One Red Cent

The penny I found in the dirt while I was helping My Darling B turn over the dirt for her herb garden, bearing the date 1950 and a "D" mark from the Denver mint.

It may have been dropped there just recently, but it was buried under about six inches of dirt, and coincidentally the neighborhood in which Our Humble O-Bode now stands was developed in 1950.

Funny that we still call them pennies ...

The Library of Congress

See any books? Neither did I.

Cherubs on the staircase at the Library of Congress

There is some really, really cool architecture in Washington D.C. I wish I knew somebody who not only lived there but also knew the stories behind all the great buildings you can still see there.

Party Animals

Seen outside a pub in Washington D.C.

On the front lawn of Georgetown University

The graduating class of 2007 prepares to pick up their sheepskins.

As he steps up to the plate ...

Sean climbs the stairs to approach the stage where he'll receive his bachelor's of arts degree from Georgetown University.

Think he's at all happy about the prospect?

Appropriately choked up over the occasion, mother congratulates her oldest son.

Sean and Tim talk over the day's events

After the ceremony, we all met at a local restaurant for a celebratory meal and happy conversation.

Devoured!

It's only the second week in May and this creeper has all but taken over the porch of this Madison home! It's coming for your house next!

More detail from the mural on the old Mifflin Street Co-Op

I'm not usually too picky about things like this, but that kid's got at least six fingers on his or her left hand. Then again, maybe those aren't his hands. I thought maybe he was parting the canvas with his hands to peer into the beyond, but maybe not. Maybe he's got the worst case of cauliflower ears ever.

He built a crooked house ...

It's not as apparent in this photo (unless you click to expand it to full size) as it was from glancing at the house from across the street: This old house hasn't got many plumb lines left in it. I'd love to see the inside. I'll bet there isn't a single room with a square corner in it.

The Green Man says 'Hello!'

Detail from the mural on the wall of the former Mifflin St Co-op. In a row of sprouting seedlings, this one's got a face and reaches out to catch ... the sun? An unsuspecting victim? Could be a triffid, you can't tell.

RIP Mifflin St Co-Op

Detail from the mural painted on the wall of the building that used to be home to the Mifflin Street Co-Op.

Hey! I suffer from that, too!

Mural on the wall of Mother Fools coffee house

In commemoration of Mother's Day?

I wanted to snap a photo of it before it got covered up in that tangled block letter crap that passes for grafitti.

I love lilacs.

I was lucky enough to buy a house with a yard full of lilacs.

Not only that, but Barb, my neighbor to the north has lilacs planted all along the lot line. Jim, my neighbor to the south, has a couple smaller lilacs.

Right now, walking into my back yard is like walking into the perfume aisle at Penny's.

This is what happens when I don't mow as often as I should

Why is it so many home owners don't like dandelions? What's not to like about them? They have a beautiful, brilliant flower, they grow everywhere without a lot of fuss, and when they go to seed you get to make a wish. Say no to ChemLawn. Leave the dandilions alone.

The Lamp House

Walking along Mifflin Street during a sunny noon-time lunch hour, I caught a glimpse between two apartment buildings of this Prairie-style house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Poking around, I managed to find the alleyway that lead to the front of the house. It stands in a small lot in the middle of the block, sort of stashed away in a blind spot where it goes unnoticed from the street most of the time.

I've read about it a couple times in the paper, first when it changed hands, and again when its new owner was looking for renters.

"Despite the deferred maintenance, the house has the unmistakable flow and timelessness that characterizes Frank Lloyd Wright buildings. The Lamp House was ahead of its time with its open floor plan. Some of Wright's signature features are present: the flat roof, strong horizontal lines, a central fireplace in the living room with an inglenook off to one side, and Cherokee red trim on the exterior. Sunlight floods the house through the many leaded-glass windows." -- Chris Martell, Wisconsin State Journal

Going Up

Sited at the top of the ridge along West Wash, Capital West is taking a place of prominence on Madison's skyline.

I'm a sucker for construction sites, so I strolled up there to take a closer look at how construction has come along this week.