Vacation, Day 7, 10/27/2009, Part 2

I have heard that standard poodles are way smart. These two certainly look it, perched as they are in the driver's seat. Their people must have been buying gas for the motor home. I can't remember for sure--I just know I couldn't resist taking the photo.


There is no telling, absolutely no telling, what Mama's saying here. She's a hoot, so I'll wager it was funny!

Kay, Mama, Milton, Aunt Baker.

As we made our way towards Alabama, I decided to take photos here and there as I noticed something or other that grabbed my attention. Here you go--some won't need much explanation, some might, some will. I took these photos from the truck, through the windows, so I've decided to boost the color on each of them.

Almost to the Alabama, Mississippi line.


Just over the line. Who'd ever guess there'd be another way to spell Utah?


They make Mercedes Benz just off I 20, between Birmingham and Tuscaloosa.


Kudzu, the bane of the South. Here are some nicknames I found for it on Wikipedia: "foot-a-night vine," "mile-a-minute vine," and "the vine that ate the South" (of the United States).

Historic Belmont Firehouse

On a big time rainy Saturday several months ago, the Architectural Heritage Center hosted an hour and a half lecture on Portland's Firehouses, complete with a superb PowerPoint and two experts to talk in support of the photos we saw. Afterwards we had the opportunity to visit the Historic Belmont Firehouse in Southeast Portland on the corner of SE Belmont and SE 35th. I bundled up, caught the bus and made it there before the fireman came to open the doors. So much rain meant no outdoors photos, but I took lots of them inside. A couple for you are right here.

From the sign nearby: This 1860 hand-drawn hose cart was built in Portland by John Honeyman & Co. Hoses were brought to the fire on a separate hand- or horse-drawn card. Different size and types of hose served different purposes. Hard-sided (always round) could draw water from the source. Soft-sided (flat when empty) was carried by firefighters to attack the fire.


Members of the Sellwood Volunteer Company pose with their hand-pulled hose cart and ladder truck.



From the signs nearby: An 1860 Jeffers hand pumper was ordered for volunteer Columbian Engine Company #3 on August 19, 1859, and received on October 14, 1860. Public subscription raised $1,500 for the engine. The final cost, with shipping from New York by sea, was $3,099.91. Portland's Jeffers side-stroke hand pumper was purchased by the City of Portland for the Columbian Engine Company #3 in 1860. This simple engine used manually operated piston pumps to force water through a nozzle. It took about 30 people to pump 160 gallons per minute.

Vacation, Day 7, 10/27/2009, Part 1

The day has dawned! The day I join Milton and Kay again, along with their grandson Ian, for our trip to Talladega. So here we have photos of goings on at Aunt Baker and Uncle JL's before we got in her car for the ride to meet them at the Pelahatchie exit on I-20 East.

On the left, Raphael. On the right, Squirt, the turtle who joined the family when "Finding Nemo" had come out. See the Squirt toy in Raphael's box? That's where I got the name for him.


Ginger in her favorite spot on the back porch. My Daddy made that seat, and two more like it, from VW bucket seats attached to plastic milk crates.


Isn't their home lovely?


On the way out of town, we passed Puckett's hamburger joint--it wasn't open that early in the day.


Pretty countryside, from Aunt Baker's car.


My lunch, while we waited for their arrival in the parking lot of the truck stop.


Here they are! Kay's truck pulls the "toy hauler." You will not believe what is inside that we will eventually unload outside, then move a day later!

A. E. Doyle's Bank of California Building, 1924

On the corner of SW 6th and SW Stark, stands another of my favorite downtown Portland buildings. I'm partial to Portland's prolific architect of yesteryear, A. E. Doyle.




Huge windows. Tiny pedestrians, in relation to the huge windows. Notice the public art? It's part of the Transit Mall's collection.




Notice the Benson bubbler, to the right between the public art and the tree?



The Z marks the transit stop near that corner.




You'll see this same intricate light fixture on a different Doyle building.

From Wikipedia, but I need to add that the sign on the building is not for The Bidwell & Company. It says Three Kings. I couldn't find anything about Three Kings, Portland, at that address. Anyone know anything?

The Bank of California Building or also The Bidwell & Company Building, is a historic two-story building in downtown Portland, Oregon. Since 1978, it has been on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is currently vacant.

This location was the site of the first Portland Central Library, which moved to its present site in the early 1920s. The Bank of California saw the lot as fit to build a Portland branch and hired local notable architect A.E. Doyle to design it. Doyle's chief designer Charles K. Green had traveled abroad to study Greco-roman architectural forms in the 1910s. The result of his research resulted in three Italianate buildings, of which the Bank of California Building was the first. The others were the Chicago/Italianate Pacific Building and the Public Service Building, an early skyscraper. The exterior lights on the Public Services Building are of the same design of those on the Bank of California Building.

The Bank of California remained at this site for 50 years until moving a couple of blocks west to the Union Bank of California Tower. The building underwent an intensive renovation in 2000.

Vacation, Day 6, 10/26/2009, Part 3

Aunt Baker is my Daddy's baby sister. Since I can remember, she's been beyond special to me. For Mama, she's the sister she never had. Visiting with her and Uncle JL was a highlight of our vacation. Our plan was for Mama to stay there from 10/26 until I returned from Talladega and the NASCAR race a week later--we'd both continue to experience Southern hospitality at its best during the coming days.

Here's Aunt Baker, on the house phone.--she's got a cell phone and is on a family plan with us which allows us to talk daily. We're at their kitchen table, our usual spot for sitting, visiting with each other, sharing memories, a truly wonderful time together, just as we always experienced when there.


The delicious supper Aunt Baker prepared--chicken dumplings, green beans with potatoes, rolls, iced tea.


Meet Raphael, quite the old turtle, who has been with Aunt Baker since the days of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. You see, back then she got three turtles, one for each grandson. They lived on the kitchen counter in a 9x13 glass baking dish. The other two met their demise at some point, I don't know when or how or what their names were. How did she know Raphael was the sole survivor? I'm not sure. But survive he did, graduating over the years to ever larger containers for his home.


When Aunt Baker gets him out of his home, he walks the linoleum and the carpet, often sitting in sunlight that hits the carpet inside the patio doors. I can't count the number of times I've come through the back door and been greeted by Raphael coming toward me. Or been followed down the hall to the bathroom. He goes right in and stops, waiting until I'm done, then follows me back into the kitchen. I always say, "Hi, Raphael" and "Raphael, you want to go to the bathroom with me?" One time, years ago, Aunt Baker had put a pair of one grandson's just-washed shoes into the dryer. Naturally, they clunked. I looked towards the dryer after a few minutes and saw Raphael in front it, looking up! I guess he wondered what all the commotion was.


Their other special, lovely pet is Ginger, the Golden Retriever.


Uncle JL had worked hard all day at the grocery store, so I didn't stick the camera in his face. You'll see him soon.

Vacation, Day 6, 10/26/2009, Part 2

On this particular Monday Mama and I planned to head for Puckett, to visit Aunt Baker and Uncle JL. After that good lunch and spending some time with those good friends, I stopped to take a few photos on the way south.

My absolute, all-time favorite independent bookstore in the whole, entire world is Lemuria Books upstairs in Banner Hall on I-55 North in Jackson. If you've been to Lemuria, you'll realize that I have not overdone the hyperbole.

I vividly remember my first time inside those shelf-lined walls that you can see through the doors and windows. At first content to merely stand in awe of their numbers, I slowly toured each nook and cranny, thinking, "Oh, my. look at all of these books I could get my hands on!"

Here, in fact, is a close-up of the hand holding an open book, the massive sculpture above the upstairs main door.

If you're looking for a specific book, be sure to contact Lemuria by phone or go click on the link I provided--at that link be sure to take a look at About and the FAQ for some great insight into the store, the staff, and the man behind it all, John. Back to your search for a particular book, the hey'll try really hard to find it for you and then will ship it to you, beautifully wrapped in brown paper. For me, it's a totally special way to get a desired book.

This is not a giant igloo. It's Jerry’s Catfish House on Highway 49 South near Florence, Mississippi. We didn't get to stop this time, but in the past we've enjoyed ourselves there.


Also near Florence, the white fences of The Piney Woods School.


We're getting close to Aunt Baker's and Uncle JL's!

Vacation, Day 5, 10/25/2009, Part 4

We got to meet my nephew's dog, Hooch, before we went to eat supper with my nephew, his girlfriend, her little girl, and my brother and his wife. Hooch weighs 90 pounds!


Pretty good BBQ here at The Haute Pig.


Here's my tasty meal, pulled pork and fries.


The decor near the door.

Happy Valentine's Day ... and it's the Daytona 500 in a couple of hours! Whooeee!

The Sign Wizards provided the perfect photo opportunity for my Valentine's Day post.

Public Art on the Portland Mall

The renovated transit mall downtown includes lots of sculpture, some new, some that was there before the renovation. I've been taking photos of some of it, as I come upon it while walking either on SW 5th or SW 6th Avenues.

This is part of the original collection. I took the photo on June 22, 2009, thus the bright sunshine and the green leaves on the trees.

Located on SW 5th, between SW Ash and SW Pine, "Untitled," by John Killmaster, 1977. It is made from Cor-ten steel and porcelain enamel.

Polar Plunge Pix

I volunteered to take photos for the Oregon Special Olympics Polar Plunge fund raiser on Jan. 30. Lots and lots of folks raised lots and lots of money by splashing their way into the Columbia River at the 42nd Street Boat Ramp. That's where the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office has a River Patrol office, and they let me ride on one of their boats to take the photos! How lucky for me because I had a splendid view. Plus I got to hear lots and lots of squeals as various folks realized just how cold the water felt.

Unfortunately I don't know the identity of any of the groups, but I can tell you that this is a shot of most of the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office plungers, employees and family members I was told. See the man in the orange vest? He's the sheriff--I've seen him on TV.


More photos soon of costumes, splashes, and smiles!

Who dat? It's me, on Super Sunday!

My partially homemade Saints' hat! After adding the signs to my favorite maribou feather headband, I had achieved my jubilant desire. Then I boosted the golden-ness of it on Picnick so that you could feel the aura it creates atop my head.

Now Serving, The Alibi

My alibi for having gone missing--last Saturday I got to take photos for the Special Olympics Polar Plunge on the Columbia River. And I got to take them while standing on a Multnomah County Sheriff's Office River Patrol Boat! Thank you so much! Naturally I took loads and loads of photos. My little ol' computer is just about worn out with downloading and uploading. But I figured I owed it to the 100's of people brave enough to run into that cold water; I wanted them to have a chance to see their faces as they gave up being warm, all to raise around $140,000 for a great cause.

Anyway, here's something new for you to enjoy!

I adore this sign combo!


I took this photo on a December, Saturday, as Leland and I drove by in the Buick, a couple of hungry folks on the prowl on Interstate Avenue. As I snapped the photo, I said, "Leland, the sign says lunch! Let's try here!" Turned out to be a brilliant decision. We went there again Saturday before last.


My lunch on our second visit, a really tasty, juicy, meaty hamburger on a skillfully toasted bun, served with the crispiest waffle flies I've ever eaten. Well, to tell you the truth, I had waffle fries with a different burger back in December, so this is the second time that I've eaten them.


The decor rocks at The Alibi.
Looking across the room from our table




A closer view of the hula dancers on the wall in the other dining area


Behind the bar




The menu


A chair, table, palm tree with lights, and the simulated rock wall


Leland at the exit--it's a curved, 3-D, bamboo shape

Can I interest you in a cut or a shave?

Bart's Barbershop, 518 SE Morrison, ground floor of the Weatherly Building.

I boosted the color about 40% at Picnick. Made it all more vibrant.