Sunday Morning Walk in the Neighborhood

As is true in most places, some yards just look nicer and more manicured than others. But when you live in a row house, it could make a bigger difference when the neighbor doesn’t care as much. And there’s not a lot you can do about it. So on our Sunday morning walk we ventured through the neighborhood, taking care to stay in the shade even though it was unusually low humidity - something unheard of this time of year. I am very envious of anyone who has a garage or parking slab, although some of these spaces are quite tight. That’s why all sides of cars around here are scratched, dented and dinged. Some of the rooftop facades are just that. There is no building behind the decoration - just an illusion to make the structure seem much taller than it is. Flower pots on every step are a nice touch as long as the garbage cans are kept at bay. Uniform homes distinguish themselves by the color alone. Vines unexpectedly creep up the strangest places. Fenced gardens are trimmed with all sorts of things. The birds love the feeders and the berries and they dash away as soon as they see and hear us coming. And the dogs are everywhere - some lucky enough to have a small yard to enjoy the sunshine. The alleys are filled with junk and garbage cans, garages, street lights and clutter. We always come across unusual fruit that we can’t quite distinguish. For the most part everything looks quaint and architecturally interesting, but also very impractical. Most of these places have been around for a very long time and deserve to be cared for. How pretty they look with just a little attention. 

Capitol Architectural Elements - The Other Ones

The Capitol Building is probably one of the most photographed in Washington. But there are some very interesting architectural elements on the grounds that do not get the same amount of attention, and in their own right are quite interesting. With a beautiful blue sky and scattered clouds behind them, it was the perfect day to highlight some of the features. A Civil War memorial for marines and sailors sits unexpectedly in the drive as you approach the building on the west side. The light fixtures and iron fence work is intricate. I still don't know what those round grey buildings flanking either side are - some say it held gunpowder - but there are cameras mounted on top. The red brick water fountain was recently renovated. The little girl with the two balls on the top of her hat created an interesting fashion statement! The bus stop seating arrangement is repeated in several spots on the campus, and the lighting around and on the building is lovely. We take this walk all the time and appreciate the place and what it represents. It's a far cry from the streets of Milwaukee, and definitely more interesting. I never seen to tire of the views.