Fall back

I love fall! The leaves are turning and there is a chill in the air. It's time for sweaters, cozy fires and hot cocoa. We've "fallen back", so the days are shorter, but somehow that seems right as the days grow colder. On a walk today, I noticed I was "crunching" on some of the leaves that had collected on the sidewalk. Somehow the leaves (along with the weather) seemed to change overnight.

I also enjoy decorating for this time of year—it has become quite a tradition at our house and clearly I am not alone. Many of the houses I passed today had pumpkins, fall garlands, and wreaths adorning  homes and gardens. They were charming. Somehow the bold colors of fall bring a warmth that offset the chilly weather.



Falling leaves hide the path so quietly.

~John Bailey

Anti-serendipity moment

Over the years, my wife and I have enjoyed looking at houses in Downey for possible upgrades and to get decorating ideas. There are some houses that look great on the outside and we are very anxious to see the inside. So when one of those houses goes on the market we make time to go visit.

This is one of those houses that has great curb appeal. But when we saw the layout of the inside we kept asking ourselves, "why?" It just wasn't what we had expected after having seen and admired the outside for so many years. I'm sure the current owners found the layout to be advantages and appealing so they bought it. For them, it was serendipity, for us, just the opposite.

Have you had either one of those lately?

Serendipity = Look for something, find something else, and realize that what you've found is more suited to your needs than what you thought you were looking for.
~Lawrence Block

Fund raising for school

On my way home from the doctor's office, I passed this group in front of our local Fresh and Easy grocery store. They are from Carpenter elementary school and were raffling off a basket of goodies to raise money for the school. Parents, teachers, and students were all helping out in the effort. The lady sitting at the table is Mrs. Hesketh, the school principal.

You could feel the energy from this group. They love their school and are willing to give up an evening to raise the necessary funds to give their students some extra tools in the learning process. What activities did you do to support your school when you were a kid? I remember paper drives.

They were also collecting receipts from the shoppers to collect rewards from the store. By the way, that sign behind this parent says that you can get a frozen Jennie-O turkey for spending $30 or more at this Fresh and Easy.

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.

Firestone Boulevard

Firestone Boulevard is the main thoroughfare through Downey. In the "old" days, it was called Front Street.

This section of Firestone, near Downey Avenue ("downtown Downey), looks very much like it must have looked 50 or more years ago. (Hopefully, some Downey historians can fill me in on the actual age of this area.) Revitalization efforts have had their effect down the street, around the corner, and elsewhere. This little area, with its odd combination of shops, some of which have been there as long as I can remember, stay the same.

Click the picture, then click again, to see it larger.

Olive tree

I really like this old olive tree that lives in the back section of Furman park. Evergreen with small silvery leaves and a trunk that is perfectly gnarled and twisted, it has a certain character. While it looks old, it is also strong. I was surprised to learn that many old olive trees in the Middle East and Europe are believed to be over 1,000 years old. Certainly the Furman olive tree isn't that old, but I wonder how long it has been there. Hopefully, it will be there long after I am gone.

"They are beautiful in their peace, they are wise in their silence. They will stand after we are dust." ~ Galeain ip Altiem MacDunelmor

Cave canum

As I passed this gate, I liked the silhouette of what I assume to be this home's "guard dog." Many of us rely on our dogs to protect our homes. What I never really thought much about was that using dogs for protection is actually an an ancient "alarm" system and posting a warning sign to keep trespassers away has been used for centuries.

In Pompeii, Italy, (dating back to 79 AD), mosaics that read "Cave Canum" often were placed at the entrance of a building or a home to serve as a "no trespassing" sign. Cave canum is Latin for "beware of the dog." I found it amusing to note that my source for this information believed that the citizens of Pompeii did this whether or not they actually had a dog.

A day in Downey

Last night, the Downey Museum of Art held their "renaissance event," a visual arts exhibit called "A Day in Downey." On display were works by local artists, along with some of the pieces from the museum's collection.

The museum was founded in 1955 and was Los Angeles county's first contemporary art museum. However, the museum almost disappeared a few years ago in a financial and legal limbo.

A lot of hard work by George Redfox, the current president, and others culminated in tonight's exhibit in the display room of the Paramount Auto Center. (The center turned out to be a surprisingly good venue for an art exhibit!)