Here’s the list of ingredients for my current mindset: I’m thinking about moving; I’ve always loved New Mexico from time spent there in the past, and I’ve spent my whole life living either in cities or suburbs. So if I’m feeling restless and have a desire to shake things up, how about looking at 20 … Read more
I was on a weekend day trip up into Connecticut, checking out some things in Danbury, when I saw this tall Uncle Sam sculpture, seemingly in the middle of several roads. I was driving and in the midst of traffic, so I didn’t get a good luck (although I took one of these pictures at … Read more
Whenever I’m in New York City, I tend to be on high alert for things of visual interest. Whether it’s street art, sticker art, architecture, things on the sidewalk … I seem to be keenly aware of my surroundings. So when I was walking through Chelsea on my way to some art galleries, I noticed … Read more
As I mentioned in my last post, I tend to look for visual items of interest as I’m walking the streets of New York City. The building above left, with the round windows, is called the “Dream Downtown Hotel,” which was designed by Handel Architects. I always admire this building when I’m walking around Chelsea, … Read more
I was in the IKEA store when I noticed this pair, and was curious why these little characters were frowning at me. It seems they are considered “mood vases” with the product name “Fröväxt,” which means “seed plant” in Swedish. They’re meant to be mini plant holders, with the idea that whatever greenery that comes … Read more
My plans for Day 4 in Madrid included visiting the hermitage of San Antonio de la Florida in Madrid, where Goya’s tomb is located and his murals fill the church. The art inside is quite stunning, but they don’t allow photography – the nuns are in their office but keep an eye on things via … Read more
Something prompted me last night to pull a manila envelope out of a plastic bin which holds a collection of stamps started when I was in elementary school. I can’t remember the last time I looked in this envelope – at least a couple years – and I had forgotten how many stamps I have, … Read more
One of the things I like visually about Pittsburgh is the yellow bridges; there’s a variety of suggested reasons for them all being the same color. One, for safety and visibility, as they stand out in fog and rain. Two, for maintenance ease, as it’s easier to spot flaws on a light surface. Three, for … Read more
I was exploring a beach in Bonaire when I noticed a bird atop a cactus, eating something. It was unexpected, since one would think the prickles on a cactus would discourage any animal from resting on it, let alone eat it. What is this bird? The colors and markings indicate that it’s a brown-throated parakeet, … Read more
One of the things I liked about visiting Bonaire was that one could drive around the perimeter of the island and find multiple access points to the water – some were official beaches, others were just simple paths to the water. In this case, as I’m following the path to the ocean, I realized that … Read more