NYC thru a bus' window

The view of NYC's skyline

always takes my breath away...

Fire in the Hills

This was actually from a few days ago, but I forgot about it until now. There were fires in the neighboring foothills. On that overcast morning, the smoke flowed out from the mountain valleys, and the ranges were seperated in a way that I didn't even know existed.

Puppy Profile

Welcome to the family, Guthrie.

Sticks & Stones

Attended a birthday party and one of the little favors was a play of "sticks & stones" and in a small glass vase sticks were represented by pretzels and the stones were small chocolate rocks; very creative.

Invitation

The bed is calling me

from across the room

at my writing retreat.

Saying, "Leave the writing until morning.

Come on--you know you really want to sleep."

But I need to resist the urge for a little while longer

and get some writing done.

Sigh.

While Walking the Dog

Grasshopper

This fellow was hanging on our screen door; was kind enough to pose for photo before moving on.

Another Food Photo

I know, I know, another photo of someones food. But I couldn't resist; the bell pepper was so pretty against the blue cutting board.

tourists

Lighting is poor but this is a group of tourists (I presume) all taking photos of the fireworks at Disneyland.

Ghostly Diner

While en route to the top-secret writing retreat,

we stopped at an old diner that's now a bus stop--

No more tables.  No more food.

But plenty of ghosts.

Mr. Coconut

There's been a coconut sitting on my counter for several weeks. No one seems interested in cracking it open to eat it. There is also a pile of serano and habanero chilis. No one has made salsa with them.

In my house, I'm not allowed to throw anything away (that's another story). So, while cleaning the kitchen, I amused myself without throwing anything out.

Election Season

Happy Birthday

Love the library; here's to the next 100 years!

Standing Guard

Guarding our front door.

Stickers on a Window

Some of the places our Volkswagen has been.



Teaspoon Wedding Dress

While walking through SoHo today, I came across this window display

at Fishs Eddy (one of my favorite stores)

A wedding dress made of teaspoons.

Brilliant.  

(But I'll bet it's a bit uncomfortable.)

http://www.fishseddy.com/

Waves

We were in a furniture store and I came upon a big piece

a self-contained bar, I think

and on its doors was this pattern.

It made me think of Japanese kimonos

and waves on the ocean.

It took me back-INSTANTLY--to my young boy days

Haunting the basement bookshelves at my grandparents' house

Getting lost in old books

Growing dizzy by looking at the illustrations

Diving in with both feet

Whose Weather?

I'm not sure whose weather this is, but I'm pretty sure it isn't ours.

Payoff

My payoff for tackling the cleaning out of our closet was finding this bottle of wine hidden in a corner that had been forgotten about apparently for years.

Make shift sink

Never seen a toilet like this before; the sink is on top of the tank and when the toilet flushes the water starts coming out of the sink for hand washing.

Chinese Food drive thru

First time I've ever run across a Chinese Food drive thru.

Gluing Stuff Together

An instant "pick-me-up" and antidote for the doldrums is . . . gluing stuff together. 

I have at least 5 types of glue . . . and thousands of pieces of collected stuff,

just waiting to be piled up and stuck together.

Wooden Owl

In the Bruce Webber Community Garden,

there lives a wooden owl...

(I've named him Mr. Winston)

full serve

Was surprised today to pull into a gas station and discover they offered full service.

Barbershop

Went to a barbershop today.

No, not a salon.  Not even a "budget salon."

A REAL BARBER SHOP

There were only men in there

including a father and his young son.

A barber cut my hair.

No, not a stylist.  

A REAL BARBER

He even shaved the back of my neck

using a straight razor and warm shaving cream.

I felt like I'd stepped back in time.

It was heaven.

Treasure in the Rafters

I recently made a commitment to use up (or get rid of) the piles of odds and ends I've collected over the years as "art supplies." I fear a hoarding situation is developing. In the last week, I've made some inroads with cleaning out and organizing my studio. I can now, almost, move through my studio without tripping or knocking over a precarious pile. I was feeling pretty good about it all.

Then I looked up:
.

 I forgot that my rafters are full of more stored and forgotten treasures,

moon over house

Full moon over our house

Quentin 2012

His graffiti says : 

QUENTIN 2012

I think that speaks volumes

Green Fig Monsters

Even after we eat our fill, there are plenty of figs left for the birds. After the birds come these huge green bugs. They are silent as they munch everything but the thin skin, and you don't even notice them - until you accidentally bump a low-hanging branch. Fifty fluorescent green monsters buzz noisily off, following each other in a clumsy line towards the north.

Bamboo

playground

When the temperatures rise, I come home from work to find my bed has become my grandson's playground since it's the only room in the house with air conditioning to offer some relief from the heat.

Bird Seed Platforms

Why was this built? What was its original purpose?

 

I wonder if anyone would notice

if I slipped in wooden planks 

and sprinkled bird seed and sunflower seeds.

Summer afternoon

It may be the end of August,

but we are digging in and holding on to summer.

Right on.

speed limit?

The speed limit signs on the 710 freeway are covered; did the speed limit change? Is it an honor system now?

Bird Bath

My backyard bird bath is only 7 inches in diameter, 2 inches deep, but I used to have regular visitors there.

Then my neighbor put up a fountain, not 10 ft away from my tiny watering hole. Theirs has the sound of running water and is big enough for a pair of ravens to get a good dousing.

I stopped seeing birds in my bird bath,  but I continued to fill my homemade watering hole. I wondered if it was worth it.

This morning I had my answer. I teeny-tiny, beautiful yellow feather.

Doll Camouflage

walking through a store yesterday

i had to double back to take a second look:

did i just see a doll sitting in that chair

or didn't i?

Studio

To get into my studio, I open the door, take one giant step forward, shuffle slightly to the right, turn sideways and squeeze between two tables piled with books. Two short steps forward, then I go sideways again to fit between the drawing table and the Foosball table (careful not to get stabbed in the gut with handles from the Foosball). My studio is a mess of tables and boxes piled with supplies, artwork, tools, and tons of crap that belongs somewhere else (mostly in the trash). I can't blame the 105 degree weather anymore. I must get in there and make some heavy duty decisions.

Well Dressed

Magnum PI

Max with his hair cut sporting his Tom Selleck mustache.

Public Access Eating, part 2

The bounty of public access eating!

Collected these from a neglected hillside tree.

Peach cobbler for dessert tonight.

self serve

Faster than I could unload and put the groceries away, Boots discovered the cat food and attempted to help put it away or at least that's her "story"- looks like she was treating herself to an all-u-can eat buffet.

 

Passing through

Metro-North Railroad

Marble Hill

Friday afternoon

Costco library

Some shop, some push and grab to get food samples and some take the opportunity to catch up on their reading. Quality family time at Costco.

Box 'o' Trash or Treasure

This box of stuff ended up in our living room. I'm not sure where it came from. I long to throw it out. I want to be rid of it. Wish I'd never seen it.  I've gone through it several times and I just can't decide. Is it trash or treasure? I can't decide.

Mom's Purse

This morning I was reminded of some letters my mom sent to me when I was 18 years old. I went looking for them in a box that I keep under my bed. I didn't find the letters I was looking for. I found her purse with makeup. The last purse she used before she got too sick to go anywhere. I don't know why I kept it. But there's nothing I can do now, except keep it for a while longer - in a box, under my bed.

deadbolt in the basement

Ravens and Mockingbirds

A few days ago I saw a raven fly by with something in its claws. Hot on its tail was a squawking mockingbird trying in vain to save its tiny offspring.

This morning I found this still-wet eggshell under my carob tree. I looked up trying to find a nest. I couldn't see one. I hope the ravens can't find it either.

haircut

Time for a haircut for Max, my poodle.

FroYo Truck

NYC

Flat Iron District

Lunch hour

Who touched it?

Opened the fridge to discover the bottle of wine I had been chilling and saving to enjoy with my husband had been open, partially drank and left open without the cork; I imagine I share the same feelings the Bears did when they came home to find their porridge partially eaten.