Little Free Library

Out for a noon time walk in the neighborhood around work I came across this miniature book lending box. It struck me as a very neighborly thing to do... a simple way to make your books available to any passerby.

Thinking this must be a one of a kind, I then read the attached sign and realized this is a movement, and there are hundreds of these little services though out the country and world. More information and a map of locations is available on the official website.

All and all, quite a remarkable discovery.

Lilac time

Lilacs are a big deal in Rochester. We have a ten day festival to celebrate the purple, pink and white flowering shrubs. My friend Ken can fill you in on the details on his blog.

But what makes these special is they are in Webster (where life is worth living), which is just outside of Rochester. Actually the Syringa vulgaris (lilac for us common folk) is pretty much everywhere I look, including my back yard... but this bush is down the street, and for some reason trying to hide behind the stone wall.

Perfect dandelion

Not loved by most lawn owners but rally a pretty flower by any measure. There are some who think we have been too tough on this wildflower that is demonized as a weed.

Of course, like anything, too many is too much, but in isolation the bright yellow is really quite appealing.

It's hard to be inspired

Meanwhile on the other side of the bridge, things are ready for another paint-over. I wonder what shade they will use this time?

I'm drawing a blank

Well actually not me, but somebody.

Seems to me, painting over graffiti can often make things look worse.

Perhaps if they tried to match the shade of gray?

Hole in the green

This time of year the lawns get so lush they look like thick Karastan carpets.

3J-10

Reflection on my wall

To love beauty is to see light.

Victor Hugo

While driving through the pond one day...

In the merry, merry month of May.

I drive though Ellison Park every day to-and-from work. It is a more interesting drive than the expressway, and often provides an opportunity for picture making.

As the seasons come an go the water level rises and lowers with the weather. But I have never seen the water this high. Buckets of rain the night before had swollen Irondequoit creek beyond its banks and it just could not keep up with the flow heading North to the bay and out to Lake Ontario. Water always finds a way, and in this case it meant flooding the road in a temporary cascade.

Some traffic turned around, but many made a slow passage. Others took advantage of the fun at high speed. I used caution.

More pink

A bit overboard this year with the tree blossoms, but you got to get them while you can.

In the corner

Fresh green

Showy

It's now the season of the pink tree. Light delicate pink... Pepto-Bismol pink... and every shade between.

This is a big one. Most are only 8 to 12 feet tall, but this one is more than twice the height of the house behind.

When I was in New Jersey almost three weeks ago the trees were in full bloom, and now we have finally caught up.

Dirty side -- Clean side

Finally, some sun

Now if it could just warm up a bit.

Waiting for the sun

Other than a nice Easter weekend it seems we just can't have any sun. Rain comes and goes with gloom in between showers. Where is the sun?

The only sun I could find was painted on the barn.