Persimmon Shelf

We have a little slope in the backyard that is supported by these cinder blocks. It used to be covered in ivy. The other day, I cleared it all away. A squirrel seems to have decided that it makes a good shelving unit.

Hmm . . . gives me an idea . . . .

parrots

These 2 parrots stopped for a breather in our walnut tree.

Succulents

What I love about succulents . . .
you can ignore them, never water them, not even glance at them . . .
but they will keep on going, no matter what, just waiting to surprise you when you least expect it.

Mask

Reminds me of a Harlequin mask- just in time for Halloween

Praying Mantis

Rescued this guy from being run over by one of the pool patrons; not sure if he appreciated it but I appreciated him striking a pose for me.

Bamboo

The Wish Jar

This is a wish jar. It's been on top of the fridge for many years. The idea was for everyone to put in a wish every day. Of course, that lasted about a week, then we mostly forgot. Today is D's birthday. We got down the wish jar and laughed as we read through and remembered those old wishes. Then, we all wrote new ones and added them to the jar. Those wishes will stay a secret, until the next birthday when (if I can remember) we'll take down the jar again, read those wishes, and add some more to the wish jar.

Stony Teeth

This ring of stones always reminds me of 

jagged teeth.

Home pharmacy

Seems like the top of our TV has become a make shift pharmacy

Palm Tangle

Hey! Looks like a Zentangle!

Bridges in the Sky

Columbia University Medical Center, NYC.

Sand Mandala

Sand mandala being created in Union Square Park

Everything is temporary.

A beautiful reminder.

Mountain View

When I go to my backyard, first thing I do is turn to the mountains. Sometimes I find myself just standing there, staring, thinking about nothing in particular; my errand that led me to the yard, forgotten.  When I drive home, my car comes around the top of our street and heads down the hill - and I look at the mountains. I must glance at them 20 times each day. Often, I don't even realize that I'm turning to find them - until I find myself standing, staring, forgetting.

Toy Boats in Central Park

Telestrations

Played a game tonight called Telestrations which is a sketching game take off on the old "telephone" game; had a lot of fun and laughs; a keeper!

Rice on the Road

There's just some stuff in my neighborhood that I don't understand - like cabbage leaves spread out on a car hood, or a fan that sits in a carport and blows nothing to nowhere . . . and this pile of leftover rice that gets carefully dumped in the same spot by the side of the road. Is it an offering? The animals don't eat it. It just sits there, day after day, until it's run over by cars and ground into powder. Then a few days later, more rice appears.

letter recognition

My grandson was thrilled to discover this letter board at a nearby park and I was thrilled when he was able to point out various letters and say their names. A future reader in the making.

Cords

Cords looping through the work area.

Cat Scratching Post

I wish Thomas the Cat used this more often

-instead of our chairs-

Fall Funk

I've been in a Fall Funk- trying not to focus on the cold weather, rain, and upcoming time change but thinking about good things that come in the fall....Halloween, Thanksgiving, Trader Joe's pumpkin butter, Fosselman's Black Walnut ice cream....

Mystery Knob

We've never known exactly why this knob was sticking out of the wall in our bedroom. Most of the wall had to be replaced this week, but we were able to save the mystery knob.

Topiary Animals

ANOTHER wild turkey sighting in NYC!

This one was spotted yesterday as I walked down the hill to catch the subway.

I mean, come on!

Wild Turkeys in Manhattan!

Tibetan Dolls

Seen at Tibet House US in NYC

River Gate

Coming up from the rushing river. Climbing back to the rushing traffic.

The spot

One of the 3 "amigos" favorite spots...

Door to Nowhere

 

A lot of trouble to build a door to nowhere, just to keep it locked and surrounded by barbed wire.

Workstation

Ah...

the daily grind.

devil car

Saw this car all suited up and ready for Halloween.

Caged Glow

Sunset

I couldn't help it. I had to post tonight's sunset over L.A. 

(And no manipulation in photoshop or other app.)

in need of repair

Took my grandson to ride the merry-go-round at Griffith Park; he was enchanted by the horses but my heart ached for them in their sad state of much needed TLC. I tried to see them through my grandson's eyes; he only sees beauty.

restroom graffiti

Saw this "graffiti" in a public restroom and it made me smile because I happen to watch an ABC TV show titled "Castle" where the main character, Richard Castle, an author and the shows heroine, detective Kate Beckett are linked romantically; they must have a big fan out there....

Safe

I noticed this "ring of superheroes" while I was in the store.

It was good to know that they were on duty

And I was safe from harm.

L.A. Has a River

L.A. has a river.

For the first time in my life, I went down to the river; walked along its edge. Ok, so it's a concrete edge, but the river was lovely even so. Down at the river, there was no graffiti, surprisingly little trash, and water fowl of all kinds.

The rush hour traffic on Interstate 5 went by (left in photo), and the egret hunted an early dinner.

tree

Part of a tree that was taken out of our yard and forgotten about until we cleaned up back there recently.

Times Square makes me dizzy.

For 10.5 years, I worked in the heart of Times Square.

And for 2 years, I lived there--just west of all the madness.

The energy there is frantic.

And it's even worse at night.

And even MORE frightening when you have vertigo.

This picture captured what it feels like.

Always Blowing

Have I posted this before? I don't think so, although I feel like I have.

See that big fan in the carport, next to the front door of this neighbor's house? It's always there. It's always blowing, full blast. Notice how it's right up against the wall? It's always in that spot. When I walk by at all hours of the day or night, the front door is sometimes open, or it might be shut tight; the people are sometimes home, or they might be off at work. And still the fan is always there, always blowing.

Blowing the evil spirits away?

neighborly fruit

Pomegranates growing in abundance over the wall of my neighbor's house; I have to share with the birds but I'm ok with that.

GRACE

Went to see an outstanding play on Broadway tonight:

GRACE by Craig Wright

(at Cort Theatre)

Only 4 actors: Paul Rudd, Michael Shannon, Kate Arrington and Ed Asner.

Fantastic writing.  Fantastic acting.  Fantastic production.

A rare treat in NYC.

Patterns

Old patterns and new paint on the front of our house.

Another Paper in the Wall

 
Today, two layers of paneling came off the bedroom wall. 

And tucked inside we found another sweet surprise.
A note left by a previous owner says:

"Remodeled by J.C. Clayton
Oct 4th 1966
House built 1935 by others"

 We're thinking that we'll put the note back in the wall when the new drywall goes up. Maybe we'll add something of our own from 2012. Any suggestions of what we should add?

Job's Tears

A bracelet made from Job's Tears

(from Kahakuloa, Maui)

and white elastic cording.

cat can art

My grandson's art installation "cat food on the window sill".....

Tourists in raincoats

Numbers Without a House

This is an empty hillside. There is no house here. But someone went to the trouble to put up some edging, plant some flowers, and set up an illuminated address.

rear view

The view from the side mirror as the tow truck pulls our car home....

In Need of Repair

Next week, they'll start pulling apart our bedroom. I lay on the bed taking pictures of the walls and the ceiling, feeling sad to be losing more of the quirks of our house. But then I looked through the pictures and noticed how worn and dirty and completely in need of repair everything is. Not sad anymore.

cat casualty

This guy sacrificed his life to be a gift Boots the cat presented at our door step.