Take One, Leave One

June 30, 2013

Little Free Libraries are all the rage these days.  They are most prevalent in the U.S., but are found all over the world.  My neighbor decided to get with the program with some variations.  Instead of a glass-fronted, bird-house sort of thing he decided to re-purpose a Seattle Weekly newspaper dispenser (Seattle Weekly is free, so no problem with coin operation).  And instead of having it face the sidewalk, he set it up for drive-by operation —  for people with very low, right hand drive cars.

Ceci n'est pas un Arbre

June 29, 2013

Like Ishmael to the sea, I find myself returning to the Sculpture Park for inspiration.  This evening, walking past this stainless steel sculpture of a tree titled "Split", I at first thought the crows were part of the sculpture, but I soon realized they simply find it useful.

Cutie Plays Footie

June 26, 2013

Evynne and Alec have soccer practice, a sort of soccer pre-school, for 45 minutes each Friday.  Today we went to watch.  Even Alec,with his mom close at hand, was engaged in his two-year-old activities, and Evynne was fully engaged in hers, running and dribbling as though it mattered.  Which, of course, it does.

Junior Scientists

June 27, 2013

When you're just two, everything's new.  I don't know what Al was showing his sister but, clearly, it was something wonderful.  It's been a long time since I felt such wonder at things quotidian and ordinary. It's also been a long time since I could squat down and then, effortlessly, stand back up again.

Gritty

June 26, 2013

One of the attractions of the Sculpture Park is its location. Situated at the north end of Belltown, it is just north of downtown Seattle on the waterfront.  Along with this stunning location comes the necessity to straddle the very busy BNSF tracks just before they enter the train tunnel, passing under downtown proper, on their way to Union Station.  The photo shows the pedestrian bridge which links the western, waterfront portion of the park (and Myrtle Edwards Park, which continues along the waterfront) with the eastern, larger portion.  To my mind, this linking of high culture with gritty, blue collar industry is pure Seattle, and I love it.

Living Art

June 25, 2013

Certainly the most unusual installation at the Olympic Sculpture Park is the Neukom Vivarium, consisting of a 60 foot Western Red Cedar nurse log in an 80 foot building complete with climate control and magnifying glasses with which to see the plants, lichens, and insects living on and in the log.  Of course, many of the things living on the log are easy to see without a magnifying glass. Some even need periodic trimming.  Today's photo is a detail of the log.

Time Flies!

June 24, 2013

In today's photo Evynne is wearing a dress made for her mom when she was a little girl.  Jen was afraid it would be too large for Evynne, but it's already nearly too small.

Waiting

June 23, 2013

In Seattle there's a well-known sculpture titled "Waiting for the Interurban".  It's always decorated for one occasion or another and depicts people waiting for, well, the interurban — in this case the interurban which ran from Seattle to Everett.  These men were sitting at the bus stop on Third Avenue, and it occurred to me I could perhaps title it "Waiting for the Intraurban".   But I'm not sure they were actually waiting for the bus.  Perhaps a better title would be, simply, "Waiting".

How Low Can It Go?

June 22, 2013

Today was not only the first day of summer but also an extreme low tide day.  It's a day for people to get out and see the things that are normally underwater.  For those who are so inclined it's a day to dig for geoducks.  For this mom it's apparently a day to stimulate her child's immune system as he happily plays in the living ooze.

Summer Solstice

June 21, 2013

Just like that, too soon really, the summer solstice is upon us, the longest day of the year.  It's a wonderful day, marred only, perhaps, by the niggling awareness that it's all downhill from here.  I suppose if a year could have a mid-life crisis, today would be the day for it.

We went with David and Julia on their sailboat to a little rendezvous in Port Madison.  The trip over and back, and our time there, were lovely.  It really could not have been a nicer day.

Boy at Work

June 20, 2013

Not the frivolous sort, Alec takes his television watching seriously. Here he's watching "Leap Frog" and, in the process, learning how to spell.  It's so nice to be able to put the kids in front of the television and feel virtuous at the same time.

Wheeee!

June 19, 2013

Today we took the kids to Discovery Park for a hike.  We got no farther than the little playground near the visitor center.  But that was far enough.

Second Chances

June 18, 2013

This photo is of the Claes Oldenburg sculpture "Typewriter Eraser".  On thinking about it, it occurred to me that erasers are all about giving people another chance to get it right -- a sort of grace, I suppose.  It seems a good thing.  Of course, today there are no more typewriters, and second chances come to us courtesy of the backspace key.  It's almost too easy.

Toxic Beauty

June 17, 2013

This photo is of the approaches to the 1st Ave. bridge over the Duwamish Waterway.  The Duwamish Waterway used to be the Duwamish River.  The river was lovely, winding and pristine.  The Waterway is straightened, dredged, and a Superfund site.  But people are fighting to restore it, and although this photo does not specifically illustrate that effort it does show, I thought, a sort of urban beauty.

Gaudeamus Igitur!

June 18, 2013

"Let us rejoice!"  I looked it up, and that's what "Gaudeamus Igitur" means.  So let us rejoice!  Nate finished his MBA course of study at Seattle University.  Commencement was today.  We couldn't be more proud of him or happier for him.

Bathing Beauties

June 15, 2013

At Alec and Evynne's house swim wear is optional, but flotation devices are mandatory!

The Cat's Meow

June 14, 2013

Today my friend Dennis and I went down to the International District for some dim sum for lunch.  On our way into the restaurant, we were greeted by this enigmatic cat.  It's reassuring, to me at least, that with all the trendy, chic restaurants in Seattle it's still possible to get delicious food, more than enough, and tea for about $10.

It's not just reassuring.  It's amazing.

Work In Progress

June 13, 2013

Alec announced he had to go potty, walked over to it and sat down. He was right about having to go potty, but is apparently still a bit fuzzy on the part about pulling down your pants to do it.

All in good time.

June Is Bustin' Out All Over!

June 12, 2013

We've had a lot of beautiful weather lately, sunny but not too hot, with flowers everywhere.  In the Pacific Northwest, when it's nice it's very, very nice.

All The Way, U.S.A,!!

June 11, 2013

Today, after a 37 year hiatus, the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played a World Cup qualifying game in Seattle.  We played against Panama before a crowd of about 41,000 fans.  The atmosphere was electric, the singing and chanting unending.  The Panama team played well, but U.S.A. played better and won 2-0.  Two Seattle Sounders, Brad Evans and Eddie Johnson, started for team U.S.A.  Brad had scored the winning goal in the previous game agains Jamaica.  Tonight, Eddie scored the final goal.  It was a night to remember.

A Rose is a Rose . . .

June 10, 2013

I visited my friend Peter today, and he gave me this lovely rose as a gift for Nancy.  It speaks, I think, for itself.

Party Time!

June 9, 2013

Today was Alec's second birthday.  His Mom and Dad put on a fabulous party, and a good time was had by all.  Actually, truth be told, just before this photo was taken Al was pretty unhappy, but the sight of his own personal cake cheered him right up.

Those Were The Days

June 8, 2013

Glazer's is Seattle's major photography store, and today I met my friend Michael there for their annual Photofest.  The street was closed off for the big event and in that street, somewhat incongruously, was this gorgeous old Packard, clearly a labor of love.

Serendipity

June 8, 2013

One of the fun things about forcing myself to photograph something every day is that it compels me to look for photos.  That search isn't always successful, but sometimes there are those happy coincidences I wouldn't see if I hadn't been looking.  This was taken on our deck.  The flowers were sitting on the table, waiting for a certain someone to replace the basket hanger.  The evening sky was reflected in the window, and, in the living room, the lamp was lit.

Fun in the Sun

June 6, 2013

Today was a gloriously warm and sunny day.  We decided to take the kids to Seattle Center where they could run around and play in the fountain.  And when we were done, we went out for pizza.  A perfect day with perfect kids.

Steve

June 5, 2013

Today I helped out my inventor friend, Steve, by making a movie of a prototype he's working on.  Here he's helping me collapse my tripod.

Dennis

June 4, 2013

Tuesdays are lunch with friends days.  As it happens, our favorite table is a great place to photograph the man across from me.  Today, that man was Dennis, who was kind enough not to put up too much of a fuss when I made this photo of him.

May I Help You?

June 3, 2013

Today, in search of a photo, I went across the street to visit the lovely garden of our friends and neighbors, Vince and David.  Upon entering  I was met by this dutiful cat, standing at the entrance while looking up at me expectantly, offering me the sky.

Can't We All Just Get Along?

June 2, 2013

The Burke-Gilman Trail is a 27 mile long bike/pedestrian trail that follows, for the most part, the route of the now abandoned Seattle Lakeshore and Eastern Railroad.  It begins pretty much where this photo was made, in an industrial area of Ballard near the ship canal.  A plan to extend the trail to the west to join a portion that picks up near the locks has been stymied for years by local industrial interests.  I thought this photo was a good indicator of the sort of complexity you get when you try to mix bikes, pedestrians, industry, trains, and cars.

Busy

May 1, 2013

This bee was working hard and then, with his head buried in the flower, he simply stopped for a very long time.  I thought perhaps he'd died of the beauty.  Finally I shook the flower and he got back to work musing, no doubt, on how lucky he was to have been born a bee and to get to work in places as lovely as this.