Autumn foliage is late this year

This picture was taken last week when normally the fall colors would be reaching their "peak". Global climate change is probably the cause.

We also got a visit from this great blue heron which are not as common on our pond as they are on other neighboring waterways.

Catch-up #6: Misty Morning at the Pond

This picture was taken yesterday. This is the last of the catch-up posts:

Catch-up #5: Football

The University of Maryland won against Bowling Green.

Catch-up #4: Golden Rod at the Pond

The picture was taken in mid-September.

Catch-up #3: Baseball

I went to a Nationals game with neighbor Jim in September. I don't remember who we played, but I believe the Nats lost.

Catch-up #2: Pam and I at Bethany Beach

We were on our way to dinner one night, and son-in-law Sean noticed that the lighting was good for pictures. Also, we were dressed up for than we usually are during our beach week which this year was the last week in August.

I in turn took a picture of Sean and Rebecca:

 

 

Catch-up #1: Backyard flowers

This is the first of six posts that represent an effort to make up for almost three months when I didn't post on this blog. I could excuse the inactivity due to obligations, but actually it was mostly laziness.

This backyard photo was taken in mid-August:

Jazz at Riverdale Mansion

The mansion was built in the early 1800's by members of the Calvert family, the family responsible for the settling of Maryland, and other prominent political families lived there at various times. The photo below I took from the mansion's website:

Last night, I went there for a performance by the Seth Kibel quartet joined by vocalist Flo Anito. Portraits of members of the Calvert family watched over the performers.

The pond, last night and today

 

Wildflowers in the park and sunset over Brantford Avenue

Pictures taken last Saturday:

 

 

Winters' Family Reunion

The first day of our late June trip to Oakland, Maryland, two of Pam's cousins visited from Southern California and one from Arkansas.

Left to right above are Pam's sister Kathy, cousin Nick from Arkansas, cousin Sandra from Southern California, and me.

Left to right in this photo are Sandra again, cousin Teddy's wife Bonnie from California, our grand nieces Nora and Anabelle, their father Kevin, and the lower section of my legs.

Cousin Nick on the far right, and Anabelle and Nora.

All pictures taken by Pamela Winters Jones and used with her permission.

Oakland, Maryland in Late June

Getting caught up on activity from weeks ago when we visited Pam's sister who recently moved about ten miles from Gormania, West Virginia to Oakland, Maryland. Just up the street from their new home is a view down at this pond:

On the first day there we had a mini family reunion which deserves its own post, and the second day we visited downtown Oakland:

At this point, you can look up and see the picturesque Garrett County courthouse which is blocked from most other angles by a nondescript administrative building which partially obscures it in this photo as well:

 

We visited the farmers' market that day:

 

 

Sunset: Monday night in the park

 

Baseball in the Park

During the season we often hear the sounds of baseball being played in the park across the street. The sound of the bat hitting the ball and the cheers that follow are nice background noises. Sunday both the softball and hardball fields were in use.

An older men's league played on the hardball field. Since many of the players appeared to be about as old as I am, I spent a bit of time watching and trying to determine how much practice I'd have to put in to play. I thought the pitching was slow enough for me to hit, but maybe I'm kidding myself. Certainly, I'd have to work on my throwing since I could damage my arm if I tried to throw as a ballplayer without gradually working up to it. It's all theoretical since I really don't plan to try.

Two Hispanic teams competed on the softball field. They were both younger and better than the older guys. The game was also much noisier since the teams brought along their own fans to root for them.

Baseball game with Bill's Uncle Joe

Attended an Oriole's game Wednesday with friends Stan, Gus, Bill, Bill's Uncle Joe, and Bill's cousin Jackie. The last three named are Boston Red Sox fans, so they were pleased with their 5-1 win.

Uncle Joe is 93 and physically slow but mentally sharp. I've attended sporting events with him before and enjoy our conversations.

A Day of DC Art Galleries

Pam and I took the subway into town where we visited four different art museums today. The first stop was the Renwick Gallery which was showing an exhibit titled "The Art of Burning Man".

Many of the pieces were interactive and in the temple shown below visitors are encouraged to write messages on pieces of wood that will be incorporated into the exhibit:

These two are also from the same exhibit:

 

 

From there we walked to the Mall to the Freer and Sackler Galleries. Since we were playing tourists today, I took a picture of this DC landmark while we crossed the Mall:

 

 

In the Sackler Gallery the exhibit of colorful fabrics some Central Asia called Ikats caught my attention. In this display, some are hundreds of years old and others are modern garments inspired by Ikats:

 

 

Our last stop was the Museum of African Art which had many interesting items, but of the pictures I took I liked this one of the stairway best:

 

 

A wet, hot late Spring

When it's not raining the air is so humid that it seems like it is.

The pond about ten days ago:

The pond yesterday:

Both photos are characteristic of how it normally looks in July.

Mexican Evening Primrose

These wildflowers came up on their own along our driveway, and Pam was wise enough to let them be and wait for their blooms.

Baseball Saturday Night

Watched probable future Hall-of-Famer Max Scherzer pitch for the Nationals against the Dodgers. Although Max pitched eight very strong innings, the Nats bullpen couldn't hold the lead and lost the game.

Good night out though, with neighbor Jim.

Our house

Posted to maintain a record of the house and yard over time.

Winter to summer

Seems like it's one of those years when we go skip Spring. We've had days with high temperatures in the 90's, and the pond is looking very summery with all those lily pads out.

Golden ID tour of Clarice Smith Center for the Performing Arts

For the past eight years I've been a student at the University of Maryland as part of the Golden ID program. We attend classes with the regular students although we are each over 60 years and retired.

The last four years I've headed the Golden ID Student Association, and today with the assistance of another from our group we set up a backstage tour of the Clarice Smith Center for the Performing Arts.

Below is a photo I took of the group listening to the representative from the center describe some of the resources that go into the many productions they have there.

Bach Cantata at the University

For a semester or two, I've missed these afternoon performances in the lobby of the Clarice Smith Center for the Performing Arts, but today I hustled down there after my Art History class and caught about half of one.

Since I was late I didn't hear the particulars of what I was hearing, but the piece featured a duet:

There are few things in life that I find as uplifting to the spirit as these mid-day performances.

Neighborly Jazz

Neighbor Susan Mooring has started a regular gig singing at a restaurant which is five minutes from our houses. Friday she was joined by another neighbor, Paul Fuller on drums. The keyboardist is named Eric, but I don't know where he lives.

The three of them made a great jazz trio.

Something new in the Art/Sociology Building

Also called the Parren Mitchell Building at the University of Maryland, it's interior always seemed striking to me. Now they've added this multicolor work under the skylights in the atrium either temporarily as an exhibit or possibly as a permanent fixture.

This is the effect from straight below:

Viewed from the second floor, it looks like this:

Spring, finally!

Trees in bloom in the park.

Student jazz at the University of Maryland

Last Wednesday evening I heard two student groups at the Clarice Smith Center of the Performing Arts. They played pieces by Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Horace Silver, Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck, and others, plus a few original compositions by the students.

These are photos of the second group:

For the last two numbers they brought out a vocalist. One of the tunes was composed by her.