Wild feral cats

My wife and I like to take a walk on these warmer summer nights. One of our walks takes us past the parking lot for the "Dial a Ride" service here in Downey.

I've noticed these feral cats that reside there. They come out during the night to play and get handouts from the residents of the senior housing across the street.

They haven't over-populated yet. I wonder what keeps their numbers down?

Photos come from cameras

I had to take one of my lenses into Art's Camera for repairs. I love going into this shop. It has so many accessories for cameras that it's hard to control my wallet. But also, the paraphernalia in the shop makes it an adventure just to walk around in there. Even if you aren't an avid photographer, Art's Camera is a delight to visit. Check it out sometime and tell them Downey Daily Photos sent you.

“The camera basically is a license to explore.”
~Jerry Uelsmann

Sitting under the sunset

I knew the sun was setting when I left the restaurant tonight to drive home. But I couldn't see it for all the buildings in the way. So I hurried as fast as I could to the Rio Hondo Golf Course parking lot, and was rewarded with this view of the setting sun causing a glow in our coastal cloud cover.

"Never waste any amount of time doing anything important when there is a sunset outside that you should be sitting under."
~C. JoyBell C.

Parting shots

There was a really big crowd for the concert Wednesday night. It was nice to see so many "neighbors" taking advantage of the free evening of music.

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."
~Berthold Auerbach

Dogs like music too!

I love that pets are welcome at the Furman Park concerts-at-the-park. It was nice to see that pet owners all over Downey brought their furry friends to enjoy the strains of U2.



“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace.”
~ Milan Kundera

The Joshua Tree

This past Wednesday evening, we joined several hundred people at Furman Park for the summer Concert-in-the-park series. What a treat! The band was called "The Joshua Tree" and they did a Tribute to U2. The Joshua Tree prides themselves with their ability to generate a unique musical experience without compromising artistic integrity. The band has gone to great lengths to reproduce the distinct sound of one of the world's most popular rock bands.

They were fun! The lead singer came into the audience and got everyone involved. He was doing "selfies" both with his phone and with random peoples' phones. It was a truly enjoyable event. I couldn't resist singing along.

Serendipitous art

Sometimes art is hidden away, off the beaten path. This image of two exuberant children is hidden between two garage walls, and further hidden by trash cans waiting for trash pickup.

But when I stumble across it on a morning walk, it makes me smile.

Close enough to visit

My wife and I went down to San Diego California for a convention. We stayed at the Bayview Sheraton Hotel and this was our view each day. San Diego is just over 100 miles south of Downey, but it is much cooler due to the ocean effect.

Looking out over our balcony, this was our nighttime view. I thought, "San Diego has the most colorful night skyline I've ever seen."

San Diego, where else can you look out your balcony and see a wedding party being photographed next to the bay?

Show me the beef

Some years ago there was a Wendy's commercial depicting two elderly ladies getting a hamburger from a fast food restaurant. When they lifted the four inch bun they found a one inch patty. Their reply was, "Where's the beef?". I feel that way when I drive by the future site of Promenade at Downey.

Ground was broken Last November after all the buildings were demolished. That's the ground up dust of the building cement in the background. I thought once you broke ground the buildings would start to take form. The only thing to take form here are the tumble weeds growing. But then, I don't know big business.

Morning neighborhood walk

This morning I went out to walk the dog and look for pictures for Downey Daily. I didn't find any really interesting pictures, just the normal sights on a typical Tuesday. But, typical sights can be fun and familiar.

As I watched the postal worker, I wondered how much longer will there be home delivery of mail from a person who walks through our neighborhood every day?

Then,  thanks to a gardener at work, I had a sneak peak into a beautiful back yard I have never been able to see before. Finally, I rounded a corner and noticed these beautiful pomegranates growing on a tree in someone's front yard.

This mornings walk was a reminder that we live in a beautiful neighborhood and sometimes it good to remember that and just appreciate the normal sights that are all around us every day.

Good intentions

Have you started an exercise program lately? The Downey YMCA has a really great program called FitLinxx that tracks your workouts and makes it easy to see your progress.

I know this because I joined the Y (again) a couple of months ago. And I had a couple weeks' worth of good workout sessions.

Then I went on vacation. And I came down with a cold. And then my daughter (my exercise partner) came down with a cold.

It's really hard to get back to a routine after a few weeks' off.

How is your program going?

Is it contagious?

Is a smile contagious? Research suggests that not only are smiles contagious, but that the smile you "catch" improves your own mood.

Does it work with signs? If you pass this sign on Paramount Blvd, see if it brings on a smile.

And if it doesn't, have a little laugh anyway, and cheer yourself up for a few minutes.

Rainy day adventure

I have to admit, I took this picture some time ago. But, I thought the two of them looked so cute walking down the street together.

“Being soaked alone is cold. Being soaked with your best friend is an adventure.”
~ Emily Wing Smith

Yard sale leftovers?

On a walk the other day, I stumbled across these Halloween decorations sitting on the edge of a flowerbed, closer to the sidewalk than to their house.

Were they yard art, set out three months early? Or were they leftovers from a weekend yard sale?

I don't know, but I sure thought they were cute. Especially that mummy with the green nose poking out.

Wedding on the course

Yesterday I showed you the Hackers restaurant at Rio Hondo Golf club. While my wife and I were there for dinner, we noticed a group down on the lawn. It looked like a wedding rehearsal so I asked if I could come back and take pictures for DDP. And they agreed.

This is Nichole and Manny who have chosen such a lovely venue for their wedding and reception. I'm sure they will have many happy years of marriage. They chose to start their marriage overlooking a golf course.

Hackers restuarant

My wife and I recently discovered the restaurant associated with the Rio Hondo Golf club here in Downey. It is called "Hackers" and we loved it. She had a steak sandwich while I had a 1/2 pound burger. The steak was sliced filet mignon. Equally beautiful, the panoramic view of the 9th hole.

I encourage you to check out Hackers and let us know what you think.

Tomorrow I'll show you what else I saw at the restaurant.

Summer time fruit

Summer is the best time for fruit. Our downtown Downey Farmers Market has beautiful choices.

Did you know that grapes are a great source of Resveratrol, an anti-oxidant known to play a protective role against cancers of colon and prostate, coronary heart disease (CHD), degenerative nerve disease, Alzheimer's disease and viral/fungal infections? They are also a good source of vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin K.

Love 'em or hate 'em?

Several rows of palm trees have been planted in the new dividers on Firestone Blvd. near downtown Downey. This is part of the Firestone Blvd. improvement project. But with their fronds tied up on top like a crazy top knot, the palms don't exactly look their best yet.

Reaction has been mixed. After the Downey Patriot posted a picture on their Facebook page, reactions ranged from "Who would hate a palm tree?" to "Hate is a strong word for me, but definitely dislike." And from "What's up with the building next to Downey Billiards?" to "I think it is cruel to keep palm trees tied up like that. Release them! Let them roam freely!" (OK, some people do get sidetracked from the question at hand.)

What do you think?

The beautiful game

This is the aftermath of today's "The Beautiful Game" event. The streets are still blocked off and crowded a couple of hours after Germany beat Argentina to win in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final.

The event featured "a public screening of the game, plus live music and performances, retail, food, and photo booths, games, foosball tables, a beer garden and more!"

Misty morning, Mozambique

It was early morning and I headed out for a walk. The weather had turned more damp and there was a mist that seemed to cover the entire orphanage property.

It made for a beautiful morning. I walked down the path that runs alongside the property and enjoyed the rugged beauty of Mozambique.

More renovation

Park improvement seems to be contagious in Downey.

It's not just the Brookshire Children's Park that's getting a facelift, as Steve showed yesterday. The two children's playgrounds at Furman Park are also being completely redesigned with a space theme to complement Downey's space heritage. This is the first update since 1990.

The new playgrounds are being funded partially by the Kiwanis Foundation, which funds projects that benefit the youth of the community.

Renovation

Brookshire Children's Park has been around for a long time in Downey. It has always been the idea that the park was designed and it should be maintained for children's use. This past year, the City Council approved funds for the park's renovation. There will be walkways, swings, and other kid-friendly activities.



As you can see, the Grand Opening is July 19th. So don't miss it.

Changing the landscape without changing the landscape

Recently, I showed you this backyard where a land owner was preparing to build a new building on his property. At the time he was packing down the dirt so the city would let him continue. Now the foundation is laid, walls have been constructed, and the skeleton of the house is visible.

I like that the owner built the new construction without damaging or removing any of his trees.

An elephant never forgets

I love elephants! It was one of the animals we saw a lot of over the past week in the Kruger Park in South Africa.

This herd was funny to watch. They were in a little clearing and the center elephant began sucking up the sandy dirt in her trunk and tossing it over her back. We were told this helps to keep bugs away.

Elephants are really amazing creatures. Did you know that elephants can live to be 60 years old? And, according to researchers, elephants can recognize and keep track of the locations of up to 30 companions at one time. Other researchers, who studied three herds of elephants during a severe 1993 drought at Tanzania's Tarangire National Park, found that they not only recognize one another but also recall routes to alternate food and water sources when their usual areas dry up.

King of the jungle

It was a bit frustrating to have so little internet access on this African safari. So now that I'm home, I want to share just one picture before returning to life in Downey.

On our last morning, we encountered a small pride of lions and lionesses on the road. Unusually, they appeared to be hunting, but not for game. Our ranger guide thinks that a new lioness was attempting to join the pride, and the pride didn't intent to let her. Instead, they chased her as if she herself were prey.

It was truly amazing to see these majestic animals so close, in their natural habitat doing what comes naturally. I'll never look at a zoo in quite the same way again!

Upstairs shops

Downtown Downey is a mix of the old and new. But this view of the narrow entrance to the stairs between two businesses reminds me of an older way of life, when you lived above your business. It's a way of life that Downey is trying to restore with its downtown revitalization project. 

4th of July celebration, part II

A few more pictures of yesterday's celebration. From about 1:00 pm until the fireworks started, the kids were playing on the water jumpers located on two different lawns. This one was mostly for the older kids to run up to, dive in and slide down the shoots while being sprayed with water. Cool!

Then there was this smaller slide for the middle-sized children. Also while being sprayed with water. Cool!

Then there was this "jumper" for the toddlers. Cool! Even this pool looked inviting during the hot hours of the day.

How did you stay cool yesterday?