Dateline: Petaluma, California
One afternoon on the dock by the old trestle…
For the longest time I could not decide what these curiously attired people were doing.
Now after a month with our first Smartphone…I finally figured it out!
He was teaching her how to use her Smartphone… :-)
While I am not entirely sure about the “Smart” portion of the name, we finally added a piece of the 21st Century to our repertoire of devices and toys…courtesy of Sprint…
Smart? Phone?
After struggling up the learning curve a few inches, we finally managed a video phone conversation with my wife’s cousin in Illinois. To be honest, it was a real hoot. Will be attempting it again with my mother in law next week.
Getting used to finger swipes, etc., takes some doing for “mouse oriented” people like us. To be perfectly honest, using a stylus is much more accurate for us than our ancient fingers. Frankly, we don’t understand how people can manage it while driving or walking across the street. They must have more agile fingers than we do. By comparison, I use a blunted toothpick to operate my Mp3 players.
On balance, we are getting use to it.
I intend, however to keep my Dumb Flip Phone :-)
…or what is now known as Petaluma Blvd & East Washington…
The long standing bank building at 199 Petaluma Blvd N (now known as the Seed Bank) resides on the corner of this intersection. An imposing structure, to say the least.
Finally, after many walks over the years, I finally noticed something on the sidewalk at this corner of Petaluma Blvd and Washington—street names and a compass symbol embedded as metal inlays in the cement.
The corner was once known as Main & Washington and is memorialized in the sidewalk inlays in front of the building. As to when they were installed and by whom, I was not able to determine and will leave that task to more competent people. This post is merely a brief documentary of the inlays as they exist today.
They are easy to miss and are frequently obscured by the sun and/or shadows…
Corner of Petaluma Blvd & East Washington
Can’t see them? Look again…in a different light…
Partially Hidden In the Shadows
It required several visits at different times of the day to finally get an image of the entire array…
Main & Washington
The three inlays…
Washington
Main Street
North is thataway?
I could not resist checking out the accuracy of the compass inlay… :-)
Reasonably Accurate
…Walker Creek Ranch to be precise…
Over 70 volunteers (including family members in some cases) from area Kaiser Permanente facilities and Rebuilding Together Petaluma (RTP) spent the day at WALKER CREEK RANCH — the Marin County Outdoor School & Conference Center.
They took on many projects in the garden and facility buildings, as well as clearing brush, and planting trees.
To give a sense of the energy and enthusiasm of the volunteers, a few photos are in order!
SLIDESHOW
GALLERY
CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO VIEW FULL SIZED IMAGES
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So what happens if you carry a very large eye-catching painted rabbit sculpture down Water Street and then put it down for a minute?
Well, first you need the rabbit…
Roberta Ahrens
Within seconds, the first visitor appears to check it out…
Sculpture by Roberta Ahrens
Then a few more…
And still more…
The rabbit is the creation of local artist Roberta Ahrens and she was transporting it on its way to a show when we encountered her on Water Street late this afternoon…
Roberta Ahrens
From Roberta’s Website…
Roberta Ahrens is one of Northern California’s top decorative painters; she has been published in interior design magazines such as Architectural Digest, and Better Homes and Gardens. Macy’s on Union Square in downtown San Francisco displays a beautiful 81′ x 9′ mural of Roberta’s just inside from the O’Farrel Street entrance.
Her work also adorns the penthouses, Alexandra’s and Victor’s of the Westin St. Francis Hotel, also in San Francisco.
She has worked all over the country, beautified many exclusive private homes, as well as some fabulous hotels, restaurants and wineries.
My apologies for the mixed metaphor in the title but it just seemed to fit my mood at the moment…
Recall, if you will, my post in June 2014 Petaluma’s Newest Mural…by Maxfield Bala that documented the stunning new mural on Water Street.
Well, Mr. Bala has added to it. Granted it is smaller in scope but it carries forth the same theme. I have named it The Chicklet.
For visual context, see below…
The Chicklet Is In The Back Corner
Close Up Views
