Afternoon Still Life

Hummingbird Silhouettes

The last two evenings while eating dinner, we've noticed our hummingbird feeder outside the window doing a booming business. Saturday we saw as many as six hovering around the feeder.

We'll have to ask our neighbors if they took their feeder down, because we're getting more action lately.

Soft Morning Layers

(Lake Lytle on the North Oregon Coast)

Playing Chess on a Rainy Weekend

Check out other Monochrome Weekend images.

Humid Afternoon

(San Juan, PR)

Portland's Benson Bubblers

Yesterday I was in the South Park Blocks area of downtown and decided to take some photos of these iconic drinking fountains known as Benson Bubblers.

There are 52 four-bowl fountains in various locations around the city.  They're made of copper but years of weathering has given them that antique patina finish.  The following is some information about their history.


"In 1912, Simon Benson, a local businessman and philanthropist, donated $10,000 to the City of Portland to purchase and install 20 bronze drinking fountains, now known as Benson Bubblers.

Local folklore tells us that Simon Benson donated the 20 bronze drinking fountains as an effort to keep loggers out of the saloons at lunchtime. Others say that Benson was inspired after seeing a little girl crying at a 4th of July parade because she couldn't find a drink of water. Either way, the Benson Bubblers have become a historical and enduring legacy here in Portland." (Courtesy of portlandonline.com)


The fountains run from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., daily. They flow 365 days a year unless we have a freeze, in which case the water bureau shuts them down.  

So if you're ever near Portland and you're thirsty you know you can always get a cold drink of water here! 

Dominoes Anyone?

(San Juan, PR)

There's no telling how long these tables and chairs have been in this Caribbean city.  It looks like they've been used quite a bit and weathered many tropical storms.