Oregon State Fair 2017

Yesterday, Friday, was the first official day of the Oregon State Fair. As it is the $2 a person day as well, I headed out there.

Most of the features like the carnival and the vendor booth are as they always were. The Oregon Lottery booth changed things around and instead of giving scratchers out, gave out $2 in free Keno play.  When passing by another booth I was given a free vegetarian cookbook.

Dwight Yoakam performed the opening show for the fair this year. New to the concert stage was a video screen projecting the show. While others may like this feature, I found it distracting from the event. If I want to watch something on a screen I can do that at home.

Dwight Yoakam, Oregon State Fair 2017

Dwight Yoakam, Oregon State Fair 2017

For me the highlight of the fair was the Fire Show they had at 9:40 p.m. in the food court stage. Several performers played with fire on everything from stick to wing shaped objects. I sat close enough I could feel the heat at times.

Fire Show Oregon State Fair 2017

Fire Show Oregon State Fair 2017

Fire Show Oregon State Fair 2017

Fire Show Oregon State Fair 2017

Fire Show Oregon State Fair 2017

Fair is going on through Labor Day, so if you haven't gone yet, you still have a chance. Also, this coming Tuesday is another $2 day.

P.S. Be aware that if you do go, you may find creatures like these wandering around.

Dragon Running Loose at Oregon State Fair

Solar Eclipse, August 21, 2017: Path of Totality

Lucky for me I was in the path of totality for the Solar Eclipse of August 21, 2017. During my life I have seen a solar eclipse and several lunar eclipses, but never really got the full experience until yesterday when I witnessed the full totality. Now I understand why people travel to areas that will provide the full show of the eclipse.

With a tripod, my camera (a 14 mega pixel Kodak), and a pair of solar glasses, one for me, and one I cut in half and used to cover the camera lens, I got some amazing shots. When totality was reached, I took a few amazing shots without the filter, but then covered my camera lens back up. Also, when I wasn't shooting photos, I covered my entire camera with a hat for extra protection.

Here are a few raw photos I took with the camera. Nothing has been edited or enhanced other than what I could do when I set up the shot (which was basically set the camera to distance and adjust the zoom).

Solar Eclipse 2017-taken by Heather Hobson Lewis

Solar Eclipse 2017-taken by Heather Hobson Lewis

Solar Eclipse 2017-taken by Heather Hobson Lewis

Solar Eclipse 2017-taken by Heather Hobson Lewis

Solar Eclipse 2017-taken by Heather Hobson Lewis

Solar Eclipse 2017-taken by Heather Hobson Lewis

Solar Eclipse 2017-taken by Heather Hobson Lewis

Solar Eclipse 2017-taken by Heather Hobson Lewis

Backyard Archaeology: More from the Swampy Pond

The Swampy Pond has now been drained! All the treasures within have been revealed, and there were more! Unfortunately no magical unicorns were found, but on the positive side neither were any bodies.

The Swampy Pond has been drained!

The amount of stuff to be pulled out was amazing. After photographing the finds they were either cleaned or tossed. The statues from the first archeological venture will make a nice addition in the garden, as well as a bird house that was found. After cleaning what appeared to be a cage from the first finds it turned out to be a candle holder. A lovely little wind chime was found this second time around, but Boomer sneaked off with it and turned it into a chew toy, so only the chimes themselves survive.

More finds: Bird Feeder and Squirrel Number 2

Boomer's Wind Chime chew toy and Carving Knife Blade

To go with the spatula found last time, a fry pan and spoon were unearthed, as well as the blade to an electric carving knife.

Fry Pan and Spoon to go with earlier found Spatula

Once the pond was empty enough we were able to get under the deck, which proved to be its own archaeological despository.

Junk from under the Deck

Most of the items from under the deck were trash or recyclables. Apparently there is more to be dug out from under the planks, but what was found was a welcome mat, shoe, glasses, aluminum cans, and some strange screened object with a whole in it.

Happy Digs!

 

Backyard Archaeology II: The Swampy Pond

When we bought this property it came with three very old human-made ponds. Two were dry and are scheduled to be filled in with dirt and turned into giant planters. One will be kept as a pond, but first it must be drained in cleaned as it looks like a swamp.

Pond in process of being mucked out

As the draining and cleaning began many things were pulled out of this pond. Besides candy wrappers, aluminum cans and the metal part to what we assume was a stove the following items were dredged up: a girl statue, a spatula, several plant pots, a broken bird feeder, an intact cage of some sort, a turtle statue, a squirrel statue, and a light still plugged in to a timer. The mucking of the pond is continuing, as it is so deep cinder blocks have even been pulled out. I am waiting eagerly for the magical unicorn to be found.

Girl Statue and Cinder block from pond

Pond yields up Spatula, Pot, Cage, Squirrel, and a Turtle

Light with timer still attached.

As pond dredging is continuing today, I wonder what new discoveries will be found.