2015…Going Forward

I’ve been contemplating changes in how…and when…I publish and also trying to determine the future use of my two Blogs (The Petaluma Spectator and THE PETALUMA SPECTATOR PHOTO BLOG)

Initially I thought I would merge them or just delete one of them.

However, I have decided to dedicate the future use of the “Photo Blog” for submissions to the Word Press Weekly Photo Challenge.  In fact I have been trying it out for the last few months and think it is perfect for that purpose.

Consequently:

• There will be no more direct e-mail announcements about posts to the “Photo Blog” as the traffic from participation in the  weekly photo challenge will keep me sufficiently occupied.
• If you already subscribe to the photo blog or follow it, nothing will change.  You will get your notifications as before. Each weekly challenge post on the “Photo Blog” will also contain a link to the complete collection of WordPress weekly photo challenge posts from around the world.
• Note that this not apply to this blog (The Petaluma Spectator) as it has its own set of followers and subscribers.

As to how I am going to utilize The Petaluma Spectator, has yet to be determined. Given the realities of small screen viewing I have already decided to forego future large galleries in favor of one to three photos a post.  These are easier to view on a tablet or phone.

Inspiration will save me, I’m sure  :-)

So…What WERE They Doing? :-)

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… :-)

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After much (futile) resistance…finally…a 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 :-)

The Corner of Main & Washington…

…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

MLK Day 2015–A Day Of Service…At The Ranch…

…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

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GALLERY

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Large Colorful Rabbit Draws Crowd on Water Street!

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.