My trip to California was two-fold. I had planned to visit my favorite cousin sometime this year, but when my half-brother passed away last December the memorial service was planned for the end of April about an hour from my cousins home. There was a very special visit with my cousin and her family. What can I say, the memorial service was as special as my brother would have wanted.
The poppies above always remind me of California, where I grew up.
My cousin is a walker, but not to go out in the wilderness hiking. I found this place not to far from her home and we went hiking at a nature preserve. There were egrets, herons, and other birds, but most were elusive when the camera was lifted.
It became a joke with my cousin when she would see me lean down to take a picture of what I called a "wild flower". She called them "weeds". I loved even the thistles and the yellow wild mustard.
There was plenty of water for the birds this year, which is a great relief after the drought of many years.
The two birds I captured with my camera were a American Avocet (a water fowl) and red wing black bird.
Then my last day before returning to Portland and another adventure is the Sacramento Rose Garden.
I loved seeing the roses in full bloom, as they haven't started blooming here in Portland. They were spectacular. I think the first rose picture was my favorite of all the roses. Isn't is beautiful?
They were all picture perfect and ready for their close-ups.
If my cousin read my blog, she would want me to take this picture down. My cousin is on the left and her daughter (who is named after me and a cousin of her husbands - Mari Lyn) and myself on the right.
I see I have begun this post and closed with flowers. Of course I did! I love flowers everywhere I go.
It was a wonderful adventure to California and the sunshine was just perfect.
Happy weekend, dear friends!
Go out and smell the flowers of springtime today!
