53: Children's Museum

You probably don't need the post title to tell you where my daughter and I went today. I've never gone with just her before. (Shh, don't tell my son we went without him.) Following one child around the museum was slightly more manageable than both of them, but I wouldn't say that keeping up with a busy, over-stimulated toddler in this place is ever truly "easy."

The subject matter was largely determined by my daughter. What you see are the areas where she paused long enough for me to compose the shot and push the shutter button.

 I absolutely love the bite marks in the A at the bottom of this one. This is so familiar at our house. When my son was younger, we ended up throwing out a set of foam bath toys because we were finding torn off bits in, ah, "surprising" places. Now he has a construction set that includes some foam panels and we're constantly hiding them from my daughter.

  

  

This is the same set of blocks as above. When we came back by this room, I found them set up like this.

Not even the Children's Museum is off limits in my exploration of voyeurism.

The positioning of this truck gave me the sense that it was abandoned in the desert.

This trip was pretty satisfying for me, personally, despite the harried rushing around. Our last visit to the museum took place before I started this project. I remember looking around for something interesting to photograph and finding nothing that inspired me. I think it may have been an off day in general, but the focus provided by the project and the habit of finding (hopefully) interesting moments wherever I am, every day, paid off today. 

52: Flea Market

I stopped by a neglected old shopping center not too far from my house today, thinking it might make for an interesting photo shoot. To my surprise, it looks like the Great Big Flea Market is closed for business. They had only been in this location a short while, in the sort of location that goes empty for long stretches. I always meant to check it out and now it seems I've lost my chance.

You can see in the window reflection the empty parking lot and Family Dollar, one of the three other businesses in this shopping center. The other spots go to one of the inexplicably numerous crab and fish shops on the east end of town, and the Sportsman's Bar and Grille, which I later discovered is biker friendly and serves surprisingly large portions.

I'm still a little unsure about the situation here. This doesn't have the look of a decidedly closed business, and the flea market's website certainly has an "open for business" tone. But the lack of signage that I swear was up  within the last few weeks certainly suggests they closed up shop. Which is disappointing for an area of town that has been in need of an economic recovery  long before the current downturn in the national economy. 

51: Abandoned

Another house we drive by on the way to preschool. There are houses like this in so many otherwise well-kept, well-loved neighborhoods throughout Richmond.

I like the textures and layers in this shot.

In my search for an old article on the subject of abandoned buildings in Richmond, I came across two different sites that had the effect of deflating my sense of exploration. But let's be honest, how much urban exploration can I do on the way to preschool, leaving the kids in the running car, listening to (what else?) Ironman, while I sprint off to snap a few shots?

I also came across this recent article, which lends some hope for local homes and buildings like this one.

50: Closets and Dressers

A little more on the theme of voyeurism. Or is it exhibitionism? I suppose it depends on your point of view.

Yes, this is my dresser. No, it does not usually look like this. I like my kitchen cabinets closed and my dresser drawers fully pushed in with everything tucked inside. But that doesn't make for a very interesting picture, now does it?

49: Through the Looking Glass

A little voyeurism.

I have heard one opinion that including a bit of a person, who happens to be me, is too much and unnecessary, that the idea of voyeurism is clearly expressed without it. What do you think?

My son spent part of the afternoon drawing, coloring, and cutting out grass and handprint flowers, then taping them to the wall (with my help) to create a mural of sorts. Here it is reflected in a framed print of Albrecht Durer's Knight, Death and the Devil. I like the contrast of the bright colors and tools of creation at the table with the gloom and dark monochrome of the print.

48: Tractor Trailer

I spotted a blue fence on my way to work one morning a few weeks ago, and I've been trying to get out of the house early enough to have time to stop by for a photo. The lighting wasn't quite what I was hoping for this morning, but as I turned to leave, I realized there was a big, blue trailer parked on the other side of the lot.

The funny thing is that I think it's been there all along, but it was so very blue, and so very big, that I didn't even notice it.

The entirety of the blue impressed me. Even the chains and hooks are painted the same color as the body of the trailer.

I didn't have time to check it out, but I wonder if the orange trailer in the background is equally monochromatic.

47: Family Portraits

 My son fell and cracked his chin last night, his most frequent injury since the first time he did it at 7 months old while learning to crawl. The cut wasn't too bad this time, and the bandage was off by lunch.

He did some hand tracings today, then colored them in and cut them out. Pretty cute, if I do say so myself. He's been on overdrive lately, perhaps a result of feeling better after being sick for so long. I couldn't get him to sit still long enough for either of these pictures, so I decided to go with it.

Last month I posted a picture of my daughter's eye, and I've been looking for a chance to get a shot of one of my son's eyes ever since. Despite the fact that all four of us have eyes in the blue/ green/ not brown family, there is a wide variety in the shades.

Another mirror frame made by my husband, way back in our picture framing days. The portraits were taken when each of our babies were about two months old.

Playing with reflections. Not sure I consider this much of a success, but I've been feeling a need to try some new stuff.

46: More Yards and More Friends

Some yards in a friend's neighborhood. And you know what that means? We not only got out of the house today, we actually saw someone outside our family of four! Very exciting after a month of illness.

                            

Do you see the teeny tiny gnome?

A restaurant we saw on the way home. Of course I had to pull over for a minute. I just adore the blue tile roof.

For the second time this week, a friend has surprised me with material for my projects. These tiny mirror tiles came in the mail today and will look great in a mosaic some day. I feel grateful and honored to be surrounded by friends, near and far, who understand and support me. Thank you.

45: The Fan, Continued

 

44: The Fan and Friends

More sightings around The Fan. I guess this guy liked Legos? And the Ferris wheel?

I was so impressed at just how busy this convenient store entrance is.

The purple flowers caught my eye but the tin goat is what really drew me in.

My first YIB acquisition! A friend offered this up for the cause today. Thank you!!

43: To Do List

Finally getting around to some filing and shredding that I meant to start back in January. My son is absolutely fascinated with the paper shredder. He laid right down on the floor to get a better view of the shredded paper falling into the collecting bin.

Happy accident to stop behind this truck at a traffic light while running an errand.

Stack of kids' step stools at the store.

42: Yard Decor

41: Hermitage and W. Marshall

Some of the sights on the way home from work. The brand name and nature of this product in this setting struck me on several levels.

Wish I could have seen this company's product. I picture shiny leisure suits.

 In the late 19th century, Richmond  was at the forefront of innovative public transportation with the first electric trolley system in the United States. Here it is today, the original track disconnected, cut short and paved over, while its attenuated descendant bus system gets weaker every year.

My son and I have noticed that firefighters seem to bring the trucks out more often when the sun is shining.

Yard sale. Love the analog clock on the Space Age-style television.