Idaho Potato Harvest Underway

It's harvest time for Idaho potatoes. Machinery digs up the ground to unearth the spuds and they load them into trucks with giant conveyor belts. This field is also busy with gleaners all day, carrying big plastic buckets to pick up potatoes left behind.

Downtown Core

A peek along Idaho Street from a parking garage in downtown Boise. The red building is the old Mode Building, for Boiseans who remember those days. I remember shopping the women's department in the basement of the store, and enjoying homemade pot pies in the restaurant on the second floor. Now, it's home to several stores, including North Face, restaurants and office space.

Only About 12 Weeks Left...to Shop

Christmas merchandise has been making its way into the stores over the past few weeks. Two full aisles stocked at Fred Meyer over the weekend.

Barn Kittens

At my friend's small farm here in Boise, another litter of kittens have emerged from the haystacks in the barn. While the mother is feral, the six babies are interested in people and like to be cuddled. They're about four weeks old.

The Pumpkin Truck has Arrived

These pumpkin bins are outside Wal-Mart. Interestingly, those bunches of corns stalks are more expensive than the pumpkins. Pumpkins: $4.98 each. Six bundled cornstalks: $5.98.

You Guess What They Sell

A specialty store near the Linen District, downtown Boise.

"Rod Stewart" at Alive After Five?

I popped down to Alive After Five last night in The Grove, downtown Boise. It's a summer series of live music, drinks, food, chatting with friends, sales booths and..."Rod Stewart?" That big red ball is the Powerball to promote the lottery.

Bus or Limo?

Looking east on West Idaho Street, downtown Boise. Lots of buses on the left because it is one of the transit centers. It costs $1 to ride the bus - a few more dollars to take a limo instead.

Dangerous Lawn Sprinklers?

First time I've seen a sign warning about the dangers of lawn sprinklers. They can make you fall down!

Disco Party at Costco!

Hard to believe this "disco mama" made it through her checker shift at Costco wearing those boots. Ouch! Evidently, it was "disco days" at Costco?

Downtown Boise Saturday Market

This is a picture from the Capital City Public Market that is open every Saturday mid-April through the end of next month. Lots of fresh veggies this time of year. Artisans also sell their wares. We heard music from a cello and drum player duo yesterday and saw a woman selling homemade lasagna from a street cart.

Tie a Yellow Ribbon...

It had been quite a while since I'd seen real ribbons tied around trees in the City of Trees. I do remember a neighbor of mine spending time decorating the trunk of her crab apple tree with yellow ribbons a few years back, at the beginning of the Iraq war. These look like fresh ribbons, though.

Goodies on the Wall

One panel in the latest series of artwork along the walls that partially hide what we affectionately refer to as "the pit," downtown Boise. This series promotes the Saturday market.

Do I Give You the Creeps?

These catfish are in the tanks at Cabela's in Boise. Cabela's is a giant hunting, fishing, camping, home decor retail store with lots to see even if you aren't in the market for any of those items. Besides fish tanks, there are stuffed animal displays featuring critters from different regions of the world. When we were there recently, we saw a polar bear, musk ox, impala, ground squirrels, wolves and lots of deer and antelope.

Go Mouse, Go!

Oh, so that's how escalators really work! This mural is called "Sidney's Niche," and it's on the side of the escalator on 8th street between Main and Idaho.

Boise Busker

We don't see this very often in Boise, a busker playing for donations in "The Grove," downtown. Well, I think he had been playing, we never actually heard him when we were in the area, we just saw him chatting.

Parking Garage View

The view looking east from the BoDo parking garage, downtown Boise. My husband took this photo while trying to find a place to park for Art in the Park last weekend. And thanks to www.zingotots.blogspot.com for the shout out over the weekend :)

Art in the Park

Crowds of people meandered through Art in the Park in Julia Davis Park yesterday. Paintings, photographs, puzzles, clothing, jewelry, wind chimes, wood art, metals, puppets, ceramics, glass, music, musical instruments, foods...for hundreds of booths. Most booths are staffed by the artists themselves, and it's fun to chat with them. No admission charge! The man below was playing, and selling, didgeridoos. He also had on shell-fringed jingle boots to accompany himself.

Anthropologie

Interesting displays in, and out, of Anthropologie. I've been to chain locations in other towns, but I haven't ventured into this one in Downtown Boise yet. I love the unique nesting measuring cups they always have.

Boise, "City of Trees"

Boise's nickname is the "City of Trees." This view is from the first bench.

Downtown Boise Public Restrooms

People have been using alleyways as "public restrooms" for years, so I imagine this is an "upgrade." Much-needed, too, because public facilities are otherwise not offered downtown.

Utilitarian Art

I'd been hearing a lot of buzz about the new art on utility boxes downtown, so I made an investigative trip. I liked this one best.

Just Before Autumn

This will probably be the last "green" shot of the Boise River this year - the trees are starting to turn. Enlarge the photo and you'll see that "speck" in the middle of the water is a rafter.

New Prized Possession

It's a chicken purse! My step-mother bought this for me and I love it. I'm featuring it here because I'm confident that I'm the only (slightly crazy) Boisean with this particular handbag. But let me know if you have one, too! Update: I am NOT the only Boisean with this chicken accessory. I've learned that it is a handbag of notoriety among some circles of women!

Downtown Sidewalk Dining

Sidewalk dining at Old Chicago in Downtown Boise. Many of the first-floor downtown eateries have sidewalk dining. Notice the trees starting to turn color for fall. Even though we haven't seen any fall temperatures yet, the trees know it's time.

Sunset Mountains

Strange pinkish-orange colors tinted the Boise Front at sunset last night.

Balloon over Boise

The last couple of mornings, I've seen a balloon in the skies over Boise. Earlier in the week, it was a green and yellow striped one. Our town used to be home to a big ballooning event during the Boise River Festival in June. The yearly celebration went bust, and although I think there was an effort to keep the balloon part alive, I didn't see anything about it this year.

Fire Hydrant Decor

Just something that caught my eye. I have no explanation.

Boise River Baptism

Several people were baptized in the Boise River near one of the parks last weekend.

City Daily Photo Theme Day "Big"

The pumpkin entries at the Western Idaho Fair, with the biggest one getting the winning ribbon. I couldn't find the tag with the weight, so I'll guess. I think the biggest pumpkin weighs 350 pounds. See all the CDP Theme Day photos here.