Gone, Baby Gone

Red Apple Elegy mourns the loss of yet another neighborhood institution:


Before


After

Leaving Eff Stop to contemplate the arrival of--wait for it--the ladder of mystery!

Plastic Puffballs for Sale in New York

From: It's Alright Ma I'm Only Blogging

When Good Puffballs Go Bad

Rumble in Overlake: It was reported last weekend that the Trader Joe's gang tore up several parking bumpers. They seem to be taking a more aggressive stance. When questioned they were characteristically silent on the matter.

Suburban Phantom

From The Seattle Times, May 21, by Erik Lacitis:

The young bear is likely about 2 years old, and likely a male, said Chandler. It is at that age that the mom bear kicks out the young male offspring, who then have to stake out their own territory.

The wildlife agents named the elusive bear the "Urban Phantom."

He was first spotted late Saturday night in Magnolia, then made his way to Ballard, and continued north.

He was chased through alleys, streets and backyards in the middle of the night in Ballard by four wildlife agents, a bear-scenting dog and 14 Seattle police officers.

Chandler said he hopes the bear keeps going north, and then east to the Woodinville area, "where there are going to be a lot of bears."

Bears and beavers. (Image should really be clicked on to appreciate)

Suburban parking woes

Last weekend I could not find a place to park at Cougar Mountain. This is a first. Now, I'm having trouble finding a place to park at the newly re-opened Newcastle Fruit and Produce Stand. For the latter's success I'm extremely happy and proud. I'm not happy about having to share Cougar, but I'm working on it.

Another space for a community garden

Eastside Catholic High School has moved and is now behind a hurricane fence until Bellevue School District takes it on as temporary campus for a series of middle schools undergoing remodelling. The first of these will be Tyee Middle School, and construction there is scheduled to begin in June 2010.

Lots of southwestern exposure on a deadend street which connects via a popular neighborhood walkway to this site opposite Stod's:

Groundbreaking at Lake Hills

Sometimes I have to remind myself of the original inspiration for this blog--the demise of our neighborhood Red Apple and an active search for what will replace it. Yesterday I attended the groundbreaking ceremony at Lake Hills Shopping Center for a new library, and to view drawings of what the City says may be a model for Newport Hills commercial center development in the future.


Lolo the Clown and kids from the neighborhood dig in. Nothing like a pile of dirt to bond the community!


City of Bellevue Mayor Grant Degginger, Bellevue Councilmembers Conrad Lee and Patsy Bonincontri and King County Councilmember Jane Hague get down and dirty with a host of other (dig)nitaries


Lake Hills Shopping Center today

Nick looking cool while I make him late for his driving class

Walking the Mice

Yesterday afternoon, it has to be said, was glorious. The sunny weather brought out all the neighbors, including Joyce and her daughter Maggie pictured here with my daughter Piper and good friend Teo on the right. We found Joyce and Maggie walking their mice and looking for Harry, their chihuahua who guards the street. Click on the photo to better appreciate the mice.



It reminded me of when we lived in Italy for a brief time and a neighbor would walk her ferret, Romeo at dusk. As visitors, we thought this a charming custom. Sometimes I like to pretend I'm just visiting my street and marvel at all the charming customs I encounter. "Isn't this fantastic? People walk their mice here!"

In Search of Fawn Lilies

While Seattle neighborhoods follow the trail of the Urban Phantom on the front pages of the Seattle Times (as of last night 14 of Seattle's finest were in hot pursuit) I go in search of a very different beast in the meadows of Cougar Mountain. While in England last week my mother mentioned that when we lived in Eugene near Lorane Highway in the early 60s the hillside across the street was covered in fawn lilies.

I stumbled upon a handful of them yesterday while taking the dog for her daily walk. We have none other than Penny Manning to thank for these beauties.

Penny is an eastside hero--daughter of legendary Harvey Manning--and the restorer of Ballpark Meadow where the miners on Coal Creek played their games and picnicked with their sweethearts.

I should add that this is one of the few ballparks I visit on a regular basis...I'm more of a soccer fan.



Mom, who has a doctorate in history, also liked to tell the story of camas and its tuber-like bulb. Because it was a staple of the Nez Perce Indian diet the tribe starved when the early settlers set their pigs to eating all the available supply.

Meanwhile, according to The Seattle Times this morning "State Dept of Fish and Wildlife Sgt. Kim Chandler said he hoped the bear would keep heading north then east to the Cascades, 'where bears belong.'" Bring him on!

To cut or not to cut

Just about every home in Newport Hills has one of these maples in their front yards.













Hair cuts are optional.

Deer on a Rainy Morning

Two young male deer paid us a visit on a rainy morning last week.

Cascade of Puffballs

Near my house. Indigenous plantlife.

A Walk from St Hughs'

Natural History Museum



Engineering Department


Keble College

Keble College

Keble College from University Park

Keble College







offices


house


Leaving North Parade

In Banbury Road heading toward Oxford center


A bit further on

A Block from from St Hughs'

Be sure to click on images to enlarge for details!


Our "parade of shops"

A lane narrow enough to string lights between the buildings on either side.

This garden shop is on two levels connected by a wrought-iron spiral staircase. The shop isn't much bigger than the staircase.


Gorgeous high-Victorian flats above one of two galleries in North Parade.

Mmm. Hot bacon baps. One of several groceries in the lane. I skipped the baps, though







The indispensable newsagents alongside a friendly cafe--on a Saturday morning where else do you want to be?


The Rose and Crown, next to an Indian restaurant which often caters to St Hughs' functions


Gardener's Arms

Popham hairdresser's--note the reflections in the window. This lane is teeny tiny!

An even narrower offshoot of North Parade.

Puffballs reassuringly present but well-contained