Sunday, May 25, 2008

Two Things Challenge: In the Sky / On the Ground

In the Sky: Storm clouds over Fairfax


On the Ground: Beautiful landscaping

This week's Two Things Challenge was In the Sky/ On the Ground. I have a few groupings I thought worked well for this. I've been spending a couple of days a week out at my parent's home helping them with some home improvement projects. Fortunately, the weather has been pleasant and cool. The above photos were taken at or near my parents. The first: storm clouds as shot from Mom's and Dad's front yard. The second: landscaping at one of their neighbors. I love this house and its precise arrangement. It always looks so orderly. I especially like the Japanese maple mid-yard. I'm thinking of getting one of those for my yard.


(L) In the Sky: Graffiti in the header of the closet I was demolishing.
(R): On the Ground: The Dirty Bastard Cat playing with a bag of recycling in the office.

As mentioned above, I'm helping my parents with some renovations. Last week, one of my tasks was to demolish a closet in the guest bedroom. Years ago, this closet was a new addition to the room it's in. My brother was living at home at the time and helped with construction. This is his handwritting inside the closet, which I only noticed when I looked up. He was/is obviously a big X Files fan. The second picture is of the cat playing with a plastic bag full of recycling I had just gathered and was preparing to take out to the bin. After he fooled around with this for a bit, he then laid down on it and took a nap! Dumb cat. (Note: Don't panic. I just put the recycling in the bag. I didn't put the bag itself into the bin, only what was in it which was mostly paper.)

In the Sky: Sunrise after the storm


On the Ground: Little purple pansy

These last two I took a few days ago. I was up early, sitting in my office reading the news and email. When I looked up, I noticed we were about to have the most amazing sunrise. I threw a coat on over my pajamas, grabbed my camera and my keys, and dashed out the door. The first picture was taken from Fort Stevens Park. The second is in my driveway. I noticed this little pansy standing upright in the midst of elm seeds from my large and messy elm tree. I guess during the storm the previous night, it had blown from the neighbor's yard over to my driveway and landed (?) upright like this.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 5/08

10 comments:

 gmirage said...

I like the ceiling (lol) and the blue pansy most!

lacochran said...

"Now that I have proven my superiority to this bag of recycle I can rest." :)

Janet Kincaid said...

Mirage: The pansy really made me smile, as did my brother's graffiti. It's so like him. He's a funny guy.

Lacochran: Excellent tagline! Perfect.

The Artful Eye said...

That pansy shot is great. Sometimes you really can find a flower eeking out a life from a crack in the ground.

Storm clouds over your parents look ominous. I liked the handwriting on the ceiling, as well, a bit apropos.

That front yard is so beautifully green and with every shrub in it's place. I love japanese maples, it wouldnt' do well here.

Whatever you do don't breakdown in your pajamas!

Janet Kincaid said...

Andrea: Breaking down in my pajamas would definitely be undesirable. Fortunately, in this particular case, I was only a few blocks from home.

Glad you enjoyed these pictures!

Rob said...

Dramatic ky shots, that surise one is spectacular, golden clouds. Pretty Japanese Maple. I was just at our landscape arbotetum and seen one. Pretty brilliant red leaves, almost like autum, but all summer long. Funny cat; we spend countless dollars on pet toys and what do they enjoy more? plastic bags filled with junk.

Maya said...

Having that Japanese maple in the middle of the lawn is an interesting choice. I quite like it!

Janet Kincaid said...

Rob: There are countless toys in the house for El Gato and he chooses a bag full of recycling to play with! I don't get it. Thanks for your comments on the sky shots. Sunrise was pretty spectacular the other day! Glad I made it out for some pictures.


Maya: Isn't it, though? There's something almost overly precise about their yard and yet, it works. At the very least, it's the most aesthetically pleasing yard in the neighborhood.

Debi said...

Janet, you are going to get tired of reading my "Wow" comments. I'm in deep love with Sunrise after the Storm.

Janet Kincaid said...

Debi: I doubt that very much! :-) I love that photo, too! All I could think as I was grabbing my camera and keys were two things: first, "please stay beautiful and sunrise-y until I can get to Fort Stevens" (four blocks from my home) and second, "pajamas, don't fail me now!" LOL!