59. Fresh off the press...

My design for the silk screen tshirt for the town hospital's relay race fundraiser. Since I've been here, I've designed three tshirts for local event fundraisers. It was hard to say no to this one. The money raised from the run will go to the community rehabilitation program. I'm being paid with coffee, a small stipend, and over-the-top small town publicity.

I sketched the drawing in brush pen and then cleaned it up in Photoshop. I really wanted to go for realism---draw a guy in cammoflouge, rifle and chasing our jogging bear, but my idea was nixed in the early stage. Oh well. As I learned in my 15 odd years in commercial art/ animation, creative control is often a compromise.

Colors are yet to be determined. "Just so long as you DON'T use our logo colors, we'll be happy", their PR person tells me. I thought she was kidding. Geez, that's a switch.

58. Katherine Crick

When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other.
-Chinese Proverb

57. VSPD; Very Special Photos Day continued...

Silhouette art is very popular in El Big. Here's an example of some very special homemade ones I spotted on a neighbor's window while I was on a walk around the ol' hood. (Click image to see detail)

56. VSPD!

Photo courtesy of dear visiting friend from Oaktown, Ca, PWB (Click on image to enlarge)

55. VSPD

I, along with the entire town, including the farm equipment, joined in honoring El Big University grads on their very special day.
(Click on image to enlarge)

54. Public Safety Report for 6/14/07

Traffic hazard: An officer responded Wednesday to a report of three teenagers throwing a stuffed animal into traffic when cars go by on Willer Avenue. The officer made contact with the teens and counseled them.
*
Safety hazard: The dispatch center received a report Wednesday of beehives on the county right of way on Alice Lane near Amblur Lane. The county road department was notified.
*
BREAKING NEWS ALERT: A man on the 1100 block of 27th Street Friday morning reported a baby elk in a field next to his yard. The reporting party was advised to leave the animal alone and that the mother would probably come for it. A message was left for the El Big Department of Fish and WildLIfe.

I'm not making these up.

*** *** *** *

53. Public Safety Report for 6/9/07

A resident of Dove Avenue, El Big, reported Friday at 6:47pm that a truck with a horse trailer was blocking her driveway. A deputy responded and situation was resolved.

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Big Sagebrush. Fueled by Mexican Chocolate, Everything bagel, and impending project deadline.

***

Postcard

Yesterday's sunrise from my favorite outlook.
Fueled by golden hour sun light, double latte, and sesame bagel.

52. Local Paper's Public Safety Report Excerpts for 6/5/07

June 5, 2007

A man on Antlers Lane reported finding a male golden retriever Monday. The animal enforcement
officer responded and impounded the dog.


Diner folks
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A woman in the 1200 block of X Avenue requested officer contact regarding a stolen bike.

Teen boys at colleague's daughter's hs graduation party
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A pair of glasses found at Settler's Park Monday were placed in Lost and Found.

Teen girl at airport 3 hrs north in suburban Pasco, WA
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51. We interrupt this program--

...for a Sunday hike up Mt. Frankie.

The weather hits 95 in the valley, so we decide it's a good weekend to hike upwards. We borrow our friends' map and head to the closest, highest mountain. We find little surprises such as patches of snow and plants we've never seen before. When I spot a snow patch from a distance, my first impression is that it's a man made piece of discarded junk. When we get out to hike, Que throws a snowball at me. Stunned, I wipe my brow of sweat, shake my head, and keep hiking...




These white wild flowers are thick in the shaded areas.


I don't know.


This rock is about 5' wide. No doubt El Big's answer to Andy Goldsworthy.


Our friends tell us to look for the shocking pink wild slipper orchids. We find two.


Beautiful cup funghi. Photo by Que


We soon realize there's a good reason why they call it Mossy Fountains. Photo by Que

Photo by Que


Wild asparagras?? Photo by Que


We have no idea what it is, but it's healthy and thriving in this particular elevation.






"Oregon Bounty" Our friends tell us to keep our eyes open for morels. Photo by Que


Yes, morels! Despite the blazing heat, we find a couple stray ones hidden along the shady trees. Photo by Que


By the time we descend, the skies turn grey and threatening to the little storybook clouds. This doesn't stop Que from stopping at the Dove Drive-In for a rootbeer float to go.



We return home exhausted and keyed up from our hike. Que and I sit on the front stoop in the garden and enjoy the light humidity and rain sprinkles, while sharing the season's first watermelon with some neighborhood kids.