Rooftop Garden Friday, No. 5

Bee at work, tip-top of the lupine.



Bee be gone, to find the next blossom.

Rooftop Garden Friday, No. 4

For me, the light in this particular photo that I took last Friday, May 26, represents some of the best I've ever been lucky enough to photograph during. I'm sharing it with you straight out of the camera. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Rooftop Garden Friday, No. 3

Through the camera lens, I witnessed the wind's whimsy. Thankfully, I captured a split second of it to share with you, the blurred blossoms and the still blossoms alongside the sunlit buds on their impossibly slender and tall stems.

This rooftop garden is on the fifth floor of the six-story building where I work, the Multnomah County building. I found online that the garden covers 11,893 square feet as planted area, with a total square footage for the green roof that includes a patio and some raised beds of 15,420.

One more thing--this photo is straight out of the camera. Serendipity, brought to you by a Nikon D5100. Yea for me that it's mine to enjoy!

Rooftop Garden Friday, No. 2

Near some more of those purple flowers, I saw these golden ones. I plan to return to the rooftop garden tomorrow or the next day, depending on the weather and my allergies. I want to see if more of the golden flowers have bloomed. I hope they have!

Rooftop Garden Friday, No. 1

Flowers bloom, making shapes with their stems and blossoms. In the background, the newest bridge across the Willamette River rises. I liked the juxtaposition enough to try to get a decent photo. A blustery wind got involved, too.

Our flag flies every day at Bright

The best image I have for Memorial Day, this photo I took recently through the garage door at Bright Auto Upholstery while out and about during my lunch hour.

Timber Joey, mascot for Portland's MLS soccer team, the Portland Timbers

In honor of yesterday's Portland Timbers victory over the New York Red Bulls, I give you Timber Joey who usually has a chain saw in hand which he uses to cut a slice of a huge log every time the team scores at their home field. However, at the 2013 Polar Plunge, the Special Olympics Oregon event for Portland--when I got my first ever chance to see him in person--Timber Joey took to the Columbia River sans saw and joined lots of other folks wearing all sorts of costumes, all in support of a great cause.



Here's the first shot I got of him, dripping wet and freezing cold after he'd made the plunge. I myself never got any closer to the water than where I'm standing taking photos.



See the water dripping from that other guy's sleeve! Cold, cold, cold. I took the photo, though, so that you could see the crossed chain saws on the back of Timber Joey's shirt.

Info found on the World Wide Web about Timber Joey: Embedded in long-standing tradition, the Timbers feature a unique mascot. Free of costume, big feet or cartoon-like gimmicks, the Timbers’ mascot is a true outdoorsman. With his chainsaw in tow, Joey Webber, known by fans as “Timber Joey,” helps create a one-of-kind atmosphere at Providence Park.

The tradition of having an authentic lumberman as the club’s mascot began in the 1970s when the Timbers competed in the North American Soccer League. Leading the way was Timber Jim (Jim Serrill), who created and continued several fan-favorite traditions during his 12 seasons as the club’s mascot and icon (1978-82; 2001-07). Initially volunteering for the role, he captured the hearts of fans with his rope stunts, hanging from rafters and light poles with his revved up chainsaw in hand.

Following Serrill’s retirement in January of 2008, Webber has since carried on the club’s match-day traditions and possesses an inspirational charisma, which can bring the crowd to its feet with a quick rev of the chainsaw. A beloved Timbers match-day tradition is the sawing of a slab off a log following every Timbers goal and presenting the slice to the goal-scorer in a post-match ritual.

Webber was born and raised in the timber town of Philomath, Ore., where he attended the School of Forestry as a youth. He competed in state forestry and timber competitions and ranked in several events including pole climbing, jack double bucking, fire hose relays, axe throwing, log rolling and hot saw operation. Growing up, Webber was also a competitive rugby player and was a member of the U.S. National Rugby Team’s U-19 pool for two years (1996-97). He competed as a bare-back bronco rider in the Northwest Professional Rodeo Association from 1996-2000, and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 2000.

Webber is active in the Timbers community outreach efforts, joining players and staff in visiting hospitals, participating in charity events and is a part of a variety of other key community initiatives. When not in his trademark silver hard hat or Timbers suspenders, he operates his own construction company that specializes in concrete finishing and also serves as the security manager at a local restaurant.

An official induction ceremony for Webber, along with Serrill, took place during halftime of a Timbers exhibition match against Italy’s Juventus Primavera on June 14, 2008.

History of the log slab tradition:

“No, you can’t bring any chainsaws in the stands. Are you crazy?” That’s what former Timbers general manager Keith Williams said to Jim Serrill back in the late 1970s. At the time, little did Williams know that Serrill would become the team’s long-time icon as “Timber Jim” and that his saw would establish a unique and beloved Timbers tradition – the cutting of the “log slab.” After each goal scored by the Timbers at Providence Park, a slice is cut from the victory log behind the north goal and celebrated in a cloud of sawdust and cheered by the roar of a chainsaw and thousands of voices. The log slab is then paraded through the stands, and ultimately, presented to its rightful owner – the goal scorer – in a post-game ceremony. This time-honored tradition has helped make Timbers matches at Providence Park a one-of-a-kind soccer experience in the United States. Over the years, the players have changed, the uniforms have changed, and even the mascot has changed, but the tradition of cutting the log slab after each Timbers goal lives on, and the spirit of the “log slab” will continue to inspire Timbers fans for years to come.

March 21, 2014, 5:45 p.m., in the sunshine at Tom McCall Waterfront Park

Back when the cherry trees bloomed on a sunny, after work Friday, I took quite a few photos that I really liked over at the park. This one would be so much better if it were in focus clearly, but, still and all, I like the action captured, the bocce ball stopped in midair inches from her hand. Right now as I'm preparing this post on May 24 at 8:38 p.m. Portland time, the sun still lights the sky. I do thoroughly enjoy the extra long days we get in Portland when our weather is at its best.

Delivery bicycle shares the streets

Waiting at the traffic signal at the intersection where the east-bound exit ramp of the Hawthorne Bridge joins the surface street SE Grand Avenue before continuing as SE Hawthorne Blvd.



B-Line bicycle delivery, heading east on SE Hawthorne Blvd. In the background, you can see the public art known as Inversion: Plus Minus, by Lead Pencil Studio.



Sustainable urban delivery--pretty good tag line, if you ask me.



There he goes, making a bee line for the delivery site.

Found on their Web site, in the About tab: B-line is the missing link in the infrastructure of a sustainable city. Solving the challenges of the “last mile” of a distribution network, B-line delivers on the promise that business can be a catalyst for social and environmental change.

Bicyclist and pedestrian--interesting head-gear and hair-do choices

Once again at lunch time, someone, no, two someones, passed by and I took a photo that I like. One of the many things that I like about Portland is that you find it easy to be yourself. You can be a man and wear a colorful, striped bicycle helmet. You can be a man and wear your bleached hair, roots visible, in a topknot.

By the way, the last 10 days or so, my allergies have been hammering me, so much so that I've missed some sunny, blustery lunch hours and their attendant photo opportunities. Drat it. These allergies have been worse than any other year that I can remember in Portland, except for when we had just arrived in June, 2006.

Of sunshine and shade and stringed instruments

She pedaled through the sunshine, one musical instrument on her back, one behind her in the bicycle's basket--at least that case appears to hold another stringed musical instrument.



She pedaled into the shade, on her way west across the Hawthorne Bridge over the Willamette River. Does the green instrument in the purple backpack make you think of a banjo? To me, there seems to be a circle-ness in its shape hidden inside the backpack.

The chartreuse-colored pavement marks a dedicated bike lane.

Green at Bright's

Bright Auto Upholstery, 1611 SE 6th Avenue, often provides a vintage vehicle or two for me to photograph. On a recent lunch break I found this beauty of a pickup truck just inside the open shop door.



All sorts of circles there in the distance, all involved with the upholstery process.



I've always loved that word, Studebaker. By the way, take a good look inside the shop and see a successful small business, in operation since 1976 according to what I read on the Web. By the way, I think the green is truer in the top two photos than it is in this one.

Windy out during lunch break

Recently the parking garage across the street from my building has undergone various renovations. Since I don't drive a car to work, I'm not familiar with most of them. However this new bench attached to the (recently completed but not yet populated by plants) bioswale retaining wall is one of them which is easy to notice.

What do you think made me take these photos?

Cropped close-up. Gives you a great big clue, right? Across the street from her, I rushed up the sidewalk towards the intersection, hoping I'd get close enough to be able to stop, zoom, focus and get a decent photo of that golden, spiked backpack. Since I had noticed it before on a walk around my work building, I figured that I just might get a chance to take a photo of it another time. But, why take the chance that I'd have my Nikon in my hands? So I said to myself, "Step out, ol' lady!" With the traffic signal on my side, I caught up with her and her quirky backpack!



Co-existing successfully, the joys of city commuting. Car stopped at traffic signal, waiting to go north. Bicyclist going east, pedestrian and her fascinating backpack going west. But, how far west?



Ah, there she goes on the Hawthorne Bridge ramp. Downtown? Tom McCall Waterfront Park? This girl has options for enjoying the sunny afternoon.

I hope to see three friends walking along the street two blocks west of my building in tomorrow's Rose Festival event.

In honor of tomorrow's big Rose Festival event, the Rock'n'Roll Half Marathon, I give you the neon rose atop the Portland Rose Festival headquarters building at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, downtown Portland. That's the ticket booth for the Portland Spirit, a sightseeing cruise ship on the Willamette River. I took this photo last year on June 20, at 6:19 p.m. Overcast skies, blustery wind, a sprinkle now and then. Sort of like the forecast for tomorrow's race. I have a friend from work, Sharon, and her two daughters Jenna and Amy who are walking the race. Better women than I am. Jenna's supposed to text me so that I can walk on down to the corner and holler for them as they go by!

More from Mother's Day, 2014

Sweetheart of a subject to photograph, Rachel, my son Leland's girlfriend



Sweetheart of a photographer, my son Leland

I took these photos at Forest Park on the Lower Macleay Park Trail.

May 22, 2009--look at that sunshine!

If my allergies would leave me alone, I could have been out and about at lunch on Wednesday, May 14, 2014, and found a sight much like this one that I happened upon years earlier in downtown Portland. No kidding. It was a record-breaking 91 today here in Portland. And it should be a similar temp tomorrow. Maybe the allergies will have settled some and I can get out at lunch without ending up having a sneezing fit. If so, I'll have my camera with me.

Another sight/site seen on Mother's Day.

Trying to learn more about the settings on my camera, with the help of Leland who already knows and understands and remembers way more than I do. At this point on the walk, Balch Creek moves quickly alongside Lower Macleay Park Trail. I read this online about the creek's name: Danford Balch, after whom the creek is named, settled a land claim along the creek in the mid-19th century. After murdering his son-in-law, he became the first person legally hanged in Oregon.

Rip City.

Rip City, May 2, 2014. We won that game to advance to round two of the NBA playoffs. It looked just about the same last night at the Moda Center, before the game. We won last night and made it Blazers, 1, Spurs, 3. Therefore, we are still in it! Game five of the best-of-seven series is Wednesday in San Antonio. Go, Blazers!

Seen on my Mother's Day Hike, No. 1

Forest Park, Lower Macleay Park Trail. As I took this photo, several thoughts ran through my mind. Yea, there's the bathroom. Will I be able to keep up with these three fit young people? How close are the woods? How long will it take for the work on the NW Thurman Street Bridge to be completed? I found one answer online--the bridge will reopen in fall, 2014. (It was closed on April 1, 2014.)



A view up through the bridge-to-be in the early stages of being rebuilt.



The woods! The creek! A person on the path in the distance! We shared the trail with lots of people walking, lots of dogs, and quite a few people running.




There's a house up there, in the trees. When we saw someone walking with a paper grocery bag, I mentioned picnic to Leland. He suggested the person just might be walking home from the grocery store! Wow!

Mother's Day, 2014--a blessing.

I took this sweet photo earlier today while on a Mother's Day walk with my sons, Leland and Lamont, and Leland's girlfriend Rachel. At my suggestion, they took me to Forest Park, a public municipal park--all 5100 acres of it--in the Tualatin Mountains west of downtown Portland. On part of the Lower Macleay Park Trail alongside Balch Creek, we walked off the sidewalk and into the woods within moments. It was a treat, a real treat, to be out there with them on such a beautiful morning. As you can tell, lots of people were out and about because, when the sun comes out in Portland, that's what you do.



After walking for .85 miles (according to info I found on the Internet) one way, we turned around at the Stone House and walked back to the start. The three of them went to get the car while I waited and watched people and dogs, then we went to one of my favorite restaurants for brunch--the Bijou Cafe in downtown Portland. A very special day, all around. 



A vandalized map of Forest Park. The map is a decal applied to the plate, not enameled onto it. If it were, then the vandal or vandals would not have been able to scratch those letters on it on the upper right or to scratch off that portion of the map at the lower center. Jerk.

We Are Rip City.

We Are Rip City, spelled out in a sea of red rally towels by the artfully arranged white rally towels. Even the font is correct! Go, Blazers!

Portland Trail Blazer fan Jeff. I had noticed him outside the arena while we waited for the doors to open. After I got my Killer Burger, fries and Coca Cola, I saw him sitting at a table on the 100 level, splendidly decorated. I was tickled when he said it was OK for me to take his picture and put it on my blog! Same thing happened later on when I walked around the 300 level like I always do before the game starts and saw the young woman's Batman-shaped Batum face paint! Batum is the last name of our No. 88, Nicolas Batum, a Frenchman who is a Trail Blazer. After I made over how great the face paint was, she twisted so that I could see her other cheek, saying, "Robin's over here!" Robin Lopez is our No. 42, a comic-book lover! All of us Portland Trail Blazer fans are proud to have this dynamic duo as part of our team!

Sunny smile

Sunny day, May 23, 2009. I took this photo at 4:50 p.m. The young woman on the right smiles broadly. While I don't know what brought that smile to her face, I have to say that, in general, her smile reflects how all Portlanders feel when the sun returns. A close look makes me think that the young woman on the left has said something which caused the other young woman to break out in that sunny smile.

First visit to Disneyland, Day Two, Post No. 10

Toy Story Soldiers, what a huge surprise!

I read this online about the attraction at Disney's California Adventure:
"Operation: Playtime! With The Green Army Men. Watch the Green Army Man drive around Paradise Pier in their army Jeep, beating their drums and looking for other toys to join their cause. Eventually the jeep stops, the soldiers unpack the rest of their drums and start playing in unison. Sarge picks a few "new recruits" (kids) from the crowd and lets them get in on the act. As Sarge barks out orders, the kids and soldiers respond."



Loud fellow. He must be Sarge!



Giving orders. Yep, he's Sarge.



See what I mean? Loud. Speakers and drums.



After everything was unloaded the performance began. I can't remember much about what was said or sung because their green suits and matching green make-up mesmerized me.
 

I believe that they did have fun and entertained the people who paused to take it all in.



Seems like Sarge told the soldiers that they needed help. But, I really cannot remember for sure. Have you been there in 2014? Do you remember the show?



Sarge must have asked for volunteers to join in the activity. Why else would those kids be raising their hands?



They drew a crowd and I do see some kids dancing around with them. Success!