View from the Track

This is what you see from the track on the second level of the West YMCA. 

Happiness Throughout the Land

On the 17th day...the inversion went away. Happy people everywhere.

Sunshine in a Box

Another winter-blues-blasting display at Edwards Greenhouse.

Pop-Up Park

Enjoy the green grass, flowers, art, and picnic areas at Edwards Greenhouse. It's free, and uplifting on these dreary days.

Hill Road Business

Hill road is mostly residential, with a few businesses sprinkled in. Arnie's has been in business for close to 20 years. It's a busy shop.

Whittier Elementary School

This elementary school opened in 1949, and replaced another school of the same name that suffered a fire in its history and was later condemned. It's located not far from the West End and is near the Boise River. Originally, Whittier was intended to serve students in the Garden City area. 

Buck's Bags

An unassuming building, but a powerhouse in supplying gear and supplies for athletics, music, hunting, rodeo, luggage and anything custom. They opened their Boise store and manufacturing plant in 1979.

Auction Every Saturday

Bidding begins at 10 a.m. The Main Auction has been owned by members of the same family since 1937. 

Neighborhood Market

Jerry's is a convenience store and more. There's an Indian restaurant inside (I hope it's still there). 

Looking for Beauty in the Gray

Boise River. January inversion. 2014.

Meat Market on a Street Corner

Small-time vibe with this sign. Is this a good price?

Hard to Believe the Sun is Shining

If you can get up into the mountains, it's pure sunshine. This gray blanket is the result of an inversion.

Last Stop for the Stagecoach

The Stagecoach Inn, a restaurant, not a hotel, served up its last meals and drinks last night after more than 50 years. My memories of this place are tied to some interesting lunch experiences. Thousands of folks have stories.

Stuff on the Street

This doesn't really look like a happy story.

Foggy Smoggy

Our world is misty and swirly with an inversion. This weather pattern may stick around for a few days. Above the fog is sunshine.

Beep Beep

After-work traffic was all mucked up on the westbound arteries yesterday. The upside is that I took notice of this characterful sign on Chinden. Have a great weekend!

Tree House Envy

A tree house WITH a slide? Lucky kids live here.

The Mini-Moon Rises Tonight

The January full moon is called the Wolf Moon. It's also a mini-moon, the opposite of the super moon hype. The difference in appearance of size isn't likely to be something we can really notice, but it happens a couple of hours after the moon rises.

Spooky Morning

The shroud of mist isn't expected to stick around very long today. 

Wigeon in the Sunshine

These little guys hang around with the mallards in the winter. They leave when the weather gets hot.

School is Cool

Have you seen this logo downtown?

Old School

A classroom standard that is disappearing. I found this one at the library.

Cutie with Googly Eyes

Awwww. The daughter of a friend making me smile.

Friendship Bridge

This bridge over the Boise River links the Boise State University Campus to Julia Davis Park.

Old Library Check-out Log

I spent some time in the Boise State University Library today. Many books still have these old check-out logs in them. I went searching for books I checked out in the 1980s and realized something. It used to be that the student number was the Social Security Number...and so....thousands of people wrote their SSN in these books. Although that system of "check-out" is no longer used, the cards are still in the books. I saw plenty of SSNs in the section on Boccaccio. Some people also wrote their home addresses on the cards.

Fresh Coat of Snow

Five inches of new snow in my neighborhood this morning. Beautiful day.

End of the Road

But not the end of the adventure. Walking and biking trails beckon from this location in the foothills.

Happy Place

I saw this on Chinden Blvd. and it made me smile.

Washington Elementary School

Washington Elementary School in Boise's North End. This section was built around 1911. Still a school, and as far as I know, not on the demolition list.

Giant Snowflake

Actually, a hoar frost-covered weed.

Ski Season

Buy or rent ski and boarding equipment at Greenwood's before you head up the hill to Bogus Basin Ski Resort. BTW, this isn't the "real" shop, but it's cute.

Parkcenter Pond Frozen

Parkcenter Pond is still mostly frozen. The structure in the center is a nesting box.

Happy New Year!

Cheers to 2014