Rear Windows part 1

 

As I recover back at home, my photo opportunities are limited. Here's the April 15 view of fallen dogwood petals and transformation to greenery. Those leaves at the base of the tree were the early harbingers of spring a month ago...daffodils.

On a tangent, I'd like to recommend a short article on Substack by Robertson Work...which I've linked over on my blog Inner Workings. or go directly to his essay Being and Doing in Mystery and Ecstasy.

But let's consider Sepia Saturday for a moment. Suggestion of an old truck. I think I've already posted what photos I had in my files. Let's see if there's anything new available.

Our host Alan gives this information on the above photo:

Our theme image this week features an early twentieth century motor vehicle (the body of which, coincidentally, was built by my father's Uncle Albert). Leaving aside the family pride, you might want to use the image to prompt reflections on vehicles past and present, or, noting that the wagon was used to transport beer, you might want to take a diversion into the realm of beer bottles. And, as always, you can take a completely unchartered diversion to wherever you want - all we ask for is an old image and some new thoughts. Deliver them on or around Saturday 18th April 2026 and leave a link on the list at Sepia Saturday.

When living in Tampa FL until 2007 when I retired, I would drive busy streets constantly. Back before I was blogging, I already was taking photos thinking artistically. And at that point I had Picasa, a free photo editing program. So I formed collages with the topic "Rear Windows."

 

If you live  in a city, you stop in traffic frequently, and see interesting windows of the vehicles ahead of you...thus the rear windows.

I'm going to include some as individual shots too so you can see the details.

OK, to be continued. There are too many for one blog post. And if you're interested, help me figure out which year all those license plates were from. I can't focus on any so far...sometime on or before 2007.  To be continued.

Those for whom I'm grateful!

 Thankful Thursday 

Shared from FaceBook

Some archaeology for you...

The Cybele plate is a Bronze gilded disc dated ca 300-200 BC discovered at Ai-Khanoum, Bactria (today northern Afghanistan). It depicts Kybele, the Anatolian mother goddess, riding a chariot together with a winged goddess, most likely Nike. The chariot is pulled by lions and above them are depicted the Sun Helios, the moon and the morning star.

But who is the figure on the far right? I will have to do some more research, I'm thinking.

This weekend a friend and her hubby are going to a beach near Charleston SC. They will probably see this. I am so grateful that they'll get to enjoy this...as they have been so giving in helping me while I was sick.

Sedona AZ offered a wonderful vista for one of my daughters-in-law last week. Simply heavenly!

Another daughter-in-law shared her prize of "Best Dessert" at Florida Foodies Fest for her Macarons. (Not macaroons!) St. Petersburg, FL.

Another daughter-in-law in the red shirt came out to support Allison Russo, (in white jacket) a candidate for Ohio Secretary of State, and "Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America"

When a son divorces the mother of my grandkids, she becomes a friend as well as ex-daughter-in-law. I wish her many ways of happiness.

A huge thank you to all my blog friends who have sent supportive comments while I was hospitalized and first at home dealing with total focus on my health. It was so appreciated by this elder who continues to hope for other things to be of interest than myself!

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

 
Sharing with Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - on the 15th of the month.

Outside my front door, a kind of spastic azalea. Or perhaps split personality? A dark butterfly is on the lower right blossom.

The bewildering array of oxygen tanks with a gauge saying the connected one is empty (in the red). Someone turned it all the way "on" while I was gone...or perhaps the EMTs as they left to take me to hospital Friday the 3rd. Now I need to figure out how to switch the gauge setup to another tank so I can try carrying it around, if I so choose. So far I haven't felt much difference with oxygen "as needed." Mainly it's a pain in the "feet don't trip over the tubing" all over the place inside the house. I have two other methods of  getting O2 in portable ways.

Our native Flame Azalea, pruned and placed in a parking lot.

My experience here

 

View of the building in which I live.

by Keith Ramos.USFWS

Sharing with Tom's Tuesday Treasures

Pocket balcony is great for springtime fresh air. Until the pollen from my lovely maples gets too strong!

Have you noticed how many photos from space include the Straits of Hormuz? 

In the hood

 

At the base of these ancient maples are a wonderful patch of lilies of the valley (the closest group is blooming.) Behind it is a small azalea white azalea bush.

The closer maples haven't fully fluffed with leaves quite yet This is from my balcony on the south facing side of the apartment. 

When I look out my north  facing front door, I can see the balconies (yes very small!) on the next building. My apartment is also on the upper level of my building. A clever design for these steep slopes.

Again from my front door, looking down the walkway between the buildings.

My brain continues to lag - there are two pieces of something I need to put together for breathing treatment...I pick up the wrong one, don't go so far as to try to connect it, but notice that there wasn't any selective thought ahead of the action, and complete it.

It's like the internet Sunday morning. Slow as molasses. Sometimes I select my choices, key in my own desires, and wait about 4-6 seconds to see if it will happen.

For my brain, it's not a matter of too many users, but this one has reverted to maybe 8 years old. Or earlier.

I am enjoying some rather abstract ideas, so I'm not back totally to concrete operational thinking. Like today I realized that God is a metaphor much as we anthropomorphize so many things around us...the animals with names, plants, and in my case, even my car.

But do I trust myself to drive that car?

Maybe later. But I'm quickly running out of toilet tissue. Needs must.

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What if I stopped now? Usually this is where I’d share some wise sayings, or editorial comments. But I can let things go…just watch me!

Sepia "Sunday?"

 I knew I had some interesting old homes to share, but it took a while before I could plug in the external hard drive to search for them.

Sepia Saturday says: "We've always been proud of our houses. Once affordable cameras became available to the general public, we have highlighted that pride by having our photographs taken outside our houses. It doesn't matter whether we are talking about mansions or cottages, caravans or terraces: we want our photographs taking whilst we are lined up alongside them. This week on Sepia Saturday we are celebrating houses and you are invited to share your old photographs by posting them on or around Saturday 11th April and leaving a link ..."

I love this neat old house...when it was not brand new, but the yard was established with flowers and a tree had been planted, as well as a big bush by the front steps. That could be the man who did most of the hard work leaning against the wall.

Google street photo of my Geat grandfather, Alexander John Swasey's home, where my grandmother grew up, Galveston TX.

Alexander John Swasey, 1853-1913. I don't know much about GGranddad Swasey, as there are just dates bookmarking his life. His wife was a Christian Science practitioner, as well as my grandmother when she grew to adulthood.

GGranddad Swasey was born in Charleston SC, just before the Civil War, while his ship-captain father was imprisoned for the duration 1861-65. His father returned from Massachusetts prison to die in Charleston in 1866.  How  did John (as he went by that name) get to Galveston? That's probably where he met his wife, who he married in 1881. My grandmother Ada Swasey Rogers, was born there in 1886.

She married George Rogers and he built a house, which was still standing in the 1970s. I'm searching for photos that were taken then.

House built by George Rogers Sr. in Galveston, TX

I've posted a bit before about Galveston and my family which came from there.
my-family-from-galveston

Our front steps were often the site for family photos...my mother on the left, and obviously in love with my dad centered, with grandmom the next step down ...San Antonio TX. My parents married November 1936, and lived with his parents for a while. 

Mother and dad, with baby sister, and myself standing in front of my first home in Dallas TX 1946.

Christmas 1954 in St. Louis, my sister Mary on left, and myself on the right in our poodle skirts and dolls. At 12, I was a bit old for a doll. But loved the faux collar of red velvet with bead work.

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Liberty leading the people by  Delacroix.

Thanks to unknown photographer.

Update on my health...progressing healing along at home again. Whoopee!

Friends have kept me going!