It’s a concept that’s disappearing in some parts of the world, but Charlottesville still has one. The parking is difficult, but the offerings are attractive.
and varied.
There’s entertainment too.
and it’s a place where people congreate.
and look for help.
Even hermits in their fastness depend on somebody for food. If it’s not a person delivering food, it’s a person supplying the wherwithall to catch the food. Imagine here, a picture of someone with a rifle — or a bow and arrow. It doesn’t matter. The hermit who’s a vegetarian, tending his isolated garden, even that guy. And most of us need even more than that…
Even when, or maybe, especially when, it’s somebody to show the way…
Or make the way (at least for a while)
Like most photographers, I try to stay out of the picture — at least, when it’s by accident. Sometimes it just happens.
Like here. And
oops, here.
Summer, that is — here in the Northern Hemisphere, anyway. The days are still warm, the nights comfortable. Unless it’s raining, of course. There’s been a tendency for that this year. 
Fall is coming soon, but there’s still a lot to enjoy. Hmm. could be a metaphore….
Oh, just thinking about fall being nearly upon us here and therefore, winter soon. Maybe it’s because I have a little summer cold (in the head that is). I remind myself that half the world is right now awaiting spring.
Must be nice to have that next.
Yeah, I know robins aren’t everywhere. They just seem that way.
But I don’t seem to be able to catch any. Meanwhile, here in the suburbs, we have birds and try to feed them. This makes a nice resource for the squirrels.
This is the time of year when everyone, especially anyone selling Fall merchandise, begins to warn that summer is almost over. Not that Fall is a deterence to people who like to grill outdoors. Many a day, even in early winter, I walk out to the smell of ribs or whatever wafting through the neighborhood. Meanwhile, here are the instruments that make it all happen.
I like this one because it looks so serious and high tech.
And this one because it looks like it’s been around for a while.
Here’s one lurking.
And here’s one really lurking.
And here’s one (from last winter) patiently waiting.
Early Spring Duende
(for Judy Longley)
I”m out here looking for Canada
Geese. Is that anything like
a wild goose chase? I only want
to shoot them with
my camera and think
about duende
as they stiff-walk on the dead
grass, take off wildly
honking, hit the water
awkward, put their heads in
the freezing cold and shake
their oily feathers like
trash. Wings tucked, necks erect,
two of them and a duck
arrow across this pond, where
the water, today,
is gray-green and winter’s mourning
still hangs
from the trees. They don’t know
I want their picture. If they knew,
they’d have no idea
why. These frequent tourists
are out looking for their life. I’d have
to say, so am I.
One of the many delightful things about having a pond in the neighborhood is the way it attracts wildlife — in this case, the occasional duck, but mostly geese (of the Canada variety)
And sometimes turtles. They tend to lurk at the far end of the pond. The Geese and ducks seem to get along well.
despite the dominance of geese.
I haven’t had the privilege of seeing any duck babies either.
but the geese are clearly family-oriented.
And they do sort of take over the place.
A lot of beautiful machines around here. These pictures were all taken in the parking lot of the complex where I live. It seems like this kind of bike is also a useful way to get around. And to look good too.
Just about any way you look at it
Even up close
And even in the winter
They live among us, these figures of belief. This one I found outside an apartment where I was living. I don’t doubt that the person who put it there meant to remind us, in some way or other, of the great saint who loved all living things. And the figure below, from a Buddhist garden is also, I’m sure, meant to bring to mind something more than ornamentation.
Then there’s a more ambiguous category. Like this Buddha from a friend’s garden. It expresses, maybe not belief, but certainly, solidarity.
Some things are more ambiguous still. I’m not sure what to make of this fellow below. But that’s just my ignorance. Perhaps somebody knows.
About these last, maybe it’s anybody’s guess. Anyway, there were for sale.
I’ve seen this flamingo more than once here in mid-Virginia, where you really never see any real ones, and it makes me wonder. Why a flamingo? It’s probably like those things you see on license plates (especially here in Virginia, where the privilege is cheap): sometimes obvious, but often so intensely personal, there’s no deciphering it, let alone figuring out why.
Here’s another version of a bird, this one really is from Florida (a store front in Del Rey), and also false, of course.
I’m not arguing against this sort of thing. Doesn’t it make the world more interesting? 
Well, yes, real birds are more interesting still. But require more upkeep…
Whaddya Mean Rosebuds? 