Sign at Farmers Market Saturday

I just had to take a photo of this sign. . .

Monkey Business. . .

I was fascinated at this guy's ability to create things from balloons at the Farmers Market. I watched while he made one for a little girl. It cost her $4.00.

Yup, FALL has arrived!!!!!!!!!

The sun was shining brightly on the leaves on this tree when I took this photo. It was a closeup but not a macro. I must have moved because the background is blurred BUT I kinda like it anyway. Be sure to CLICK on it to enlarge and see the details oh so much better!

More signs of Autumn . . .

Only a few trees are starting to turn colors. . . when the trees at the downtown park turn colors and fall, THEN it is really autumn in full force here. I am finding more seed pods tho. . .

Belltower from the Rose Garden

I was checking out the roses that are still blooming the other day and saw this view of the bell tower and liked it peeking through the trees above the roses.CLICK on to enlarge.

Farewell 104th!

CLICK on to enlarge to read about them. This sign is on the parade grounds of the Historic Reserve operated by the National Park Service.CLICK on it to read the backgroudn information about the 104th!

Last Saturday, it rained "cats and dogs" but even so, our city held a party for the 104th Division of the US Army Reserve. It was a going away party and to celebrate their years of service here in Vancouver. They will be headquartered in Tacoma now.First, there was a free Pancake Breakfast followed by the official ceremony for saying goodbye to the 104th that had served us so well for over 150 years.
The colorguard standing at attention just before the national anthem was sung. The American flag was still in position while the two other flags dropped a notch during the song.

After the band played, there were speeches from the Mayor and other dignitaries. Then, the ceremony followed as my photos show below.
The band moved off the field so they could play for the entire parade.
The jeeps got in line. . .
Jeeps followed the color guard off the field. . .


Followed by some of the 104th Division of the US Army Reserves. . .

Anyone who had served in the Army Reserves or other military were honored with a medal and then marched out (past us) with the 104th to show departure from Vancouver Barracks. The disabled Vets got to receive their medals and then were escorted back to their reserved seats under the tent shelter (where I was also lucky enough to find a spot.)
The band played patriotic songs the whole time. . .
and they were the last to leave the parade grounds, a symbol of the 104th departure from Vancouver forever.

Afterwards, there were booths to see displays and have fun and eat if you chose to buy something also. One booth in particular had 8 large display boards with photos from the 104th reserve's service all over the world, including WW2. It was very impressive. I asked the reservist who put it together if it would get published into a booklet that we could buy but he said there were no immediate plans and the boards would go to Tacoma and be on display there. It is too bad that a copy could not be placed in our museum here.

Rain beauty . . .

CLICK on any of these to see the raindrops close up and some almost falling off their subject!

It rained really hard this past week on a couple days and this is the result from the last rain on Saturday when I went to the Farmers Market and caught these with my camera. . .




Lots of different sizes of water droplets on this pink one!


I especially like the water droplet near the center that is almost ready to fall off and the one near the bottom petal that is snug in place. CLICK to enlarge and enjoy it also!.

The raindrops are like magnifying glasses on this one as they show the veins in the leaf so well.You will definitely want to enlarge this one by CLICKing on it.

New Sunflowers just before Fall arrives!

Saw these blooming just a few blocks from my apartment in front of a restaurant.

Look what I found!

Our city park downtown has a water play area where water runs over stones and sprays too. It is a fun way to cool off for any age but mostly, one sees children playing in it. No kids playing in the water this day. . . just a rainbow! No matter where I moved to, it seemed to follow me!

*******ALL FINISHED -- 25 in all!********
CLICk to enlarge and see colors better.

Flower in a tree. . .

No idea what kind of flower this is but there were several blooming in this particular tree in front of an old church downtown Thursday. If you know what it is, please let me know.

Anthem Park show . . .

I walked through the little park near my apartment Thursday and spotted these blowing in the breeze... Don't you agree that they are beautiful? CLICK on them to enlarge and see the details.

They just keep blooming!

I am not sure of the type of flower this is but I took it Thursday and there are still buds on the plant so it must bloom late summer/early fall.

Storm's a comin' . . .

It wasn't long after I took these last week that we got a torrential rainstorm and I was soaked even tho I had an umbrella