July 3rd, 2009

Pink Clematis Blossom

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While at Green Spring Gardens, I found this lone clematis blossom among a bed of greenery. I couldn’t find a vine anywhere nearby, so maybe this bloom is hiding out, not ready to expire.

 

July 2nd, 2009

No Rest For The Weary…Or Lucy

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Lucy is so tired, and I’m such a pain. Just can’t keep my paws off the camera.

July 1st, 2009

We Should’ve Named You Sandy

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Here is Lucy, right back where she was almost a year ago. Since this is a popular Lucy walk, she has been here many times since then, but not with such a similar nose. All of this digging is followed by a lot of coughing and sputtering, but seems to be worth it in the pursuit of beach litter.

June 30th, 2009

Tracks Of The Past

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I have a small interest in trains…not in the sense that I participate in clubs or keep track of schedules or even delve into their history…nothing that engaging or earnest. No, I just find very comfortable the feel of being around train stuff like railroad yards, stations and even tracks with their creosote-stained ties and rusty spikes. I know. Ick.

Having grown up in the Rosemont section of Alexandria, just yards from the tracks and a block from the Alexandria station, train songs—those warning whistles and rattling cars—were continually sung. At night, I would lie awake and listen to them as they passed by, their musical rumble accompanied every quarter-hour by chimes from the George Washington Masonic Memorial (or simply, masonic temple, as the locals call it), which towers over Alexandria city from atop Shuter’s Hill. A favorite neighbor who spent the better part of her summer days in the mid-60’s caring for me while my parents worked, was married to a man who worked at the station. Dressed in his dark blue conductor’s uniform, he would either walk up winding Sunset Drive or follow Commonwealth Avenue and pass underneath the trestle—either route would have him at work in minutes. Although a nice man, he did have a job to do and would shoo me and my friends away from the tracks where we crouched, carefully arranging our pennies dead center on the rails. If we were lucky, our hard work would pay off with perfectly flattened souvenirs, each one-of-a-kind.

Maybe there’s a “train gene” in my family. My mother once told me that right after a train passes by, the tracks are cold, not hot like you might expect from steel spinning against steel. I don’t remember asking what prompted her to frisk the tracks, but I do understand the curiosity. And come to think of it, her father—my grandfather—used to work for the railroad in Ohio, I think, back in the 40’s. And he did sing Workin’ on the Railroad and She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain to me when I was little. Hmmm…

The tracks you see here are only about a mile from the Alexandria station and run parallel to the dog park in Ben Brenman Park. When Lucy grows tired of playing with the other dogs and is ready for a walk, we’ll amble alongside the tracks, and I’ll lag behind, taking pictures and yep, searching deep in my pockets for pennies.

June 28th, 2009

Silent Sunday: Lucy At Great Falls, Virginia

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June 25th, 2009

SkyWatch Friday No. 50

parkpanorama

Okay, if you don’t already know that this is the Mason District dog park, then you haven’t been visiting enough. Shame on you! Just kiddin’. Dog parks not your thing? Then…

…go to SkyWatch Friday and find skies you’re sure to like from all over the world. While you’re there, why not leave a link to your own skies so all can enjoy?

swftom

 

June 24th, 2009

License And Registration, Please…

lucydriving

Ma’am, you are aware we have a seat belt law in Virginia?

 

June 23rd, 2009

What’s Your Treasure?

glassbicycle

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Okay, maybe not, but this is one of my favorite things—a stained glass, road bike suncatcher. Signed by the artist on the lower front wheel, AL “90,” W brought it back from one of his TOSRV bike trips in the early 90’s, and I think it’s a downright cool piece of bike art. The only coloring the artist used was a piece of beige glass for the saddle. You can’t see that well from my photo, but I opted for its silhouette hanging in our oversized, late 40’s picture window.

So, what’s one of your treasures? I’d like to know…

 

June 22nd, 2009

Bringin’ The Outdoors In

lucynose

lucyfoot

There may be just a little more detail here than you’d like, unless you’re the earthy type, that is.

I’m all for bringing the outdoors in…sunlight, views of trees and birds and sometimes an occasional deer (no window coverings in the living areas, at all…really), but I’d rather that earth stay, well…in the earth.

After trying to dig her way to who-knows-where from the backyard (I’m amazed we haven’t yet broken an ankle), Lucy plopped down from exhaustion before I could guide her into the bathroom for a rinse of those mud-caked paws. Holy cow. I do like to catch her if I can, as it takes less water to rinse her than to launder the furniture covers, however, sometimes it’s not to be. And by the time she wakes and traipses around a bit, I’ll have forgotten about the dirty feet. Oh well.

I remember reading once that you can’t have dogs and be house-proud. I agree, but wonder, who would rather be house-proud than have dogs? Maybe someone who’s never had the pleasure of living with a dog? And, cat lovers, of course. Just a guess.

 

June 21st, 2009

Silent Sunday: Lucy In Monochrome

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