'Tis the Off Season

A few shots from the periphery of this year's neighborhood holiday fair, held at the local swim and tennis club.

Kiddie pool

Banner

Court 1

Court 2

Concession

The season to be jolly

Flag Day

Spinning off of this week's Sepia Saturday flaggish theme...

Mad as hell

Wrong way

Jaywalker

Quality fence builders

Captains of industry

Freedom of speech

Protest

Haven't taken many photos recently, given inclement weather and being occupied with family maelstroms... So last Sunday was a much needed photo op, as I and Robin braved frigid (though uncharacteristically sunny!) weather to join over a thousand Seattleites on a march and rally in memory of the butchered children and teachers of Sandy Hook, Connecticut.

It was redolent of the peace marches I participated in during the 60s - signs and costumes, kids and dogs and grandmas. There were singers, speechifiers, politicians, and interdenominational clergy, as well as the mayor and the head of the teachers' union.

Lurking among those protesting the inexcusably unfettered availability of pure killing machines were a handful of anti-protestors who by and large think that their own paranoid male fantasies trump the health and welfare of 297,000,000 other Americans. Insensitive and arrogant of them to flaunt their personal weapons at such a somber occasion. The black shirt is a telling touch, don't you think?

They seem to believe that if we all carry these (and larger) weapons at all times, we will all be safer. In that event, we would become accustomed to the site of blue steel. How, then, would we be able to tell which of the myriad gun-toters around us might be the psycho about to open fire on the crowd? What's to say that having access to such power at everyone's hips would not tempt those who otherwise might tamp down their frustrations to simply satisfy their flash of anger with the flash from a gun barrel?

American society contains large swathes (though fortunately not a majority) of sick, sick people. Some of them already have sizable arsenals. I am far more afraid of their agenda than of the "tyranny" they claim to be preparing to resist. We must prevent any more of these "weapons of mass destruction" from entering the populus. We're better than that.

The following two photos of "law-abiding Americans" are courtesy of my friend Kathleen Atkins. You can see more of her photography on Etsy.  

(This ignoramus has a slight "understanding" problem himself: Having bare arms is not  constitutionally protected.)

And the next four are courtesy of my friend Al Garman. You can see more of his rally shots on Flickr.

I was pleased by President Obama's speech today (1/16) as well as the one following the school Connecticut shooting. Here's hoping Congress can get their act together to follow through on his proposals without any more shameful politicking.

And the Skies Are Not Cloudy All Day

Seldom is heard a discouraging word.

Factory, South Seattle

Shopfronts, Mighty Tieton

Warehouse, Toppenish

Island Patina

It's been a slow summer so I continue to mine my Lopez Island shots.

At the floating bookstore

Where something was

At the swap meet

The cistern

The Patriots

Newcastle Cemetery

The old Newcastle(Washington) Cemetery contains mostly the graves of the families of miners who toiled in the surrounding hills at the end of the 19th century. The mining and logging towns closed down after a mere 50 years or so and this secluded spot overlooking tiny Lake Boren became overgrown with ivy, blackberry, and shrubbery while the fir trees grew ever taller. As is usual, the gates were unlocked for Memorial Day. The Newcastle Weed Warriors have done a great job clearing the undergrowth and sniffing out the hidden graves.

Death did to me short warning give
Therefore be carefull how you live
Prepare in time do not delay
For I was quickly called away

Silent Alarm

Maltby, Washington

Land of the Free

Evidence of residence in forgotten corners. The homeless aren't just holding begging signs at freeway offramps.

Shed in the woods with Old Glory, Newcastle

Sleeping under the stars near Lake Bellevue

Abandoned campsite with pink sandals, Renton

Democracy

Election morning and once again most of the issues and people I voted for (or would have in other states) got trounced. Life's rich pageant.


Runs good - Georgetown, Seattle WA



Sheriff's office - Asotin, WA



Backwards - University District, Seattle WA

Labor Day

Dig the flag, not to mention the pun.

By the way, I HIGHLY recommend that EVERYONE read Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work by Matthew Crawford. It resonates with blue collar and white collar jobs, art, parenting, school, and...motorcycle maintenance.

Scenes from a Fourth

Spotted at the annual neighborhood Fourth celebration.


Good fences make good neighbors.


The church group setting up the canopies (it always rains for July 4 in Seattle).


The Model A's lead the Kiddie & Pet Parade around the ex-high school track.


Boo Radley yard just beyond the fence.


Free bottled water (nonsustainable?) in the paddling pool.


Mysterious markings (lawn punctuation, according to my wife RedApple)


Parade passing ye olde portables.


Lawn chairs relaxing while they can (next year there wil be no lawn, just artificial turf)


Infrastructure on the sidelines


A bit of Americana bringing up the rear