Skateboard Competition

One of the boarders at a skateboard competition at Rhodes Skate Park, near the Linen District in Boise.

Easter Egg Experiments

The results of our experiments with Easter egg dyes yesterday. We attempted to "make" dyes with things around the house. We used dandelions (see below), beets, frozen blueberries, onion skins, maraschino cherries and regular food coloring - all mixed with water and vinegar.

The dandelions, beets and maraschino cherries generated the best colors. But good old food coloring was the brightest.

Biker Dogs

Outside Big City Coffee...

Truck Graffiti

I heard this guy is single...

The Forsythia is Blooming

The forysthia is blooming. One tradition in our area says when this shrub blooms, it's time to prune the roses. I hope to get a start on that this weekend.

Boise is the State Capital

I popped into the statehouse this week to look at a photographic exhibit about the state, which was excellent. Our legislature meets here every year for about three months.

Sax Busker

Playing for donations downtown Boise last night on 8th Street.

Eager for "Real" Spring

The calendar may say "spring," but it's not spring as in time to plant much outdoors in Boise yet. Our frost season doesn't end until mid-May. But we did spend the first day of the season planting seeds inside last weekend. Here is the first sprout that made an appearance yesterday from a seed gathered from flowers in the yard last year.

All That's Left is the Mailbox

The only obvious evidence that there used to be a home here. It's been torn down to make room for...some type of development. It might be more homes, or businesses?

Girl Scout Cookies

This girls are wearing Girl Scout cookie apron/costumes. It seems like scouts were on every corner a couple of weeks ago selling cookies. My husband picked up a couple of boxes of Tagalongs, those cookies with chocolate and peanut butter. They sure didn't last long. We need a refill.

Climbing the Walls

Rock climbing at the YMCA. This is a popular sport in Boise. There are several rock climbing wall businesses around town. Yesterday was my daughter's first try. Today is officially the 2nd year anniversary of Boise Daily Photo.

Boise Front at Sunset

I was hoping to catch some alpenglow last night, but it didn't happen. The valley was awash with golden sunset rays, though.

Sky Bridge Over Overland

An elevated sidewalk to get kids across this big road safely on their way to school.

Spring Weeding with Fire

One way to get rid of pesky weeds - light 'em on fire.

Public Safety Building and a St. Paddy's Tongue-Twister

This is where we go to get driver's licenses, vehicle licenses, access criminal records and there's an access to the Ada County Jail here, too. It's officially called the Vernon L. Bisterfeldt Public Safety Building. Vern was a long-time police officer, served as an Ada County Commissioner, and is currently a member of the Boise City Council. Vern always called me Debbie Cebbie when I used to interact with him as a member of the media, and later as a Western Idaho Fair board member. The only person on the planet to ever call me that :) Happy St. Patrick's Day! My favorite tongue-twister for today is: Irish wristwatch. Go ahead...try to say it.

Little Pink Shed

Such a nicely painted shed in an overgrown, weedy lot. I wonder what lives inside?

A Herd of Bicycles

Training? Racing? Training for a race? I dunno, but the day this team was out, the winds were blowing with gusts of 40 miles per hour. That would make riding tough!

Little Kids Behind the Wheel

An afternoon on the rookie track at Wahooz on Friday. They really do let kiddos race the cars, as long as they are 48 inches tall. Adult-sized cars are available for separate races on this slick track. Lots of spin outs and sliding for the grown-ups.

Eventually a Walgreens?

This used to be used as....a horse barn? It's near an intersection so it likely will eventually be the site of a strip mall.

Wild West Memories

A long-time fixture along Overland Road. This stagecoach mural is at Overland Lumber. Locals say "OVER-lund," so if someone prounounces it "over-LAND," we suspect they're transplants :)

South Junior High: Mommy, is that a Jail?

This stand-alone in front of the school I think is a remnant of the original building. It was an art deco-style building that some folks thought should have been refurbished, but instead was demolished. The bars that looked jail-like to my daughter might have been windows, but my memory of the building is confused by the new structure.

Latah Landmark

A piece of history just off Latah Street and near the cemetery. The Ahaveth Beth Israel Synagogue - the claim to fame? "...oldest synagogue west of the Mississippi in continuous use." A side note here about Latah. It's definitely a stretch of Boise in need of a makeover. Lots of aging strip malls, rundown housing, and weedy patches along the street.

Urban Gardening School

Boise Urban Garden School (known to fans as BUGS) offers classes and hands-on opportunities for families. Events are already getting underway and workers have been busy cleaning up the garden to be ready for planting season. I wish my garden beds were cleaned up to this standard already.

Do Coyote Cut-Outs Really Scare Geese?

These coyote silhouettes have popped up on golf courses, and here in this photo at Morris Hill Cemetery, in an attempt to scare off Canada Geese - which have become pesky. Do they work? I think in the background you can see the answer to that question, you may have to click to enlarge.

Monkey Bizness

We attended a birthday party for an 8-year old at Monkey Bizness yesterday. It's a play zone with three large inflatables and a jungle gym, plus toys for tots. It was a wild time of screaming, happy kids.

Irrigation System Geometry

This is one of those irrigation systems that make what look lik crop circles from the sky. It moves in a slow arc over the field. It's just a couple of months until irrigation season begins again.

Umbrella Fashionista

My only question is - why don't I have one of these umbrellas?

Spring Chicks At Zamzows

Spring chicks on sale at Zamzows - a local feed store and nursery.

Rising Snowline

A couple of days of near 60 degrees and the snowline climbs up the Boise Front.

Here's Your Sign - Interpretation, Please?

I think this is a sign aimed at keeping dog owners from using the business' landscaping as a "potty patch." But it could be something else?

Sick Kid = Vintage Toy Play Day

It was a beautiful spring-teaser day in Boise Sunday...and with a sick kiddo in the house, we didn't get to enjoy it. But she did have fun hauling out some vintage toys in between lounging on the couch.