Out, about, in green
Saturday, 18 March 2023
Only leprechaun I saw at tonight’s party; I’m going with too jet lagged to show up on actual St. Patty’s day.
Musings
Adjustment
Sunday, 12 March 2023
Of course, the big adjustment today was the old-style clocks that don’t talk to the Big Giant Head (if I have it right 😀). For me, that’s two: the range and the microwave. Both our vehicles also have one clock apiece that requires manual resetting, but that’s for another day.
White daffies, white tulips
Saturday, 11 March 2023
“Green, white accents.” That’s what I’d entitle this lovely front garden. The distant chairs look like blobs here; in person, they looked like they had the potential to be mildly comfortable. Pour me a martini!
Densification
Sunday, 5 March 2023
For a time, I kept track of this lot. The last time I posted a photo of it, if I remember correctly, workers were finishing the two floors below the (former) ground surface, which appeared to both be parking levels. Now, the apartments far above are being finished, and I’m sure the builders are more than ready to have inhabitants move in, and to start working down their debt load. Or perhaps I’m projecting.
The title refers to the increased pressure on nearby roads and sidewalks and businesses by the new residents of this multistory building, which used to be a one-story artist studio and apartment structure. Sooooo many more residents to come….
Nature’s art
Thursday, 2 March 2023
This is the most arty pollen-rimmed ex-puddle I saw today.
Rather like marbled endpaper.
Change over time
Wednesday, 1 March 2023
Today. No precip, and no skyscraper tops.
In contrast: this was yesterday. The long view….
And, back to Monday, here’s another clue as to the bench removal from another bench in the same park. This suggests that the wooden slats are failing (rotten), and that’s why benches were removed. However, why not take this bench, too? Was the truck full? Were they out of replacement slots? The mystery continues.
City business or business in the city?
Monday, 27 February 2023
This is today’s biggest tale of intrigue (in my limited, personal experience). I spotted two guys at the edge of a city park with battery-powered drills removing the whatever to allow a bench to pull free from bolts embedded in concrete footings. Further along, I spotted this guy wheeling a different bench away. None of the guys wore any logos or uniforms of city employees. What was the deal? I dunno. Too many homeless using the benches? Too many nannies with tired feet resting with strollers of sleeping tots? Too many dogs urinating on the legs of the benches?
My moment
Friday, 24 February 2023
Every once in a while, my dear friend KW offers little one-act plays, based on an experience du jour, on her daily blog. I thought I’d give it a try.
Setting: I’m walking west in a residential area, down a slight slope, toward a complex junction, with many stop signs to keep things safe. And no sidewalks.
The action: Coming toward me is a white Land Rover. I watch the driver slow a bit, and roll through two stop signs perhaps six car-lengths apart, then continue motoring toward me.
I decide to move to the center of the road, and wave my arms. I was ready to jump out of the way if the driver kept coming at me. But, he did slow and roll down the right window to ask…
Can I help you?
I just watched you blow through two stop signs!
I know. I live in this neighborhood. I’m in a hurry.
And: Hey…I live here, too! At least he stopped, took a reasonable tone of voice, acknowledged his behavior, and didn’t get angry. And still: he ran two stop signs. Yes, no other traffic, but but but.
And a Pretty while you negotiate the crowds and exit down the aisle. 🤣
Also, that isn’t the vehicle in the play, if you haven’t figured it out.
Enjoy the irony
Thursday, 23 February 2023
Here’s a flower with a common name that corresponds to the scientific name—the genus. It’s alyssum. This eliminates one of the problems of common names…that they aren’t as “exact” as scientific names.
Except…
…in this case, the flower has been reclassified by the taxonomists, and it’s no longer in the Alyssum genus. It’s now Lobularia maritima. Yay science.
Transformation
Thursday, 16 February 2023
Back when we were on the road, I captured this image of our road-stained vehicle, rimed with slush-melt blotches and all types of grime. And salt.
Then, a new day…today…
…and an hour at the car wash, with the two of us vacuuming, polishing interior windows, and, especially, brush-mopping the exterior. Then, we rode through the proper automated car wash…and discovered in the process that the cheapest cleaning option has jumped from $4 to $8. Still a good deal, I’d say.