Seen this?

This morning on my way home from Kaiser (hint) I discovered this beautiful tile work reminding me of Spain or Portugal.   How lovely, and right here in our home town. 

Ah, the sun has improved my spirits and Rudy's too, as he got to go to the dog park today and get a pet from Goldie, Whitey, and shy Bonnie's dad.

Answer:  My post of two days ago was photographed just past Crab Cove Visitor Center, to your right and down the public pathway.   Take a walk there and enjoy this wonderful weather.

Have you been here?

Found this place a while back, after I thought I had been just about everywhere in town.    Lovely views, quiet and beautifully landscaped.

Ever been here?    Where am I?

Where am I?

Decided to do some "long views" of Alameda for a while as I am hoping to show larger scale features of Alameda to anyone visiting this blog from out of town.  There are so many different types of vista here that make Alameda the interesting and varied place that made me love it from day one back in the mid-seventies when we moved here from Los Angeles and before that, Chicago.

I've decided to stand in one place and take shots in 3 or four directions so you may try to guess just where I am.  Yes, shot three is a dead giveaway.  

Just Walkin in the.....

Cold rain.

The beautiful results of all of our rain show in this clump of bright yellow bulbs weighted down by raindrops.

Seeing Skeleton

Left Alameda yesterday with our Bay Area Issues group from Mastick Senior Center 
to the Pacific Gas & Electric Conference on Water Conservation.  During lunch I couldn't help but notice an eerie sight near the Carousel at Zeum.   

Through the rain soaked branches of a nearby tree this figure crouched.

Either bouncing off the world or landing foot first, this was a little chilling at first.     Then on our way back to BART, we looked up to see yet another smiling down at us.    Yes, I will be good.....at least for today!

(for a better look, please click on photos).

Lavender Blue...

Today, my walk focused on the many different types of lavender that are blooming right now.   On top is the "helicopter type" , nice thin little petals arranged in straight vertical lines with the pale blue rotors above ready to send each stalk up into the atmosphere.

 

I've never seen these lacier leaved type with three-pronged flowers in a really bright blue.

I guess this is the standard "Martha Stewart" type.    These really fragrant hearty lavendar are used for potpourri, sachets, woven into baskets, and are delicious for cooking chicken and stews.

Walking with a very tall Person

What could be more fun than walking down Laurel Street with a very tall person smiling down on you!

Recycler's Home

As I was walking down Mound Street today I encountered the home of a recycler.   Reclaimed wood fencing along the sidewalked contained compost and...

in front, parts of a 50s pedestal table bottom and ultra large wok made a very convincing birdbath.  

Well Rooted!

 The root system of this San Jose Avenue magnolia is amazing.   I wonder how long this particular tree has been in existence?  Close ups (just click) reveal slumbering figures cozily clinging to the right side of its trunk.