Wednesday, April 28, 2010

I used to ride a BMW




Those were fun times.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Dish Lane

I don't know, but the historical contrasts in the photograph, as well as the colors, attracted my eye.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Twitter has a Conference @ Ft. Mason

And, guess who was there?

(photographer unknown)

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Oh, April showers, bring May flowers

But April storms bring rainbows!
How cool is that?

Left Hand, Right Hand

This is a Stutz Bearcat. Stutz made luxury and racing cars. Stutz was the last American car manufacturer to make a right-hand-drive car,  in 1921.
The movie below shows a slow cable car ride down Market Street in San Francisco in 1906, only four days before the earthquake. (Date was determined by shadows, license plates, and etc.)



And, here's a Stutz Limousine, from 1927
(Notice the steering wheel location.)

 

The Discoverer



Young Master Henry takes after his scientific parents and closely investigates how buttons, handles, and pedals work. This is very important for a young, inquiring mind.

Thursday, April 08, 2010

Mexicali Mexico Earthquake

This purports to be a pic taken outside of Mexicali at the time of the earthquake earlier this week.  I picked it off a Twitter post attributed to @SteffanAntonas.
Fascinating illustration of the power our gentle world has within it.

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Thursday, April 01, 2010

What a Real Vacation is Like

First, there's eating; a lot of eating

Then, there's playing with cousins. Lots of playing

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Good Timing

Well, the Bromsgrovians go back home across the Atlantic later this week and, sure enough, the front driveway Cherry blossoms are blooming. They do this every year at the end of March/beginning of April.

The show is always spectacular.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Getting All Ready For Tomorrow

Well, the tempertures are certainly doing their best for the arrival on Friday of Hanako, Mark, George & Henry.





This warm weather is bringing out the Cherry blossoms. They look great! 


Now, if only we had a battery charger!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Final 2010 Budding Report

So, final interim report.

First the Gingko tree. Some landscape architect told all his students, many decades ago, that the Gingko was the oldest known tree species.

Older even than the Sequoia.

Next, a pic of the lavender bushes in full bloom. Look carefully and you might spot the honey bee that was feasing thereon.



And, finally the backyard Cherry tree, with its emerging blooming flowers.









The ten driveway Cherry trees shall have to await DD and DSIL's arrival in less than a week.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

And, today, a new flowering tree


This time, it's the weeping Cherry outside the Japanese Room window.

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

And now. . .

 I do believe that HiltonHouse is getting ready for the arrival of Hanako and Mark later this month.

These pics show the leaf buds from the regular Japanese Maple outside the kitchen.

Still remaining are three different types of Cherry trees. We shall see.

Saturday, March 06, 2010

And, Again!

First, the Camilia. Then, the daffodils. Then, Akiko's Peach tree. Now, Hisako's red-limbed Maple tree!

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

3/3

March 3d is Girls Day in Japan (and elsewhere.) So here's a cheer to all the girls - granddaughters, daughters, mothers, sisters, grandmothers, and greatgrandmothers!


HAPPY GIRLS DAY




(That's a seven-tiered display. The number of tiers is significant.)





Monday, March 01, 2010

Frank Gehry is A Famous 21st Century American Architect



And now, I can see where he gets his inspiration for building designs!

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Earthquakes are a bit scary.

You see, if the roadways/freeways collapse, then you can't travel on them, or under them, or over them.

You are trapped!

This is a bit nerve wracking.

We hope that the strengthening that CalTrans did after Loma Prieta and Northridge, will prevent the damage shown above. This pic is from Chile on Saturday.

Friday, February 26, 2010

It Looks Like 1910,

But this pic was taken on 26 February 2010 in the Upper East side of Manhattan.

(Thanks to @alexisglick.)

(Click to expand.)

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Hey! I'm only running a quote.

(From today's Health Summit at Blair House) (That's VPOTUS above. He said this.)

"I'm always reluctant after being here 37 years to tell people what the American people think. I think it requires a little bit of humility to be able to know what the American people think, and I don't, I can't swear I do. I know what I think. I think I know what they think. But I'm not sure what they think. And the second point I'd make is..."

Now, back to our regular programming.