Which train is the next to leave?

When confronted by two trains 

sitting side-by-side

signs like this make life a little bit easier.

Dreaming of a Camera

Cactus nest in Joshua Tree Nat'l Park

Last night I had dreams of walking in unfamiliar neighborhoods, lost but not lost. In every yard was something interesting to notice. I kept saying, "Dang, I wish I had a camera because THAT would be great for the blog!"

Woke up this morning with a new determination to find the right camera for me. Heading out, right now, to a camera shop where I know the sales people will be patient with an old 35mm-lover like me.

Legos

This trio is made entirely of Legos; I find it incredibly awesome.

Construction Permits

There's more paperwork than construction happening at this work site.

Hmm...

A Quiet Day in Northeast L.A.

Here is how I spent my Mother's Day - drawing tiny fruit. Interrupted only by a long break to lie in the hammock while my guys bar-b-cued ribs in the backyard. I lay there in the hammock and listened to the birds and our conversation, and I wondered at how unusually quiet it was in northeast L.A. No sounds of baseball games at the park, no racing cars down Eastern Ave, no police helicopters circling overhead. Everyone seemed to be home, quietly celebrating their mom.

Purse Face

I came home and plopped my purse down on the table. I put away the groceries, then headed out the back door to water the garden. Coming back in, I was startled by this face.

Mother's Day

When I was growing up, my mom and I (and various friends/family) would make a weekly trip to Long Beach, CA where she would swim to the buoy and back and then we would relax on the beach and look for shells or play in the sand and eat red licorice; so this morning, in honor of my mom (who I was unable to be with today,) I went to Long Beach and walked along the shore and reflected back on fond memories of those times spent with my mom.

Disney Queen

Every few minutes the curtains draw back from this castle window and the Evil Queen surveys the crowd below. I always find this cool.

Sunflower House

When D. was about five years old, we planted a sunflower house. In a rectangle about 10 ft long and 5 ft wide, we planted these giant mammoth sunflowers that towered overhead, and morning glories that climbed up string and created our walls. We sat inside our sunflower house that summer and played cards and ate strawberries. He doesn't remember. But I say, I still get some good-mom credits.

Scenery

I frequently drive to Camp Pendleton to pick up my son for weekends yet I'm always rushing to get there and get out but I had to wait a while for him and was able to sit back and take in my surroundings which when you look beyond the tanks and camouflage is really quite breath taking.

Taffy

some poor kid dropped their taffy

while heading into school.

i found it sitting on the sidewalk.

they're gonna be bummed at lunchtime. 

Good Advise

Saw this yard sign while walking to the pool today and thought it was good advise to take to heart.

Beware the speeding bus

Still For Sale

People keep taking down the for sale signs and knocking over the posts. I even saw one very sturdy post that had been sawed off at the bottom, and tossed down the hill. I understand that people may want to keep the open space up here, but I don't think this makes the lot any less for sale.

fridge pics

Hadn't really noticed of the stuff all over my fridge that these 2 photos are side by side; made me smile and brought back good memories.

Street Signs

Squeaky Toys

I never understood why Donkey LOVES any toy that squeaks. Why would they put a squeaker in a dog toy, I thought, how annoying.

Well, he must be feeling much better after his surgery, because yesterday he bounded across the yard, under some bushes, and came out with a gopher. He tossed it around and poked at it while it gave off little squeaks. Oh, he looked so delighted. I am sure I looked horrified. I have decided that a little toy hedgehog that squeaks is not so bad after all.

(Any thoughts on what camera I should buy?)

Covered

I've seen car "bras" before and I've seen cars covered over night but today I saw this SUV in a total car cover; it even had mesh so the window could be rolled down; I guess that's one way to make sure those little freeway pebbles won't ding your car; must save on car washes too; just when you think you've seen it all.....

Flower Border

walking thru chelsea today

i noticed this cool design element on a building's door

i love how people used to devote so much attention to the small details

now, they seem to put up a new building in a day.

(sigh)

Notice a Family Resemblance?

These are my relatives.

Notice a family resemblance? I do.

That's my nose over there, and my chin over there, and my hair right there.

Nuts!

was walking along in union square park today

and came across this little fella

balanced (perfectly!) on one of the railing's posts

gnoshing on a nut

a good day to be a squirrel

Mystery Machine

Didn't see Shaggy or Scooby but thought it was cool to see the Mystery Machine. And to think if it wasn't for this blog I probably wouldn't have had my camera handy and would have missed sharing this.

Disneyland Picture Spot

I like Disneyland. (I understand people who don't like it. But me? I love it.) Living in So Cal, I've been to Disneyland a lot, experienced it all. But one day, I noticed something new. There are posted signs letting people know that "this is a good spot to stop and take a picture." Seemed a funny, unnecessary thing to me. One of things I love about Disneyland is that they have transformed everything - they have cut you off from real life - and if you are willing to give yourself up to it (which I am), they will not disappoint. Disneyland will surround you and protect you and love you. I certainly don't need a sign to tell me to stop and notice that life here is beautiful and perfect (perfectly unreal), or to tell me to take a picture so that we will always remember that we were always happy at Disneyland.

England? NYC?

tudor-style apartment buildings 

in washington heights

manhattan, nyc

goth-cool

Inspirational walk sign

Participated in the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk; inspirational day.

Tile

Took notice of this dated tile flooring.

Missing a trip with Lily

My camera is refusing to work again. This time around, I really am going to go buy a new one. But in the meantime, I've got a photo a day to post. Looking through my photos, I noticed that I miss my niece . . . .

Last May, my niece asked me to drive across the country with her. The previous September, I had driven with her from California to Massachusetts where she was going to spend a year in college. We had such an amazing trip, what we both thought we would only be experiencing together once. After her school year in Massachusetts, she was planning on driving back home to California with a friend, but those plans fell apart at the last minute. So she called me. And I was sooo glad she did. I have never had so much fun driving for hours and hours each day. On both trips we camped most of the way, and stopped off at as many places of interest that we could jam into the few days we had.

She stayed in-state this year so I didn't have the opportunity to take a cross-country trip with her this year, and gosh darn it, I missed it! I wonder if I can somehow figure a way to get her to move back and forth across the country every year, just so that I get to take that trip with her.

Welcoming Steps

Lincoln Center, NYC

Steps with a cool digital display

Welcoming guests from many nations.

Neat.

Asparagus

A rose is a rose

Was in awe by this two toned rose; I have never seen a rose like this before-gorgeous.

Spy Car

Saw this funny little car and it reminder me of something from Get Smart; not sure what kind of car this is but found it amusing.

Ugly Business of Life

I try my best to notice the pretty things, the interesting things, the inspiring things. But some days all I can notice is the business of life not yet taken care of.

'nuff said (in 2 languages)

Mushroom

Rarely see wild mushrooms and if I wasn't paying attention might have trampled over this one.

GET OVER HERE!

I went into the library to return a book. On the shelf near the entrance was a sign that read:

"Free. Please Take."

Uh, oh. I knew I was in trouble.

It might as well have yelled out:

"HEY JEANIE! GET OVER HERE!"

Apparently, the slide library was being tossed. Sigh.

And of course, I took a big box home with me.

You can only see one layer of slides. There's more underneath.

Flower Power

Stairwell Guy

Found this guy in the stairwell at Otis.

May Day is Lei Day

Celebrating May Day/Lei Day here in NYC with beautiful lei--

gifts from lovely friends who are also lovely hula dancers. 

Feeling blessed.

Squirrel

This squirrel seemed to be welcoming me went I wen for a walk in his park. Quite the greeter.

Poor Donkey

Donkey's been walking around with a 3 inch deep hole in chest. What?! I know!

I don't know how long he's been like that. Only noticed it because he was licking it, and licking it, and licking it.

This is a dog that hardly leaves my side. When did he have a chance to impale himself? And on what? 

Don't know what's worse, from a dog's point of view - mysteriously impaling yourself, having to go the vet for a little minor surgery, or having to wear a ridiculous "Elizabethan Collar" and your owners laughing at you while they take your picture for the web.

Quail

When I was growing up, I would stand on our balcony facing our back yard and in the early morning hours I could see quails running across the yard and it always delighted me so when I saw this lone quail in the drive way at my mom's house in the central coast, I was taken back to a time long gone yet just as delighted.

Kite festival

Kite festival; Mary Poppins would've had a wonderful time.

Sweat Peas, Finally!

Can you see it? There's a sweat pea growing up right in the middle of my jasmine! For a couple years I've been picking seeds from the wild sweat peas on the hill. I just toss them around in my yard. I figure, if they can grow wild, they should be able to figure out what to do in my backyard. Finally!

tree

Found this piece from an old fallen tree fascinating.

Homework Assignment

As much as I wanted to quit my life drawing class six weeks ago, that's how much I now DO NOT want the class to end.

Phone Center

While picking up my son for his 10 day liberty, I noticed this abandoned Public Telephone Center; it now houses one pay phone booth although I didn't go inside to check if there was still a working phone inside the booth; As I looked at it, I was taken back in time when I could imagine Marines holding their coins, standing in line possibly talking and smoking to pass time while they waited for their turn to use the phone to connect with a loved one. I imagined this was a hot spot and crowded most times and that there might have been multiple booths. They must have had limited conversational time as well as privacy and might have had to choose which loved one would receive a phone call. I had a new sense of appreciation for cell phones and how easily we can connect at any time with our loved one and not be rushed or over heard (depending on where we are I suppose). I appreciated how my son when deployed will be able to communicate with me to let me know he's doing well and that I don't need to wait near my phone on pins and needles hoping to receive a call and then beat myself up over having missed a call if I was away from home; my phone and I will be available anytime anywhere.

Guacamole dreaming

So excited to see multiple buds on our avocado tree; images of guacamole, turkey & avocado sandwiches, avocado omelets...so many possibilities to anticipate.....smiles

Gutter Flower Box

A few weeks ago, I planted two rows of sunflowers in my yard. Only two seedlings came up; one of those got munched to oblivion by a grasshopper. One lone sunflower remains. I worked pretty hard for one flower.

Today, I looked up at the rainy sky and saw this growing from the rain gutter above my neighbor's garage. With no work at all, they got an instant flower box. Jealous.

What a great idea for a flower box! I hope they never clean their gutters. Ever.

Glass Tile at the Trash Heap

I've noticed this glass and stone tile several times at the trash heap. Today I decided it really did need to come home with me. I think there might be more buried under the rubble, but I had all I could carry for today.

Loquats

I think the birds, squirrels and possums enjoy our loquat tree more than we do.