Tis The Season

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

Dramatic Entry

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

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.

One That Got Away

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

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Where Barn Meets Sky

Liberty Road

South Salem

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.

Our Lady

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

South for the Winter

Geese

Salem, OR

Wine Cellars

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

SLM

Salem Amtrak Station

500 13th St. Se

Salem, OR 97301

Built by Southern Pacific Railroad in 1918.

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.

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.

Our Historical Theater

Elsinore Theater

170 High St SE

Salem, OR 97301

First opened 1926.

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.

Kiss Me

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

Interesting ceramic planters.

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.

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.

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.

Wild Mushrooms

North Mill Creek
Salem, OR

I'm uncertain what type of mushrooms these are or whether they are edible or not. They are a beautiful luminescent gold and I found them near a creek bed in town. I scoured the internet and the closest image and description I found was a Golden Chanterelle. Anyone have any ideas?

Thank You Veterans

VFW Monument
Oregon Veterans' Affairs Building
700 Summer St. NE
Salem, OR 97301-1270

Under the Bridge

Center Street Bridge

Salem, OR

With all its might, the sun broke through by midday and gave us a reprieve from the rain clouds.

It's a Dog Eat Dog World

Willamette Valley Kennel Club's Dog Show

November 8-9, 2008

Oregon State Fair & Expo Center

Jackman-Long Building
2330 17th Street NE
Salem, OR 97301-0601

This bull terrier was one of the finalists in the day's Best in Show finale. No dogs eating dogs, just owners competing aggressively for the heralded Blue Ribbon.

Cyclocross in the Driving Rain

Battlecreek Cross
November 8, 2008
Former Battlecreek Golf Course
6161 Commercial St SE
Salem, OR

Cyclocross is a form of bicycle racing that include trails over grass fields, wooded areas, water and step barriers and a lot of mud. A mix of road racing and mountain biking with a lot of mud. Races generally last 45-60 minutes rain or shine...or in today's case, driving showers, creating a lot of mud.

How Much Is a Wet Bird in a Bush Worth?

Riverfront Park

101 Front St NE

Salem, OR 97301

This fella followed me for some time as I walked the park in the rain. He probably expected me to throw him a bite to eat. The rain and my company didn't seem to bother him much. I, on the other hand, retreated home drenched and chilled to the bone.

Fresh Out the River

Gov. Tom McCall Statue
Riverfront Park
101 Front St NE
Salem, OR 97301

Tom McCall served as Oregon's 30th governer. Serving his term 1967-75. His political legacy is the instrumental role he played in environmental and community preservation groups. I shot this picture yesterday in the rain. The raindrops and detail on the salmon give the effect that it came fresh out of the river.

Rain, Rain Go Away

Wallace Marine Park
200 Glen Creek Road NW
Salem, OR

It turned out to be a pretty soggy day. I still managed, though, to walk through a couple of the city's largest parks, Riverfront and Wallace Marine Park and collect a few images to post. This fallen leaf was wedged on one of the fenced areas separating the many fields of the Softball Complex. During drier months, you can catch a softball tournament just about every weekend. This time of year the players are replaced by grazing geese, south for the winter.

Creeping Vine

Jonathan's Oyster Bar
445 State St
Salem, OR 97301

One Last Stand

Pronzini Christmas Tree Farm

Delaney Road & Sunnyside Road

This is my favorite tree in town. I don't know what type it is. Anyone have any ideas? I pass it at least twice daily on my way to and from work. It is such a stately stand among the hundreds of soon to be disposable Christmas trees.

Fall in the Vineyards

Ankeny Hills Vineyards

South Salem, OR

Autumn has hit the vineyards and grapevines. All of the harvesting is done for the season and all that is left is for the leaves to drop and the wait to taste whether the crop was a tasty one. I unfortunately (or fortunately) have a very low tolerance for tannic acid and have an adverse reaction to wine = big, fat headache. I am left to only admire the scenery.

Theme Day : Books

Corban College Library

5000 Deer Park Drive SE

Salem, OR 97317-9392

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