September 09, 2008

Sun, sun, sun

I was raised in Oregon's Willamette Valley...in the rain. The valley usually gets about 40" of rain per year with an average 77 clear days. It is very green...and wet.

This is how it typically looks on a drive from the Willamette Valley to the High Desert of Central Oregon. Low clouds, mist, rain, farmland and an abundance of fir trees:


Driving over the pass, clouds all the way to Black Butte, and suddenly, blue sky....break out the sunglasses...


Welcome to Central Oregon's High Desert. Same day, different climate.


8" of rain per year, 300 days of sunshine...it's all right.

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right
It's all right

The Beatles, Here Comes the Sun

20 comments:

Tim Budden said...

Love your quotations.
Of course the Beatles were singing about Liverpool..NOT
God knows where they got the idea of sun from. It's just not a British concept. Maybe Rain, Rain, Rain is better!
Oregon seems like a truly wonderful place. One day I will be there!
From a wet Brit in Taiwan!!

A home far away said...

Hi, first time visiting your blog, it´s lovely!
I am a swedish woman who lives in Singapore, feel free to visit:_

Take care
Gunilla in Singapore

Tess Kincaid said...

I love the Beatles. I think I'm going to put my album on right now. And I absolutely love your driving pictures. Your glorious landscapes are so different from ours!!!!

jewelstreet said...

I'm back! Finally. lol.

You take some of the most amazing pictures. That is some beautiful country.

A Wild Thing said...

What wonderful climate transitions, I would love them both. I have lived in both climes and can't say which one I like better...although as winter approaches, it tend to move toward the warmer.

sharon

Judi FitzPatrick said...

With such varied weather within driving distance, you desert must be a wonderful place to live.
Wonderful photos, thanks for sharing.
Peace, Judi

A Cuban In London said...

Ah, now I get the 'high desert' of your blogname. Well, what can I say? Absolutely amazing! And that song! Harrison was a genius and it's sad to refer to him in the past.

Greetings from London.

picciolo said...

I need some sun, it has rained all day here and I am still drying out from cycling home from work!
Enjoy your sun!
: )

Michelle Engel Bencsko said...

I like days where the weather is all mixed up.

Anonymous said...

Though I must say, that the fall season is absolutely gorgeous here as well.
;)

Waterrose said...

Yep Brandon Or. Our son moved to Portland and I figure he will be there a long time. We took the PCH down after visiting him at christmas, came to Brandon, looked around and just smiled. We are both from green, rainy places and miss it. DH misses the ocean --he spent a large part of his younger life in Key West. He loves to fish, loves boats...(and you ask how we ended up in Phoenix). There is a quilting shop in Brandon too. Now to figure out how to move our business there or sell it here. If you know something about the area that we should be aware of...please share.

Rosebud Collection said...

I've always heard that Oregon had different weather in different areas..very interesting..as usual..lovely pictures..

StaroftheEast said...

Such a big difference, no rain here since may :( I miss the rain... Love the Beatles!!

T.Allen said...

One of my favorite songs! I miss cloudy days sometimes...I think I just miss seasons.

Mrs.French said...

lovely photos.

Unknown said...

Beautiful quotes..currently sounds a bit like the weather over here, and it's been raining for often than before! Weather report says the monsoon is coming earlier, so there goes my trip to the island on our east coast..

Lisa's RetroStyle said...

Love the song and the diversity of nature...and Oregon sure has a lot of it!

Hey Harriet said...

Hey we have a Black Butt here in Australia also. We spell it Butt not Butte. Coz we're an uncouth bunch ;)

I can't hear you singing that song. Oh hang on...yes I can. Please stop now. You sound like a cat being strangled!

Lucky you live on the other side of the world so you can't kick my butt for saying silly things! Nah nah!

Anonymous said...

it feels good to have someone who understands what it might be like to have 77 days of sunshine. it isn't easy although it is green :) i love the photographic contrast here!

Unknown said...

How freaky, I actually had this song in my head for part of the day today & did not come by your post until just now. I guess wanting sun is catchy :) Sounds like living in the high desert is the perfect place for constant smiles in the sun :)