look tough...but actually were quite tender with each other.  The man sitting is actually in a wheelchair and the man in the muzzle was helping him manuever the crowds and curbs.

This guy was wearing a chicken suit (sans chicken head because it wouldn't fit over his spectacular mustache). 

110/365 Pride Day - nice ass!



109/365 Bartender, get that soldier a drink

During fleet week Eric and I were at Jake's Grill for happy hour.  The place was pretty busy so we pulled up two stools at the bar next to two sailors in town for fleet week. We noticed their glasses were almost empty so we told the bartender to refill their drinks on us.  They were genuinely surpised and thanked us for the round of drinks. We spent a couple hours talking with the sailors.  Both of them were stationed on one of the smaller ships in for Rose Festival.  We asked about their jobs, their thoughts on terrorisim, interesting ports of call they'd been to, their homes, their goals, their families.  I couldn't believe how open they both were.  More than anything they wanted to talk about their families.  Their parents and grandparents in their home towns, and their wives and children waiting for them in their home port. They liked the Navy, but both were looking forward to the time their service was complete and they could be with their families full time.

As we talked other people in the bar were sending them over drinks to thank them for their service...so much so, that they eventually had to turn them down in order not to get drunk. I joked with them about that, saying it must be a problem everytime they visit a US port...trying not to get drunk on all the drinks people bought them. They surprised us by saying...no...Portland is the only city where people bought them drinks. They said anywhere they went in Portland, people were buying them drinks, treating them to coffee, etc. I was surprised. Maybe because my father was a career Marine serving in WWII, Korea and Viet Nam, I just assumed that others were as grateful as I am for the men and women leaving their families to risk their lives to serve our country. It made me very proud of the people of Portland...and very dissappointed in the rest of the port cities these two humble young men had visited and not been given anything less than a very warm welcome.