Always changes

The one constant about Downey is that it is always changing. I frequently pass by this house and noticed recently that they had added these driveway lights to their landscape. Downey residents are constantly changing how their property looks. Asphalt driveways turn into concrete. House colors change. New roofs are put on.

New trees are planted in the hope of growth. Even new rooms are added to the top or back of houses. I think these changes are planned to add functionality or to enhance the beauty of the property. But whatever the reason, I like it.

"When you forgive, you in no way change the past - but you sure do change the future." 
~ Bernard Meltzer

Flowers are yard art too!

I have always had an eye for yard art. I appreciate how creative and fun some can be. But flowers can also be yard art, especially in this yard that I spotted last week. It was an explosion of wildflowers and color and I couldn't resist sharing it with you.

"Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment."
~ Claude Monet

Elegant hands

Elegant desserts should have elegant hands to serve them. These hands caught my eye a few weeks ago at one of the kiosks at Stonewood Center.

Downey Street Fair

Today was the annual Downey Street Fair. For me, this event has become all about the food.

Here you can see this couple eating ice cream, but there was an amazing variety of options...from Poke to ice cream.

Beep beep!

A while back, I noticed that the fence that surrounds Rio Hondo Elementary School had some new decorations. It serves a couple of purposes, I guess. First, it makes it harder for passers-by to see the kids when they're playing on the playground. And second, I now know that the school mascot is the roadrunner!

"Dear Warner Bros: Now that I'm an adult, I feel I'm old enough to hear what the "beep beep" is hiding when Road Runner talks to Wile E. Coyote."

Inconsideration

I usually enjoy photographing the good in Downey, but today as I was in the Ralph's grocery store parking lot looking for a place to park, I saw that almost every space near the doors was occupied. Except for this one.

Someone decided that the 30 seconds it would take them to take this cart to the cart bin was too much for them. Either they didn't have the energy or they couldn't afford to get to the next place 30 seconds later.

And it wasn't just me. While I was taking this picture, three other cars drove by and couldn't park here but had to park further out. Oh well, I did find a spot to park and I got my groceries. All is fine now.

New beginnings, BRB

Walking in uptown today, we noticed activity in the Mi Cielo restaurant. The sign out front says, "Coming Soon. Barriles Restobar". So, I went in for a closer look to see if the change had happened.

I talked with Simon, a worker, who told me that the new restaurant, BRB, had their grand opening last Thursday. They are now open Thursday through Sunday. They have a new chef with his own style, and live music on Sunday on the upstairs patio. Check it out soon and let us know how you liked it.

A look at the past

One of the things I love about Europe is the history we just don't find in our little town of Downey. In Downey, our historical buildings are from the turn of the century—early 1900s or the Dismukes house, which was built in 1887.

We are ending our trip to France in a town called Annecy. The Chateau d'Annecy dates back to the 12th century—that is the High Middle Ages and predates Downey by over 600 years.

"I don’t believe in accidents. There are only encounters in history." 
~ Pablo Picasso