Circa 1910

This puts the age of our house in perspective. This postcard image dates to three years after our house was built. The wide streets, so that horses could turn around with a cart behind, provided the space for the cool center island that runs the length of Main. Accidental aesthetics are the best.

Wabi Sabi

There is little to recommend the back side of most main streets. No exception to the rule on the east side of our Main. The west has the river and some effort to spruce up the waterfront. Don't get me wrong. It ain't no San Antonio; but, an effort is at least being made. The east side, though, is just plain ugly. The history has been vanquished, and what remains is little more than junk from the age when no one cared what downtowns looked like. Good luck finding the beauty in this picture (and don't just blame it on my camera (or me)).

What about roller skates?

or skateboards? or those funny shoes with wheels in them? or unicycles? or tricycles, for that matter?

Maple, Sycamore, or ?

Gotta get out my tree books here. My daughter grabbed this leaf and immediately identified it as maple. I don't necessarily disagree, but it has an odd feel to it. It has a maple's red, but the look is black maple or something else entirely.

Walking Bridge

Great walking bridge downtown. Water is shallow, and it is always fun to see what the town thugs have tossed over the side. No bodies or anything, but we have seen a bike, a fishing rod, and a big chunk of concrete. New York's got nothing on us for excitement.

How to turn a penny into $15

The meters on Main Street our cheap. A penny gets you 12 minutes, and a dime two hours. But, beware, they watch these cheap meters, and, as I can attest, you can get tickets. We've been here a year, and I already have two. One for too long in a coffee shop with only a nickel in the meter, and the other for too long in the hardware store on a penny.

Music in the Park

We are a small college town, population 12,000 or so, with a great community sense. Friday nights are "Music in the Park" nights, and last night was the last night for the season. Temperatures are feeling fall-like, leaves are starting to change, birds are coming through on their way south. My favorite time of year by far. Good sleeping weather and the last respite before winter (and winter sucks).

Nip and Tuck

School starts in three days, and THEY said the bridge would be completed by the time school started. It is going down to the wire.

Like Midwesterners say...

..."There are only two seasons-winter and road construction." Some sort of concrete artifact from the Maple and Main construction projects.