Capital capitol

The Idaho capitol was recently reopened after several years of restoration. We made a short visit during the weekend to check it out.

The building was completed in 1905 and is similar in architectural style to several other state capitols with a central dome and rotunda.

 

It features columns and beautiful staircases. Some are marble; some are surfaced with scagliola - "fake marble".

In the old days, vaults were necessary to store records and other valuables.

But today, the vault has a different purpose....
:-)

Flight

Yesterday we visited one of my favorite places in the town, The MK Nature Center. It was a sunny, glorious day, perfect for a mini-getaway and for taking photos.

Two-tailed Swallowtail taking in a little lunch.  

Rose at sunset

I wish all of you a happy and beautiful 4th of July. 

It is at the edge of the petal that love waits. 
William Carlos Williams 

What's in a name? That which we call a rose 
By any other name would smell as sweet. 
William Shakespeare

Dreamy

These clouds caught my fancy. Musical, a band playing in the sky....

"Happiness is spoken here"

This neighborhood market was owned and managed for many years by a lady named Margaret. A very independent spirit, she always spoke her mind. She often had banners and signs posted addressing the politicians and policies she disagreed with.

 She also had sandwich board signs set up out front with positive sayings to greet her customers.

A few weeks ago, the store went dark. A sign on the door said it was "closed due to illness".  And in today's news was a short article saying she'd passed away. She was 95.

The market is one of the very few neighborhood markets left in Boise. But with her passing, its future is uncertain. Will it continue as a neighborhood store? Will it transform into another kind of retail store? Will it be torn down and become an apartment complex or someone's house?

I didn't know Margaret, but I hope she is in a place where "happiness is spoken".

Peonies

Lovely blooms right now.

Red against green

As seen several hours after a storm.

Tail-end of the tulips

As seen during a walk.

Cutting edge?

Saw this scene of sunlight and shadows one recent morning during breakfast, and had to take a photo.

Mean green sheen

There's a creek not too far from our house which is a haven for ducks and geese. Here's one handsome guy who sort of posed for me before sliding down the bank into the water.

For the birds

Lots of birds and birdsong now when we walk. Mourning doves, redwing blackbirds, sparrows, swallows, robins, juncos, and others I can't identify. We had a flicker (woodpecker) grazing in our lawn for a few days. A heron was browsing for fish in the creek. Finches have built nests on the awnings on the windows at my office. And the hummingbirds have returned -- our feeder has been out for a week, but today was the first time we saw them come for drinks.

Leisurely blooms

For the longest time, I didn't think the little bulbs on the end of the branches were alive. They looked kind of crusty, like leftovers from last spring. Other trees and flowers bloomed, but this tree refused. 

But, it fooled us. It was just taking its own sweet time during this cool spring we've had. And now the blossoms are sturdy and gloriously pink.

Translucence

Like delicate china. Like some people?  

Last year I read a Japanese Manga titled "Translucent", by Kazuhiro Okamoto, about a girl in her teens who discovers her body is fading, especially when she's sad, stressed, or feeling disconnected from others. During the story, she learns what it takes to make herself visible and strong. 

Of course, for these tulips, translucence is only an illusion....

Tree glyphs

Enough sunshine lately to allow trees to make their marks wherever shadows fall.

River view

Spring is slowly appearing along the Boise River (many more leaves have come out in just the past few days). For those of you who live elsewhere, the Boise River runs through town. The river level is mainly controlled through flood gates at the Lucky Peak Dam which is east of Boise. For some people, it's not "officially spring" until the flood gates are opened and the "rooster tail" of water roars into the river.  

If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water. 
 — Loren Eiseley

Brilliance

Incredible dramas in the sky lately. This one "sounds" like music, crescendo to a full, ringing chord that reverberates long after the clouds have drifted apart. Perhaps a "note" to carry on through another Monday....

Contrast

(For a friend from the UK who asked about Idaho.) Looking across a park with the foothills in the background. The park is landscaped and watered, thanks to the Boise River, irrigation canals, and the aquifer that runs under the valley. The foothills are au naturel.   (Click to enlarge the photos to see the detail)  

Here's a closer view of the foothills. They're green now because of the spring rains. But in the summer it's very hot and dry, so they turn brown, as in the photo below.  

Can't you just see a cowboy riding over the ridge? :-)

Musical questions

During moments of daydreaming (or too much wine), I wonder what kind of sound a daffodil would make if it was suddenly given musical ability? How would a chorus of daffodils sound? And what kind of music?    

Yes, it has been a looong week. Good thing tomorrow is Friday....

In bloom

The buds on the tree in the photo I posted on April 9th have finally opened.

Spring!

Shades of rose

No, roses aren't blooming yet, but it seemed right to post this today.

Truths and roses have thorns about them.
--Henry David Thoreau

Send two dozen roses to Room 424 and put `Emily, I love you' on the back of the bill.
--Groucho Marx