As Oregonians, we are pretty much committed to loving the rain, but, I tell you what, when the sun shines all day on a Saturday, the entire population moves outdoors.  You’d think it was 70 degrees instead of 50.

I went right out and started cleaning out the six birdhouses that line the alley fence posts.

I am generally a non-discriminating land lady, but I have my limits.  I was not happy to find that a nest of yellow jacket had apparently taken up residence in one of my rentals last season.

I do love my tiny, lightweight power screwdriver for removing the houses from their foundations for cleaning and then screwing them right back on.

I moved one of the feeders and the container of nesting material nearby.  Much of the nesting material this year is soft Kobe fur.  That will make for some very warm and snuggly nests.

Finished up pruning and spraying the roses before Roxie and I headed downtown for a walk in Riverside Park where we met up with most of the population of Salem.  I gave up counting little kids on tiny bikes wearing huge helmets and dogs on leashes.  The crowded preschool playground held no appeal for us, so I just zoomed in to get this shot.

Tiny soccer boys were out working on their skills.  Looked to me like today’s assignment was learning to keep your socks pulled up.

Roxie and I preferred the isolated path next to the river which is much higher than it should be.

On the way out, we admired this statue of Governor Tom McCall.  He is much revered in Oregon for being ahead of his time, fathering the first bottle recycling plan in the country and other environmental concerns.

Here he is in his waders, fly rod in one hand and a nice-sized salmon in the other, standing next to the Willamette, but I bet he mostly fished the McKenzie.  Sort of made me wish I hadn’t given my waders and fly rod to Elizabeth when she lived in Colorado, but I bet they are stored somewhere here at 1880 now. Maybe I should dig them out.