Volunteers of all shapes and sizes are welcome at the Downey Rose Parade Float preparation site. Storm has been volunteering (along with his owner) all of his life.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
All volunteers are welcome
Volunteers of all shapes and sizes are welcome at the Downey Rose Parade Float preparation site. Storm has been volunteering (along with his owner) all of his life.
Friday, December 30, 2011
The 98%?
As reported in the Downey Patriot, the Downey Rose Parade chairman has pronounced the Downey Rose Parade float to be 98% complete. I guess it's the 98% that's under the hood, because the float looked pretty bare to me today, with just three days of work remaining.
But there were lots of volunteers working on the float, and no doubt it will be ready on time (on January 2 this year). So, I've got lots of pictures for you today—it's the only way to really communicate the incredible amount of activity taking place at the preparation site. And I'll be back there on Sunday night to show you the results.
Tags:
floats,
flowers,
parades,
volunteers
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Out of desperation, hope
In our local cemetery there is a group of old tombstones depicting very similar pictures such as baby shoes and little angels. Each of these headstones record a birth and a death only a few months apart, all around the late 1940s and a few into the late 1950s. Right around the baby boom period a lot of infants were buried here. I can only assume it was a polio epidemic which ended when the vaccination was discovered. It's so sad to think about, but it really makes me appreciate the scientists working on all the pain in this world.
Tags:
babies,
cemeteries,
diseases,
grave markers,
graves,
tomb stones
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
From the top
From the four stairwells at the top of the Embassy Suites building, I can see the whole of my little town getting ready for the night.
A line is formed at Porto's Bakery. People are coming in and out of the Wells Fargo Bank and the sirens of a few fire engines flare through the intersection of Brookshire and Firestone.
By the way, this is the second year of doing this daily blog. Happy 2 year anniversary to us!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Monday, December 26, 2011
Last days
I stopped by All American Home Center today. With just two days left before they close their doors forever (see The end of an era), the sign was flashing 80% off everything, and I was curious to see if there were any bargains left.
If you're interested, there are still some kitchen towels and oven gloves. But that's pretty much it.
I know I said it before, but—I'm going to miss this store!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Hark! the herald angels sing
On Friday night at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Joseph gazed down on an empty manger. Today, Christmas Day, the baby Jesus lies in the manger as Mary looks on.
Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!Merry Christmas to all!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Location
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
A righteous man
One of the things I enjoy each Christmas is the Nativity scene in front of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help church. Seeing Joseph's face reminds me that, even though he often doesn't get much mention in the Christmas story, he played a very important role.
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" —which means, "God with us."
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
~ Matthew 1:18-25
Tags:
christmas,
nativities,
statues
Location
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Here we go a caroling
Tonight we were greeted (at our door) by some members of the Warren Band and Color Guard playing Christmas music and spreading holiday cheer.
As with all school music programs, they need community support. You can donate when they come by your door or you could send in a check to the Warren High School Band and Color Guard - Caroling Donation Drive 2011 (8141 De Palma Street, Downey CA 90241).
There is also an upcoming free concert to be held at Downey Theatre on January 19th at 7pm. You can email to reserve tickets - dniemeyer@dusd.net.
Monday, December 19, 2011
The Dismukes House bedroom
To finish up this little mini-series on the Dismukes House, here's the bedroom.
Tags:
Dismukes,
historical,
old houses
Location
Downey Historical Society
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Inside the Dismukes House
The inside of the Dismukes House (see An ordinary 1880s farmhouse for a view of the outside) consists of this living room, the kitchen (below), and a bedroom.
Tomorrow, the bedroom.
Tags:
Dismukes,
historical,
old houses
Saturday, December 17, 2011
An ordinary 1880s farmhouse
In 1887*, Edwin Price Dismukes built a wood farmhouse for his wife Maude and his growing family. Unlike some of the large homes in Downey (such as the Rives Mansion), the house that Edwin built was 20 by 25 feet, with a living area, a bedroom, and a kitchen. The bathroom was an outhouse out back.
The house was originally located near the corner of Firestone and Paramount (then College Avenue) Boulevards. Scheduled to be demolished for a parking lot, it was donated to the Downey Historical Society and moved to Apollo Park in 1986.
Over the next couple of days, I'll show you the inside of the house.
For a more complete history of Dismukes and his house, see Looking back on - Dismukes house from the Downey Patriot.
* The 1887 date is based on the Downey Patriot article; the Herald American, above, dates its photo in 1886. I haven't attempted to resolve these contradictory dates.
Tags:
Dismukes,
historical,
old houses
Friday, December 16, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Ready for Christmas
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Christmas in the air
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Feliz Navidad
Olvera Street, Los Angeles. This world-famous Mexican marketplace sits on the area considered the birthplace of Los Angeles and has been in operation since 1930.
Tags:
christmas,
historical,
Los Angeles,
markets
Location
Olvera Street, Los Angeles
Monday, December 12, 2011
A hint of what's to come
The Downey Rose Parade Float-to-be was one of the final entries in the Downey Christmas Parade last week. It doesn't look like much—yet. But in a couple of weeks, it's going to be an Enchanted Paradise.
The float is an entirely volunteer effort, with fundraisers and planning going on all year long. But the most intensive work takes place during the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve, when volunteers work from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day to complete the float.
If you're local, click here for information on how you can participate.
Location
Downey Christmas Parade
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Star of wonder
Lest my posts about Santa and snowballs at last week's annual tree lighting ceremony mislead you, the ceremony actually did include lighting up a tree. It's not quite a traditional tree, but it was big and tall, full of sparkly decorations and colorful lights, and topped by a huge star.
Tags:
christmas,
decorations,
stars,
trees
Location
Downey Civic Center Tree
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Apples to apples
Christmas is just around the corner. So, once again I ended up at Stonewood, our local mall, with my daughter for a quick errand. As we wandered past shops, I spied this beautiful sight: amazing looking candy apples. Yummy! Although I was drawn to the Chili Apple, the Rocky Road looked delicious too. My daughter's choice was the Snickers-topped apple. While each one had its own appeal, I did manage to resist...this time.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Snowballs
Santa was just one of the attractions at last week's tree lighting ceremony at the Civic Center. In addition, an entire section of the median strip, normally covered by grass, was roped off and covered with snow. About 20 kids were allowed in at a time, where they had a blast making and throwing snowballs. The looks on the kids' faces were priceless.
The aging process has you firmly in its grasp if you never get the urge to throw a snowball.
~Doug Larson
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Tacos Don Chente
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
What a beautiful mess
A lot of stuff went wrong today. (Ps. I just spelled "wrong" -wrnog-... irony?)
We had a leak that turned into a flooded cellar, a clogged sink, a splinter, and so on. But the saddest thing that happened today was the ruined fudge. We heated the bowl and things were just fine until the chocolate wanted to fight back. It just wouldn't melt! So one of us took a knife to it. Well the bowl couldn't fight back as well and, much to our startled dismay, it shattered. No more fudge (although we did nibble precariously at the bits of chocolate that were still completely intact).
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
On parade
The first few days of December were very busy in Downey with Christmas activities. Thursday night was was the Christmas tree lighting celebration, which I'll come back to later this week. And today was the annual Downey Christmas Parade.
But there were also marching bands and cheerleaders from all the local schools, and cowboys, and floats, and guide dogs, and of course Santa Clause...
For two hours, on a perfect 70 degree afternoon, everyone enjoyed the show.
Tags:
bands,
cowboys,
horses,
musical instruments,
parades
Location
Downey Ave and 3rd St.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)