These Are a Few of my Favorite Things

I recently moved to the southernmost edge of the Maple Leaf neighborhood. As well as being a refreshingly residential area, it has a surprising number of animals. Let me show you just a few of them:

My roommate's ridiculously cute rats. The one on top is named Beers, the other is mini Beers.


The cat that stalks through our yard and stares into my bedroom. I suspect he came in once too. I found dirty paw-prints.


The spider that protects my tomatoes. His web forces me to pick very carefully.


A hummingbird that visited today. My parents spotted one last weekend, in a yard a couple blocks from here. I take their presence as a good sign.

Cute Photo from Yesterday II

Columbia City Farmers Market, Girl watching bellydancers, around 6p.m, September 3.

Cute Photo of the Day (that day being yesterday)

Shot on the second floor of Bauhaus on Capitol Hill around 3p.m, September 2.

Hempfest Moments: August 16, 2008

The way was long and dusty, but the weary pilgrims trudged on. After what seemed hours under the hot August sun, they finally reached the entrance. Hempfest 2008 had finally arrived.

Read on to see the oddities and wonders Hempfest had to offer...

Just beyond the gate, a smiling woman offered faux-weed leis in return for donations.

Calm men with angry signs stood stoically under the hot sun.

Deep inside the festival, a man spoke passionately in support of the magical substance that drew the crowds to Hempfest.

"It's a civil liberty to enjoy a little marijuana if we want to," declared Rick Steves, famous travel guide and marijuana advocate.


He then called for unbiased treatment of the herb:

"We've got to take the crime out of marijuana and the the lies out of marijuana."


Of course, he ended with a little bit of travel advice, saying, "I want to wish you all happy travels, even if you're just staying home."

One couple even chose to marry on stage, just before the auspicious time of 4:20.

And then there was much rejoicing...

and enjoying of music...


and refreshments.

And even the hounds found respite from the heat.

Sunset from Red Square

George really has a great view sometimes.

Anything-Goes Seating

If you want to see humanity at its most inventive, check out how people sit at festivals.

Not convinced? Well, let's take last Sunday's Chinatown-International District Festival, put on by Seafair, as an example.

Some sat in families.

Some sat enthroned.

Some sat quite authoritatively.

Others were more daring...

and even sat illegally!

Some preferred fire hydrants...

... and even used them as fashion accessories.

But everyone sat with a friend.