Ready for Autumn?

I'm not ready yet, either. Summer is in full bloom here in Boise, despite what the stores want us to think. (scroll down on the right to see photos from our Seattle trip at Boise Daily Photo On The Road)

After Dinner Ride

The evenings cool off and people head out for walks, bike rides, and even horseback rides.

Highway View

We're just about home after a trip to Seattle for a few days. This is the view on the way to Boise along I-84. It's been hazy and hot.

A "Medieval" Castle

Not far from yesterday's year-round Halloween characters is this castle.

Halloween All Year

These jack-o'-lanterns are up year-round along Highway 20-26 just outside Boise.

Grange Hall/Church/School?

This is a church that might have once been a school. Maybe a grange hall? Looks a bit too fancy for that, but it could have been.

Scooters are the Rage

Just a quick snap out of a car window...scooters are just about everywhere.

How Do You Spend a 100 Degree Day?

One hundred degrees when I spied this fellow on top of the construction project. That's got to be miserable.

Old Time Bicycle Shop

This shop is in Meridian and has been there as long as I can remember. I was glad to see it was still there when in town this week.

This pastoral view is looking West from the first bench towards Eagle. This is mostly a cow-grazing zone, although along the edges, it's been converted to ritzy housing.

The Rock

This rocky pinnacle is a sharp mark on the mountain skyline north of Boise. I used to know the name of it, but it's a piece of Boise trivia that has slipped my mind. Help!

Tearing Down the School

I kept thinking I needed to scoot over to Whitney Elementary School before it was torn down...and I was a bit late. I believe this is a Dr. Seuss scene. I wonder what room it was in?

Shabby Chic

Just a random outbuilding that caught my eye while in south Boise.

Unknown Hawk - Maybe You Know?

This hawk has its dinner under its claws. I don't know what type of hawk this is, do you? Our local minor league baseball team is named the Boise Hawks, although as far as I know, there isn't a "Boise" hawk in my birding field guide.

The Name is Charming

I grew up in a small town north of Boise, where we went shopping at the "Merc" (mercantile) for clothes, kitchen items, bath items, and furniture, and you could order items from the Montgomery Ward catalog and pick them up at the Merc. In other small towns, I remember the mercantile also sold farm and ranch equipment. This mercantile sells espresso. Times have definitely changed, and the Merc in my hometown is long gone. This "Dry Creek Mercantile" is in the Hidden Springs community in the Boise Foothills.

Keeping Cool - Sit on a Block of Ice

These kids are sitting on blocks of ice and "sledding" down Simplot Hill. It sounds odd, but it's a long-time tradition in Boise.

Pizza Tonight?

This winged sign makes many mouths water. Flying Pie has a cult-like following, laid-back atmosphere and great attitude. This business got quite a bit of attention earlier this year when all locations were closed for a week so the employees could go to Costa Rica for a vacation. They had earned the vacation by saving a small percentage of all tips over the years. This Sunday, all their locations are closed again for an employee reason: the annual employee raft trip. Flying Pie is my husband's favorite pizza. My favorite used to be Chicago Connection, until they delivered me a pizza with a slice missing! True story!

Evening Drive

We took a drive along Cartwright Road in the Boise Foothills last night. This is the view not far from where Cartwright joins Bogus Basin Road, which leads to the ski resort.

Ice in July

During our hot summers, a visit to the ice rink will cool you down. Idaho Ice World has two rinks. During public hours, one is for fun skating and the other is for hockey practice.

River Walk

After a quick visit to the Garden City Library, my daughter and I took a short walk along the Boise River. She loved the giant dandelion-type plants going to seed, and sent their parachutes into the water.

Saying Goodbye to Yesterday

The sunset view last night from southeast Boise, near the Factory Outlet Mall.

Mo-Tel

I always thought this "Mo-Tel" looked cute along Capitol Boulevard....the rooms look more like cottages and the landscaping always looks good. However, when I stopped by to take a picture this week, I had second thoughts. It's not truly a "motel," it more like a place where people rent rooms for longer stays. And when I was walking in front of the place, lots of people were sitting outside and they all had something in common: they were extremely skinny. I'm no expert on these things, but I instantly got a vibe that the "something in common" was likely more than being naturally svelte or sharing dieting tips.

Boise Elevation Sign

This old sign is at the Boise Depot - which used to be a passenger train stop, but passenger train service is no more for Boise. If you look up facts about our city, the elevation listed is usually 2,704 feet above sea level. The depot is on slightly higher ground on the "first bench," which is the first plateau stepping up from downtown proper.

Floating the River

Floating the Boise River is a long-time tradition. You "put in" at Barber Park and float about six miles to Ann Morrison Park. You can't float beyond that because there is a small dam right beyond Ann Morrison. The trip takes about 1 1/2 hours. (Blogger said the scheduled posting feature was working again - this is a test of that claim) Update: it didn't work.

Boise River Close-Up

A different view of the Boise River today. This is what it looks like in the shallow water next to the river bank. Lots of growing things that wave with the current.

Project Completed

Previous visitors to this blog know that I snapped a couple of photos of this mural in progress. It's on the side of McMillan Elementary School, and I believe it's now done. The character statements were unexpected, especially translated into Chinese.

Neighborhood Park Breakfast for the 4th

The men do the cooking at our annual 4th of July neighborhood park breakfast.
Several griddles were up and running to cook 2,500 pancakes and 90 dozen eggs.

Volleyball, kickball and tug-of-war were the games for the kids.

And while neighborhood veterans were sharing their stories, three Apache helicopters flew overhead.

Waterfront Art

Sculpture along the Waterfront at Lake Harbor. The "lake" is not really a harbor, it's too small for boats, but there's a nice grassy area for picnics and walking. I've been to several charming weddings at this location.

Cotton Candy Clouds

It's Sky Watch Friday in City Daily Photo Blogger land. This was the backyard view earlier this week.

A Flood with a Purpose

Every year, a newcomer or two will call 9-1-1 when they see this scene: a flooded yard. But, it's deliberate. Flood irrigation used to be "the way" until pressurized irrigation systems became common.

City Daily Photo Theme Day "Empty"

The City Daily Photo Theme Day today is "empty." This is probably more like "abandoned." It's right on a busy street. See theme day interpretations from around the world at citydailyphoto.com.