Whaddya Mean Rosebuds?

The above picture is of somebody’s graduation party — or the setting for it, anyway. Found on one of my walks.  I can only imagine how it must feel to be embarking into the “real world” (at least that’s what we thought we were doing when I graduated from high school, all those thousands of years ago…) in these days. Congratulations, grads! I And here’s a message that appeared on the sidewalk one afternoon. The original said, “We are all in this together.” A brave sentiment. Would that it were more than technically true…

 

Getting tired? I know I am.

Here’s a picture from early Spring. If only to remind that time passes…

 

 

It could be true

Like every commentator I’ve read this weekend, I hope the coming year has something better for us all.  Or the ability to deal with it.

Happy New Year! 

With peace and good will.

 

They live behind glass, but who knows what they’re up to?

This looks like a meeting to me. Or maybe they’re just watching…

In the way that mannequins who have no face often do, these models look somewhat appalled. Scandalized maybe. Who knows what they’ve been seeing.

 

 

Theme of winter coming continued. This was taken last week from a road in Norwood, Va.

This picture has the title, “almost a cat,” because it is. This cat sit outside through all the weather, including what we can just now, almost feel creeping up. And quietly. We don’t complain yet either.

I’ve been sorting old pictures. This is one from long ago. The bride — yes I have numerous pictures of her and the groom, eating cake, being toasted, smiling into each other’s eyes. I have no idea how it all came out, but here’s a little reminder, left on one of the tables at the reception…

In the next few weeks, I’ll be trying to get back to this. A look at this semi-distant past seemed appropriate.

Some houses just look welcoming.

On a recent trip to another state, I got to thinking about this and took a little walk to see what welcomes I could spy.

In the suburbs, doorways seem to be a specialty. But other thing attract too.

Maybe I wasn’t welcome to use this equipment, but it certainly looked inviting. As did this:

And some places are just attractive.

Others let you know if you’re somebody they would welcome:

But others are more oblique. This was my favorite. I don’t know what it means, but it sure feels welcoming. 

 

The welcome mat above resembles one I used to have outside my door, but this post is not about welcome mats. Rather it’s about some other ways that people make other people feel free to knock on their doors, or at least, look at them.

The rest of the photos in this post were all taken in my neighborhood, on a sultry summer day. 

I like this one, because it seems so inviting. I’ve always been a fan of Victorian photography, especially those pictures everybody rushed out to take because, well, they could (which I suppose is what we still do). They have a way of looking quaint, sometimes exotic, but really, they were just what was all around.

The emblems of everyday living.

I especially liked the gnome, lurking in the far left corner.

And I very much admire both the topiary and the planters here.

But this is my favorite. What is more welcoming than happiness? May all our days be filled with grand announcements!