Well, for Heaven’s sake, here we are in February. Whatever happened to January? I think, as we gain another year of wisdom, that the days pass like Autumn leaves blown by the wind. And it seems, Life can be fascinating if we pause to look.
A few days ago, I wanted to photograph the signs of early Spring. As I checked my condo’s garden, I spotted this among the rocks. . .
A very tiny Mario, the familiar figure of the early hand-held computer games. . .
Do you remember him?
Well, that was a promising start. All I had to do was keep an eyes out for anything small and unusual. This next was from a previous walk but you do have to look up as well as down and all around!
Now, aren’t you glad you looked up to see this cheerful mushroom sheltering a smiling elf? And all nestled in the gnarly trunk of an enormous oak tree. . . .
From past walks, I loved to take photos of bird-houses as some owners were quite creative. I often wondered how many birds actually took advantage of the free housing. . . Of course a few were just decorative. . . .but I did see that the townhouse was definitely occupied with its slightly larger separate entrances on the other side.
Oak Bay had a number of artistic and innovative art pieces scattered about and displayed for a few months. A few were quite good and elicited some strong opinions.
This “Thinking Man” got a lot of attention as his left hand is cradling a cellphone and his right hand is propped on his chin while smoking his cigarette. What made it controversial is his choice of “seating!” His sneakers were the real deal painted over with silver paint. And despite all the laughing criticism, he’s still visible for a few more months on a side street off the main drag. . . .
A few years ago, this copper finch was displayed against the scenic waters of McNeill Bay. It was even more impressive when the sunlight reflected off its surface.
I really liked this lair of foxes. The whole piece was crafted so lovingly and reflected the theme of “Family” very well. My fave Italian Bakery, Ottavio, is across the street on the right.
I do enjoy seeing tiny things tucked here and there–if they were intentional, these surely got some attention.
The last photo of a tiny lizard was a photo I never expected to get. I was told my area had a lot of tiny lizards scurrying in and out of the greenery. This was the first time I actually “captured” one scaling up a telephone pole. . .The Cow Bell does work for the back gate of this house. The Gnome Home was taken in the Summer–the “owners” even had a cozy chair for two on the shady side!
It’s really fun to take photos that unexpectedly fall into your path. But it’s difficult to think how to compile them into a theme or a part of the story my rambling brain tries to tell. On my walks I like the interaction with passerbys who sometimes point me in a direction I hadn’t thought of going. I call this next section– Smiling Faces in Odd Places!
I didn’t expect to see this on the trunk of a palm tree. I think the owner has a sense of humor, don’t you?
This was one of the cat art on a hydro pole. It was also one of the pole arts that was not vandelized. What sort of stupid, inconsiderate, boor would even think of vandelizing fun art that took skill and time to be appreciated. . .
Isn’t it amazing to find watchful eyes in unexpected places?. . . .
I did show this one before but the expression on the cat made it one of my faves! Honestly, art can be found anywhere and this little gem was found on the back of a door in the ladies’ washroom! And with a few squiggles of a pen. . . .
Signs of an early Spring have sprung up in multiple gardens in my city. Originally, I had planned to find evidence of this but got distracted, so here they are.
The snow-drops, purple crocuses and the yellow daffodils are popping up from the earth. Nice to know Nature moves along despite politics and world affairs from afar and nearby. . . .
It’s’s probably a lot of attitude that makes us look at Life with a big grain of salt and that cheeky look that says Heck with you. I like Me . I’m content and enjoying my moment. . .
I wish all of you a warmer February filled with blue skies. Thank you to my friend Pedometergeek who writes her own blog, nbsmithblog.wordpress.com and pointed me to Charlie Mackesy’s “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse,” as well as its sequel, “Always Remember the Boy, the Mole, the Fox, the Horse and the Storm.” I highly recommend it to all my Readers, especially if you’re suffering from the Winter blues.
But most of all, thank you for following my blog. In the words of the Mole and the Horse to the Boy, quoted from Charlie Mackesy’s sequel “Always Remember the Boy, the Mole. . . .”
“Be in the moment, it’s all we have. This Life, seize it.”
chocofigbee 