This WWII-era bomber was on display at our air show over the weekend. (Click on the photo to better see Betty Grable) Madras, Oregon; August, 2011.

This--(using God-like broadcasting voice) WALL OF FIRE!!!! is what the two planes in yesterday's posted photo flew through (or in front of--no one could tell) at this weekend's air show. I didn't know it was coming, so missed the shot of the actual fly-through/front of, and just caught this aftermath. Madras, Oregon; August, 2011.

Each year for the past 4 or 5 there's been an annual air show in my little burg. This past weekend was that time again. Here's a bigger plane chasing a smaller one. Tune in tomorrow to see how this culminated. (Click on the photo to see the pilots.) Madras, Oregon; August, 2011.

How to lose readers without even trying

To find out, just click on the title of this post. Or not.

We'll end our week of bouquet creating with the obligatory rose. Washington Park Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon; August, 2011.

An even more colorful addition to this week's bouquet. Milwaukie, Oregon; August, 2011.

Let's throw into our bouquet a cool species of hydrangea. Washington Park Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon; August, 2011.

Orchids are delicate, colorful, and smell good. San Francisco, California; January, 2008.

This week at the Grind, we're gonna create another bouquet. We'll start with a sunflower, because they always seem to put a smile on people's faces when they're inside on a table. (Click on the photo to catch all the hairs along the stem.) Redmond, Oregon; August, 2011.

If you ever get the chance to go somewhere else in the world, you couldn't go wrong traveling to here. They've got a spectacular farmer's market on Saturdays, (the parking lot's under that tree on the right) and the bakeries are terrific! (Click on the photo to get a better sense of just how picturesque this town is) Joigny, France; September, 2009.

Out Beyond the Orion Belt...

Click the title of this post to read the right-on political statement. Or not.

Another in my occasional series Lines, Light, Textures, and Patterns: A portion of the remarkable architecture known as the Experience Music Project, owned by Paul Allen. Seattle Washington; April, 2009.

One for the road: the leatherized trunk of a 1940 hot rod. (Click on the photo for more detail) Madras Oregon; August, 2011.

The Whimpy Kid waits for the next ferry to Cortes Island. Harriot Bay, Quadra Island, BC, Canada; April, 2011.

Mount Jefferson in the Oregon Cascades. Taken from Madras, Oregon; July, 2011.

Every time I look at this photo, I can't help but think of that line from Dylan's Tangled Up In Blue: There was music in the cafes at night and revolution in the air. (Click on the pic to get a better look at the faces of these revolutionaries. Or to read the Plat du Jour.) Near the Universite Paris IV Sorbonne, Paris, France; September, 2009.

Last night's moon, taken with my brand new Nikon DSLR and its 300 mm zoom lens. (Click the photo to better see the craters) Taken from Madras, Oregon; August, 2011.

One would be hard-pressed to find a musician more accomplished on stringed instruments than David Lindley. If it's got strings, he can likely play it and play it well. David has played with Ry Cooder, Bonnie Raitt, Shawn Colvin, Emmylou Harris, Bruce Hornsby, and a host of others. He even had his own band at one time, El Rayo-X. But he's probably most well known for playing violin, lap slide guitar, and lead guitar with his close friend Jackson Browne. Well, that and his interesting sartorial choices. He was in the neighborhood last week, so I took the opportunity to stop by and listen. Bend, Oregon; August, 2011.

A small, rural church in the forest with a cemetery in front. Vancouver Island, BC, Canada; April, 2011.

Lots of cities were established on waterways out of economic necessity. Oregon's largest was one of those. This is the Burnside Bridge, colorful, yet practical. (Click on the thumbnail for much more detail) Sort of like Oregonians. Portland, Oregon; August, 2011.

We'll end our look at the Jefferson County Fair with this little flower I happened across while walking around the fairgrounds. It's amazing what one can see when one's eyes are open. Have a great weekend, everyone. Madras, Oregon; July, 2011.

Antique cars are also popular at our county fair, like this old Ford delivery wagon. (Click on the photo for more detail) Madras, Oregon; July, 2011.

Comin' atcha! Another from last week's county fair. I was fortunate enough to win Best of Show with one of my Photography entries this year,making it the third year in a row for me to win that honor. One category that I don't think I've ever entered a pic for is Action: Must Show Movement. I think I might enter this one in that category next year. Madras, Oregon; July, 2011.

Democrats Take A Dive

Feel free to click on the headline of this post to read the sorry truth....or not.

A shaft of late afternoon sunlight illuminates cowboys behind the chutes awaiting their turn. Jefferson County Fair & Rodeo, Madras, Oregon; July, 2011.

It was county fair week here last week. And that also means rodeo. I'm usually not one for such sanctioned animal cruelty, but I did stick my head into the area for 10 minutes or so and snagged a few shots. (Click the thumbnail to get a gander at the faces of those guys in the background) Madras, Oregon; July, 2011.