Category: family

From The Archives, Again

After two hours of walking about downtown this morning, I returned convinced that the outdoors is no place to be until the wildfire smoke has abated.  So, continuing my exploration of old negatives that have never previously seen the light of day, I found this January 1974 view of Malibu after fire and rains.
1974-01-02-11-Edit-Edit

Then, a few days after that shot was made, I made a business trip to Washington, DC, but first stopped off in Davenport, Iowa where my brother was working as a newspaper reporter and living with his wife and young daughter, Gabrielle. Here, I photograph him during that visit as we encounter the bleak Iowa landscape.

 

rDay One-Hundred-Fifty-Four: Travels With Charlie

On this morning’s hike, Kim decided that she wanted to photograph, together, Lawrence and Charlie (aka Charley-Bob Marley).   So when Lawrence summoned Charlie to join him in a pose, the Contrary Cur decided that we were undertaking a new game and proceeded to run at top speed from Kim to Lawrence, repeatedly circling them in a rapid and enthusiastic manner.  No video is available of the spectacle but perhaps the animation below — based on the few shots Kim was able to squeeze off — will give a sense of at least part of the action.
charley-bob_600x

rday One-Hundred-Forty-Three

Today we saddle up to penetrate the state of Washington to visit Ray French Orchards, our favorite purveyor of pick-your-own fruit, particularly peaches.  Two+ hours later, we arrive and fill the back of the Caravan with an hour’s worth of harvested  peaches.  Most of your correspondent’s time was spent talking with Robin, the son of the orchard’s founder (1963), discovering that he is an avid amateur photographer, and — as usual — engaging in “windshield photography” to and from.  Ivi handles the driving chores and also shares producing antics and hilarious banter in league with honorary daughter Olivia.  Picnic lunch at Deadman’s Pass.  Perfect weather today.

rDay One-Hundred-Thirty-Nine: Safety First

With wildfires in the mountain forests surrounding the valley and smoky haze in the skies, Ivi waits until today’s 96 – 100 degree temperatures subside a bit to wrap up the work on the 103 entrance.  The ramp gets strips of 3M no-slip tape under the watchful eyes of Janet’s neighbor’s dog.  Ivi also secures the rug just inside the sliding door with its own no-slip treatment with other material.  Then, after a root beer float toast, we drive off into the sunset.

rDay One-Hundred-Thirty-Eight: Adventures with Ivi

First, let’s get the semi-obligatory car stuff out of the way. While Ivi stopped for a few minutes at her bank auto-teller, I took a look at some of the cars at the adjacent Historic Texaco Station, something devised by a local preservationist/entrepreneur.  The Station is usually littered with a number of old cars in various states of being.    Today I saw a faded pink ’57 Oldsmobile and a circa ’49 Chevy (with the Fender Bender? sign across the street).   I also bumped into a woman who was photographing the cars as well, and our brief chat revealed that she was trying to document a Thoreau quotation bumper sticker that appeared on one of the cars.

Then less than a block away, I spot a circa 1939 Buick parked in front of the GM dealer.  Next was an otherwise nondescript Subaru painted in the Subaru rally racing team livery colors. Finally, as we drove up Island Avenue, I sighted a Cayman (any Porsche model is a rarity in these parts), but thought I was too late to capture it.  Nevertheless upon later inspection, I found that it can be barely seen in the extreme right of my blind, over-the-shoulder attempt (like fishing, the photograph not taken — the one that got away — doesn’t count).

One of our major errands was a trip to the local shoe repair shop — apparently one of the very few still in existence in the entire state — where we discussed the economy and made plans for recycling comfortable old footwear. And right outside we also get the Dog Photo of the Day and, once again, I capture the local retro-bus (I could explain about this: a few years back, when I built a website for the city, part of the package was to be photos of, among other things, local public transit. But I never did get a proper picture of the old buses, so I keep trying whenever an opportunity presents itself).

Finally, we check on the status of the 103 entrance deck. Looks quite different, depending on the angle of the light, but one thing is for certain. The experiment to embed non-slip grit into the finish is less than successful, so Ivi intends to install 3M no-slip tape as a better alternative. Maybe tomorrow morning.

What I don”t present here was the continuing and often hilarious running commentary provided by Ivi on all these events.  Need movie mode, maybe …

rDay One-Hundred-Thirty-Two

The highlight, or lowlight, of this day was a visit to Dr. J.S. for a little outpatient procedure.  Kim accompanied me to make sure that I would show up for this one.

Then we make the typical shopping round for a Tuesday, looking for store specials and checking out farmers’ market.  (And watching for automobilia of interest along the way and visiting the Safeway magazine stand.)