Candy Cane Alley

Candy Cane

Black Friday

The calm before the storm. 

While most stores are trying to salvage their year or even stay alive in our current economy by enticing customers with Black Friday hours and sales, that door has already closed for Mervyn's. 

This will be Mervyn's last holiday season.  They are going out of business and taking a lot of jobs with them.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you get to share it with family, friends and loved ones.

Broken Branch

Creating an archway over the water.
Hopefully the rain will help the stream flow a little better.

Imitation Grass

A sign at Southeast Construction Products.  The water shortage has apparently made this a much more
appealing alternative.

Re-Clearing The Debris Basin

L.A. County plans to clear this about once a year now instead of letting it grow over for many years like it did up until earlier this year.

The entire clearing job, other than the water truck to keep the dust down, will be done this time by one man in his truck.  The one partially hidden under the spray of water.  He's got a cutting attachment on the end of a telescoping arm and can make quick work of anything from weeds to trees.

It should take him a little over a week.

Steller's Jay

Deer Silhouette

Guest Photo: Monrovia High School Marching Wildcat Band

Today's photo was generously provided by Robert C J Parry from the NorthPrimrose blog.

This is a great photo of the band in action at halftime during last week's game in which the Wildcats clinched the Rio Hondo League Championship.

Tonight the team takes on El Monte High School in the 1st round of the CIF playoffs.  It's a home game at Monrovia High School.  Be there!

Be sure to check out more info on the Monrovia High School Marching Wildcat Band here.
Support the band!

Ready For My Closeup

Moon Over Monrovia

The lettering is from over the entrance to city hall.

A Bite To Eat

Work Day Is Done

This one was born out of inspiration. 

I was thinking of this image from Tash at Palos Verdes Daily Photo while driving against the rush hour traffic.  Then there is the influence of the amazing black and white images from Laurie at Glimpses of South Pasadena and Babooshka at Ramsey Daily Photo.  This is the result.

This is exactly why I started this blog.  To become better by continually learning new things and trying new things.  And because it's fun.

Two Topiary Treats

Monrovia High School Overview

The bell tower just right of center, tennis courts towards the lower right and the Courtyard Marriott (not part of the high school) back on the left hand side.

Morning Lights At The Krikorian

Preening Turkey Vulture

Quite a bit bigger than the birds you normally see around town and always (at least when I spot them) seem to be in large groups. 

Work Started On Henry's Market

Click the image for a nice big panorama.

So long Rosedale Center.  The fencing is up and the stores are coming down.
New stores and Henry's Market coming soon.

Veterans Day 2008

My Dad

Front Row Center

1st Lt US Army WWII

June 8, 1922 - December 14, 2000

North On Myrtle Avenue

It was such a beautiful day yesterday it deserved a photo. 

This is on Myrtle Ave. looking north toward downtown with the San Gabriel mountains in the distance.

On the left behind the temporary wall is the construction area for the "Courtyards At Old Town"  apartment / retail development.

California Conservation Corps

This sign was placed along the new section of the Ben Overturff trail as a thank you for helping to rebuild the trail after part of it had been washed out.

Members of the CCC also volunteered for, and played a huge part in the success of, the recent Haunted Hikes.

Huntington Drive, Monrovia - 1976

Going through some old photo's and came across this photo of Huntington Drive from 1976.  On the right is the familiar Le Roy's restaurant with the old sign.  On the left were businesses and homes in the space that eventually became the Huntington Oaks shopping center. 

On the left you can also see the location of my first job:  Der Weinerschnitzel.
It was located in the spot where the Black Angus parking lot is now.

California Sister Butterfly

Even a little scruffed up, it's beautiful.

Tree Bark

Beautiful Morning

Election Day 2008

Get out and vote!

Dusk

City lights just coming on in the distance.  The area in the foreground is higher than it used to be now that dirt from clearing the debris basin was put here. 

This area is L.A. County property and is used as a helipad.

Overcast With A Chance Of Rain

City Daily Photo Theme Day - Books

It was time for another update on the progress of the new library and this month's theme of Books provided the perfect opportunity. The new library doesn't have any books now but it will when it opens in the spring.

Participants from all over the world are providing their interpretation of this months theme. Use the link below for a world of photo's on Books:

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants