PhotoHunt -Matchbooks

1789 is an elegant restaurant with excellent food in Washington, DC. We have not been there in a long time.

Back in the day when smoking was an acceptable habit, hotels and restaurants gave away matchbooks. We collected them in our travels and Marianne found some frames for displaying them. With a change in decor, they were relegated to storage long ago. I pulled them out for this PhotoHunt.

The Bavarian Inn serves excellent German cuisine and is just across the Potomac river in West Virginia; about an hour drive for us.

Phillips is the quintessential seafood restaurant for crabs in Maryland, with restaurants in Washington, Baltimore and several other east coast cities. This one is the 1956 original.

We had a delightful roast duck dinner at the Village Inn many years ago.

We attended a wedding reception at Emily Shaw's Inn in Pound Ridge, NY years ago.

Old South Mountain Inn in Boonsboro, MD is a historic inn, founded in 1732, on the westward trail to Ohio. It was the site of several incidences during civil war. And this is where I proposed to Marianne 24 years ago this month! It serves excellent food in a colonial setting.

Ahwahnee is a luxury hotel and restaurant in Yosemite National Park, one of the beauty spots on this Earth. Our accommodations were a platform tent, but we did eat here and enjoy the scenery.

Sky Watch Friday - Blue, gray & white

Southeast, afternoon clouds, May 23

West, clouds and contrails at dusk, May 23

Clouds at dusk, May 24

Patch of blue to the south, May 28

Storm to the north, May 28

Window Views - Many windows

These windows are part of a complex run by the Odd Fellows, a global fraternal organization. This facility has served as a retirement home for members, with part of the five-building complex leased to the Banner School. Recently the school has agreed to purchase the three builds it now leases.

My World Tuesday - Waterfalls

While I was in Colorado I had a little extra time before lunch with my son and the other family, so I took a drive toward Cheyenne Mountain. I found this canyon park and took a quick tour. Seven Falls Park, located in South Cheyenne Canyon, is privately owned. There is an elevator (as well as steps) to get to an overlook 140 feet above the base of the falls. There is also a stairway (visable is images below) up the side of the canyon to the top of the falls and a trail to a higher point which overlooks Colorado Springs. I did not have time to explore the the trails.

View at the bottom of the falls

View from the overlook

Upper falls

Middle falls

PhotoHunt - Plastic cards

It's almost impossble to shop without some of these plastic cards.

Sky Watch Friday - Colorado skies

Clouds over the Rockies and Pike's Peak - May 18, 2009

Skies over Cheyenne Canyon - May 17, 2009

Sky before sunrise - 5:11 MDT May 18, 2009

Sunrise - 5:33 MDT May 18, 2009

Sunrise - 5:55 MDT May 18, 2009

Window Views - From my trip

Above is a shot of the supports for the hugh windows at BWI airport.

And below is a view through the window above the clouds.

The sunrise Monday as seen through the Holiday Inn window.

My World Tuesday - A view of the Rockies

This weekend I was in Colorado Springs for my granddaughter's graduation from high school. The Rocky Mountains dominate the view to the west. I stopped to take the above shot on the drive down I-25 from the Denver airport to the Springs. And below is the view of Pike's Peak that greeted me the next morning.

Here's a view of South Cheyenne Canyon a little south of Pike's Peak.

Another view of the Peak on Monday.

And a view of the Rockies from the Denver airport as I waited on my flight home. More images from my visit in the coming days.

Away

I will be away from my keyboard for a few days to see my granddaughter graduate from high school.

PhotoHunt - Painted shop

Lots of painted items in this multi-colored store front in Frederick. For a closeup of the gate to the walk on the far side of the shop, see Marianne's post.

Sky Watch Friday - Changing skies

Some skyward glances last Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. If you don't like what you see one day check again later the wind is blowing and the skies are changing. The last image was taken shortly before my cows post.

Window Views - Windows in turrets

The three sets of windows here are in the same block in Frederick. I believe the houses were built around 1900 when turrets were in style. Some turrets are round, some octagonal or other shapes. The glass in the windows above is curved, while the others pictured here are flat The houses on this block are generally well maintained. Roofing repairs have been completed on several houses and other work is in progress. The last house shown needs work and is in fact for sale.

My World Tuesday - Flowers planted

Each year around Mother's Day we plant annuals and a few perennials. In addition to the flowers seen above, we added about a dozen more New Guinea impatiens. On Friday Marianne potted some of the flowers to put on the porch and patio. These three baskets are now hanging on the porch.

We added a few to the bed beside the garage.

And today I added impatiens to the beds under the back window,

and around the deck.

PhotoHunt - In memory of Bill

Bill and Dad, at the Cemetery a day after Mom's funeral

Monday would have been my brother's 66-th birthday. It has been nearly 5 years since he died, just 3 weeks after Dad. He was retired Navy and Vietnam veteran, serving on the USS Forrestal during WESTPAC 1967 cruise. After returning from Vietnam, the Navy transferred him to San Diego. He quickly adopted Southern California, saying he would never leave. Though his Navy assignments took him to sea, California remained his home. Here's to you, Bill! I miss you.

Sky Watch Friday - Clouds, rain, sun

Clouds swirling, April 28

Clouds over shopping center, April 28

Sunset, April 28

Cloudy morning, May 7

Sunny afternoon, May 7

Blue sky overhead, May 7