Smoky Davis

I hear this is where you buy the "best" beef jerky. Smoky Davis was in Boise long before BBQ places became common. I once attended a company picnic where there was smoked chicken from this place - it was very good!

Boise Landmark - Cocktails and Live Bait

Turner's Sportsfair is on West State Street. It's a bar/live bait shop/ammo supplier combo - certainly unique!

Fireworks Season

Looks like another party, similar to what I posted yesterday, but this is purely marketing. It's fireworks season here in Idaho. Stands like this are in store parking lots and on street corners. They sell cone showers, sparklers, whistlers, snakes, etc. Step outside the city limits and you can buy any kind of fireworks, including many that are illegal. When you buy the "illegal" fireworks, you have to sign a piece of paper saying you won't light them :)

Backyard Graduation Party

A bird's eye-view of the high school graduation party last night for our friend Jordan. Congratulations!

Music Store Selection

I popped into Barnes and Noble last night and thought for sure they would have all the Michael Jackson products out and easy to find....nope. I dug these out and put them on the display shelf for them :) I remember cuing up Michael Jackson records/vinyl back in my early radio days.

Busy Bee

Spotted this big guy at the park. The park lawn has patches of white clover and I was reading an article recently that a little white clover in a lawn is a good thing. But it's not popular, and I know that the lawn care guys put something on my lawn so it doesn't have a chance.

The Climbing Tree

Our neighborhood park has fancy and extensive play equipment, but this is one of the most popular destinations for kids: the climbing tree. Those familiar with our park know exactly what you're talking about if you mention "the climbing tree." Even the very young can scramble up.

Squatters Blamed for Warehouse Fire

I heard an old warehouse downtown burned last week, so I took a trip to take a pic. I knew it would be this one. It's a building that has been abandoned for quite some time. Fire investigators say "squatters" are to blame. The owners of the building weren't too upset, they said it was going to be torn down anyway.

Sign Relic

I like spying these sign relics on the sides of many brick buildings downtown.

The Blue Bins are Coming

We got a note on our door telling us that the new "carts" will be delivered this week. Everyone gets two, you can get more if you ask and pay. One bin is for trash and the other is for recyclables. We've had to sort recyclables for years into different categories before we set them at the curb. Now, everything will go in one bin.

Rainy Weather Positive - You Can Have the Park All to Yourself

No crowding at the fountain in Ann Morrison Park on a stormy day.

Less Lush River

I have posted several pictures of the lush-looking river banks of the Boise River recently. Here's the view east of town. To the right are the Black Cliffs - popular with rock climbers. That is a biking, hiking, and walking path. I believe it's 20 miles-plus of connected pathway. We call it the Greenbelt.

Reminder of Our Wild West

On the corner in a southeast Boise neighborhood - another reminder that Boise was a stopping point for the pioneers looking for milder climates. The main Oregon Trail and several "spurs" of the trail wound around and through what is now Boise. There are places south of town where wagon ruts can still be seen.

Not Everyone in Idaho is Friendly...

There are some strong attitudes around here about those who have moved to the state in recent years.

North Channel of the Boise River

The Boise River splits in two at Eagle - a town just a couple of minutes from my home in Boise. This is the North Channel. It usually looks more like a stream, but the water runs high with recent rains.

Rain "Greens" Up a Parking Lot

The pavement is "greening up" with all our rain. Nooks and crannies are growing grasses and weeds. This mini lawn is growing in a parking lot.

Puddle Duck in the Street

I spotted this duck while out and about yesterday, paddling in a street puddle.

Surf's Up for Driving

More and more and more rain. Unusual moisture for Boise. Because it's beyond-the-norm....I like it! Someone driving a little Toyota turned around and decided not to drive through this puddle.

Farm Equipment

I stopped to take a picture of the stormy-looking Boise front with those silvery-wispy clouds and this piece of farm equipment ended up in the photo, too.

We're Eating Chiclets...Just Like We Used To

These arrived in the mail yesterday. We had searched for them when my parents visited recently because my first grade daughter had learned a really cute song where one of the lyrics mentioned "Chiclets." Of course, she had no idea what they were. Kudos to Grandma Sooz for finding them at a store in Seattle and shipping us what appears to be a lifetime supply.

Three-Wheeled Scooter?

This guy was leaning back and forth to make this thing go. I'm guessing it's some kind of three-wheeled scooter.

Little Birds Vs. Big Birds

I heard a ruckus and looked up to find these blackbirds harassing this hawk. I think it's a Swainson's hawk, but I'm not a bird expert, so if you know different let me know.

Coordinating Reds

I don't usually see fire hydrants in the grass like this, they're usually surrounded by pavement and concrete. I like the splash of color and how it matches the roses.

Warning

For some people, this might look like a dare, don't you think?

Summer Rain

More rain than we usually see this time of year. And rain expected all weekend.

Big Wind Casualty

We had big wind with thunderstorms last night and this is one of the casualties of the storm. Canopies can become giant kites, even if anchored down because the joints on ones like this one can be snapped by a wind gust.

Quiet Pool by the Boise River

A quiet pool along the Boise River not far from the old horse barns on the fairgrounds. The river is still running high, fast and cold. Later in the season, these little pools disappear.

As Green as it Gets

A super-zoom up into the mountains above town. I wanted to capture the green before it faded into brown. The view is brown, or snow-covered, most of the year.

Killer Butterflies?

It's butterfly season....all year long for Boiseans who fancy giant butterflies on their homes. This is a common decorative item attached to houses and garages in this part of the world.

City Daily Photo Theme Day "Feet"

The June 1st theme for the City Daily Photo blogs is "feet." This is my favorite picture of feet. My daughter's chubby 10-month old toes. She's now seven years old and her feet are almost as big as mine. See CDP daily theme shots here.