Local Access Only. Daddy, bicycle. Daughters, bucket.

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September 2, 2010, there was some sort of street fair on NW Raleigh Street which had been closed as a thoroughfare--Local Access Only. Daddy's taking his daughters there in a bucket situated on a bicycle, a very smart way to avoid trying to find somewhere to park in that part of town, period, street fair closure or no street fair closure. As near as I can tell, that black cable dragging the ground beneath the bicycle and the bucket goes from the center of the back wheel up to the right side of the handlebars and then the brake lever. I guess that's what you call the part that you squeeze shut when you want to put on the brakes. I noticed these three Portlanders while I waited at the southbound 15 bus stop on NW 23rd Avenue, in my bag a bunch of fresh vegetables from the nearby Thursday evening Northwest Portland satellite of the Portland Farmers Market. I'd let Mama know that I was going to stay on the 15 and go shop there after work. (Please don't be confused, this photo was taken four months before she died. She was tickled about the prospect of fresh, home-cooked veggies.) Interesting that the farmers market in that area has now moved to the very street that Mama and I lived on, four blocks east of our apartment building.

Framed for Christmas, No. 2

I took this photo on December 26, 2007. At that time there was a store on NW 23rd Avenue that really caught my eye during the holiday season, so I'm excited that I got this photo, plus a few others I'll share later on. I love those green gloves and that golden ribbon in his right hand. Hope you enjoy these vintage Santas.

Bet these two guys wish this sort of perfect weather would hurry up and come back to Portland.

I took this photo while I waited for the 15 bus on NW 23rd Avenue after I had been to the Farmers Market at the corner of NW 23rd and NW Savier. It was September 2, a gloriously sunny day. I won't be running when the sunny days return, but I still want them to come on back. Just as much, maybe more, I want the Farmers Markets to start again. Hooray for locally grown foods!

Serendipity #2. Look at his feet.

I saw this young man running toward me Sunday morning as I walked to a nearby convenience store to buy a newspaper. Running on NW 23rd Avenue. On a cold, cold morning. I thought, "Why not document his efforts for the blog?" Click. Then when I downloaded the photo to the iMac, I noticed that I had captured both of his feet off the ground--see the shadows beneath them, on the sidewalk? What a split second of serendipity!

One more Christmas display window at Urban Outfitters

You've got your Charlie Brown Christmas tree, red headphones, cameras, books, and a record player.


Here's a close-up of the Crosley record player. You get a good look in both of these photos of the good work the store carpenter puts out.

One of the Christmas store windows at Urban Outfitters

As I stood there waiting for the bus, a woman came out the double front door, camera in hand. I watched her take several photos before telling her that I always liked their display windows. She told me, excitedly, that she had the best carpenter who could build whatever display items that entered their minds. She said he is also good at recycling lumber.

The upper part of the door and the sign at Urban Outfitters

While waiting for the 15 to ride to work on November 23, I decided to take a few pictures at the store, over on NW 23rd Avenue.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?

Saturday as the 15 bus pulled to a stop at the traffic signal at NW 23rd and NW Everett, I spied this little boy in arms, wearing a wintertime hat that I at first thought was a teddy bear. Then I realized, the hat actually was Scooby-Doo! I managed a few quick shots before the bus moved--thus this one--and then took a few standing still on the sidewalk--thus the top photo.

Autumn Stepping Out

Couldn't get focused quick enough 'cause she was steppin' out! I sort of caught the essence of that with the photo--look at the diagonal lines of the back of her coat. She's got that vivid auburn hair that matches so the autumn leaves. She's walking south on NW 23rd, just past its intersection with NW Flanders. Notice the upward slope? This corner is just a couple of blocks from our place, and the grade has already increased this much and more. These changes in elevation make for a good place for me to walk, right near home. I am blessed.

Oh, boy! It's color-coordinated, street-level accessory time again!

Please scroll down for today's dahlia, TG 11, from the Canby Dahlia Trial Test Garden, sponsored by The Portland Dahlia Society and The American Dahlia Society, in co-operation with Swan Island Dahlias, maintained in honor of Nick Gitts, Sr. Dahlias on trial--not for sale.

I took this photo after I got off the bus at W. Burnside and NW 23rd. The car is driving south from NW 23rd, crossing Burnside or about to turn left onto Burnside and go east. This intersection has been a favorite of mine since we first moved to this neighborhood in October, 2006. It's easy to see why, isn't it?


Today's dahlia, TG 11.

Beautiful exterior ... makes me wonder about the interior

Please scroll down to see today's dahlia, Lavender Ruffles, from Swan Island Dahlias.

An apartment house on NW 23rd Avenue, or maybe it's condos. I took this photo on March 12 with the Nikon CoolPix L12. I vividly remember when I first saw the building. Lamont, Leland and I had walked and walked and walked throughout the Pearl and the Northwest Hills one afternoon in 2004--when Mama and I were here on our first visit. The building was undergoing renovation. I wondered then how it would turn out, little knowing that in a little over two years we'd be living within walking distance. I love Portland!


Here's another one that I took with the Nikon D50 on May 9.


Today's dahlia, Lavender Ruffles. Facts from Swan Island Dahlias--Bloom: 12" Lavender, Bush: 3'

Balance, a pertinent concept for 2009

New Year's Resolutions? Why weight yourself down with that word, resolution?

I prefer the word concept, as in, according to Merriam-Webster Online, something conceived in the mind, a thought, a notion; or an abstract or generic idea generalized from particular instances.

So, I'm here to say that in my mind, balance is the watchword in 2009. For me it's not abstract, it's particular. As in balance between eating and exercise, being creative and being lazy, being curious and being dull. I guess you could say, though, that I'm really leaning one way on those last two, towards being creative and being curious. Maybe it's abstract, after all. Lots about life can be, can't it?

I took this photo on Dec. 31, walking along NW 23rd, after having walked to the pharmacy to get a refill of one of Mama's prescriptions. I took a circuitous route back, looking for two things, exercise and photo ops. It's a good thing I did that yesterday, because in the last 24 hours, we've had 1.33 inches of rain in Portland, with the certainty of much more in the next 24.

Do you go out on purpose, looking for things to photograph?

Wednesday, July 16, 2007 ... ABC Wednesday, Z is for Zing

Several Saturdays ago as we walked along NW 23rd, my rolling black bag and I, we spied this orderly row of Harleys. Immediately, my rollin' black bag noticed those two travel bags standing proudly attached to the first bikes in line.

Ah, to speed over hill and dale, the wind rustling your whatever-denier-nylon-self. Zing went the strings of my rollin' black bag's heart, contemplating a life on the road, at speeds much greater than my feet or mass transit afford. That's the life for a travelin' bag!

Not. I see no motorcycles in my future, although there is a romantic British racing green Triumph in my past. Alas, my rollin' black bag wasn't even a twinkle in my eye back in 1972! Holding tight to LeRoy, the reason for the zing in my own heart, lent a brilliant sparkle to my eyes.

Yes, I've gone bonkers here, stretching for this Z, but I had fun. Hope you did, too!

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.

Saturday, July 12, 2008 ... Shot from inside Rose's Restaurant and Bakery

Last Monday after work, I went to our bank branch on NW 23rd and then stopped in at Rose's to get take-out food for Mama and me. Looking at the menu, I decided maybe I'd dine in on a burger and fries. When I called, Mama said sure, go ahead, and bring me a half turkey on wheat and some potato salad. Ain't she sweet? While waiting for my order, I took this photo, just to see how it would turn out with the bright sunshine outside the large window. Not bad, not bad at all. Supper was good, too! And I enjoyed the six-block walk home.

White Calla Lilly, NW 23rd Avenue, Portland, Oregon

The spring continues

Up NW Everett, and I say up because there's an incline, one comes to the corner at NW 23rd Avenue. On that corner, which is actually the southeast corner of the intersection, there stands the Portland Rose Apartments, set back so that it has a nice front yard complete with flower beds, shrubs, trees and two sidewalks, one that goes towards NW 23rd, the other that goes to NW Everett, at a right angle to each other as they leave the building's front door. This flower and several others like it are in a bed alongside the second sidewalk. Later on when leaves fill the trees and shade blankets the yard all day long, the blossoms will be gone, but the green plants will remain, filling in the bed quite nicely.

Two readers on NW 23rd Avenue

I often see people reading in Portland. These two appear to be reading newspapers. What do you see people reading in public in your city?

The guy in the door, wearing the white apron with the pizza sauce stain, must work at the establishment the other guy is patronizing--Escape from New York Pizza. Note the Easter bunny complete with a loaded basket--pizza slices, not eggs--on the window. I wonder what will appear in its place now that Easter had come and gone?

Neon sign says it all

First let me say that when I took this photo last May, I never dreamed that all these months later those three little words would express how I feel right now, physically. Let me explain.

Most of us realize the saying "In the bag" means done, as in "It's a certainty." I read online that the meaning could go back to a baseball superstition involving taking the bag of baseballs to the locker room when the team was ahead in the last inning. Anyway, here's how this pertains to little ol' me. It's a done deal, and I'm certain that I'm give out, tired, done in, done for the work week, just about done for this evening.

Don't get me wrong. It's been a doggone good week, all things considered. Mentally, I'm very proud of how the week has gone, satisfied.

Last Saturday morning at 5 a.m. Mama had a falling episode (nothing broken) that necessitated a trip to the ER where it was discovered that she had a urinary tract infection. So, she's been taking antibiotics all week and is doing very well, thank goodness.

I knew not what we were looking at, effort-wise for the next few days, as I sat there in the ER, my head resting on top of a really thick paperback book by W.E.B. Griffin which I had put onto the counter beside my chair. While in that state, I decided as soon as Leland came to pick us up in the car, I'd get him to stay with Mama and I'd go to the Fred Meyer to stock up on groceries, etc. That's just what I did. Oh, I almost forgot, I asked Leland if he'd make us a meat loaf when I got home with the ground beef--turned out to be a delicious idea!

At the cash register I had blithely explained to the cashier that I'd be driving around to pick up the groceries, rode the escalator down to the parking garage, got in the car, turned right onto West Burnside. I called Leland and told him I'd be there in a minute, that he could come on down to help carry bags. I parked right across the street from the building, practically an unheard of thing to get to do. When I got out of the car and looked into the back seat, I gasped! The groceries were still at the Fred Meyer! Well, Leland rode the three blocks with me, being a sweet son, not making fun of his silly ol' mama.

By the time Leland left, it was 11 a.m. I put the meat loaf in the oven, baked it, and when 2 p.m. rolled around, I had already baked four BIG sweet potatoes and eight smallish Yukon Gold potatoes; blanched and sauteed Brussels sprouts; sliced zucchini, tossed it in a mixture of olive and canola oils and some sea salt, then baked it in a covered glass bowl; washed and dried green leaf lettuce and romaine. I had a goal in mind--can you tell? I wanted to get enough good food cooked, ready to easily eat, so that as the week progressed and my energy waxed and waned and came back, I'd have us decent meals waiting. One more thing needed to be done before I would feel like I'd done it--on Sunday I made a great big pot of chili. And I washed and dried--folded, put away, and put the sheets back on Mama's bed--four loads of laundry.

I also watched my favorite NASCAR driver finish second at Las Vegas!

Am I ever glad I did all of that. Here's why. Duncan, while doing much better all around, has lost his grasp on what time he ought to get up every morning. I take him out for the second time each at night either at 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. He used to sleep with Mama until 8, or 9, or sometimes 10 a.m. before she got sick in January. Now he wakes up anywhere from 4 a.m. to 5 a.m., and he's sleeping with me because I don't want her sleep disturbed since she's home alone all day. I've made it fine at work, and am so blessed that I get to walk to the bus at any bus stop that I choose, ride the it back and forth to work which means no driving or parking, and I've come home to easily prepared, good for-us meals with very quick clean up afterwards.

Nevertheless, I am one tired cookie. I wish that little dog would sleep until at least 5:30 a.m. tomorrow morning when I'll start all over again for next week. Mentally, I'm excited because I know that I can do it and I know that all three of us will be much better off for the effort. Physically I'm heading for the couch!

Before I go ...

In the Bag is on NW 23rd between Irving and Johnson. It's for certain sure that you'll find the perfect card or wrapping paper or ribbon--or bag--in this small shop. The only thing small about it is its square footage. A wide selection, helpful employees and delightful window displays make it easy to decide to return again and again.

Northwest Library

In May after I made one of my then many stops at the Northwest Library, on the corner of NW 23rd Avenue and Thurman, I took this photo, facing southwest. I guess you'd call it southwest, but to me it's more west than south. Anyway, the library is in a building that the Multnomah County Library Web page says has been a pharmacy, a potter's workshop and a winery and café. It's deceptively spacious once you go through the door there on the cut-off corner of the building. Here's some info from the site, about this branch of the Multnomah County Library system: This library offers books as well as audio and visual materials, periodicals and electronic resources in English and Spanish that can be accessed on site or from a home computer. Northwest customers have access to Multnomah County Library's systemwide catalog of two million books and other library materials.

Since discovering photo-blogging, I'm not reading books as often as I used to, so it's been a while since I went to the Northwest Library or the main branch downtown. I can get to that one easily after work, from either the 15 or the 18 bus. Another reason I'm not reading as much--I fall asleep easily now without having to read. I like that, too, which really surprises me considering how much I've always loved to read.

Update: Mama slept all night! She told me early this morning when I called as I rode the bus to work, "I feel like a new woman." Isn't that grand? And Captain Fred, from our Christmas Ship Parade ride back in December on my birthday, came to visit her this afternoon. She certainly enjoyed that, especially since she'd had a good night's rest.

Gone but not forgotten

In early 2007, I noticed horse rings at the edge of neighborhood sidewalks. Empty horse rings evoked days of yesteryear, when men tied up their steeds after dismounting on the busy streets. Or they got down from their delivery wagons to tie up those hardworking draft horses so that they could make scheduled deliveries.

Then, something different happened. I saw a toy horse tied to a horse ring and got curious about what was going on. Google helped me discover that there was a movement afoot to place as many toy horses as possible, all started by a guy who moved to Portland and found the horse rings fascinating--The Horse Project, Portland, OR. People participated and then people vandalized and/or stole the horses. Thank goodness I was able to see some of this creativity for myself, but I haven't seen any since last May.

Here's the first horse I photographed on March 31, 2007, on busy NW 23rd a few blocks from our apartment. What a lovely little toy horse, standing proudly.


And here's the second one I found, also on NW 23rd. I took this photo on April 5, 2007.


Neither horse remained there for more than a week. Have you seen anything like this in your city?

Update: Mama and Duncan are holding their own very well. She's got a doctor's appointment on Tuesday morning.