Oregon State Fair #7

Mutton Bustin' -- Children get to 'bull ride' a sheep and try to stay on for 6 seconds. Kids as young as 2 were riding (with assistants on both sides holding them on). This boy wanted to go 'solo' and rode like he's done this before. They all got a rousing applause and a blue ribbon.

Oregon State Fair #6

Johnny Cash at the State Fair? No, but this is Brandon Cash (no relation). He sounds very much like Johnny and has a natural likeness to him as well. Brandon does a 'tribute' concert, rather than an impersonation. The crowds loved him. My favorite? ...because you're mine, I walk the line...

Oregon State Fair #5

Dads today. Aren't they great!

Oregon State Fair #4

The garden area of the State fairgrounds is a welcome place to stroll among the flowers and sit a spell. A wine garden, one-room schoolhouse, outdoor cooking demonstrations (with free samples), Peruvian Pan Flute music and Bocce! Related to Boules frequently seen played in Paris, Bocce is played in a sort of contained court. There is even a Bocce League in Salem!

Oregon State Fair #3

Thomas Southern, the chef of Northwest Heritage Pork serves up some delicious pork, slow-cooked over an open fire all afternoon each day at the Fair. People start lining up at 5:30 for a free sample of this carnivores' delight. The booth is across from the poultry building, where they serve pulled pork, spicy sausage, and hot dogs all made from their own recipes. Their pigs, 200-300 per week, are raised on their farm in nearby Dayton. Thomas explained that the animals are raised "free-range", and no antibiotics, growth promotants or nitrates are used. Their meat products are sold only at farmers markets -- Wednesday Market in downtown Salem, Thursday Market in McMinnville, and Saturday Market at Portland State University.

Oregon State Fair #2 - Among the Tractors

Yes Wayne, unlike Boise, we have tractors! Nice shiny new beauties on display at the State Fair. One fellow was climbing around with a glazed-over, dreamy look. You can't see his wife standing beside the tractor, with a somewhat different expression on her face.

Oregon State Fair #1 - Among the Quilts

There was lots of interest Sunday among the quilts displayed and hung around the perimeter of the Jackman-Long building, as voting was in progress for the Peoples Choice Award.

Tomorrow, a special photo for Wayne of vancouverbcphoto.blogspot.com.

Falling Water

This beautiful water feature is in front of a commercial complex on Hawthorne north of Costco.

Mill Creek Station

This cafe always has these gorgeous hanging baskets of petunias. On Hawthorne just south of State St.

Sunny Spot

A lovely sunny spot among the roses on the Willamette University campus.

Alley art

Found in the alley of the Book Bin on Court St. in the historic downtown district.

Nets for Laos

Michu Uaiyue's native Akha dress made her stand out in downtown Salem. Michu is from Laos and was promoting awareness of the rampant malaria in her home country and how providing insecticide-treated netting helps save lives. She, along with Matthew McDaniel, hope to raise enough funds to purchase 10,000 such nets to distribute. According to their literature, cerebral malaria in northern Laos is "pf" malaria, which attacks the brain. Childhood mortality is close to 50% in northern Laos for children under 5. Studies have shown the effectiveness of the nets in decreasing the number of deaths.

Beware

I don't know who's idea this was, but it can be a little disconcerting when unexpected. Lurking downtown in the alley around the corner from Whitlock's on Court St.

Rose Corner

Driving through the Highland neighborhood, I spotted this gorgeous display of roses wrapping around a corner lot.

Sychronized Walking

8.5, points deducted for slightly turned head position, and cellphone arm up, but their lower torsos merit a 10! (Too much Olympics watching). At McGrath's Fish House by the Chemeketa Parkade downtown.

Western Swallowtail

In 1979 the legislature designated the Oregon Swallowtail (Papilio oregonius) as Oregon’s official insect. I thought this was one, but after examining several other photos, I believe it is a Western Tiger Swallowtail. Still pretty cool.

This Way to Verona

The distance between Salem and Verona (IT) is approximately 5596 miles or 9006 kilometers ( in a straight line). However, this sign is pointing to what used to be Verona Studio on the lower level of the Reed Opera House in the downtown district. I like the light and shadows on the painted brick.

Breyman Fountain

The Breyman Fountain, donated by Mr. and Mrs. Werner Breyman in 1904, is located at the far west end of Willson Park, west of the Capitol. It was used as a watering trough for horses. There originally was a decorative statue and street lamps on the top. According to the Salem Public Library, the statue has been gone for many decades, but the fountain is believed to be a memorial to the Spanish-American War.

You can see a photo at the above link of the original fountain with the statue, taken in 1905 and with the old Capitol which burned in 1935 in the background.

The fountain is now used as a planter, no longer as a water trough.

Field Burning

Grass seed farmers burn their fields after harvest to kill off weed seeds and plant diseases. There has long been a controversy over the effect of the smoke especially on people with asthma or other respiratory disease. Gov. Ted Kulongoski will ask the 2009 legislature to phase out field burning in the Willamette Valley by 2016. Burning limits would be cut back starting in 2009, followed by further reductions until the practice is phased out in 2016.

According to a FAQ sheet issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), "Field burning disposes of leftover straw and stubble on fields after grass seed harvesting. It controls weeds, insects and plant diseases which helps maintain grass seed purity, reduces use of pesticides and herbicides, and improves yields. Alternatives to field burning are currently practiced throughout the Willamette Valley. These include crop rotation, chemical applications, straw removal and propane flaming."

In 1988 a change in the wind caused a cloud of smoke to drift over Interstate 5, decreasing visibility which caused a 23-vehicle pileup that left seven dead and 38 injured.

Cafe

I love the way this looks like the setting of an inviting street cafe, but this was actually taken inside the historic Reed Opera House located on the SW corner of Liberty and Court Sts. The building was opened for business in 1869 and is now a unique shopping mall with specialty stores, several cafes and restaurants.

Oregon Firefighters

Governor Ted Kulongoski ordered all flags at public institutions to be flown at half-staff from sunrise Monday, August 11, 2008 through sunset Friday, August 15, 2008 in memory of the eight Oregonian firefighters and crew who lost their lives August 5th in the helicopter crash in northern California.

“Year after year we depend on these committed individuals to protect our homes, our communities and our forests in the face of an unpredictable, unrelenting Mother Nature. Their dedication to this precarious job serves us all,” said Governor Ted Kulongoski. “For the families and communities that have lost a loved one, our thoughts and prayers are with you. We are forever indebted to you and to those who gave their lives bravely helping others.”

The helicopter crashed while on duty fighting the Iron Complex of fires in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The crash claimed the lives of seven Grayback Forestry employees and injured three others. The two pilots, employees of Carson Helicopters, also were Oregonians. One was killed and the other injured. A U.S. Forest Service employee from California also died in the crash.

Photo at the Marion County Corrections facility on Aumsville Hwy. SE.

Salem 'Plage'

Not exactly along the Seine, but Salem kids had a lot of fun on Court St. The 'beach' was part of the Summer in the City held this weekend in the downtown historic district.

Tis' the Season

Wild blackberries grow in abundance around here. We picked a few along our fence early in the morning. There must be 100 times as many yet to ripen. These ended up in a cobbler, served warm with whipped cream!

Clever

Guess what this is used for?

Charles Sprague Memorial Fountain

This fountain toward the north end of the Capitol Mall park, north of the Capitol also appears to be a good place for cooling off, though it looks like it could do some real damage to a human body.*

According to the Oregon State University library website, a national competition, made possible by a bequest from former Oregon Governor Charles Sprague (1939-43), was won by Weltzin Blix. His sculpture is 85' long by 20' high of welded bronze weighing 15,000 lbs. It was completed in 1980. Mr. Blix was a teacher of sculpture, ceramics and drawing at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon until his retirement in 2002.

*Edit: I was not aware of it at the time, but actually, this is a prohibited activity.

Oregon Administrative Rule 125-075-0005 Use of the Capitol Mall Area Parks and Grounds states:

• ..."(c) For the purposes of City Code 94.110, no bathing, wading or swimming shall be allowed in fountains, water displays or systems, with the exception of the Wall of Water Fountain on the Capitol Mall Plaza, in front of the Capitol Building, where wading is allowed; "...

It pays to look back sometimes

This mural depicting a Pacific Northwest scene is on the south side of a store on Commercial St. between Court and State Sts. Commercial is a one-way street going south which probably explains why I never noticed it before. The 'rock' underneath the boy bares the signature of muralist Abram Heard, dated 1998. It's in fairly good shape after 10 years in direct sun. (The white squares are signs which state who may park in the adjacent lot.)

Cooling Off

The geyser fountain known as the Wall of Water is a favorite of kids on a hot summer day. This is on Court Street across from the main entrance of the Capitol.

First Garden Harvest

Unfortunately it wasn't harvested by me. This is the downside of having deer visiting your property. In spite of netting, barricades and obstacles, she managed to desecrate our little garden in one night raid. She not only ate the leaves, but all the little baby zucchini! And look what she did to our tomato plants. Omnivores that we are, my husband is ready to start hunting season a little early...(not really!)

Historic Building

According to the Oregon Historic Photograph Collections of the Salem Public Library, the Capitol National Bank Tower was built in 1880. It was refaced in 1892 with stone, and the two carved stones at the top -- CNB on the left and 1892 on the right -- were added at that time. The upper windows still have the small panes of colored glass. The building on North Commercial St. is on the National Register of Historic Places and is now home to Globe Travel. I love that this same facade has graced this building for 116 years.

Pet Beds

I found these adorable pet beds at the Salem Saturday Market, held in the state 'green parking lot' (the paved one), corner of Summer and Marion Sts. (free parking in the 'yellow' lot across the street--the gravel one). These were made by Debbie Dougall of West Salem. She has sizes for larger cats and small dogs, even for tiny "teacup"-sized dogs in many delightful colors and patterns. See her website - Jonah's Pet Beds. Cats that we've had in the past always preferred any cardboard box I brought home, but these sure look cozy.

August Theme Day "Metal"

Today is City Daily Photo Theme Day, and for August the theme is 'metal'.

This is the "Eco Earth Globe" at Riverfront Park in downtown Salem. It began life as a large pressurized tank, known as the "acid ball", used by Boise Cascade for their paper mill operation. The steel ball, 26 feet in diameter, was built in Portland in 1960 and pushed by tugboat up the Willamette River to the former mill site. The mill was closed in 1982 and the property acquired by the City. The 22-acre parcel was opened as Riverfront Park in 1996.

Two-inch ceramic tiles were attached to the ball ( 86,115 in total ) to form the continents and seas and 200 ceramic icons, which were created by students and professional artists.

More info from Blue Mountain Eagle News, authors, Theda Damon Weatherford and Heather Sheedy. Read the complete article <here>.

You can view thumbnails for all participants of this month's City Daily Photo Theme Day. There are 183 blogs taking part around the world.