Friday My Town Shoot-Out: Celebrate Life

Patty (a retired photojournalist) and Reggie Girl (who raises money for shelter dogs in Georgia) organized the Friday Photo Shoot Out. The idea is to post photos of your local community every Friday. It has grown from just two participants to dozens of folks all over the place. This week's assignment, chosen by Doreen from Michigan is "Celebrate Life."

All photos taken in (or very near) Corvallis, Oregon

Fern fronds, when they first come to life, are very special. And the woods are full of them.

Imagine yourself at 16 years old, astride a beautiful pure white horse, bursting top-speed out of the shadowy, fern-filled woods and onto the green, sun-drenched cross-country course of Inavale Farms Horse Trials, held this past weekend.


Or perhaps you are just 4 years old, on the first hot day of summer, playing in the fountains by the riverfront.

The farmer's market is on the riverfront too, and there is always music.

At the farmer's market every place you look, you'll see a spectacle of flowers.

We celebrate being outdoorsy and athletically-oriented here, starting young! (John's photo, taken at the Run for the Hills 1K race for kids)


Some of us stay that way for a long long time. I love John's photo of these ladies finishing the 8K Run for the Hills race; they are in their 70's. This tough race ascends (and descends) steep slopes, twice.

Happy Fourth of July everybody!

All of this celebrating wears me out.