Friday, January 02, 2009

Starting the new year on a wet note

Last night Ray said, "step outside here, with me and look at the creek." We took a flashlight and walked across the soggy lawn to the pathway down to the little bridge. After a day of record rainfall and melting snow, it was the highest we'd seen it, flowing over the top of the bridge and around the trees that are normally part of the bank.


By this morning it had subsided considerably, but the pattern of the snow shows where the water had been.

One of the things that attracted us to this house and property was the little creek running through and I went back to look at all the photos I have taken of the creek in a little more than a year. It is called Johnson Creek and eventually drains into the Tualatin River. It seems to originate not far from us, on Cooper Mountain. There is a nice trail that follows it below our property for awhile.


Last December it was nearly as high as it is today, but not moving as rapidly.


By May it was moving lazily through, with water skippers and frogs I could hear, but never did see.


June found it barely moving, clean and clear, reflecting the blue sky above.


In October the creek was dry.


By November we'd had a little rain that brought the creek back to life.


The snows of last month nearly obscured it altogether before they were done.

I am so drawn to the creek and love, especially, the view from the edge of our driveway, looking down toward the little bridge. The bridge reminds me of a much smaller version of the famous green bridge in Monet's garden. Monet painted that bridge so many times, in so many seasons. There is something so peaceful about watching water flow under a little bridge.

10 comments:

  1. what a beautiful, and peaceful post Terry. No wonder you fell in love with the place.

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  2. I love your work but you are also my weather person in the Pacific Northwest. I have a sister who lives in Kalama, Wa., so you have similar weather with her. She lives high up overlooking the Columbia River and has been telling me about all the snow and how it has been affecting them. Amazing how similar your weather has been this year compared to ours in Wisconsin.

    What a beautiful quilt you made of your bridge and stream. What inspiration!

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  3. Your stream is testament to cyclical beauty. I'm also not surprised you fell in love with it.

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  4. What entrancing creek pictures. I love creeks. When I was a child, my grandparents had a cabin near a creek and I spent hours there. I have virtually no recollection of the cabin.

    Happy New Year!! May your bones be less weary in 2009. :)

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  5. What a terrific photo survey. I should be doing this with our stream - which coincidentally is Cooper Creek.

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  6. I love your documentation of the creek's moods and seasons. I can see you are as fascinated with it as I am with my oods. Thanks for sharing!

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  7. This landscape is lovely. How far from the house is the creek? And in which direction? (A Feng Shui question)

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  8. what a lovely creek... thank you for the photo essay!

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  9. Great pictures. And a painting too.

    Happy New Year!!!

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  10. Anonymous3:29 PM

    Love the bridge pictures! WHy don't I ever think of doing something like this? Maybe because I don't have a stream and a bridge in my yard :). Katy S

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