P is for porch

A quirky porch in the Piedmont Avenue neighborhood.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

busking on the street

Buskers are a common sight this time of year.  Brian looks like he's a one man band.  I should have stayed around to hear him play the dobro.

halloween approaches

The time of ghosts, goblins, and goodies approaches.  Hope yours is fun and safe.  Taken at Piedmont Avenue's annual Halloween parade.

mortuary architecture

Have you ever noticed that mortuary architecture is quite grand?  I wonder why that is?  This business goes back to 1873, although I doubt the building does.

Happy Halloween

 These shots are from the annual Piedmont Avenue Halloween Parade.  The street is closed off for several blocks, there's a costume parade in the middle of the street, and local businesses become trick or treat stations that give away candy.

Even the adults get into the spirit.

I'll be out of town for a few weeks and won't be able to leave comments.  

pond in the cemetery

Mountain View Cemetery has interesting nooks and crannies.  This pond (one of three) is used (I think) for the irrigation system at the cemetery.  While walking along the road near the pond I heard a rustling in the trees and out flew a gigantic heron.  It glided across the water, banked toward the trees and disappeared into the green.  I was so stunned I didn't think to raise my camera until it was out of sight.  Linked to Weekend Reflections.

P is for pergola

Mt. View Cemetery has a wonderful old pergola on stone pillars near its entrance.  It supports an equally old wisteria vine that now entwines most of the pillars.  The flower display is incredible but I guess you'll have to take my word for it since I never remember to get a picture of it.  Sigh.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

tulip time

It's tulip time at Mt. View Cemetery.  An added bonus is that the cherry blossoms are also on view.

A laundromat

Just in case the washing machines and dryers didn't make it clear enough, this is a laundromat.  Found on Piedmont Avenue and linked to ABC Wednesday.

lilliputian library

This little house is a free service from a local home owner.  Just walk by to take and leave a book.  Pretty nice if you ask me. 

Theme Day: entry

...to eternity?  It's the first of the month, and members of City Daily Photo publish photos related to the month's theme.  This month it's "entry."  This photo was taken at Mt. View Cemetery.  To see other Theme Day photos click here.

late sun in the cemetery

Monuments galore dot Mt. View Cemetery.  This one glowed in the late afternoon sun.

yet another vintage sign

We seem to have lots of old vintage signs in Oakland.  This one is for a flower shop that has been in business in this location for more than 60 years just outside the gates of Mt. View Cemetery.  The sign looks in tact but I don't think I've ever seen it lighted up.  I've seen other flower shop signs in much the same style around town which makes me think it was a stock design.  The slightly murky sky is what we are experiencing these past few days after the heat wave broke.  It's overcast in the morning and sometimes the sun comes out in the afternoon, sometimes not.  Linked to Skywatch Friday.

Qingming

The annual Qingming Festival was observed at Mt. View Cemetery this week.  In Chinese culture it is the day of remembrance of the ancestors.  The Chinese government has made it an official holiday.  Similar to Day of the Dead traditions, graves are swept, ritual foods are offered, incense is burned and prayers said.

I'll be out of town for a few days and won't have access to a computer to leave comments.

end of the season

Strolling through Mt. View Cemetery last week, I spied a number of graves decorated with Christmas trees.  I was both surprised and touched by the gesture.  Families continue to miss those who have died and want to share, as best they can, this season with their loved ones.

holiday reflection

This is part of the annual holiday lights display at Mt. View Cemetery.  Linked to Weekend Reflections.

Skywatch Friday: autumn display

The weather reports keep saying rain, but so far not.  Today the sky is a little cloudier but the autumn leaves are still with us.  We're not exactly Vermont, but colors can be found if you know where to look.  Linked to Skywatch Friday.

R is for Rooz Cafe

One of my favorite coffee houses.  An easy walk from the house, usually open tables, low noise, rotating art shows, and a great tuna salad sandwich.  What's not to like?  The fact that it just closed.  Supposedly another coffee house will open in its place.  There's another Rooz in town but that means getting in the car and driving.  I'd rather walk.  Linked with ABC Wednesday.

autumn decorations

Signs of the season.

Halloween parade

The annual Piedmont Avenue Halloween Parade is the Saturday before Halloween.  Adults have as much fun (or more) as the kids dressing up and walking about.  Last year Frida Kahlo was seen on the Avenue more than once.  I guess the unibrow was a popular look.  This year it was all about fairies.