#262 Shiny

The shiny bell rang intermittently while the names of 251 fallen, captured, and MIA Idahoans were read. A shiny bugle playing taps always gets my attention. I'm glad the two vets stayed in the photo.Although I surely don't want to "own" a war, the Viet Nam War is my war, and also belongs to all Baby Boomers. Even if we didn't get drafted or lose someone close, it was featured every night for dinner (TV news) for many years. I quit watching. Not only do I pray we never get desensitized to the horrors of war, I pray we (all humans) start yelling, "Enough! No More War." What is it good for? NOTHING. War is unhealthy for children and other living things.

#177 Metallic

It's a windy Memorial Day ceremony at the metallic Idaho Viet Nam Memorial in Freeman Park, Idaho Falls. A veteran is reading some of the two hundred fifty-one names of fallen, captured and MIA soldiers from Idaho.

#318 The Letter Q

Quakies by Jessica Benson, another bench in the "Art You Can Sit On" collection. I'm not sure what this represents. "Quakies" is another name for aspen trees but I don't get the connection. Anyway, the seats are comfy enough, the view is great, and the water fowl don't seem to mind.

The Idaho Falls LDS Temple is in the background.

#142 Heavy

This bench has gotta be heavy since it is solid cement. Mosaic tiles spell "Idaho" on the back of the bench, "Falls" on the seat. The armrest makes it even more inviting!

Idaho Potato by Javier Baez Armenta, part of the "Art You Can Sit On" series.

#130 Glowing

The bird perched on the branches of this "Art You Can Sit On" looks like it is glowing. Created by Robert Carter, Into the Woods was dedicated on May 20 with eight other new benches in the Idaho Falls Greenbelt. The Snake River is in the background.

View from the front. Now all of it looks like it is glowing.

#116 Friendships

Making friends at the Farmer's Market on a cloudy Saturday morning.

#183 Motion

I brake for geese!

This "nursery worker" is on a mission and in motion, guiding the goslings to a safer location away from pedestrians and automobiles. You can tell she isn't the mother of all the little ones as the last one in the group is smaller than her cousins. So cute.

#123 Fuzzy

These fuzzy goslings are growing fast. I love watching the nursery workers. A group of 4-5 adults gather the young ones in groups of twenty or more and protect against human encroachers with bobbing necks and, occasionally, outstretched wings. Other times they quickly waddle towards the nearest body of water. Being this close to wildlife is so exciting to me!

#144 Hiding

There is alotta water in the Snake River this spring. While nothing compared to the Mississippi floods, this is unusual in my experience. The walking path in the green belt is HIDING under water. Unless you have your waders, you'll have to walk in the street for awhile and have your picnic on higher ground!

PS: There doesn't seem to be any danger to homes or businesses here in Idaho Falls. Other locations - uncertain. Lots of excitement for white water people, though. They love it.

#229 Prickly

This low-growing, purple-tinged Prickly Pear cactus almost caught me! Stay on the trail or diligently watch where you are walking! I used to think Prickly Pear was "special" to Arizona but recently read that it is indigenous to all the Western states. I still don't understand why people plant it on purpose!

#268 Slam on the Brakes

I almost passed Mr. Tin Man but slammed on the brakes to capture him. He was all by him self on the side of the road. Someone was creative with miscellaneous metal pieces and duct tape!

#306 The Letter E

An easy one and a half mile walk on a paved trail led me to this spot to view the EVEL Knievel Snake River Canyon jump site. It was his second choice for a canyon jump as the government would not let him try the Grand Canyon. The jump took place on September 8, 1974 but was unsuccessful as the parachute deployed too early. He landed in the canyon on the river's edge with minor injuries. A Google search will give you more details than you thought possible or necessary.I am not a thrill-seeker, extreme sport girl, or a motorcycle rider. But I vaguely remember this event and couldn't pass the chance to see what I could see. It was a lovely day for a hike.

#319 The Letter R

At the Shoshone (pronounced sho-sho-nee) Falls on the Snake River near the city of Twin Falls, Idaho, God gave me a RAINBOW.

It's still spring runoff time and there is "alotta" water.

#323 The Letter V

Across the road from yesterday's guard tower is the V-shaped Rock Garden at the Minidoka Internment National Historic Site. The meaning of the "V" is not certain but speculated that it stands for "victory." It seems the Japanese internees were determined to carve some beauty into the otherwise dusty, deserty, hot, not-at-all-like-their-home-in-the-northwest environment.

If you google-map "Hunt, Idaho", switch to satellite mode and enlarge as much as possible. You will see the V-shaped garden and the structures across the road. A very large canal flows to the south of the camp.

#241 Remembrance

Minidoka Internment National Historical Site, Camp Hunt, Minidoka Relocation Center - by whatever name it is called, it stands as a REMEMBRANCE of a dark time in our nation's history when the Bill of Rights was set aside and didn't apply to certain citizens.

The camp is located about ten miles northeast of Jerome, Idaho. These are the only structures left standing. The map below gives a better perspective as to how large an area the camp covered. The tall tower in the back was part of the guard tower. The small building in front was the visitor center.

Each of the ten camps established by President Roosevelt's decree built an honor roll listing the residents who enlisted and served in the American Army. Amazing that they didn't let their grief at losing homes and being treated as enemies harden their hearts toward their country. I think this is a photo of an outdoor billboard that no longer exists. The American-Japanese Army unit is renown for its bravery and patriotism during World War II.

Although this camp should be an embarrassment to our history, perhaps it will remind us that this should not happen again, regardless of an American citizen's racial ancestry.

Please refer to the link for more details about this camp.

Minidoka Internment National Historical Site

#232 Raindrops Keep Falling

This was the highest gas price I've seen in Idaho so far. Good thing I didn't need to fill up as it was pouring and my windshield wipers were working overtime.

#349 Vehicle

Transportation of choice for the 19th century western migration. They give a whole new meaning to downsizing.

#193 Natural Framing

I love old fences and old cabins. Blue skies made it perfect.

#164 Landscape

This time of year (early May) the western high desert is green, but only for a couple of weeks. I was pleasantly surprised during my first visit to the City of Rocks, expecting it to be dusty. Gorgeous country and worthy of a longer stay and a couple of hikes, maybe even overnight camping! Warning! None of the roads to, through, or out of the Reserve are paved.

City of Rocks is supposedly the most favorite rock climbing destination, second only to Yosemite. Granite has its advantages. No climbers this early, however.

There is still some snow in the higher elevations making a pretty background for the entrance sign.

#18 Beneath

Between the time of snow melt in the spring and when the farmers open the canals for irrigation, the Snake River has lotsa water which hides the river rocks beneath the surface.

To contrast, this photo was taken in the autumn when the water flow is not quite so grand. The white building in the background is the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.

#353 Water

Spring run-off makes for exciting waterfall viewing at Twin Falls.

Water spray makes me think of nature dancing.

Downstream (looking west) Snake River Canyon.

#167 Leading Lines

Train station at Valley Forge Village. This was built after George Washington wintered here. The Schuylkill River (not shown) is to the right of the photo. I can imagine how pretty it is here when everything is green. Not so much in the winter, especially without adequate clothing, food, and interior climate control.

#212 Overcast

Philadelphia skyline from the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum on a cloudy, rainy day.

#149 House/Home

Betsy Ross House, Philadelphia.

#240 Religion

Easter Sunrise Service, April 24, 2011, Snake River Landing, Idaho Falls, Idaho.

The Lutherans (ELCA) and Disciples of Christ gather at the river on a freezing but not windy or snowy Easter morning to celebrate the resurrection.

We have portable music! It was not easy to play guitar with frozen fingers. They were troopers!

The rising sun shines on rejoicing faces.

The pastor blesses the cup while the pelicans adorn our background.

Participants celebrate by partaking of the Eucharist/Communion/Lord's Supper.

#284 Statue

I was privileged to attend a special reception at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. We wandered through the Center to our hearts content with plates of chocolate covered strawberries and background (live) music. The room of Constitution signers was most fascinating to me. Each statue was identified with name and state by a plaque on the floor. The room was crowded so I was glad to get these shots with minimum "real" people in them. This is a must-see when you go to Philadelphia.

Benjamin Franklin, of course.

The gold man intently listening to the conversation is a "pretend" statue. You should have seen him downstairs later when he charmed the ladies and boogied with the best of them.

Go here for more information regarding the 42 statues in the room.

#3 Airborne

Cyclists and skateboarders share the skateboard park. This grownup "twirled" his bike twice before landing on the narrow space. All the guys (no girls to be seen) on wheels - two and four - were warming up for a competition on this gorgeous spring Saturday.

#40 Cement

A lot of cement was used to create the skate board park in Tautphaus Park, Idaho Falls, Idaho. As one adult man put it, "Why didn't they have these when we were kids?"

#265 Six

Lots of farm produce storage!

#205 On a Farm

John Deere and farmer get the fields ready for planting. Could be potatoes. Could be hay.

#358 Wheels

The Philadelphia Belle was docked for the winter but will soon be back in service ferrying tourists across the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

#314 The Letter M - Magic

The Philadelphia's Magic Gardens on South Street was a serendipitous find, as it wasn't on any of my tour guide or must-see lists. The photos don't do any justice to this grand display of broken things. Please peruse the web site for more photos and information. Public art abounds!