Ferris Wheel at Rose Festival

Here's what I found at rosefestival.org about the fun along the Willamette, only one of many, many activities during the festival's run, May 29-June 8.

The Rose Festival's WaMu Waterfront Village is where Portland celebrates its favorite family traditions, awesome new activities and diverse cultural influences. Located along the scenic Willamette River in Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park, the WaMu Waterfront Village offers a park-load of whimsical and magnificent kid's adventures. Quite simply, the WaMu Waterfront Village is a great place for parents to bring their families. Come see why our village was honored from among IFEA's 2000 plus member festivals.

Along with this year's featured attraction, Dinosaur Jurassic Journey, the village features the Pacific Northwest's largest carnival, five stages packed with family entertainment, the BI-MART Kids Zone, WaMu Big Top Stage, zany strolling minstrels, two of the tallest thrill rides in the Western United States, three food courts, marching school bands and festive cultural music.
Dates & Hours
Dates
Thursday, May 29 - Sunday, June 8, 2008

Hours
11 AM to 11 PM* daily except May 29 when gates open at 5 PM

*Event hours & closing times are subject to change based on weather, attendance and park safety conditions.

Here's part of why I'm so late posting today ...

Portland's Rose Festival started last night, with the opening of the Waterfront Village, a sort of state fair/carnival. I got off the bus after work, intending to take a few photos and catch another bus home. When I saw Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s #88 and found out that admission was free, I decided to roam around, taking photos and waiting to get my photo taken beside the car.

Here I stand with a young member of the National Guard, right beside the car, still able to smell the exhaust fumes. Yes, friends, another man from Hendrix Racing started that baby and gunned the motor several times. Mighty fine loud sound! I loved it!

After about five hours, I got home, too tired to blog. I hope that some of the photos I took will be neat enough to share.

Gallerie Rene, 207 SW Pine Street

This bright row of awnings caught my eye as we walked from the Bijou Cafe back to the Buick Saturday, after a scrumptious brunch. I found this online about the building: The Haseltine Building (1893) on the corner of Second and Pine was called in “A Century of Portland Architecture” by Thomas Vaughan and George A. McMath a “...prime example of Richardson Romanesque brick and stone construction...”

You can see the stone in the row of arches. Here's one of the arches that houses Gallerie Rene, an interesting art gallery that does not allow photos inside, which I certainly understand.

I did take these two photos of the front windows. If you look closely, you can see bits of what's inside. I hope to go back for one of their First Thursday shows.

ABC Wednesday - S is for more than several S words

Sitting in the sunshine, my hands on the steering wheel while we waited at the traffic signal, I looked to the left and looked to the right. That's where I spied a senior citizen on an electric scooter. I grabbed my camera and clicked off several shots through the windshield. Her decorations made her scooter so special, from the colorful spinner at the front to the sunflowers at the back. She had her silver crutches, accentuated with several colors, attached to the side. There's even a word that starts with an S on the side of her scooter--I can't make it out because something is hanging in the way.

Isn't it wonderful that she had this method to get outside and enjoy the sunshine on a Saturday?

When the cross-the-street-sign flashed the little white-light-pedestrian for all to see, the senior citizen scooted across the street, from sidewalk to sidewalk. She took no notice of the sign on the side of the Nob Hill Bar and Grill, advertising the Street Car Special--cheeseburger, fries and soft drink. You can't tell from the photo, but the streetcar turns left at the traffic signal, to the senior citizen's left in the first photo. That juxtaposition must be the inspiration for the special's name. I've had a burger and fries there, but not during the special's hours. Nevertheless, it was tasty and satisfying.


If you're of a mind to, please go to Mrs. Nesbitt's Place for loads of other ABC Wednesday blogs! Look at the list of links per Mr. Linky.

Our Memorial Day Get-Together

First, let me say that while I didn't take any food photos because I was busy looking out for Mama and Duncan, there was plenty of it--ribs, hamburgers, Zenner's Big Dogs (Louisiana Red Hot Sausage, Old Fashioned Double Smoked Sausage and Beef Coney Dogs--at least I think those are the ones I bought for them), home-made tortilla chips and hushpuppies, a really delicious pasta salad, fresh salsa, and all of the fixings. Everyone enjoyed being together, laughing, talking, eating. The kids had a great Memorial Day get-together for all of us family and lots and lots of their friends.

Here are a few photos I did get to take--wish I'd stopped to take more, but part of the time I also ate some delicious food and played in the street with the young people--see below.

Mississippi friends' Leslie and Chris' darling Rottweiler, Brixx.

My darlin' sons, Lamont and Leland, with their fresh flame in the background. In no time at all, it was ready for some of that luscious food I listed earlier.

Mama and Duncan, on the back porch.

Duncan and Brixx, nose to nose.

Neighbor Emily's baby boy, Duncan and Mama.

Leland with friends Anakin and Philip, playing street Frisbee, but it's not Frisbee, it's another Frisbee-like thing that isn't solid, hard, firm, or heavy.

Brody and Lamont going for the Frisbee-like-thing.

Mississippi friend Mabry lets it fly.

Three Doors Down fellow cook, kitchen, back-of-the-house friend Flash with a bit of a rib in his left hand and his phone in his right.

Rhododendrons in Ladd's Circle, seen on the way back to the apartment.

My Memorial Day Post

Those of you who visit my blog will understand that I am not being glib or crass using these photos for my Memorial Day post because I have a history of using what I call "color-coordinated street level accessories." You also realize that I put a great deal of stock in serendipity. Thus, this post.

I looked out the bathroom window Sunday morning and saw these vehicles and immediately thought of the red, white and blue and Memorial Day. I quickly grabbed my camera and opened the window wide so that I could get the shot without hanging out of the fourth floor window.



Satisfied with the photo, I started to close the window. Movement caught my eye. I watched this young man get into the white car.


As he drove off, I thought about how many men and women have left their loved ones over the years, in service to the red, white and blue. I stood there quietly, praying for the safety of those serving now.


Today I hope those loved ones find some sort of peace in the knowledge that, all across the country, folks are remembering their loved ones with gratitude for their effort and sacrifice.

Finally! A shot I've wanted to get!

Several times I've glimpsed this wall in Old Town Chinatown when I've been on the 17 bus, headed home after work. Needless to say, curiosity bit me pretty hard.

Saturday in the Buick, stopped at a traffic signal, I saw it again. "Oh, boy! I've been wanting to take this photo. I wonder why these two limos are here?" Click. After taking the photo, I continued around the corner, revealing the front of the building and the answer to my question.

TriMet PGE Park MAX Station, Stop ID 9758

PGE Park MAX Station in Portland going east Stop ID 9758

Served by

MAX Blue Line
MAX Red Line

Amenities - shelter

In this close up you can see the storage lockers where people lock their bikes and then take the MAX, or maybe store them there and live in a nearby apartment. I decided to leave the photos in color because I think you'll get more out of the photos.

The workmen are just one of the crews I've noticed at TriMet stops, taking care of business. Considering how many people use the mass transit system (and the sidewalks) around here, the lack of litter and general tidiness I see where I go is impressive.

Here's some info on the numbers TriMet say in April--I got it in an e-mail. I left in the info on how to plan your trip on TriMet, just in case you're coming to Portland!

TriMet scores record ridership in April
Nearly 69,000 more transit trips each week!

TriMet MAX and bus ridership breaks new records in April 2008:

* More than two million trips were taken on MAX and buses each week, the first time TriMet has topped two million trips for weekly ridership.
* Nearly 69,000 more trips were taken weekly during April 2008, as compared to April 2007.
* 5,400 additional daily trips were taken on transit during the morning rush hour (7-9 a.m.), as compared to April 2007. This adds up to an 11.6 percent increase over April 2007.

"These record ridership increases show that riders are choosing transit to help offset high fuel prices," said TriMet General Manager Fred Hansen. "Our transit system provides an alternative to getting around without always having to drive."
Transit Trip Tools

To plan your next transit trip, use our online trip planner or call 503-238-RIDE (7433) weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Find out when your bus or MAX train will arrive by checking TransitTracker online or by calling 503-238-RIDE (7433) and entering the stop ID number. Real-time arrival information is available for all 7,600 bus stops and 64 MAX stations.

What's in a name? A mystery, that's what.

Mother's Day afternoon, walking along enjoying the iPod the guys gave me, I noticed a word on the curb that surprised me enough that I had to turn around and go back to see if I'd read what I thought I'd read. Yep, Arnold. I turned and looked diagonally across the street and read the street signs.

I was on the corner of SE 37th and SE Grant Court, not SE 37th and E. Arnold Street. Hmmmm. A mystery, to be sure--why and when the name change? A quick check of Google turned up nothing. I wonder if I'll find other such mysteries on walks around Portland? Or if someone who knows something about this will make a comment to enlighten us?

Do you have any of these in your city?

Studebaker Avanti

Here's another beauty I photographed at Bright's. I don't know the year, but I recognized it at once as a Studebaker Avanti. Somebody back home in Jackson, Mississippi, had one when I was growing up. Seems like it was some local TV celebrity, maybe Bob Neblett, the Reddy Kilowatt weatherman on Channel 12. I don't know exactly why I'm associating him with a Studebaker Avanti, but it's sort of like a multiple choice or true/false test question--you really ought to go with your first choice.

By the way, most of the time these days I can't visit as many blogs as I'd like during the week, but I certainly hope to be able to make up for it on the weekends. Don't give up on me, OK? Thanks!

ABC Wednesday - R is for Return of the Rhododendrons

One more R for red ...



If you're of a mind to, please go to Mrs. Nesbitt's Place for loads of other ABC Wednesday blogs! Look at the list of links per Mr. Linky.

Does this Rambler remind anyone else of a Plymouth Barracuda?

I photographed this beauty on the corner of SE Clay and 6th Avenue at Bright Auto Upholstery. Something about the car reminds me of a Barracuda that a guy I dated a few times drove, way back in 1969. His nickname was Pinky. And he worked in the meat department of a grocery store and told me on one of our dates that he could get me any cut of meat that I liked, for free. You can picture my double take, right? OK, so we went on one more date to a professional baseball game and he said, "Anything you want, just let me know, and I'll get it for you." I said, "I'll take the first baseman." He just sat there, no double take, no nothing. And he bought me some M&Ms. That was it. The end. Over and out.

So, car people, does this car remind you of a Plymouth Barracuda?

Curves, Reflections and Glass

Reflections in windows often make for nice photographs. I particularly like this one of a curved window and the arched overhang. I also like the glass blocks that make up part of the wall beneath the window.

Corporate landscape--various flowers

Subway at the corner of West Burnside and NW 21st

TriMet Bus Stop ID 1607

Stop is in Fareless Square

TriMet Bus Stop ID, 1607, Served by 17-NW 21st Ave/St Helens Rd

Amenities

Shelter
Recycle/garbage can
Traffic signal
Bench near stop
Lighting at stop
Pavement at back door of bus
Curb ramp near stop
Pavement at front door of bus
Sidewalk near stop
Schedule display
Crosswalk

Sometimes I walk to this stop from the apartment and board the 17 here. On this particular, last Thursday, I decided to leave early, ride the bus to this stop, get off and walk about four blocks to the Byways Cafe to try their biscuits, without gravy.

I took this photo after a pretty good breakfast (the buttermilk pancakes remain my favorite), when I had walked back to the stop to catch the next 17. Hoping that it would translate well to black and white, I then took the photo below. I wanted you to see my black rolling bag and the colorful, flowered, plastic one that I use daily, to transport my sweet ice tea and the rest of my lunch to work. With its zipper closure at the top, it makes a great tote, although I usually let the rolling black bag do the toting.

A warmish Saturday afternoon in April ...

... looked like this, folks seated outdoors, enjoying friends, food, fun at the Kingston Bar & Grill, near PGE Park. And it was maybe 70 degrees and overcast. Can you even imagine how the city looked today when the temperature made it into the mid to high 80s, the skies clear and blue? Take my word for it, I saw full tables at every available spot on my bus ride home. And that was only a half hour ride. It'll be like that until well after dark, on every single nice day from now on.

The sunshine and warm breezes enticed Mama all day, making her want to get outside. She walked a little ways with Duncan and me, on his after-work walk. Then, somehow, by the skin of her teeth and utter determination, with her cane to prop on, Mama walked a very long-seeming block from our apartment to a corner restaurant. We took Duncan, too, but there were no outdoor tables left, so she was seated indoors to wait while I took the little guy back to the apartment and his kennel. We had a nice meal and a slow walk home. Mama thoroughly enjoyed herself and is now taking a nap in her recliner, Duncan right beside her, asleep.

ABC Wednesday - Q is for Quirky

Y'all remember ABC Wednesday - O is for Oops, etc.? Here's that same TriMet sign, altered. How quirky is this? Someone has added an open-mouthed alligator, waiting patiently for the falling cyclist. George Townboy, have you been in Portland and not let me know, bringing some of those gators you've been photographing in Florida? (As a word of explanation, George Townboy is a CDPB, a City Daily Photo Blogger, who has blogs about Kissimmee, Champions Gate, and Celebration, all in Florida, and one called Comic Book Style.)

About yesterday, here's what I intended to photograph:

And here's what I thought serendipitous:

I couldn't have planned this shot, with its juxtaposition of the stop sign pole and this walking man, if my life depended on it--as they say.

If you're of a mind to, please go to Mrs. Nesbitt's Place for loads of other ABC Wednesday blogs! Look at the list of links per Mr. Linky.

What's better, the intended subject or the serendipity? You decide.

What self-respecting CDPBer could resist the red and black stripes so close to the mostly red and black pizza sign? Not I.

Who would get a great big grin on his/her face once this photo had been downloaded to the computer, making the entire thing visible? Not I.

Y'all see what I'm talking about, right? What do you think is best? I need you input because I can't decide for myself.

Oh, before I forget, here's the full photo from yesterday. It's a Mini seen through the barred window of a below-street-level parking garage. Glad y'all stopped to look.

My Mother's Day Blessings

Almost 20 years ago, my Daddy's sister, my Aunt Baker stands behind her mother, Vivian--Ma to me. I'm standing behind my Mama who is sitting beside her mother, Sudie--Mama Sudie to me. We're in Mama and Daddy's backyard where we gathered for Mother's Day. I don't know the exact year, the mid to late 1980s is my best guess.


Mama Sudie, about 84 years old, at Ma's 90th birthday party.

Lamont, Ma, and Leland, at her 90th birthday party, 1988.


Lamont and Leland, early 1979. Lamont is three, Leland is a few months. Their hair is not red, that's the tint of the particular photo.