Tree Decorating

We spent the weekend doing Christmas things. Stringing up lights outside and putting up decorations inside, including the tree. The cats were evicted (see yesterday's post) so the ornaments and lights could go up. We use a fake tree. Some people think that is an awful thing to do, and I used to be one of those people. Then, at some point, the price of a fresh noble fir Christmas tree rose to around $60 - and that's when I changed my mind. I understand they're up to close to the $100 range now.

Happiest Day of the Year...for My Cats

We put up our Christmas Tree yesterday. My kitties are thankful every year that we put up a tree in the house for them to climb. I wire every ornament to the tree so they can't knock anything off. We're off to see the Holiday Parade today!

Boise's Giving Tree

A close up of the thousands of gift tags on the Boise City Christmas Tree in The Grove. Take a tag and fulfill the wish. There are requests for toys, art supplies, shoes and household basics.

Festival of Trees Open to the Public

I mentioned the "gala" in my post yesterday, which was a private party thing. The Festival of Trees opened its doors to the public yesterday. What a fun event! I took a lot of pictures, and rather than clog up the BDP site, I put them on an "extras" page here. There is a tree for Hilda at My Manila, Wayne at Vancouver Daily Photo, and Kris at This Will Hurt Me. It may be Thanksgiving today, but Christmas thoughts are swirling in my head after seeing so much creativity in decorating trees.

Festival of Trees Gala

Last night was the "gala" opening of the Festival of Trees. No, I was not invited, I was just lurking at the entrance. I think you have to own a fur coat to get on the invitation list. Festival of Trees is an annual fundraiser, which features professional - and amateur - decorated trees. Most are theme trees. I've even decorated a couple of trees for organizations over the years. The trees were auctioned last night for thousands and thousands of dollars. The public gets to see the trees, and the names of who ponied up the cash, tomorrow. My daughter will be singing with an Opera Idaho chorus as part of the entertainment at the festival.

More Art - with More Information

I was snooping on a follower of this blog yesterday, and the "starving artist" had entries about creating an interesting piece of outdoor art. And then, how strange, I was driving my daughter to her dental checkup, and there IT WAS. Now, I'm sharing with you. Read all about the artist here.

A Big Rusty Tulip

I figured before I posted any more public art, I'd better do some research and try to find out what's what by who. I got a public art brochure....and this one is not listed. Most of the pieces I've photographed aren't listed in the brochure. And I found one other piece in a different location than the brochure listed. It could have been moved. Artists: ask the city to update their public art marketing materials. I sent an email request for more updated info and haven't heard back. By the way, I think this piece looks like a tulip, and it can be found on 8th Street across from the Marketplace.

Pseudo Tornadoes

A glimpse of Boise's industrial zone. This pollution is more visible than normal because of a cold day, which meant steam, too. Thanks to my husband for catching this shot.

Irrigation Season is Over - Craw Fish Time

One of the canals that criss-crosses the valley. This puddle is probably rain leftovers because the canal water faucet was shut off in late September. This was the time of year in my hometown (north of Boise) where we would scour these puddles for craw fish and collect them in buckets. Yep, they were for eatin'.

I Really Don't Know What This Is

It's painted red, so it's related to fire fighting? It could be red just to make sure people see it, since it's in the middle of a sidewalk. Maybe you know?

Thursday is Laundry Day

This is a laundry line that I regularly see in my travels around Boise. I've never seen regular laundry on the line. This collection of rugs, a window and a bird feeder are the permanent fixtures. Click the picture to enlarge, and you'll see what that green ball is.

Overlooked Infrastructure

I know I've run across a couple of blogs where photographers "collect" these. This is a utility access cover in the 8th Street Marketplace, downtown Boise. "U.S. West Communications" was one of the "baby bell" phone companies. It was taken over by Qwest Communications close to ten years ago. These "man hole covers" are scoped out by my daughter, who is looking for a fancy one, like the one in the movie "Enchanted." Her verdict on this one: not fancy enough for princesses.

Abandoned Fire Truck

Maybe someone has plans to restore this old truck. I know there are collectors. Right now, it's just sitting in the mud and weeds near a field. Click the picture to enlarge - you might be able to identify the make and the model, and certainly, you will be able to note the state of decay.

Canada Geese All Facing the Same Direction

Geese all facing the same direction - except one that was looking at the photographer. These geese are in Ann Morrison Park. Jim at Terrell Daily Photo once commented on this blog that he had heard cows always face the same direction. I don't know if the same rumor is usually true for geese. Oh, and these are Canada geese. We blame Wayne at Vancouver Daily Photo when the birds get annoying .

Last Night's Sunset

Last night's sunset as we finished up our Saturday errands.

Bicycles Vs. Cars

There's been quite a bit of discussion recently about bicycles in traffic. I think more people are biking to work to save money on gas, and some drivers feel strongly that they shouldn't have to share the road. I think part of the problem in all of this is the bicycle riders get to follow different traffic rules than cars. It's legal for them to start out at an intersection before the stoplight turns green. Some use the crosswalk lights to get through intersections. They get exempted from one-way zones. I don't know if those things are good or bad, but I believe it leads to the misunderstandings and resentments between some bicyclists and drivers.

Car Passing on the Left...Passing...Still Passing

Another photo my husband took while out on Boise roads. An extra-long stretch limo. I know people in other cities see these all the time, we just don't. We see more tractors than limos.

Boise Drivers

My husband took this picture of interesting driving skills. It's probably not a good idea to stop at stoplights headed that direction, or try to change lanes at that moment?

"No Lawyers" Bar

A popular hang-out place on the Boise Bench - the Crescent Bar-Grill with their famous "No Lawyers" logo. This used to be a small dive bar on Orchard. The newer location is nearby on Franklin. It's large with a nice patio out back. Below is the sign at the old location. The business that moved into the old crescent location kept the sign - even though I'm not sure it makes sense for what the business is.

Hookah Bar

We were driving in the Overland Road area and saw several hookah bars, including this one. I didn't know we had such things in Boise.

Summer Leftovers

A remnant of summer in Ann Morrison Park. A kite stuck in a naked tree. There is a kite festival in the park every year.

View of Downtown from Crescent Rim

This is the view of downtown Boise from Crescent Rim Drive - which is the first "bench" up from Boise. Boise is at the bottom of the valley. The land steps up from downtown, and the river, in a series of small plateaus we call "benches."

Boise Graffiti

I "jumped the gun" and posted this early yesterday morning because of operator error. Here it is again. Of course, this is probably a threat of some sort, but it's a different type of graffiti for Boise. We usually see tagging - not graffiti with images. This gun is very large and I see it every week when I'm downtown. The city is supposed to have a graffiti response team that covers this stuff up quickly....so, maybe it will be gone next week? Update: 11/11 - it was still there. 11/18 - it was gone! It was there for a month based on my regular Tuesday visits to the area.

"Pee-pee Teepees" For Sale

"Pee-pee teepees" for the sprinkling wee-wee. Spotted "for sale" in a boutique downtown Boise. I assume for babies? Protection during diaper changing????

Power Line Shoes

A pair of shoes hanging over a power line. We see this every so often. Someone once told me it was a sign for drug dealers - then someone else told me that was an urban myth. A friend who worked at a power company told me it was a pain, because they had to go remove the shoes. They chalked it up to pranksters playing a joke on their friends by stealing their shoes and throwing them to the lines.

Dedicated on a Cold Day

In my travels on Election Day, I saw many Obama sign-holders on street corners, not one McCain sign-holder - although, my husband says he saw some McCain volunteers near the mall. I like this woman's dedication. She was there all day, I saw her early and late, and it was a cold, windy and rainy day. And while most volunteers held professional signs, she took the time to make her own. Idaho, by the way, always votes Republican. The state has been on auto-pilot that way for years.

Do You Know What This Is?

When you grow up in Southern Idaho, you often see these by the roadside in the fall. It looks scary, but it's safe to touch. I picked this one up and took it home to weigh it - it weighed in at 8 pounds. Do you know what it is?

Outdated Marketing?

I probably wouldn't have noticed this if my husband hadn't pointed it out. I think I was distracted by the farmer and the pigs. But look where he's herding them to. The road leads to the Twin Towers in New York City.

A Boise Segway Rider

A Boise Segway rider. Notice the handicapped permit. If I recall the law right, these Segways can't be used on sidewalks or roads unless for a mobility disability reason. And there's no law that says it's illegal to talk on a cell phone while you drive your handicap-permitted Segway.

Squirrels Like Apples?

My friend called me and said she had a visitor on her front porch in the apple basket. Sure enough, a little squirrel was feasting! I didn't know squirrels liked apples. This little guy had munched on two apples, making quite a mess.