Yard Sale Haggling - Ashland, OR

At a yard sale this morning

a pregnant woman wearing standard hippie attire 

intensely haggled over numerous items:

The owner wanted $5 for the lamp.  She brought him down to $2.  

$10 for the dresser? She brought him down to $7.
Fifty cents for the bubbles? She bought it for ten.

"How much for the chair?" she asked. 

"Whatever you think is fair." he replied (clearly frustrated). 

"$5" she answered. 

I pull a driver out of a golf bag

turn towards her and ask her

"How much for the 3 wood?"

Doe Never Flinched - Ashland, OR

While running through tight turns above Lithia Park
I nearly collided with a doe and her baby.

The fawn exploded into the woods like a gun shot
but the doe never flinched. 

Trout Murder - Ashland, OR

Seven bodies...
decapitated, gutted, and wrapped in foil
laying in my freezer
next to creamy coconut popsicles. 

Hwy 99 - Marysville to Chico, CA

Bidwell Park - Chico, CA

Emigrant Lake Sunset - Ashland, OR

Fishing/Kayaking at Emigrant Lake - Ashland, OR

Howard Prairie - Ashland, OR

Wagner Butte Trail - Talent, OR

*I've now scanned horizons from just about every major vantage point in Southern Oregon.  There are plenty of natural landmarks that help for orientation -  Table Rock, Pilot Rock, Emigrant Lake, Mt. Shasta, Lassen, Mcloughlin, and Thielson (on a clear day).  These experiences have given me a solid understanding of my surroundings.  My next local destination is the Applegate - picture perfect trails, old farm roads, rivers and lakes (so I'm told). 

Return to Buck Prairie Snow Park - Ashland, OR

*I recently visited my favorite cross country ski trail for a trail run.  The snow was long gone and the running felt clumsy, dirty and hot.  It was a funny reminder of how deeply I fell for skiing last winter - the cool air and the clean, quiet, smooth gliding. 

The Alchemist

A silent classroom
filled with students
flipping pages
in perfect unison.