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