January 28, 2009

This is home

"Home is a name, a word, it is a strong one; stronger than magician ever spoke, or spirit ever answered to, in the strongest conjuration."

~ Charles Dickens

Oregon is mostly known for being very wet.


It rains a lot which means it's very green...on the other side of the mountains...where I lived for 40 years.


Central Oregon's High Desert is something else entirely. It takes some getting used to...a dry, brown, rocky climate is not where I ever imagined myself living.

Part of the problem may be the conception of what the desert is...based on its definition:

desert, noun. a region so arid, it supports only sparse vegetation or none at all.

But there is beauty here...

Deschutes River


Crooked River Canyon


Steelhead Falls

This is home.
Where do you live?

(This post was recycled from a year ago)

29 comments:

Hey Harriet said...

The area you live in is really beautiful!

Where do I live? Currently it feels like I'm living in a sauna...

Catherine said...

Beautiful area you call home. We are a lot drier, our fir trees are at a little higher altitude than where our home actually sits. I love the smell of pine trees!

Captain Skulduggery Dug said...

You live in such a beautiful place. I love the various green and brown hues and the variety of landscapes.

Dave King said...

I en joyed reading that. I think I may do something similar - imitation the sincerest form of flattery, you know.

Lisa's RetroStyle said...

There certainly is beauty there. Your photos capture it very nicely.

I've had people ask me about why we moved back to Michigan after being in Colorado..."it's so beautiful there", they say. I always think it is like comparing apples and oranges. You really can't compare the beauty of an arid enviornment to one that it is lush and green. They are totally different and beautiful in their own ways.

It's nice that your two opposites are so relatively close together. I call that the best of both worlds!

{S.T.U.F.F.} said...

Steelhead Falls...BEAUTIFUL!!!

P.S.::Thanx for 'following' my blog...the company is always welcomed :-)

Golden West said...

I enjoy your pictures! Home is where the heart is, they say.

Anonymous said...

There is beauty everywhere! One only needs to open her eyes.

A Wild Thing said...

I have been trying to download pictures on blogger since 6:00...geezzzz!!!

Anyway we are on the same trail again my friend. I love the desert, takes gittin' used to, but the beauty is unparalleled...beautiful shots!

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Very lovely and indeed dramatic!

I live in the north east of England, bordering Scotland - The autumn colours here are particularly like those in your second photo - I love those grey blues and the verdant greens, above all, oh and we get the mists of your first photo too - Enchanting!

Unknown said...

Beautiful pictures and wonderful sights. I was laughing reading the comment from Tracy, yes, pretty much sums it up here. With the monsoon over, it's like living in a sauna. It was 39 celcius this afternoon and I could feel the blinding sun streaming into the house ;p

Tess Kincaid said...

Gorgeous! Completely different from the flat farmland of the midwest.

Anonymous said...

I just left an error, but then I got an error, so sorry if this is a double.

When we used to live in Spokane, the area was much the same as Eastern Oregon... so now that we live here, it's been a change. Though we're really enjoying all the green, and enjoying the milder weather too.
;)

Haute Country Vintage Co. said...

Beautiful!!! I've never been to the desert, loove the canyons. I was just outside taking pictures of the "dusting" of snow we got this morning :) Hopefully I can get them up later today.

Bonbon Oiseau said...

looks so beautiful there charmaine! wish i was there now instead of the cold sleety northeasterly urnaness of the brooklyn that i love...

funny--i just downlaoded david byrne and brian eno's new album and there's a song called "home" i keep listeningto over and over--go to the website and take a listen...www.everythingthathappens.com/

Bonbon Oiseau said...

p.s. working too much this wek but I LOVE YOUR NEW HEADER and blog refurbishing!

T.Allen said...

I can relate to the change of scenery. For 30 years, I called NYC home; highrises design the skyline and lots of beautiful interesting faces and cultures of people everywhere. Now in the desert (AZ) the skylines are limitless, the dreams are plentiful and the people are few. *Bows head in Namaste*

Cynthia Pittmann said...

Such drama in your environment. It's true that the green soft wet climate is just different-for example when I lived in Michigan. After moving, it took me a few years to get used to the dessert in Southern California, now I find it particularly beautiful. Living in Puerto Rico has another kind of charm. All of these places are home to me and I think I may find other future "homes" as well. Thanks for the question, Charmaine, I do love your blog!

please sir said...

Still sounds wonderful! I live in good ol' NC - the best type of weather here - so pretty. Also, would love to get your feedback on the future of print - trying to get a variety of opinions - http://pleasesirblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/future-of-print.html

Thanks!

Country Girl said...

Post recycling is a great idea. I think it's beautiful where you live. I live in Maryland at the head of the Chesapeake Bay, on a big hill. I can see far if I climb up on the widows walk at the top of the house. But I don't like climbing up there.

Jeanne Estridge said...

Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in. -- Tom Wolfe

And a lovely place yours is....

Unknown said...

I think your desert has more water than ours does....

Doncha miss the rain? I do.

chelsea said...

stealing this idea, simply because of the word, home. pretty, that part of Oregon. I would surely miss the wetness though. The humidity here has been my favorite thing. I love it. LOVE IT. LOOOOOVE it. Okay I'll stop.

A Cuban In London said...

Love the photos, the writing, the feeling, oh my God, where do I live? In London now. A beautiful city with plenty to offer. I love it to bits.

Many thanks.

Greetings from London.

Rosebud Collection said...

Really beautiful..

High Desert Diva said...

*perks up at writing compliment from A Cuban in London*

Thanks!

Unknown said...

Another quote for you, and one of my all time favorites is "Beauty is in they eye of the beholder"

Its all how we choose to see things that makes them beautiful :) Your new home certainly qualifies in my eyes!

Anonymous said...

Sooo beautiful pictures! It´s a bless to come to your blog and see all your incredible photos. :)) Wish you a really nice weekend!!!!

Greetings from Arvidsjaur/Sweden

Cindy said...

Your photos are beautiful. I have never been to the desert, and always wanted to go. I think your home is absolutely gorgeous. I live in Massachusetts, on Cape Cod, but a couple of miles from the ocean. It is very humid here, and very beautiful.