La Samaritaine: Pieces of Sky

Paris ~ May 4, 2004

La Samaritane from Pont Neuf

I was so sad when I read Cieldequimper's and Halcyon's comments on yesterdays post featuring one of the lighting fixtures on this beautiful building (now extinct), that I went searching for more photos. I found a few of the outside and the inside. Here's one taken from Pont Neuf.

Cieldequimper gave me the first clue when she said, "It used to be a favourite of my Gran's and I have many fond memories there. To answer your question, it's now closed - forever." (Oh, no!)

Halcyon filled in the bad news: "Sadly the Samaritaine was closed due to asbestos. It would have cost too much to refurbish. I hope someone salvaged those lamps though. They are nice. I used to like to go to the top floor and have a coffee and enjoy the view."

Does anyone else have memories of this historic and beautiful landmark?

See Weekend Reflections from around the world.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Shedd Doors

Chicago ~ April 22, 2005

John G. Shedd Aquarium

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Light on La Samaritaine

Paris ~ May 4, 2004

La Samaritaine Department Store

I've enjoyed these lighting fixtures along the Seine side of La Samaritaine Department Store in Paris since I first saw the building in the late 1960s or early 1970s, so I was dismayed to see the fixtures gone on my last visit in 2008. I hope it was only for refurbishing and repair. The fixture looks to be somewhere between Art Deco and Art Nouveau in style, doesn't it? Or is it truly a Deco piece? What do you think? The current building was in progress between 1883 and 1933, so it spans both periods.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Joe's Donut Shop

Sandy, Oregon ~ May 28, 2010

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

A Dog of Stone (Egyptian)

New York ~ May 7, 2009
Metropolitan Museum of Art

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

A Crab in the Aisle

St-Denis Basilica, St-Denis, France ~
October 15, 2008

You'll find this crab and gryphon among other images from the zodiac in the aisle leading to the high altar in St-Denis Basilica near Paris. I was surprised to see signs of the zodiac inside a church, but I should not have been. You can read more about the convention here.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Boathouse, Warwick Castle

Warwick, England ~ February 17, 2010

Warwick Castle's Boathouse on the River Avon

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Reticulate Collared Lizard on a U.S. Postage Stamp

Reticulate Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus reticulatus)
Texas and Mexico
U.S. Postage Stamp ~ 2003

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Ski the Volcano

Mount Hood Meadows, Oregon ~ January 24, 2009

Mount Hood

This is Mt. Hood as seen from the lodge at Mount Hood Meadows. I don't ski, so I entertained myself by checking out the mixed drinks. I don't drink that much, either, so let's just say a little went a long way. I remember the day as being especially enjoyable, especially the second part of the day. I watched ants in brightly-colored parkas going up and down the mountain, up and down, up and down, up and down. You get the picture. Meanwhile, the clouds (the real ones) caused the mountain to fade in out of view like the Cheshire Cat.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Chowder, Anyone?

San Francisco, California ~ February 2, 2007

San Francisco International Airport

Don't do this to me. Has someone figured out that you sell more seafood if the fish have happy smiles on their faces?

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Santa Fe in San Diego

San Diego, California ~ November 5, 2009

Union Station, formerly Santa Fe Depot

I grew up in Southern California an hour or so north of here, so palm trees and atmospheric architecture of this ilk were commonplace to me at one time. I've always appreciated them and found them of historic and artistic interest, but they were not unusual. Going back after so many years, and with so much modern construction having taken the place of the old, I see these buildings now as rare gems, and the palm trees and shadows as among the elements that evoke nostalgia — a sense of an era as well as a place. As I researched, I found that even this building supplanted an old Victorian station on the spot. Photo #6 on this site shows the station in Corona that I remember from childhood.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Elephantopiary

San Diego ~ November 5, 2009

San Diego Zoo

I probably should have gone up to see what his tusks were made of and how they were attached, but after a long day of walking around (long, but enjoyable), I didn't think of it. I was happily surprised to see the elephant waving goodbye to us with his trunk. (In my own mind; no, the trunk didn't move, even in California.)

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

A Viking Dragon?

Oxford, England ~ February 18, 2010

This looks to me like a dragon's head, possibly Viking-era in style, although I really don't know what it is. We found it while walking along The High Street on a rainy day, and I'm guessing its function is for scraping mud off your boots before you enter the halls of learning.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Quiet Now

Mount St. Helens, Washington ~ September 6, 2003

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Moo

Portland, Oregon ~ September 20, 2002

Portland International Airport

I hope there's something edible in that bucket. This cow looks hungry.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Circles and Squares

Tacoma, Washington ~ May 21, 2004

In front of Union Station

I love finding interesting things in the pavement.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

'Tis the Season for Salmon Flies on the Deschutes River, Oregon

Salmon fly (Pteronarcys californica)

Also called stone fly and willow fly

Central Oregon ~ May 30, 2004

Along the Deschutes River

Fly-fishers go crazy from mid-May to early June waiting for this little critter to hatch, because the trout and salmon also go crazy trying eat the insects. At that time, they'll bite at anything, especially tied salmon flies that look like the real thing to them. It's interesting that the salmon fly even has some of the coloring we call "salmon."

We were on the Deschutes River on May 30, 2004, with these harmless and pretty bugs flying everywhere. One of them landed and was very obliging when I asked to take it's photo. I wasn't fishing. I was enjoying all the things buzzing and crawling and blooming around the river bank. It was a beautiful day unless you were an unlucky fish or a salmon fly. Here are a few more links:

. Salmon Fly Hatch Developing on the Deschutes

. Deschutes River Salmonfly Hatch

. Stonefly Emergence and Pattern Guide

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store

Please visit our page of insect toys and replicas

Dreams of Soaring

Paris ~ May 6, 2004

Louvre Museum

See Weekend Reflections from around the world.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Laundry on the Amazon

Amazon River, Brazil ~ April 27, 2007

Above Manaus

See Weekend Reflections from around the world.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

The Elephant on the Dodo Carousel

Paris ~ October 14, 2008
Jardin des Plantes

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Railway Lines

Vancouver, Washington ~ May 4, 2008

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Meadows and Mountains

Oregon ~ May 7, 2005

A few miles south of Crater Lake

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Big Banyan Tree, Lahaina

Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii ~ May 7, 2010

On first impression, it doesn't look like one tree. The shade was inviting, and the trunks beckoned me to explore.

The guy with the green shirt leaning against this mass of roots is working or playing on his laptop. As I gazed around, I realized that he wasn't alone. I'll bet there were at least five people sitting under the tree using their computers. This banyon tree and its assorted benches provide a sort of outdoor internet cafe (bring your own laptop, and I'm not sure where the connection comes from).

One tree creates a small forest of beatifully-textured roots and light-play from the tree's canopy.

This is the main trunk. Branches of varying sizes reach out horizontally and . . .

. . . like these, they drop roots in large clusters.

The roots eventually look like real trunks, and the branch continues to grow outward to form yet another trunk.

Here is a plaque at the base of the main trunk.

On another note, a funny thing happened while we were wandering under the tree. A young woman was telling a young man about the cruise she was on. She said, "We're stopping at some small town, then going on to Seattle, and then Alaska." Can you guess where that small town is? Right. Astoria, Oregon. If you're reading this and don't know me, that's where I live. I could say, "Small world," but so many cruise ships stop here that it's not such a coincidence. It did make us laugh, though. A few days after we got back, there was a cruise ship in port. I wonder if she was on it.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Signs by the Big Tree

Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii ~ May 7, 2010

I often take photos of street signs just so I can identify where I've taken the other photos. In this case, I liked the sign, and on viewing it, I liked the trees and the sky. The green at the bottom of the photo is a famous gigantic banyan tree that takes up most of a block. I'll post its pictures tomorrow.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Pretty Birds

Colorful birds on a U.S. postage stamp

commemorating John James Audubon ~

2002

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

A Perfect Spot on a Perfect Day

New York ~ May 6, 2009

Bryant Park

Avenue of the Americas at West 40th Street

I remember how enticing this place looked as we took our long walk up to MoMa and Central Park.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

In Focus

Feral Rock Pigeon (Columba livia domestica)

Napili, Maui, Hawaii ~ May 9, 2010

It's always a challenge. With most animals, it seems that focus is at least half the success. I do enjoy watching pigeons, and they're tame enough to let me practice.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store

Please visit our page of bird toys and replicas

Coq au Vin, Anyone?

London ~ February 19, 2010

South Kensington

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Fish and Shell Mosaic in the Women's Bathroom

Portland, Oregon ~ c. 2003

I found this mosaic in a restroom at one of the Portland convention centers. I think it was the Rose Garden, but I'm no longer sure about that. We had attended a gift show before I had any clue about finding my way around Portland. I only remember I was happy to see that someone had thought of decorating the restroom with animals.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

A Shoe Tree in Central Oregon

Highway 26, Central Oregon ~ July 20, 2007

Unfortunately, it was a gloomy, gray day, because a sight like this causes one to pull over and get out of the car, camera in hand, and it would have been nice to have better lighting. I'd never seen a shoe tree before, and this one was in the middle of nowhere, but not so far from Mitchell, Oregon, population 170 in the 2000 census. My guess is, it's about the same now.

My old camera handled the lighting a little better as I got closer to the tree.

Finally, a few colors.

The sign can't be read in my photo, but here's a link to a photo on Flickr that shows its humorous message. I'm only envious because they had a beautiful blue sky to work with. Below are a few more links of interest:

. Knot-cha-cha's visit to the shoe tree
. More about the shoe tree: Autum Wind Studios

The only other time I've seen flung shoes was in Portland, Oregon, with Francisca when she took this photo. I'm not sure if you'll need a Facebook account to see it.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Reflections on an Orca

Orca or Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)

Miami Seaquarium

Key Biscayne, Florida ~ January 14, 2008

We want to think they will "behave" and be our friends, but wild animals are wild animals, and we need to remember that. Recent tragedy reminds us. But how beautiful they are, how big, how powerful. How much to be appreciated and respected.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store

Please visit our page of orca toys and replicas

Parrotfish and Wrasse, Maui

Star-eyed Parrotfish (Calotomus carolinus) (above)
Saddle Wrasse (Thalassoma duperrey) (below)

Honolua Bay, Maui ~ May 8, 2010

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store

Please visit our page of fish toys and replicas

An Egret at Maryhill

Maryhill, Washington ~ October 5, 2003

Maryhill Museum of Art

Down the slope is the Columbia River. On the other side are miles and miles of arid, rocky terrain. Yet inside the Maryhill Museum of Art you'll find world-class exhibits of European origin. Sam Hill wanted his wife to forget about her life in Minneapolis and be content with him here in the West. It didn't work out, but he left an unusually interesting legacy and many miles of good roads. And this bronze egret.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Deer on Harrison Street

White-tailed deer

Astoria, Oregon ~ July 24, 2005

The fawn came right up to the back window.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store

Please visit our page of deer toys and replicas

Lion Sculpture

Chicago ~ April 23, 2005

The Art Institute of Chicago

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Galloping Waves

Maui, Hawaii ~ May 6, 2010

Ukumehame Beach Park

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Looks Like a Dinosaur?

Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)
Miami Seaquarium

Key Biscayne, Florida ~ January 14, 2008

This is one of my favorites among the animal photos I've taken. It is so in focus and in your face, plus the iguana's tongue is visible, and I can just feel it about to take another bite of the leaf!
It looks for all the world the way I imagine a dinosaur, although we now know that dinosaurs are related to modern-day birds.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store

Please visit our page of iguana toys and replicas