Mural

What's going on? Why is that road closed? What's that cherry picker equipment doing in the road? Who's that guy with the hard hat?

Our small town is getting a new mural covering up some ancient walls. Lots of older buildings in the downtown area that could do with a facelift and this is a great idea. This is the second large scale mural in town, the first one is here, although that photo was when the work was unfinished. I'll have to take another photo. 

Painted by local talented artist Colin Whitebread, the mural is bright and full of fun.

No doubt there will be grumbles about the waste of town money, but I think it's great! This is painted on the wall opposite the entrance to the Funeral Home. I hope it will bring some cheer to the mourners.

Pop My Top

I never make any political statements, but sometimes the time seems right......

Seen for sale in gift shop in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Wildflower Meadow

The making of a Wildflower Meadow (Younger Son's special project).

The end piece of ground far left was covered with a tarp for 18 months to kill the grass and weeds, and then tilled and winter rye was planted.

A second area in the foreground is covered to kill the grass, this will be the home of the next batch of wildflowers.... we hope!

When the rye germinated and started to grow it was cut down before it could form seeds.  This would discourage more grass and weeds to take root.

Then a pack of assorted wildflower seeds were scattered and fingers crossed, hope for the best.

The wildflower seeds were supposed to include evening primrose which is yellow, but mainly red field poppy and blue cornflowers appeared.

Photo by Sarah.

Nipper

On the way to Cape Cod, we spent a night in Albany. Albany is the capital and oldest city in the State of New York. It was claimed by Henry Hudson for the Dutch in 1609, and has been a chartered city since 1686.

Lots to see in an old city like that, and a local guide came on the Big Red Bus to take us on a tour of the sights. We travelled the old streets through the city centre, passing the Dutch Reformed Church,  the Dutch Church, the Van Rensselaer Manor House, and the large homes of many of Albany's business leaders.  And there's a crazy theatre shaped like an egg!

But the sight I really wanted to see wasn't on the tour. I wanted to see Nipper!

Photo borrowed from internet.

Nipper stands (or sits) 28 feet (8.54m) tall on the roof of a warehouse in an industrial part of Albany. He weighs in at 4 tons and he's made of steel and fibreglass.  He's the last remaining Nipper of four brothers who were built in Chicago to advertise the RCA phonograph company, and he's been sitting on the roof since 1958.

Nipper's brothers in Chicago and Los Angeles don't exist any more, but he has a little brother in Baltimore who sits with a phonograph so he can listen to "His Master's Voice".

Apparently Nipper can appear with pink bunny ears at Easter, or a Santa hat at Christmas. Our only view of Nipper was from the highway as we left town. A big cheer went up from the riders of the Big Red Bus.