Happy New Year!

Waiting for Spring

Message on the side of the shed at the Downtown Teaching Farm.

Old House Gets a New Home

 The Fowler House, one of the homes in the historic Central Addition district, is just about ready to be settled onto its foundation at its new home at 15th and Hayes. Condos are being built in the district, so homes are being moved or leveled. They're all more than 100 years old.

This is me, the photographer behind the lens, playing my ukulele on the steps of this house when it was in its original location - about one year ago. As soon as the house is settled, I'l strum a couple of tunes on the steps again.

Suburban Yurt

This yurt recently appeared in a field along Chinden Boulevard. Looks cozy.

JUMP - It's a Building

 Jack's Urban Meeting Place, JUMP, is part of a long-running project in Downtown Boise. The centerpiece was open for a tour today. Lots of meeting/creativity rooms. A dance floor. A kitchen. Agriculture museum pieces. A recording studio. And a giant slide from the top of the parking garage [it wasn't open yet].

Sub-zero Bluebird Day

Frosty

Merry Christmas! Snow, frost and cold. North Pole holiday for Boise.

Merry Christmas!

Fresh Snow

Not very much snow, and it will mostly melt later, but more is expected over the next couple of days - boosting our chances of a white Christmas. This is DeMeyer Park.

Statehouse Christmas Tree

There might be a light coating of snow on the tree by tomorrow morning.

Traffic Warning

Vintage Volkswagen van seen out and about in the sunshine this morning. Back to cloudy skies and another round of multi-day rain Monday.

Mud and Puddles

So much mud everywhere. Rains will continue this week for Boise. The great news is that the mountains are being stacked with snow.

Winter Garden aGlow

Thousands of lights are installed at the Idaho Botanical Garden each holiday season. There is musical entertainment each night, and plenty of fire barrels to keep you warm - along with hot cocoa and cider. I went last night when the snow as falling and the wind was blowing. Brrr.

Bye-Bye Stinker

The Stinker Station (gas/convenience store) at Glenwood and Chinden was demolished today. There had been discussion about this site, and another store location, being remodeled. This would be more than a remodel.

A Leaf Blower Becomes a Snow Blower

A little bit of snow today. P.S. The only works when the moisture content of the snow is low.

Holiday Window Decor

This art is at the Downtown Boise Co-op.

McDonald's History

This monument marks the location of the first McDonald's in Boise, on Orchard just south of Emerald. You can see a small field behind this area where there used to be a playground. The newer building went in right next to the original site, which is now the parking lot.

Vintage Postcard: Boise Peace Quilt

A vintage postcard (1982) featuring the first Boise Peace Quilt. This was a Cold War quilt. From the back of the card, "A gesture of friendship to the ordinary people of the Soviet Union from 25 Idahoans." The Boise Peace Quilt project still makes quilts today.

Postcard photo credit: Lenoard Nolt

Mid-Century Modern Details at a Motel

The Holiday used to be quite the swanky hotel decades ago. But the pool was filled in with cement long ago, and it's more a dive hotel now. However, it's brimming with mid-century modern details - and that's a hot architectural and decorating trend.

Rain-filled Canal

Interesting fortification on this canal crossing. Canals are filling with water because of the rain.

Rusted Neon at the Sav-On Cafe

One of the signs at the now-closed Sav-On Cafe, downtown. It was one of the longest-running restaurants in the area. I had a friend who said he ate there almost every day. He would bring his own steak and the kitchen would cook it for him.

Pantry Restaurant

The Pantry has been on Shoreline Drive for decades. Each booth inside has a phone. If the wait staff is too busy, you can call the kitchen directly with your order.

Dreaming of Snow

Amazing child-created art of a snowy, Christmas landscape. Hundreds of small bits of paper. It's been rainy for days in the valleys with snow for the mountains only. 

On Frozen Pond

1. Small ponds should thaw this week with warmer temperatures and rain. 

Christmas Tree Lots

Some are fancy, and others are small family operations. You can find them on just about every busy street corner.

View for Everyone

We are still seeing a mash-up of autumn and winter in Boise. This view is from Hyatt Hidden Lakes, a protected wetlands in West Boise.

Christmas Dreams

Alley Art Behind the Boise Co-Op

Retro, pop-style street art behind the store in the North End.

Shopping Rules

You can guess why they had to post this sign. These whips are at Crazy Neighbor.

Idaho Candy Tree

The Idaho Spud candy bar arranged as a Christmas Tree at the Festival of Trees.

Barbed Wire and Shotgun Shells for Christmas

Two of the wreaths at the Festival of Trees this year. 

Storybook Character at the Festival of Trees

One of the storybook character models at the Festival of Trees. 

Cold Beauty

I think it was 18 degrees when I took this photo this morning.

Hopefully, Hot Chocolate

Fingers crossed that the "and more" part of this stand serves up warm drinks soon.

Owl and Gnome

Garden decor for sale at Fred Meyer. This blogger loves owls and gnomes so this is ??

'Tis the Season

Holiday decor happiness.

Architectural Details in the North End

Looking up while walking through a row of historic homes.

Candy-Colored Beads

Delicious colors in a bead bin at Craft Warehouse.

Snow Frosted Pumpkin

This happened earlier in the week. The white stuff didn't stick around very long, though.

Wayfinding Humor

The sign at the entrance of the RV park on the Boise River at Glenwood. Just for fun!

Fairy Tale Entrance

A grant entryway that's hard to see when the trees are covered with leaves.

Looks Like a Happy Home

In the North End.