What could be better than to end the day with your feet propped against a tree, watching the sun setting over Puget Sound? Sounds to me like bliss, and this woman seems to be enjoying the fine art of relaxing, being still and not doing.
The Corson Building, built around 1910, is located near the corners of Airport Way South and Corson Avenue South (naturally). A definite oddity in the old industrial area of Georgetown, this gem is tucked neatly beneath a freeway off-ramp. Go figure.
You may be thinking I just hang out on this corner all the time. I don't. Really. However, I do walk past the corner of Stewart Street and Pike Place several times each day that I'm working at the Pike Place Market. Why? To visit my preferred coffee source, Local Color Coffee, which is also located on this corner.
Can you smell this fresh scent? Wonderful to wander amongst the rows of lavender plants and watch the bees flit from blossom to blossom. These women seem to be enjoying their experience gathering fresh stalks to take home. Perhaps they'll make arrangements, or tea, or dry the flowers and use as seasonings in their kitchen creativity. Then again they may just enjoy the time together to share a story.
I'm seeing more and more people with tattoos. Personal expression through body art. Mostly I find myself thinking "good grief", or "that must have really hurt". In this case, however, I was quite impressed with the artistic look of this woman's legs. I suppose the ivy background helped. Also, the fact that this was during the lavender festival and on Vashon Island, where mildy-alternative lifestyles are both common and prevalent, contributed to drawing me into this image. I was quite pleased this woman said yes when I asked to photograph her legs. She mentioned that it had been a five year process. It's great art and she is justifiably proud of her unique statement.
Sunday dawned grey and threatening in Seattle. Rain and possible thunderstorms were predicted. The Westenders Scooter Club had an agenda, however, and a little moisture when you're with friends and scooting is only a slight inconvenience. We took a ferry to nearby Vashon Island to take in the annual Lavender Festival. My friends Fuzz and Julie with daughters Sam and Jac asked me to take their photo amongst the rows of fragrant lavender. Daughters Sam and Jac ride on the seats behind their mom and dad and are along on many of our rides. It pleases me a great deal to know parents and children who genuinely enjoy being together.
Some of the Westender SC group's scooters parked under the trees at the Lavender Sisters farm on Crescent Drive SW on Vashon Island.
Yes, for sure you never know what you may run into at the Pike Place Market in Seattle. Sometimes it's flying fish ... but today it was a covey of naked cyclists riding north on Pike Place through the Public Market. I just happened to be on my way to Local Color Coffee ... no pun intended, but quite appropriate ... when this vision appeared in the street. My iPhone was all I had at hand, so I quickly put it to use as any good photographer might when faced with the unusual. This was a protest ride, of some sort, but unfortunately the riders' intentions were not visible enough to see what point they were trying to make by their undress. Something about less oil consumption ... I think. I checked the local news stations but found no mention. Perhaps this happened too fast for the professional newsies to get it covered. Not my normal cup of coffee or tea, but you will admit this is unusual ... and on the spot reacting to current events.
Even though the hairs on the top are numbering fewer and fewer, those on my chin do need the periodic attention of my scooter friend and stylist Robert Lopez. Looking in the mirror, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to make a photo of another shop client, Amy, sporting a head full of foil and zebra cape. With permission, I might add. I just happened to have my iPhone in my pocket and was able to take advantage of the opportunity. Thanks Amy and Robert.
Something a little fun and different. I just stumbled into his group of linked blogs ... Postcard Friendship Friday which seems to have been started by Marie in Saint Fargeau, Yonne, France. So, in lieu of my sometime participation in the Skywatch Friday theme, I bring you a selection of postcards found in the village of Montalcino in the Tuscany Region of Italy. No, I'm not traveling at the moment ... this image was made while on my first trip to Italy in 2004.
Click here if you'd like to see some other Postcard Friendship Friday postings. Also, here is another favorite of mine along this same line ... Old Paper Art ...
Brett Knutson of Fine Grinds talks about his handcrafted pepper and salt mills to a customer at the Pike Place Market. Brett finds some amazing woods, many exotics, and lovingly turns blocks with knots into art pieces for your table. Frankly, I think it is a bonus that these one-of-a-kind art pieces also grind pepper and salt.
Perhaps an odd image for a photo blog ... yet, an increasing number of our general population feels entitled to photograph anything and everything that catches their fancy. While it is probably true in the large majority of instances there is no maliciousness intended, it remains appropriate to ask permission to photograph personal property. With the proliferation of digital pocket and cellphone cameras I've seen an exponential increase in the number of tourists pointing their capture devices at my framed photographs down at the Pike Place Market. Some don't know any better. Many, however, see a great mountain or skyline photo and think they'll simply grab a quick snapshot with their super camera and save themselves the trouble of seeking out good weather, location, light, season ... not to mention saving a few dollars. Some even argue vigorously with me when I ask them not to photograph my work ... "Well, I'm not going to, like, sell it or anything" they protest. Not the point. They are taking my creative work without asking and without payment ... and they never think to say "thank you". Believe it or not, it is the same thing as picking up something tangible like jewelery and walking off with it. In a word, it is stealing.
The image above is one of several signs prominently displayed at one of my fellow craftsperson's booths at the Pike Place Market. He silkscreens clever sayings on white tee shirts ... like "Trust me ... I'm a lawyer" and other attention grabbing quips. I don't blame him one little bit for trying to protect his intellectual property.
Even though I'm probably preaching to the choir, please ... exercise good judgment ... and be respectful of your fellow creators.
One of the benefits of graceful aging is the ability to act a little different and enjoy yourself in the process. This lady farmer from Sunnyslope, Washington ... near Port Orchard and Bremerton, WA, has brought her ripe cherries into the Pike Place Market to sell direct to the hungry public. I caught her on the day before Independence Day with a flag and a few of her colorful Bing cherries decorating her straw hat -:)
If you're in Seattle on Sunday, July 26th, be sure to check out the upcoming "Fruit Festival" at the market. This special farm event will celebrate "all things fruit" and will include a pie eating contest (yes!), balloon toss, kids' crafts and cooking demonstrations.
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