Sunday Farmer's Market, Takoma Park, Maryland, USA

 A weekly tradition in Takoma Park, Maryland is the Sunday Farmer's Market on "main" street (Carroll Avenue).  If you can't find it here, you just need to look a little more!

 A pint of those peppers are destined for a quiche this week in my kitchen!

 A reminder of another annual tradition in Takoma Park.

My take this week, and always in my Gidborne Olde Time Market bag sent to me by a dear friend from the land Down-Under.  A reminder that this tradition occurs all over the world.

Romeo 4th

After getting up early and taking a long walk on the Park trails; where we encountered a doe white-tailed deer and her twin newly born fawns--amazing they were in their brilliant white-spotted coats with white stripes down their necks--we returned home and had only one task.  Nap time!

Speaking of "Zoo's"

Besides the little plastic animals...The real ones are all around us!

 Getting ready for work on this past Friday morning, I glanced out my guest bedroom window and saw something in my neighbor's garden that didn't make sense.

And then a closer look!  She looks good.  Healthy...perhaps even pregnant.  It's likely given that she is on her own here and not among the little herd that calls our neighborhood home.  

Takako's Redbud

My neighbor across the street has one of the most spectacular Redbud trees in the world.

Vultures Are Beautiful--in Their Own Way

 Over the years, Romeo and I have encountered all manner of creatures in the park--many up close and personal, and some like the squirrels and deer on a regular basis. Today's gift was an unusual first look and Vultures! A pair working over the carcass of some small animal right next to the hiking trail. They were nearly completely non-plussed by us--although they excited Romeo in a particularly acute way. I had to reprimand him 3 or 4 times when he no longer gives deer or even squirrels the time of day. I half wondered if they awakened some memory in him from his younger days fending for himself. The smell of bile and shit was strong in the air to further stimulate his senses.

Some people think these birds ugly. But I have to say I found their appearance rather noble--the untouchables of the avian world. When we got at our closest to them, while still remaining on the trail, they stopped their work and turn their attention to us. And not in a way that was threatening, they both began to "bark" at us! I was so surprised. The call they made in little bursts sounded exactly like a low-pitched dog's bark. Who knew? The identity of the carrion was undistinguishable, though it was mammalian from the fur and set of the ribs, hip and femurs.

On the way to the park we passed a young Hispanic man in a hoodie and carrying a skateboard. I didn't give him a close look, something about his stride suggested an anger in him. Long after we'd entered the park, encountered the vultures, walked the trail to the field with the high power eletrical towers, and were half way back to the park again; we met him a second time. As he approached, I could see that he'd been crying. Far from the "angry" 20-something I assumed him to be from my initial casual glance, he was clearly younger, maybe 15 or 16. He said, "Excuse me, sir."

Romeo and I stopped and I said, "Yes?"

He asked, "Have you seen a dog? A Golden Lab? His name is Buddy."

I said, "No. The only two dogs we've encountered today were with people."

He looked dejected, and I added, "But if I do, I will call the Takoma Park Police and let them know. Okay?"

He tried to smile and said, "Thank you."

My Own Rainbow and A Gift For Myself: Memento For This Election Season!

 Made my own chromatic rainbow wreath from dogwood leaves.

 Visited the shops in downtown Takoma Park and my found this in my favorite little Tchotchke shop. It seemed like the perfect token for this year's election, because no matter what happens, pigs might just fly!

Little Free Libraries of Takoma Park

I made a hometown field trip! I literally tried to drive up and down every street in Takoma Park in search of Little Free Libraries. I had a feeling that there were a lot of them. I seem to see new ones all the time. I figured maybe 15. To my surprise I discovered 27! (And reviewing my adventure on an actual map, I think I covered about 90%+ of the streets.)

As a side I learn some other wonderful things about my chosen hometown.

1) There are so many amazingly beautiful homes
2) Gardens abound on every street and in diverse places
3) People display art in their yards in a wide variety to formats
4) There are a lot of people buying homes and then renovating or completely building from scratch new homes on the old lots
5) In every neighborhood evidence that celebrates racial, sexual, and cultural diversity is astounding.
6) It's no wonder that my property values are so high!!

And so, without further ado, I give you the results of my explorations: The 27 Little Free Libraries of Takoma Park, Maryland! (And yes, some are very similar--I think there was a workshop held at our local independent library that birthed them!)

Oh! And I dedicate this to my friend, Tom, who was my conduit to this amazing literacy phenomenon, and who has helped to transform his Chicago neighborhood in the same way.