Window at the Borah Building

One of the windows at the Borah Building, near the Capitol. Looks the trim needs some re-painting.

Boise Firefighters Step Up at the Mall

Boise Firefighters in full gear stepped up on a stair machine inside Dillard's at Boise Towne Square Mall Saturday to raise money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Better Gas Mileage?

A cute little "wind-up" car.

Two Yummy Downtown Destinations

City Peanut Shop and the Boise Chocolate Bar. Both get kudos for yummy snacks.

Pretty Packaging

Some people wrap packages so artfully, it's a shame to open them :) No, these are not my wrapping skills. Credit: my mom.

When is the Big Game?

This used to be common office decor. Maybe it still is...after all, I found it in an office. (not tellin' where)

Panning for Gold

A wire sculpture at the U.S. Bank Building. It's a man panning for gold. There are several places in Idaho where the public can try their hand at finding treasure using that method.

What's Behind the Curtains?

Something "new" is coming to this space in the historic Boise City National Bank building that has been home to bars, restaurants, cafes and bistros in recent years. The building also has a "new name" - the 805 Idaho Building.

Great Backyard Bird Count

It's the Great Backyard Bird Count weekend. There's still time to help the project and it takes as little as 15 minutes. Click here for details. Basically, count the birds you see for a set amount of time. Fifteen minutes is the minimum. Tally up the greatest number of each species you see all at one time during that time slot. Then, submit your list. I counted yesterday morning, and saw 7 cedar waxwings (one of them is pictured above), 3 starlings, 3 Oregon juncos, 2 robins, 1 crow and about 20 house sparrows.

Rest Your Feet - Shop for Shoes

These chairs are outside of a shoe store. The sign on the brown chair says, "If the shoe fits, buy it in every color."

Possibly the Last Blast of Winter?

Our winter dry spell is over. This was yesterday morning's snow, and a chance of snow showers are in the forecast through the weekend. We don't mind. We have winter toys received at Christmas that need to be tested :)

Alley Art

Wow. There's a lot going on here :)

Graupel - A Lot Like Hail

This is the "graupel" as it fell this afternoon - at least that's what the National Weather Service called it. It was a hail/snow combo.

Well, It IS Still Winter...

Yesterday's spring-like 60-degree temperatures make it hard to believe there are big, fat snowflakes falling today.

Doggie Doo Graphic

Any questions?

Roadside Memorial

We see these markers most often along rural roads. They honor car crash victims.

Happy Valentine's Day

Wishing you sweets and love today :)

Alley Stairs

Downtown rusty fire escape route.

Art Deco-ish Design

An Edwards movie theater and retail complex in the "BoDo" district - near 8th street.

Cheesey Pollution

I heard many folks comment on our beautiful blue skies yesterday. In an effort to capture that blue while out on errands, I inadvertently discovered the blue backdrop really highlighted the plumes coming from the Lactalis cheese factory. I didn't know cheese production looked like that. I love cheese. Bummer.

Idaho Street

Of course, the capital city has a state namesake street. The 805 marker is on a building constructed in 1895.

The Five Bears

These sentries overlook a small plaza in front of Berryhill's restaurant.

School Art

This mural vignette is on the side of the Boise Foothills School of Arts and Sciences. The school is in Boise's Cultural District.

Family Cheesehead

Yep, that's the team my family was routing for yesterday :)

Moss Only Grows the North Side?

I don't know if this is a true moss, it could be a type of lichen I suppose. It is growing all around the trunk, with the thickest carpet on the side facing nearby water - facing east.

Viking Drive-In

A vintage sign connected to a business that's alive and well on State Street. I can't provide a food review, because I haven't had a meal at this place yet. It's on my list, though.

American Kestrel

I forgot to include this cutie in my earlier posts about the birding event last weekend. This is an American Kestrel. This tiny falcon is often seen perched on powerlines. I spied one in my backyard earlier this winter, feasting on a smaller bird. The males, like the one above, have blue on their feathers and beak. These birds are excellent mousers.

Blue Door Cafe

The "blue door" theme for this eatery and music venue is seen by looking up. The front doors are glass.

Barber Pool Conservation Area

This conservation zone is around 700 acres of public and private land near the Boise River, with access behind the Idaho Shakespeare Festival grounds. There are walking paths and some picnic areas. Mostly, it's natural terrain, and home to wintering bald eagles, all sorts of interesting birds, mule deer, and what's billed as one of the last intact stands of black cottonwood trees.

School of Rock Show

Kiddos with the School of Rock at a Blue Door Cafe concert. Students ranged in age from 8 to their teens and they performed all '70s and '80s music.