American Scenes In Black And White

The caption on this photo reads "We are on our way home" and "South Pasadena via Redondo". Taken in 1904 by a photographer for the Detroit Publishing Company.

Local Art

With the sanction of the city, a Torrey Pine tree stump in a local roadside park was recently carved into an Easter Island tiki head. Pranksters added the eye patch and kerchief.

Below, guerrilla artists covertly installed a stained glass Lady of Guadalupe on a surfboard on the downtown railroad underpass. The city is deciding whether to remove it.

With All Due Respect

Thanks to Ace for bringing this clip to my attention. One of the good, rough men willing to do the heavy lifting for a grateful nation.

What's Blooming In Spring

Perennial nemesia is another easily grown and abundantly blooming flower. The flower resembles a miniature snapdragon and it works well as filler in a border, in a pot or hanging basket. Once it's bloomed and reseeded, don't be shy about cutting it back hard. You'll be rewarded the next time around with a reinvigorated plant and profuse blossoms.

Passing Along A Request

These three ladies have faithfully traveled to Bangor airport since 9/11 to see off deploying American soldiers. They've made a small request:

We the Freeport Flag Ladies need your help!

This year being the 10th anniversary of the events of 9-11 we are working to put on three days of events to commemorate [it]. We have been working very hard for several months and we find due to the economy and many other circumstances that we need to turn to the general public to raise the funds needed for this event. We need to raise $30,000 and we are turning to each of you to ask for your help. This event is non-political -- it is about remembering our past, honoring our heroes. We will be asking each of you to place a $1.00 bill in an envelope and send it to the:

The Freeport Flag Ladies
9-11 10th Anniversary
17 School Street
Freeport, ME 04032

We ask that you share this email with your family, friends and coworkers. It is our sincere hope that dollar-by-dollar we can make this event happen.

Back On The Beach

We were back on the beach last weeek, on a mission to collect more cobble stones for the garden.



Scores of California brown pelicans flew silently overhead.



Even though it was Spring break, the beach was almost deserted.

Easter Sunday

Whether you're playing tennis, or riding your goat...



Or out on the lawn with some chicks, wishing you and yours a blessed Easter day.

American Scenes In Black And White

Easter morning, Fifth Avenue, New York City, 1900.

And below, the same street, Easter, 1906.

Good Friday

What The Waves Washed In

As seen walking on the beach earlier this week, the incoming tide washed in a jellyish and a little coquina shell that was still joined together despite the pull of the surge.

What's Blooming In Spring

The mighty trumpet vine on the front porch is back in bloom and so ready to engulf the whole front of the house that it needs to be kept in check weekly. If you plant one, don't be afraid to trim it back hard.

A Gray Day

Last evening the sun put in an all too brief appearance just as it was setting into a thick bank of gray clouds.

The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

California's largest natural disaster took place in San Francisco 105 years ago today.

Flowers From The Garden

The garden is blooming abundantly right now. The last of the daffodils and irises are putting on a colorful show.

American Scenes In Black And White

In 1900, cowboys gathered around the camp wagon during a Texas roundup.



The same roundup, with the cowboys posed in front of the herd. Below, members of Pawnee Bill's Wild West Company staged a fake hold up for the tourists in Niagara Falls, circa 1898.

Warwick Leftwich

My business card case originally belonged to a Victorian gentleman named Warwick Leftwich. His name is engraved on the top of the case, along with "Xmas '93". It had found its way to a North Adams, Massachusetts antiques store, where it crossed my path back in the late 1980s.

The Way It Used To Be

This is the farmhouse my great great grandparents built in 1881 on the 160 acres they homesteaded just over the hill from here.

What's Blooming In Spring

What the gophers didn't eat in the dormant bulb stage, snails are determined to finish off in the blossom stage. It's amazing the damage they can do - and they seem to prefer the prettiest flowers!

The Way It Was

My grandpa, back in the day, long before the Coast Highway was paved, standing proudly beside his right hand drive 1911 Pierce Arrow.

In The City

My favorite neighbors had business in the city earlier this week and took me along.



San Diego is the 8th largest city in the country, second largest in California and remarkably clean and orderly for a city of its size.



In central downtown, many of the oldest buildings have been lovingly restored to their former glory.



San Diego wears its age well.

After The Storm

The last of the gray clouds at the end of the day.

American Scenes In Black And White

A scene from Palm Beach, Florida, circa 1905, is reminiscent of an Impressionist painting.

Stormy Weather

With rain during the night and strong winds all day, we drove up the coast and ate burgers on the bluff above the ocean.



California brown pelicans were out in force, gliding on wind currents just above the cliff.



Looking south, more rain clouds were gathering and the snow level was expected to drop to 4,000 feet.

Cardiff Kook As Van Gogh

Local merry pranksters have had at it again. In honor of Vincent Van Gogh's March 30th birthday, the much maligned public art statue was presented sans bloody ear, with palette and canvas, vase of sunflowers and bottle of absinthe. Note in the second picture, a papier mache crow perched on the railing. Well done, pranksters!

What's Blooming In Spring

My daughter surprised me with a new plant - a bleeding heart, something outside my usual gardening repertoire. It's a low shrub with airy foliage, not unlike a columbine, with arching thin branches bearing delicate blossoms that resemble hearts - it's beautiful! A shade lover that tolerates some sun, time will tell how it likes growing to the side of the patio door.

Gull, Guys And Girl

It's fun to sit on the reef and watch my daughter catch waves and observe the people who pass by on the sand. This gull wasn't shy about letting me know whose territory we were both occupying.



Long boards, short boards, young and old.



Before very long, it was time to head up the stairs for home.



Counting my blessings with every step.