Renton River Days 2011

Renton River Days takes over our downtown, brings smiles to many and entertains anyone open to the word "fun". The sights, sounds and additional pounds brought on by nibbling through Liberty Park are well worth my time each and every year.

 Speaking of food, the Queen of all that is natural and biodegradable was on site to remind the public to use your compost bins. Wearing an incredible gown trimmed in plastic wrappers and such, the gracious refuse royalty floated by and gave us all polite admonishments if we weren't already recycling.

Jr Cadillac played a stellar set on Saturday, just as they have been for the last 10 years. Hardly seen in these climes nowadays, Renton holds a special spot in the band's heart, and schedule, and for this we are blessed. This year, singer Nancy Claire rejoined the band for a coupla songs, after having sang back in the 50's and 60's with the band. Nancy's my neighbor's Mom and one cool gal - shout out to Nancy!

Another great 10 year veteran of the Renton River Days music scene is saxophonist Darren Motamedy - and man, can this cat wail! Darren plays with all his heart and soul, and connects with his audience making a free concert in the park feel like front row seats in Vegas, where he moved to be closer to all his gigs. Onetime Rentonite, having bought his first home in our dear town, Darren keeps coming back to show Renton some love. Thanks Darren!

Pam Chicoine is a face you see around town and usually with a drop spindle in her hand. The Rubber Ducky adorning her hat was made by Pam with a cookie cutter and some roving - it's a wool felted duck pin. Kudos for the most original yellow duck I had the pleasure of meeting this year.

Doing the festival up right, makes for hungry work. The Nibble of Renton is always a big success, even if you feel like you are about to starve waiting in those huge lines of hungry folk. This little kiddlin was not giving too many bites away. She ate the whole hot dog herself.

 

Miss Brandywine Divine, a frequent friendly face on The Picaroon.
Michael, her father, is in the hospital but loves to catch up with his daughter on my blog - Michael, this one's for you!! Feel better soon!

Even Pirates have to eat - and what a lovely set of swashbucklin' maidens are these! I love how many smiling faces I see as I wander about the event, soaking up another year's worth of downhome fun.

What do you do on the weekend?

Weekend wonders - or wondering what to do with your weekend. I tend to do a lot of wandering on the weekends, which can be quite the same for me as weekdays, but whatever schedule you may or may not have, Saturday and Sunday always have a special kind of "feel".

I love a good bit of something cool - and with our recent heat, I have not been denying myself indulgences in that area. Sorbet in the freezer? Gone, with no regrets. Popsicle from a sidewalk vendor? Yes, please and make it quick.

The excessive brightness of the sun helps point out all of the dirty spots on the cars and the windows. Glaringly so. Makes me want to clean all the more. Then I get exhausted and need to run to the basement to cool off. It is a horrible cycle that somehow keeps getting repeated.

Spray bottles need to be handy for plants and humans in great abundance. One on every counter surface, indoors and out. Relief in an instant moment of squirting. But all too fleeting. Damn. Squirt me again, will ya?

I am a sucker for a good sign and a great deal. I will pull over for any sale that is prefaced by the word yard, or garage or "G". Doesn't matter if I am close to heat stroke and need another swig of water - I stop for a good bargain regardless. I admire the folks that are out there trying to clear a closet and empty a basement in this kind of weather. They need our support. Cleaning in a heatwave can be a real b*tch. Maybe that's what they were doing with their time while hiding out down below from the sun.

Happy Sunday, everyone!

Poppies

Seasonal Flowers

Why? Because I can....

And now for a little summer fun

Summer vacations - remember those? It was the long awaited break from school and the chance to be on your bikes, in the park, eating Popsicles for days on end. Sigh.

Yesterday, I met Colby (above) in my picaroonish ploddings in the town we call home. Colby woke up yesterday with a mission - a burning desire to mow the lawn. At 5 am, he knew what yesterday was all about. Lawnwork.

Much to Ms. Nisha, his nanny's credit, by that afternoon he had lawnmower in hand (when you push it it produces bubbles - just the kind of machine after my own heart!) That is one big lawn, but Colby is full of determination. He is the man for the job.

Every once in awhile it's good to take a break. The lawn mower can be a seat on wheels for those inclined to take a moment to ponder the Universe's navel.

This is Phoebe - playmate to the industrious Colby. She wanted to make sure that I got a picture of her too. Fair is fair - she was helping blow bubbles and definitely setting the mood for summer fun.

Just how hot is it!?

Just how hot is it? you may very well ask ... look at what the sign over on Main Street was saying to me a little over an hour ago - geez - it might even be hotter now!

Pool Time! Deb, over on S. Third at Girlfriend's, is my favorite pick-me-up - she's a comedienne at heart - just look at this pool! (and her feet were in it just minutes later!)

How bright the sun? Very bright it seems - you can see the sun just beating down
( Renton Historical Museum)

Hitting the trail

The Cedar River Trail - resplendent with all of its verdant landscape, is the perfect getaway from the heat and still enables you to get a little exercise in. Two for the price of one!

Blackberry bushes are beginning to bud in this heat wave we are having, and the bits of bright color seep through the leaves at the trail's edge.

This is such a well known watering hole over near Riverside Park and in these hours, in frequent use. Doesn't a dip in the cool river water sound just about right now?

More of that crafty, yarn thingy, knit graffiti bits adhered to a bike rack nearby. Cute little coziness with a little color flair.

Ain't life grand?

When you can see a beauty like this on a walk in our fair town - I consider us all quite lucky

Cedar River meets a Cotton Tree

The title on this shot is pretty self-explanatory. Looks like a river dusted with fluffy stuff. Big, white bits of river dust bunnies.

Summer night

What a beautiful night we are having - people are out walking, sitting on porches, visiting friends, swaying in the evening breeze.