When I woke up yesterday ( a little before 7am) I braved the cold temperatures (39F) to run out in my PJ's and get a nice shot of the morning sunrise ...

 

By 9am the clouds had disappeared and when I arrived at the pond in Willamina the sun was shining brightly in a clear blue sky: 

 

That grass was actually slightly frozen! 

 

                                         

 

The Canadian geese have started their migration south and we see big flocks flying over, and occasionally coming down to the river and the many ponds in the area for a short rest, before resuming their way to warmer climates.
We've had them in our pond last year but this year I haven't seen any .. I was happy to hear their busy doing and honking here this morning ...

 

 

These two above which I scared into flight are no geese but Buffleheads (ducks) .. scaredy-cats!
This Blue Heron stood his ground on a little island in the pond ... he probably knows I'm not getting into that freezing water!

                            

From the pond I walked to the railway yard next to the park, in the back of which you have a peek of the river and the small waterfall through the trees .. the water is still rather low, despite the recent rain.

 

         

 

Unfortunately I can't walk to the park anymore like I used to do, by using the railroad tracks alongside the river. 
A couple of weeks ago I was stopped by police and told it was illegal to do so ... yeah, like I didn't know that .. 
Since walking on the side of the road is too dangerous I now have to drive to the park entrance and sneak my way to the river by entering the rail-yard at the back of the park. (Also illegal because it say 'no trespassing'). 
Oh well, we'll see how long I can get away with it ..
                                            

                                           

Look what I found in the local thrift-store this week?!
A 'Jan van Haasteren' puzzle:

 

I actually own several puzzles of him, so what's the big deal you'd think? 
Well, he is a dutch cartoonist and his work is not really known, or sold, here in the US ... so how did it end up here at the thrift-store?
Any-who, these puzzles are about 20+ euro in Holland but here it was prized down to only $4.95.
In addition, this week all toys were half prized, and on Wednesday seniors get a 10% discount to begin with, so that came to a whopping $2.50. Score!

All in all, another quiet week in the Hess household .. I baked another bread, but that is hardly news-worthy anymore these days ... well OK, here's one more picture of a bread. 

                                              

The crust got a little crusty but otherwise it was a good one ..