Pics From The Hood

I do not live in a particularly splashy neighborhood. We are average folks living in average houses doing average amounts of lawn care and yard maintenance. In other words, these are my people and I am glad to be here. My daily walks do not necessarily dazzle me but I often find points of interest that make me smile. Here are a few of them.

I love the bark on this tree by the park. The ruddy tones meld into the brown trunk in a way that only nature can artistically provide. Its tree friend also provides a perfect hideaway for kids who tuck themselves under the lower branches, whispering secrets in a make-believe-world. We all need a secret hideaway, I think.

This sign was faithfully posted on a busy corner for several weeks last summer. It never failed to make me smile. First of all, I was amazed at the apparent love someone had for a box turtle in all its cold-blooded snuggliness. Secondly, I couldn't stop obsessing on how the turtle made its great escape. Was it sunning itself in the backyard when it decided to make a "run" for it? Was it on an excursion with its owner and the owner got distracted for a minute or two? Did it chew its way out of a cardboard box? Is it on its way to Canada? I will never know the answer but I hope little Boxy was reunited with its owner. You were loved, Boxy.

I always make a brief stop at our neighborhood library. I enjoy perusing the titles to see if I recognize any authors. So far, I have not spotted any books that I am particularly interested in reading but I always feel comforted by touching books. The cold, bleak walks of this winter certainly needed a pause of comfort.

For a canine-phobic like me, this is a sign that gives me the creeps. According to City Ordinance 90-003, a dog at this site has been declared a hazard. I did a deep dive into what it takes for a pet to get to this level of classification. Good grief. Bruno must have gone off the rails in a big way. Needless to say, I make it a point to scoot by this property in a timely manner. (I did learn about the Dunbar scale, however and TMI for me.)

If you squint your eyes just right you will see who is enjoying this little tree swing. I check out the swing each day, never really expecting to see an occupant but one day that changed. Mr. Squirrel was swaying in the breeze with the greatest of ease. There is a little apple tree nearby so he was probably enjoying a siesta after stuffing his squirrely little cheeks. I haven't seen any swing occupants since but hope springs eternal.

I caught this little guy red-beaked over his recent kill. He was very focused on his breakfast and allowed me to get quite near to him. He is a merlin and has a taste for songbirds. I analyzed the remains of his snack after he flew off but the few feathers and guts left behind were not conclusive. Rest in peace, little songbird. Merlin, you live another day.