Odds & Endings

Here is a miscellaneous group of images taken this year that have not been posted. The emphasis this time is urban. I’m going to attempt to tie them together with a bit of whimsy.

So: out with the old, in with the new, as cranes of all colors tear out a concrete building in downtown Seattle, exposing the upside-down, curvy underside of its neighbor.

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That’s a lot of work! I doubt those guys do anything exciting on their breaks, but if you’re setting up a silo for a new brewery at Pike Place Market, lucky you! You get to watch Mount Rainier bask in the glow of the setting sun.

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Just to the south a jumble of vents atop a building creates yet another oddball urban composition.

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Farther south in Seattle’s old Pioneer Square neighborhood, handsome brick buildings compose themselves against a clear blue sky – yes, blue sky happens in Seattle – in fact, the sky is blue here all summer long.

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A museum staircase provides another opportunity to enjoy architectural design.

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So does a 1929 Art Deco tower backed up by a newer building in downtown Seattle. In your eyes, the newer building may or may not have succeeded in taking its cues from the past. But like it or not, it’s fun to wander the city streets in search of patterns.

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At some point you have to give it all a rest, go out to the back alley, sit a spell. The cigarette buts tell me someone’s been doing just that.

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Maybe they daydream about the holidays and colorful toys from the past…

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Or maybe their reveries center on sunny days running through candy-colored gardens….

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And treats, yes, let’s not forget that. Here’s to all of you having as many treats as you want in the New Year!

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Whether you prefer Christmas red and green, Hanukah blue and white,

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or something else altogether,

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I wish you oodles of cheer, and lets make it ordinary cheer, like this fellow spreads down at Pike Place Market in Seattle. Sure, he has dreads down to his knees, his scarf is awry and his jacket frayed, but that’s what ordinary looks like, and maybe we need a little more of it.

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*

I thank you for your presence here. It’s meant a lot this year. I’ll see you again very soon, with photographs from a warmer place…pleasant dreams!

This entry was posted in mobile phone pics, Seattle, urban and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

44 comments

    • 🙂 If you’re referring to the photo of the workman at Pike Place, I was actually right outside the market, in back on that deck overlooking the Sound. Totally safe, but feeling nervous watching the workman casually lean over…I’m thankful for your comment, and happy you enjoyed the photos, your thoughts are much appreciated.

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  2. Love this urban potpourri!
    I keep going back to that first one trying to make sense of it. Did they really put that tall building on such a thin base?
    The Mount Rainier shot, with the two arches framing it is interesting. Can’t help but wonder what the guy could be thinking.
    The jumble of vents with the ferry in the background again makes for some great juxtaposition, epitomizing urban life in a sense.
    Love the swirls and colors of the museum staircase. There’s a sense of movement there.
    I happen to like the newer Art Deco wannabe better, it’s making the older one look a bit drab (unfortunately perhaps?)
    The chair with the buts… tells the story of the folks who still haven’t managed to give up evil tobacco and are relegated to hidden outside corners where they won’t pollute or offend.
    What ordinary looks like… I LIKE it!
    My presence here has been a joy. Thank you for all the great images. Keep ’em coming! 🎄 and here’s to escaping to warmer places.

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    • That tall building really looks like that, Gunta, and it was designed by the same architect who designed NYC’s twin towers – the ones that came down on 9/11. The building is supposed to be earthquake safe…
      The arches “under” Rainier are at Safeco Field, a bit south of downtown Seattle. We chatted with the workman – lovely guy, just really enjoys his job!
      Your presence has been a joy to me, so thank you for that! Yes, here’s to escaping to warm places, absolutely!

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  3. These are pretty nice odds & ends! 🙂
    I did a double-take when I saw the formal “Italian” garden, it’s amazingly similar, just slightly larger I think, to the one in Canandaigua, NY at the Sonnenberg estate. (Yes, the town really is spelled that way)
    They’re all terrific shots, the jumble of vents is fun & looks like the top of the Willy Wonka factory, something gloopy and sci-fi about to happen
    I hope you have a nice holiday & best wishes for the new year!

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    • That garden is actually in Spokane, and the design and colors are very traditional, so I’m not too surprise to hear it looks so similar to one you’ve seen. Being raised upstate, I do remember Canandaigua, and Skaneateles, which we learned to spell as kids. 😉 I like your take on the rooftop vents – perfect! Best wishes to you too, and I hope you have a picturesque Christmas snowfall that disappears the following day…

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  4. You tied it all together magnificently, I love this as a year-end post. That canele and coffee look delicious! Love the staircase pic, though that should be expected, and the one of the lone colored chair. Have a wonderful close to 2017 and beginning to 2018, Lynn. Looking forward to seeing more great stuff 🙂

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    • That’s good to hear, Lynn…it’s a bit of a stretch but I felt like a little whimsy was in order. There’s a local place, out here in the burbs (I’m right outside Seattle) that actually does a really good canele – I know you can spot ’em! 😉 The lone chair in the alley was local, too…though with the housing boom, I think back alleys may begin to fade and disappear. Thanks for being here, and have a great holiday & New Year!

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  8. This is an interesting collection – and I’m right with you re needing more ordinary cheer – definitely – let’s get away from the sterile, the corporate and the mass-produced, let’s get back to the truly human. Like Paula, I love the staircase. And the Hanukah blue and white >>> and the coffee and sweet is a gorgeous, Minimal image! A very good Christmas and New Year to you both! A 🙂 🙂 🙂

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    • The blue & white is the skylight above the golden staircase, both at a small museum well north of Seattle that shows Northwest art, a lovely place. That coffee shot came out well, didn’t it? It’s a pleasure to have you here, Adrian, and thank you for the inclusive greeting, we will! Same back at ya, as they say over here. 🙂

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    • Rainier is an amazing mountain, very rounded and beautiful, and views of it literally pop up all around Seattle. As long as the sky is clear (which of course it isn’t always!) there are loads of places to see it. Around here, people say “The mountain is out” when the sky is clear and the views are good. It looks different every time, sometimes ringed with clouds, or topped by them, sometimes not.

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  11. Wonderful photos, as always Lynn. The museum staircase – multiple curves within a rectangle – is its own piece of art. So incredibly perfect. Love the coffee and treat, once again the theme of curving elements within the rectilinear boundaries – you have such a gifted eye, Lynn – thank you for the end of year treat 🙂

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  13. I’m sure there are mathematical reasons for building a skyscraper like the one in your first photograph, but I feel scared just looking at it. Love your take on the museum staircase—so many curves and lines, and the colors are placed just right. I like the back-ally chair slats juxtaposed with the pallet slats. And, as usual, I get a kick out of your narrative.

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    • It IS scary! The same architect designed the twin towers that came down on 9/11. Supposedly it’s very earthquake-safe. Aargh! I’m glad you liked the back alley, and the staircase – hope you get out here some day Linda, I think you’d love it!

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    • Good point! 🙂 The warmer place we’re going to isn’t that much warmer – we’ll fly to Las Vegas after the New Year and explore the surrounding canyons and parks (Death Valley, etc.). But first, I’ll post photos from Florida trips I took 7 years ago, much warmer there!

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  18. OK, by reading the comments I now know that you didn’t climb to the top of that silo, but I could easily imagine you doing that – for the sake of curiosity and for the pursuit of an interesting view and image… When I saw the ‘jumble of vents’ I thought, ‘Ugh. That would be really challenging to draw!’
    The formal gardens are stunning – a balm to the soul in frenzied times – and a balm to the soul even to me when nothing is frenzied at this time!

    I hope that your holidays are extra special, and that this new year is extra good to you!

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    • The little tractor toys were part of an exhibit at an annual Tractor Fair – it’s fabulous, the kids race their tractors, there are tractor contests for pulling heavy loads, hot dogs, etc. Very down home and non-commercial, and in a field that we happened to drive by one year…. 🙂

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