A sand sculpture of a train; Sand in the City; Portland, Oregon; July, 2008.

Meanwhile, out back behind the rodeo arena, the cowboys are changing clothes. The guy on the right is putting his shirt on while the guy second from right is buckling his chaps and the cowboy second from left is unbuckling his pants to take them off. Who knows what the guy on the left is getting ready to do. Perhaps see if he can find his Brokeback Mountain DVD in his bag. More detail by clicking on the thumbnail. Madras, Oregon; July, 2008.

It was county fair time here last week. This wagon full of flowers greets fair goers as they enter. This was a particularly great week for me because after twentysome years of entering, I had a photo that took Best in Show. You can see it by going to the archives and looking up the May 09, 2008 photo. Or you can just click on this one to see more flowers. Madras, Oregon; July, 2008.

Yellow flower, up close and personal. Milwaukie, Oregon; July, 2008.

Ok, last one from the OCF for a while. This is another information booth as well as a place to get out of the sun on those hot summer days. Near Veneta, Oregon; July, 2008.

You don't see too many of these guys anymore. I wonder where they all went. Oregon Country Fair, near Veneta, Oregon; July, 2008.

A side view of the rest stop at Oregon Country Fair that I posted yesterday. You can clearly see the dragon's claws, as well as the colors of the chiffon they used for the interior "skin." Near Veneta, Oregon; July, 2008.

Architecture is important at the Oregon Country Fair, as is the material the structure is made from. This is a rest stop in the shape of a dragon comprised mostly of branches and limbs. It's a place to get out of the extravaganza that is the OCF and take refuge for a bit. Inside are Asian rugs and pillows on the floor. You can see inside a little better by clicking on the thumbnail. Near Veneta, Oregon; July, 2008.

A macro shot inside a day lily. Salem, Oregon; July, 2008.

Tree Man and his Wood Nymph, Oregon Country Fair. Near Veneta, Oregon; July 2008.

Yours truly in mask. As always, more detail can be seen by clicking on the thumbnail. The rattlesnake rattles are a nice touch, dontcha think? Oregon Country Fair; near Veneta, Oregon; July, 2008.

Art is huge at the Oregon Country Fair. And as you can see, people tend to dress or undress as the weather dictates. Near Veneta, Oregon; July, 2008.

Parades are huge at the Oregon Country Fair. In fact, a parade occurs down the OCF lanes at least once per hour. This particular group reminds us of all the materials we use and then off-handedly discard. If you click on the thumbnail, you'll notice the masks are all made from some sort of plastic container or other. The woman in front has a whole video tape and plastic bag thing going, while the woman behind her on the left uses bubble wrap for her skirt and some sort of egg carton bangle in her hand, while the woman on the far right is undressed almost entirely in discarded CDs. Near Veneta, Oregon; July, 2008.

Back in 1972, Oregon author Ken Kesey's family dairy was in trouble. So he had the Grateful Dead come up from the Bay Area and do a benefit that saved the dairy. Out of that activity grew the Oregon Country Fair, which happens the 2nd weekend of July each year. It's an extravaganza of merry pranksters, hippies, and the coolest vendors of art, massage, meditation, lost or dying skills (flint knapping, wool spinning, etc.), green ideas, and excellent food. The OCF is a mardi gras of majik and fun mayhem uniquely freakish. This information booth is at one of the OCF entrances. Inside one finds lots of interesting art and specially created booths. Urban legend has it that the partying that happens when the OCF closes each evening is when the real fun occurs. (Click on the thumbnail for more detail) Near Veneta, Oregon; July 2008.

We'll end the week as we started it, with fireworks from the local July 4th display. This was taken from my front yard. (Click on the thumbnail for more detail) Madras, Oregon, July, 2008.

Here's another shot of Elvin Bishop at work. Waterfront Blues Festival, Portland, Oregon; July, 2008.

Also on the bill the day I attended the Waterfront Blues Festival was up and coming star Eric Lindell. If you haven't already purchased his song "Give It Time," I highly recommend that you do. Portland, Oregon, July, 2008.

Each year the Oregon Food Bank holds the largest blues festival west of the Mississippi River to raise funds and canned food donations for the year. For those of you who are not familiar with US geography, most of the land in the US is west of the Mississippi, so this encompasses a rather large part of the country. Anyway, without a doubt the highlight of the day I attended was the set offered up by Elvin Bishop. He practically burned the stage down. (Click on the thumbnail for more detail) Is it my imagination or is there a resemblance to Harpo Marx? And that's one very used guitar. Portland, Oregon; July, 2005.

Fireworks at the local Fourth of July celebration. (More detail by clicking on the thumbnail) Madras, Oregon; July, 2008.

Part of an art piece on the campus of Williams College called "Eyes." Williamstown, Massachusetts; August, 2007.

Icons of a confederacy wanting to keep other humans as slaves have been etched into the rock above a pond at Stone Mountain, Georgia; October, 2004.

Flowers offer up their color in downtown Victoria, BC, Canada; April, 2008.

Sunset, Sedona, Arizona, September, 2005. (Click on thumbnail for more detail)