Brick walls

Brick is not the most common building material in southern California. This is partly because of our weather—brick holds in heat, which isn't as useful in our climate as it is elsewhere. But it's also because brick isn't very stable in an earthquake, which we have a lot of. Today's building codes require that brick be reinforced with rebar (whether on new construction or retrofitted), which makes it much more expensive than wood. But...brick is common in this little row of old retail buildings along Firestone Blvd.

So why this picture? I like the look of brick and I like vintage buildings. This also is the back of the old Sears catalog store, where I got my first part-time job years ago, so there's a bit of nostalgia thrown in.

"There's a certain nostalgia and romance in a place you left."
~ David Guterson

My tree under siege

For some time now, I've laid claim to this tree. And now, my tree is under siege, surrounded by scaffolding and tarps and chain link fencing.

This has led me to a second conclusion—it's not just that this is my tree. It's also my wall. The pattern and color of the brick wall are what give life to the images of my tree. (See here and here.)

Someone has decided this needs to change. When I mentioned the "always changing" nature of my tree in my last post about the tree, this wasn't what I had in mind!

Brick wall

This brick wall lines the backside of one of the yards that back up to this alley. I have always liked the "feel" of  brick.

“I like talking to a brick wall- it's the only thing in the world that never contradicts me!”
~ Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan

My tree

This is my tree.

Not really of course, but I've come to think of it that way. I pass it every day on my way to work. Since the wall faces east, there are often interesting shadows. In winter, it's the shadows that stand out most, such as this picture of my tree. Here, it's the green that catches my eye.

Sometimes there are people. If I'm early enough, there are kids on foot or on their bikes, on their way to middle school around the corner. On this day, a worker cleans outside the Hometown Hardware store that now lives in this building.

Always there. Always changing.

My tree.

Summer solstice

I took this picture yesterday evening, just before sunset on the first full day of summer.

I love summer! I rejoice when the calendar finally confirms what the weather has been hinting at for weeks. I bask in the warmth.

I also savor the light. I enjoy every minute of this almost longest day of the year. But I also am a little disappointed, just a little, because tomorrow the day will be shorter. Not by much—at our longitude, it's just a few seconds a day this first week. A little more each day next week. Until by September, each day is over two hours shorter than yesterday.

But enough of that! I'm going to enjoy every minute I get!

Click here to see how this tree has grown in two years.

A single light

A single light in an empty parking lot. What could feel lonelier?

One of my favorite walls (see this post) has an eery feeling late at night.

Three-wheeled bike

I spotted this bike (or do you call this a tricycle?) behind Downey Billiards this afternoon. I liked how the shape and color of the bike echo the sign behind it.

Shadows

The other day I noticed this tree and its shadow, outside of the empty Von's Market. When I went back the next day to take its picture, this old man kindly walked into the frame at just the right moment.

Where have all the old houses gone?

I've started on a quest for the "old" Downey. This evening I drove down a residential street that I remember has a number of old (think pre-WWII) clapboard houses — and they were nearly all gone! Replaced by what is not-so-affectionately known in Downey as McMansions.

So instead, I ended up on the backside of what used to be known as 1st Street (that is, Firestone Blvd), where I worked at the Sears catalog store after I finished high school. The building is currently home to Downey's Billiards. I love the look of the stairs climbing up the brick wall.

I'll let you know as soon as I find an old house again.

Downey Camera

The old entrance to Downey Camera (on Firestone) is still visible on the back side of the building (of course I worked a little photoshop magic to help it show this clearly).