Of Ducks, Geese, an Old Church + Spring Daffodils

Yesterday my path led a friend and I into Polk and Yamhill counties,

part of Oregon's so-called 'wine country'.

But we were not in search of wine...

we were in search of pretty rural views like this...country!

And we were in search of these guys and/or gals...

By the way, I've been thinking.

If I were a Canadian Goose,

would I be the one in front...

leading the way,

taking the full force of the wind

or one of the geese in the middle...

protected somewhat from the perils of the journey,

a follower.

Or would I be the one in the back...

trying to catch up with the others,

maybe one who was weaker...

or perhaps a loner,

or maybe just someone who has their own way of doing things.

Hum...I think I've been a little bit of all three at some point in my life.

What about you?

What kind of goose would you be?

I prayed I would see a goose close up...

as this has been a somewhat disappointing winter for viewing Canadian geese.

This was really, really close up.

I wonder if he/she was injured?

We did our best not to scare them...

staying in the car and pulling slowly away when we left.

On one side of the road in the flooded marsh area there were ducks;

the other side had the Canadian geese.

Here is a closer view of some of the ducks.

I know one is a Mallard,

does anyone know what kind the brown one is?

Both had beautiful markings,

but I LOVED the brown one!

Our journey also brought us past many farms,

vineyards,

some little towns,

up and down rolling hills,

and to this historical church built a long, long time ago.

It is set on a bit of a hillside and as is often the case,

has a small cemetery by it.

Did I say we passed a lot of camellias in bloom?

Oh, and a lot of flowering trees...

The church's bell tower.

LOOK at that beautiful blue sky:)

And, our journey brought us here...

to the little town of Amity,

where they will hold a special festival this very weekend

in honor of a very special flower...

Daffodils...

amazing, beautiful, sunshiny daffodils.

Definitely one of the things I love about springtime.

Have you had any recent journeys?

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Notes:

Amity Daffofil Festival

(including a volkswalk in the beautiful countryside, art and daffodil shows, food)

https://sites.google.com/a/amity.k12.or.us/amity-daffodil-festival/

http://www.ava.org/gen3/data/event_details.asp?eventid=95584

I've never been but it sounds interesting.

Another place I've never been, but want to go someday is the Monastery there...

I do know they have heavenly fudge because I bought some at Oktoberfest one year.

Mmmm, chocolate...

 

Wildlife photos near and at Baskett Slough NWR, Polk county.

If you visit here, you might also consider seeing the arboretum in nearby Dallas.

LOVE that place!

Dallas also has many historical homes if you enjoy Victorian houses;

I LOVE old houses too~

And as long as you're there, you could take the King's Valley Highway,

one of my favorite roads, and see

the Ritner Covered Bridge, near the little town of Pedee,

  Falls City (with a beautiful waterfall and more)--located off the main road

(above link has a photo, part way down the post, of the river above the falls.

I can't find my main falls post right now nor my photos of the arboretum in Dallas for that matter.)

 Harris Covered Bridge near Wren.

 

Historical church in rural Polk county

(my photo collection keeps growing--yippee!)

 

Daffodil field in rural Yamhill county.