Emergency evacuation plan

Staying in a hotel tonight.

I never really read these...

but I'm glad to know they're there

(just in case)

Hats

This reminded me of the classic children's book "Caps For Sale"

A Sign of a Strong Economy

I used to find so much money on the ground - quarters, nickles, dimes, pennies - every day. When the economy tanked a few years ago, the difference I immediately noticed was that the coins on the ground had disappeared. Absolutely nothing to be found.

This past month though, I have started to notice a comeback of the lost penny. I've been finding one or two pennies on the ground each day. No quarters yet, but I'm going to say that these few pennies are a sign of a turn around in the economy. It's as least as good a predictor as anything the economists have to offer.

Graffiti Water Tower

I am always amazed at the lengths and risks some taggers go to in order to bring attention to their form of expression; I might not agree with or like their methods but it never fails to amaze me when ever I see graffiti in hard to get to places like on freeway over passes or on top of a tall water tower.

Art in the community garden

Today I found myself in a new neighborhood in NYC

nestled in/on/around a steep hill.

Beside the city steps, they had a fantastic community garden

terraced into the side of the hill.

At the top of the steps, I came across this

cool art installation.

This neighborhood is one I'll visit, again!

Muffler Men

After over 3 years of driving the same road to work, I saw these 3 amigos for the first time in front of a local muffler shop; this last month, participating in this blog, has been a lesson in observance for me. I can't believe I have been passing these fine fellows daily when they have been obviously trying to get my attention.

Out to lunch

This was the sign that greeted me at a classroom I visited today.

It seems so much friendlier than

OUT TO LUNCH

Don't you think?

No More Trash Heap

Every so often (and probably more often than I'd like) the city comes with a dump truck and hauls away my all-wise, all-knowing trash heap. 

Dancing Water

This just made me smile and that was good enough for me.

The Trash Heap Has Spoken, Nyeaah!

When my oldest son was little, his favorite show (and mine) was Fraggle Rock. Not the cartoon, but the original Jim Henson produced live puppet (oxymoron?) show on HBO. It remains the most amazing and wise show ever made. Period.

One of the characters was "The Trash Heap." She was the oracle. And she was a huge pile of trash. Her helpers were two rats (I think they were rats) with Boston (correct me if I'm wrong) accents. The fraggles would come to the trash heap and ask for her sage advice. After giving her enigmatic response, the rats would chime in with, "The Trash Heap has spoken. Nyeeah!"

This post isn't actually about Fraggle Rock. It's about my own personal trash heap, on the back of a hill in my neighborhood. I've told about  how people dump there; about how I should hate it; about how I love it instead. Here's what I recently found one afternoon, on a walk with Donkey (my golden retriever).

Two leather wallets, one Mexican sandal key chain (like I had when I was little), and a never-opened still-in-the-cellophane pop-up Pooh Bear greeting card. All things I really needed. Well, I did need a new wallet.

The Trash Heap Has Spoken. Nyeeah!

Pipes

Walking to the store this morning,

I came across this pile of PVC pipes.

I got down on the ground to snap a photo of it

And I fell in love with the simplicity of the repeated shapes

And how the light changed the color of the pipes

inside the rings.

(Would I have paid attention to this before we started the blog?)

Stormy Weather

Was glad to have a "dry" drive home and to be able to get in our warm home before the winds and rain hit us. If we didn't need rain, I'd be happy to never have any; I'm not one of those who like to "walk in the rain" can't stand wet shoes and soggy socks and the cold doesn't put me in a romantic mood, it only makes my bones ache and long for flannel.

The tree's story

A couple of trees in our park have been cut down.

I walked past the stump of this beautiful tree this afternoon.

(I loved that it was still so golden! So vibrant!)

And I loved that I was able to take a picture

and help to capture (and share) its story.

Its legacy.

Its history is in its rings.

Waiting to be Noticed

I wish I could tell you that I was so patient a photographer as to be able to catch a leaf in flight.

Here's what really happened: I stopped to look at the rain clouds piling up on the mountains to our north. I'm not much of a fan of rain. It makes me tense up. But we have a new roof and this may be the first rain in 20-some years when no water will be dripping anywhere inside our house. I wondered if I could get a blog post out of those dark clouds. But then I started to think about all the errands I need to do today, the week's lessons I need to prepare, and my own drawing homework waiting for me. I turned with a sigh to go back in the house and found this leaf, caught in one strand of spider web, waiting . . . begging for me to notice.

The man behind the glass

Thought the image as seen behind a wall of fascinating textured glass was pretty cool.

Bookseller/street vendor

One of my favorite sites while out walking in NYC:

a bookseller/street vendor.

Just think of all of the treasures waiting to be (re)discovered.

Flowering Wisteria

Wisteria is rather unremarkable most of the year. and then, suddenly, it's amazing. 

The other morning I stopped to admire this neighbor's flowering vine. He came out of the house, bleary eyed, taking out the trash. I said to him how much I enjoyed his wisteria. "Huh?" he mumbled. I pointed. He turned and gave a surprised little, "Oh!" I continued on my walk. A few houses later I looked back. He was still standing, hands on hips, gazing dreamily at the wisteria trailing across his front porch.

Stop. Notice. Share.

Shapes and Colors

I just liked the shapes, and the reds/oranges against blacks/greys.

Canine Nuptials

Witnessed the joining of Sport & Honey - long live puppy love!

Crossroads of the seasons

We are at a crossroads of the seasons here in NYC:

winter intersecting with spring

Bare trees & daffodils

(A delight to see during this morning's walk)