This fixer upper just needs a little work from a deft hand, wouldn't you say? Dufure, Oregon; April, 2015.

We here at the Grind are doubly-blessed as we live near one of the most famous Japanese Gardens in the world, and our dearest and most beloved friend gifted us with a year-long membership to those gardens. Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon; March, 2015.

Now here's the real deal: a view looking north and west towards Montmartre and its Basilica Sacre Coeur, taken from the top of Cathédral Notre Dame de Paris. (Click the photo for a better view) Paris, France; September, 2011.

Here's a little Faux Paris from last month's travels. Once you've been to the real city, this just isn't the same thing. Paris Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada' May, 2015.

While on our photo safari last month we did some walking, including a 3-mile or so hike up and down here, where the trail actually entered into a long cleft in the rock. Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah; May, 2015.

One of the shrines on the grounds of the Yogananda Lake Shrine Gardens. Pacific Palisades, California; May, 2015.

Here's another state park photo, this time White River State Park. with it's series of waterfalls.  Tygh Valley, Oregon; April, 2015.

The Louvre has a plethora of internationally renowned works of art, including this one: Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix. The artist inserted himself into the painting as the gentleman wearing the top hat. And rumor has it that the drummer boy to Liberty's right was perhaps the inspiration for Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. (Click the photo for a better view) Paris, France; September, 2011.

Each year on the first full weekend of June, the state of Oregon drops any fees for admission or parking to its entire collection of state parks. We like to take advantage of the savings when we can, as we did on this day. Smith Rock tends to be a paradise for rock climbers and this gentleman was no exception. There were scores of climbers of both genders all over the park. And to get a sense of how high up this guy was, and the advantage of having telephoto lenses, just scroll down to the picture below--yes today is 2fer day here at the Grind, which we think is a first. (Click the photos for a better view) Smith Rock State Park, Terrebonne, Oregon; June, 2015.

We've posted photos on the interior of the Chapel of the Holy Cross several times over the years but it's such a terrific place, we never get tired of posting them. That cross in the back rises up out of sheer rock outside, which is a spectacular vision in itself. And readers of the Weather Wardon series  of books by Rachel Cain know that some very important scenes occur in the basement of this church. Sedona, Arizona; May, 2010.

Once in a while one can snag an interesting photo totally unexpected while shooting pics of something completely different. We grabbed this one while visiting one of Oregon's most photographed scenic places as we walked under the Interstate to the parking lot. Multnomah Falls State Park, Oregon; May, 2015.

When driving across or around the US, one can see many amazing vistas and small wonders. We caught this vista while taking a respite during a long day of driving from one location to another. Somewhere on the plains of Utah along I-70; May, 2015.

It's amazing just how close to the gargoyles one can get when you climb to the top of Notre Dame. You can reach right out and touch them....well some of them anyway. It'll be good to get back there this Fall and show the granddaughter. Paris, France; September, 2011.

A tall bridge across a pond in the Asian section of the Huntington Gardens. Pasadena, California; May, 2015.

Looking south along the Oregon coast. (Click the photo for a better view) Brookings, Oregon; May, 2015.

When we run into red rock towers and blue sky, why do we always think of a John Ford western movie? (Click the photo for a better view) Arches National Park, near Moab, Utah; May, 2015.

The sea is so full  of the garbage we humans throw into it that it will throw just about anything back onto the shore. And there's all sorts of plants one can collect. But when beach combing and plant collecting collide, watch out! Moro Bay, California; May, 2015

As a bit of a contrast to yesterday's offering, here's another church interior. This one is Sainte-Chapelle, built by King Louis IX in the 1200s to house his collection of Christian relics, including the Crown of Thorns. Paris, France; September 2013.

The sanctuary in the chapel of the Mission San Louis Obispo, built in 1772 by Father Juniper Sierra. San Louis Obispo, California; May, 2015.

While having lunch in a restaurant next to the canal in The Venetian, several gondolas floated by with people in them and the gondolier singing. All the boats were basically black with ornamentation on them. And then along comes this white boat. The woman in the black coat on the right is a Justice of the Peace, and the couple facing the camera were saying their wedding vows as the floated by. Las Vegas, Nevada; May, 2015.

While on our recent photo safari we dealt with a lot of clouds and rain. But sometimes we were able to make the most of it, as in the photo above, taken at the Orange Cliffs Overlook. Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah; May, 2015.

A plethora of colors burst forth from a flower on the grounds of the Huntington Museum and Gardens. (Click the photo for a much better view) Pasadena, California; May, 2015.