Just North of Crown Center, in a parking lot on Broadway, I found a treasure trove of wall art. Whether we label it graffiti or wall art, it is just as fun to explore Kansas City’s alternative art. I know I have seen the artist before, but, as always, I do not know how to identify the artists. I hope you enjoy the great images, both prehistoric and modern.
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Note the signature of the artist. If you can read it, let me know.
I decided to take this picture after sitting out in the sun on the patio one day recently. I was looking up at the sky, and realized the sky was so clear, and the tree so beautiful, that it almost looked fake to me, as though it had been artificially preserved. This shot is looking almost straight up, from the exact angle I could see it while laying out and enjoying the California sun. So beautiful.
It’s Spring, or so the calendar tells us. In Petaluma the trees are flowering, lemons are growing, Meg and Jake take long walks by the ocean.
Here in Kansas City, the trees at Loose Park tell a different story:
Yes, the calendar says Spring. The weather says winter. Our third significant snow fell yesterday and into the early morning. It is beautiful. We are close to ending the drought. Eventually our gardens will be grateful for the extra water. But today, drive ways need to be shoveled and cars are stuck in the road.
But, hey, it is still Spring.
Palm Springs is among the most affluent communities in Florida. The homes, both old and new, are reminders that the “gilded age”, the age remembered for the accumulation of great wealth by a small number of individuals, has never entirely vanished.
Where do the wealthy residents–and tourists–shop? Worth Avenue. Shoppers will find retail stores comparable to those on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Do you want something special from Tiffany, Gucci, Giorgio Armani or Hermes? Worth Avenue is the place to be. It is elegant. It is expensive. The architecture itself is a great reason for a visit. Oh, and it oozes old money, and new money, inherited money, earned money, all kinds of money.
Terry and I enjoyed our visit. We walked the avenue and stopped for lunch at Charlie’s Crab. We’ll leave the heavy shopping to others.
I’ve been spending a lot of time outside lately, mostly because the weather is so beautiful. The lemon tree is now trimmed, and the flowering trees are in full bloom. I’ve even planted rainbow chard and chives. Grandmom would be proud.
These are a few shots I took of the white flowering tree (no idea what it’s called, so any input would be great!) and the lemon tree, which are right next to each other. They can also both be seen from our room upstairs, which makes for a beautiful site when I wake up in the morning. Add the Sonoma Mountain backdrop, and we’re California living!
These are a few shots of Jake and Cousteau from our recent visit to Tomales Bay. Anyone who knows us well understands that our dogs are our kids. Here are a few “father/son” moments.
Jake and Cousteau walking along the beach in Tomales Bay.
Jake wanted to climb the big rock, so naturally, Cousteau did too.
On the way down from the rock, Cousteau wasn’t quite able to make the leap, so Jake saved the day and carried him down.
This is one of the features I’ve just discovered on my E-PL1. It’s a setting under the “Art” icon on my features wheel. I took this picture using the diorama setting, which is supposed to create the illusion of a model world. As best I can tell, it enhances the photograph in the middle, almost giving it a magnified bubble effect, while slightly blurring the outer edges. I have no idea why it took me so long to find it, but I’m totally in love.
Using the diorama setting on my camera, under the “arts” features.
With his thick fur coat, Casey rejoices as he runs through the 10 inch of newly fallen snow, only briefly impeding our snow removal efforts. Later that day we had an additional two inches of snow.
Businesses, churches, banks and government agencies closed. We dug out of the first snow and wham, Monday evening the snows began again. Terry and I measured another 7 inches of snow on top of the original snow that had “compressed” but not melted.
Churches, businesses, government agencies and banks closed again, or limited their hours/personnel.
As Kansas City again dug out of the snow, there was lots of opportunity to walk through our neighborhood to really experience the beauty of the snow.
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Have a safe and beautiful day.
Happy anniversary to the best husband ever.
Terry and Casey sitting by the fire.
The sea was calm as I watched this motor cruiser head North in the waters of the Atlantic. What a great way to start the day. But with severe storms causing havoc in the Northeast, it was easy to see the fragile balance between the beauty of the sea and the perils that it can present. While better equipped than an ancient fishing boat to weather a storm, this more sophisticated boat is still just a speck on the surface of the ocean.
As I publish this post, the Mid-West is being pounded with its own winter storm. We sit at home, grateful we are not in the storm and reminded how quickly weather can turn.
I am reminded of the Irish Fisherman’s Prayer:
Dear Lord, be good to me
The sea is so wide
And my boat is so small.
If you are in the path of today’s storm, I hope you are warm, safe, and surrounded by those you love.
Shifting the Balance 