Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Lights Dimming on 2008

Wishing everyone a happy and properous New Year.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Forging Heat

Mission Mill Museum
1313 Mill St SE
Salem, OR 97301
Blacksmithing demonstration.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Cure for Cabin Fever

Firebird Lanes Bowling Center
4303 Center St. NE
Salem, OR 97301

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Tons of Steel

Railroad Crossing
Mill & 12th Streets
Salem, OR
The snow has melted and other than the debris in our backyard, life has resumed normalcy. Now I have an opportunity to post my backlog of snowy, wintery pictures.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Snowy Magic

Magic at the Mill
December 19-23, 2008
Mission Mill Museum
1313 Mill St SE
Salem, OR 97301

Pictured is the same snowy magic that felled the tree that knocked out electricity to our power grid for six days. We now have electricity, heat, and the wonderful internet back running. Thanks Tanya for sending me your good juju.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Socked in with No Power

Hoping everyone has had a wonderful holiday. Without electricity, ours was very rustic. Hopefully, we'll be back on line before the year's up.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Decked for the Holidays...

Willamette University Sky Bridge
12th & Mill Street
Salem, OR 97301
...and covered in snow.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Snowy Salem Saturday Scene

Downtown Salem, OR
As you can see, no skyrise buildings in Salem. As a matter of fact. the top of the steeple in the background makes Salem First United Methodist Church the tallest building at 188 ft. The Capitol Building, the landmark just left of the steeple, is the runner up at 173 ft.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Geometry of Architecture

The Barquist House
ca. 1895
1363 Court Street
Salem, OR

Queen Anne - Eastlake Style home in the Court-Chemeketa Residential Historic District.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Stroll With Me

Court Street Footbridge
Mill Creek
Salem, OR

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Brrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

Mill Creek
Salem, OR


Oregon's in a bit of a cold spell. Snow and chill are expected to last through the week. Schools will probably close for the week, travel around town has been treacherous and I spent today scanning holiday catalogs waiting to see if I would be picked to serve on a jury...I wasn't.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Gothic Revival

Waller-Chamberlin House
ca. 1860
1658 Court NE
Salem, OR
Holiday Season Open House Tour
Court-Chemeketa Residential Historic District
December 14, 2008

Sunday, December 14, 2008

I Love Parades

PGE Festival of Lights Holiday Parade
"Holiday Dreams"
December 13, 2008
Salem, OR

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Gems & Precious Stones

Oregon State Capitol Building

900 Court St NE

Salem, OR 97301

Display of collection of Oregon's precious gems

Friday, December 12, 2008

Off the Clock

Oregon State Capitol Building
900 Court St NE
Salem, OR 97301

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Gatke Hall - 1903

Willamette University
12th & State Streets
Salem OR 97301


Before being moved to its current location, this building played home to Salem's Post Office. It is currently used as the Laboratory for the Excercise Science Department. Sometimes you can see some rather bizarre activities through the windows as you pass.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Hear the Choirs Sing

Oregon State Capitol
900 Court Street NE
Salem, OR 97301
"Holidays in the Northwest"
Judson Middle School Choir
An array of musical performances and Christmas...oops! holiday decorations can be seen at the Capitol from Dec 1st - 23rd. Since I work within walking distance, I've had the pleasure of being entertained by the talent of the various local school choirs during my lunch hour.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

They All Lived Together in a Little Crooked House

The Crooked House Playground
Bush's Pasture Park
600 Mission Street
Salem, OR 97302
This Dr. Seussian playground normally swarming with fun-loving children during warmer months seemed very empty (me being the only one there) yesterday. Located in Bush's Pasture Park, a 90-acre park that is a hive of activity for numerous Salem events and activities, visiting Bush House Museum and playing in the Crooked House to name a few.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Holiday Open House

Bush House Museum
600 Mission St SE
Salem, OR 97302


Built in 1878, this house belonged to Asahel Bush and stayed with his family for 75 years. Bush founded Salem's newspaper, The Statesman Journal (I'm sure he'd be disgusted with it's current lack of content and inflated price tag, which lends itself to its more common nickname, The Statesman Urinal.) and Ladd & Bush Bank. Efforts by the City of Salem and Salem's Art Association have kept this house, the Bush's possessions in the house and the surrounding grounds intact. Yesterday, the Art Association held an open house and extended free admission to the public. Normally, admisson is $4.00/adult, which is a very reasonable exchange for the wealth of historical information and beautiful interior decor provided.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Brick and Mortar

Macedonia Greek Cuisine Restaurant
189 Liberty St NE
Salem, OR 97301


Typical alley cat view of downtown Salem business.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

On Your Marks

Speedway Kart Races
December 6, 2008
State Fair & Exposition Center
2330 17th St NE
Salem, OR 97301
These kids are waiting for the green light to start their race. They actually really got to moving at high speeds. The races take place in an area that normally houses livestock during the State Fair. Other races featured kage karts and 1/4 midgets.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Empty Tracks

Salem Amtrak Station
500 13th St. Se
Salem, OR 97301

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Nativity Scenes

8th Annual Community Nativity Festival
December 4-7, 2008
LDS Stake Center
4550 Lone Oak St SE
Salem, OR 97302
Below, over 400 displays depicting nativity scenes from around the world in various different media. There was even one nativity from Hawaii made from a coconut.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

String Quartet

1st Wednesday of December
Something Red Art Walk Reception
Reed Opera House
189 Liberty St. NE
Salem, Oregon 97301
Bird's eye view of the quartet entertaining guests at the "Something Red" Art Walk Reception. The Art Walk highlights the work of local artists in downtown galleries and retailers. The artwork will remain on display through Dec 31. I've seen a handful of pieces and they are indeed "Something Red".

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Beautiful Sunset

As seen from the Salem hills
Oddly enough, we've been experiencing a relatively dry season. Ritual late November skiing, storm watching and jumping in puddles have all been postponed. Until the clouds open up and the temperatures drop, I'll continue to be punished with beautiful sunsets like this. Darn.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Tis The Season

Survived two November birthdays and Thanksgiving. Now I'm prime to conquer the December holiday season.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Dramatic Entry

Stangeland Vineyards & Winery
Open House
November 28-30, 2008
8500 Hopewell Rd NW
Salem, OR 97304

Friday, November 28, 2008

Cookie Cut Condos

South of Madras & Commercial Streets
Salem, OR


I found this new tract of condos while trying to find a detour around the Walmart shopping frenzy today. They sure do look cute and clean though a bit too crowded for my taste. Not enough space in the front yard to kick the soccer ball around.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

One That Got Away

Ankeny Wildlife Refuge
2301 Wintel Road
Jefferson, OR 97352-9758

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Where Barn Meets Sky

Liberty Road
South Salem

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Serving God

Salem First United Methodist Church
Est 1878
600 State Street
Salem, OR 97301


Lights were on tonight in the Church. This structure's steeple make the church the tallest building in Salem. I wasn't able to photograph the entire building, with it's impressive steeple, tonight. One of these night's I'll have to return tripod in tote.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Our Lady

Queen of Peace Catholic Parish
4170 Pullman Avenue SE
Salem, OR 97302

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Wine Cellars


Fall Open House
November 22-23, 2008
Evesham Wood Vineyards
3795 Wallace RD. NW
Salem, Oregon 97304

Friday, November 21, 2008

SLM


Salem Amtrak Station
500 13th St. Se
Salem, OR 97301
Built by Southern Pacific Railroad in 1918.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Good Fortunes

The Arbor
367 State St
Salem, OR 97301


Hanging in the front window display at this downtown retailer were these lanterns, symbolic of good luck and hope for a prosperous future.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Thanks To You

Riverfront Park
101 Front St NE
Salem, OR 97301

My very exact sentiments every Wednesday. Inspite of my best recycling efforts, I still do need to have the garbage haulers of Marion County remove a can of refuse each week. For their achievements, I do give thanks.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Our Historical Theater


Elsinore Theater
170 High St SE
Salem, OR 97301

First opened 1926.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Watering Hole

Pete's Place
356 State St.
Salem, OR 97301


Salem's longest running drinking establishment, lining 'em up so Salemites can knock 'em back since 1860.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Kiss Me

Al's Garden Center
1220 N Pacific Hwy (99E)
Woodburn, OR 97071

Interesting ceramic planters.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Cobalt Blue


The Daue House Gift Shop
Historic Alexander Daue House
1095 Saginaw St. S
Salem, OR
One of my favorite past times, especially during the wet, cold, blustery season, is antiques shopping. Today, neither wet or blustery, was just as good day as any to browse through the gift shop for additions to my collections. This shop is maintained by the Assistance League of Salem, a non-profit organization that supports various community programs, and housed in the 100-year old Daue House.

Below, colored glass merchandise for sale along the bay windows of the converted dining room.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Bubble Gum Pink


Al's Garden Center
1220 N Pacific Hwy (99E)
Woodburn, OR 97071
Al's Gardens grows over 50,000 and over 50 different varieties of poinsettias each year. A large portion of the annual crop go to worthwhile school, church and hospital fundraisers throughout Oregon and Washington. I did resist the urge to bring holiday cheer in mid-November. I promise to return and pick up my favorite Bubble Gum Pink Poinsettias after all the Thanksgiving leftovers are eaten.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Meet the Newest Seasonal Addition

Riverfront Carousel
101 Front Street
Salem, OR

This palomino's name is Happy Holiday, he's only visiting for the winter. Salem's Riverfront Carousel just underwent a makeover, changing decorations from harvest to yule tidings, the installation of a brass ring dispenser and the addition of Happy Holiday. I'm terribly impressed by the craftmanship of all the hand carved animals, the bright color of the carousel and the all smiles the ride seemed to bring to each child's face. I must confess, though, that I wasn't able to muster enough courage to go for a ride. Things that go round and round take its toll on both my head and the contents of my stomach. I wasn't in a gambling mood.