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.

Nemo found

Left behind after bath time.

The Pleasures of Dusting

I used to really hate dusting. But then, they came out with those nifty Swiffer Dusters. And although I do feel wasteful, throwing those things in the garbage, I also find that I now thoroughly enjoy a thorough dusting.

I've even come to appreciate the dust.

Seems that dust was invented as a way to get us to notice.

Until the dust settles, I never take the time to look at the sweet photos of family, the Mother's Day gifts of long ago, all the little things that we once thought were worthwhile and worthy of a spot on top of the piano.

The pleasures of dusting

Inside Books

The inside of some more great and discarded books.

Lonely

Missing my grandson who is spending the night at his father's house.

Colorful Sheers

From the hotel room  in Puerto Rico.

Earth Day

Earth Rocks

Dumped Books

More books being tossed from yet another library.

I took as many as I could, but there's just too many

 of them being dumped. . . I can't save them all.

Front Yard Sculpture

I'm pretty sure this old truck started out just being parked in the front yard for one day, awaiting that spare part or new carburetor, and there it stayed, month after month, year after year, until now, when it's become more of a sculpture than an eyesore.

cheers

James got a new job.

Some of his (now-former)coworkers gave him bottles 

as "going away" gifts.

Cheers to a new venture.

Biker Memorial

Came across this touching road side memorial. Different than any others I've ever seen. Left me a bit melancholy.

Killing Time

Scene from my van window while parked at San Onofre waiting for my son to go on weekend liberty.

No Fat Pigeons Allowed

Here are all the things you can not do.

But not feeding the pigeons appears to be the most important. 

Fat pigeons are ok by me.

Remember what happened in Mary Poppins

when they wouldn't let the little boy feed the birds.

Guys on a scaffold

We went downtown to wander around. I stood on Bunker Hill (at least I think that's where I was) and looked out at a high rise building across the way. I noticed these guys on a scaffold. Except there's no scaffold. And the guys aren't real.

Bike lane