Happy Mother's Day!

Watch Your Step

One really needs to watch where one walks along the sidewalks here. It's been mentioned that tripping is a common occurrence. But avoiding branches that hang over on to the path can be difficult- especially if it is raining and you don't see it coming. As is the typical theme around here, some folks either don't pay attention to these types of things, or are simply too lazy to do anything about it. They are probably the same ones who never shovel the ice and snow. I prefer to think they just don't notice, but have a feeling that's not the case. Some people shouldn't own homes? Our old neighborhood was generally kept in beautiful order where cutting the grass and trimming the bushes was considered a sport!

Someone tried to tuck this branch behind the fence

I think it requires a pair of clippers and/ or some wire

One Of The Four Promises

A second grade teacher lives in the building and sent out a request to the neighbors for recycling supplies needed for a project. She also requested if there were any other useful items that could be donated, it would be very much appreciated. We thought we would take the opportunity to clean house of all the crafty stuff, books, and other items that had accumulated over the last few years to entertain our 7 year old grandson. We first checked with him to make sure he was on board with the whole idea. Although he had some misgivings, we reminded him that he had promised his Dad that he would always be "kind to others" and this might be a great opportunity to show how this works. Within a couple days, we recieved a wonderful thank you note from the kids. It really doesn't take much to make someone else's day- a really good lesson for our grandson and a great reminder for us.

Our favorite color

What a nice gesture!

Mow Your Lawn, Or Else

A few entries have been made about contacting the city to cut the grass on the side of the house that is public property. Usually it takes several notices and then some. It was rather amusing to see this article in the local news:

MOW YOUR LAWN, OR ELSE
wtop.com: "Homeowners who tend to be lazy when it comes to mowing your lawn: If you don't start cutting your grass soon, it could cost you. Starting this Sunday and continuing through Oct. 31, you could face fines of more than $500 if grass or weeds on your property in D.C. are more than 10 inches high. You could also get in trouble with the city if vegetation in your yard is tall enough to cover trash, provide a hiding place for burglars, or give a home to creepy creatures like rats or snakes. The District's Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs will hang warning notices on the doors of homes where grass is getting close to the maximum allowable height."  

Does this work both ways? I could become a millionaire. 

This far exceeds the 10 inch limit

Looking for Cinderella

It is not an uncommon sight to find a shoe, never a pair, on the street. If one is thoughtful, walking shoes are typically worn and work or fancy dress shoes are carried. Some of the shoes obviously slip out of the bag, or out of the hand, or out from under the arm. It is a rare sight indeed to see a man's shoe. I have a drawer full of work shoes (heels) that are kept in the office. I never wear them at home anymore- not even on the weekend. Our style has definitely changed with age, and with comfort. We left a lot of clothes when we moved, including a lot of shoes. It must be really annoying to end up with one. 

By the reflecting pool-
the American Indian Museum in the distance

Feel kinda sorry for the lost soul

Looks like something Cinderella might like?

The HIll Rag

It's another month and another Hill Rag has been published. There is usually an interesting story about the neighborhood. But more importantly, it makes for great wall art!

About the art

A Dreary Day Turned Beautiful

I spent a lot of time in my garden yesterday and most of it was pulling weeds. One tomato, one cucumber, one eggplant, and 2 different peppers were also planted. Today was very overcast and rainy on and off, but it was also the last weekend of the azaleas on parade at the US Arboretum. It seems we were just there for the cherry blossoms! The Arboretum is only 2 miles away, and we always enjoy a Sunday ride. It felt like Monet all around us, and the pictures hardly represent the splendor. These photos were taken through the sunroof of the car. We found a place to park, and while we were walking through the "forest," it reminded me of Grant Park along Lake Michigan. But the azaleas never looked anything like this! Right as we were leaving it started to rain. Now that is good timing!

One turn was better than the next