A chair supposedly created out of a single burl from a Redwood tree. Richardson Rec Ranch, Madras, Oregon; September, 2012.

The sun sets over Notre Dame Cathedral along the Seine. Paris, France; September, 2011.

An art nouveau memorial commemorates the passing of those who didn't make it through the construction of Hoover Dam. Along the Nevada-Arizona boarder near Boulder City, Nevada; October, 2012.

A huge piece of mosaic art. Boulder, Colorado; September, 2012.

Away in the manger. Merry Xmas to those of you who celebrate it. If you don't Happy Channuka, Happy Kwanza, Merry Festivus. We Buddhists will wait until Vesak in the Spring. May all beings be happy and peaceful. The Grotto, Portland, Oregon; December, 2012.

Angles we have heard (and seen) on high. The Grotto, Portland, Oregon; December, 2012.

A guy with an electric personality is stopped for photo ops by his groupies during annual Xmas lights period on Peacock Lane. (You gotta click the photo on this one) Portland, Oregon; December, 2011.

You know, some people are totally into the whole Xmas lights thing. We've all seen photos of people with thousands of lights on their house. This guy, I think, is totally into it too, although not from an overload kind of way. This guy had his lights up 2 days (!!!!) before Thanksgiving. Wow. Clackamas, Oregon; November, 2012.

A cross-country Xmas celebration. (Click the photo for more detail) Eagle Crest Resort, Redmond, Oregon; December, 2011.

Xmas lights in full bloom. The Grotto, Portland, Oregon; December, 2012.

Folks are ramping up their xmas spirit. This house was fully decked out on Thanksgiving Day. (Click the photo for more detail) Happy Valley, Oregon; November, 2012.

A whole window full of flowers on the Ille de Saint Louis. (Click on the photo for a better view) Paris, France; September, 2011.

I think this is called a crocosmia or something like that. Clackamas, Oregon; August, 2012.

A flowering plant on the Oregon State Fairgrounds. Salem, Oregon; September, 2012.

A soft close-up of blossoms. (Click the photo for more detail) Victoria, BC, Canda; April, 2012.

After the sprinklers went off. Portland, Oregon; June, 2012.

The Stables Market is a warren of former horse stalls now converted to clothing and other stalls, each run by a different proprietor. During the industrial age, horses were used to pull barges through the Camden Locks. Eventually this played out and in the urban renewal/gentrification age, these became individual operations. Camdentown, London, UK; September, 2009.

After hours: Ticket booth at the base of the Space Needle. Seattle, Washington; June, 2012.

Some mornings around here are colder than others. (Click the photo for more detail). Terrebonne, Oregon; October, 2012.

A peacock proudly perching. (Click on photo for more detail) Richardson's Rec Ranch, Madras, Oregon; September, 2012.

Buddhas (and Kwan Yins) of the West. Tlaquapaqui Artist Village, Sedona, Arizona; May, 2010.