Park in the Hood

There is a little park nearby. I pass by it twice a day, to and from work. It's a place where senior citizens and other health conscious residents go for a walk. Kids feed the ducks in the pond. Mothers go around and around on paths pushing strollers. I even see some do yoga in the grass. On weekends, it's a popular place for gathering, picnicking and bbqing. The dome is the ideal site for wedding photos. I've seen newly-weds posed for wedding photos over the years. Once a year, a cultural festival takes place here.

I don't come often. But I've walked here and biked here and ate festival food and joined people in listening to music during the summer months.

Sometimes, I feel uneasy taking my camera when I go there. I don't see people bring cameras when they're there. But, well, I have a blog and I want to show you the little park in my neighborhood.





















All photos were taken on January first of this year. I've noticed that I have been taking photos of ducks and I've shown quite a number of them this year here on this blog. I guess I'm going through phases again.

Every Day People

Another set of people watching photos. I love to capture regular people just like you and me going about daily life.



















***Just got back from a 3d2n road trip in the northern part of the state. Am excited to show you what my lens captured. Happy Memorial Day to my fellow US residents.***

A Walk In The Park

This weekend was absolutely wonderful - weatherwise. On Saturday, we had a little bbq in the backyard with some friends. Today, we thought we'd close out the weekend by taking a short walk in the park.

It was 82F (about 28C) here today and the choice of where to walk was influenced by the weather. We wanted to go where it's cooler to walk, and Berkeley is always at least 5 degrees cooler. So Tilden Park it is.


It must have been years since we last came here for a little walk. We used to be here every week, on this side of the huge park, we've only been once before. We took the trail to the left of this sign. It will loop and we'd end up exiting at this same sign on the right side.


Everything is so green. Was tempted to take this trail up, but we were intent on taking the loop to the lake so we veered right.


This trail is easy, although parts of it are narrow and climbs up a bit.


We saw an abundance of horsetail. I remembered the first time I've seen them while walking along the creek near my old place. I thought they added so much to the landscape.


We photographed everything. This was more of photo walk than an actual exercise session.

The play of light and shadow on leaves was a delight to see and photograph.


These were abundant as well flanking both sides of the trails. I wonder if these belong to a wild berry variety, since they resemble the wild blackberries.


Into the light.


Discovered something new. Quite charming little bloom with little black seeds.


We walked to the soundtrack of birds singing, chirping, but we never saw them except for this one bluejay that stopped us in our paths.


That's when we realized we reached Jewel Lake. No activity on the lake today, must have been the heat keeping the fowls from frolicking in the water.


It is as serene I remembered it to be.


Instead of going right to make the loop, we took a left to walk a little longer. Then saw a path that climbs a hill. We climb up a little bit and took photos of the beautiful wildflowers.


Was able to catch up with this dragon fly.


In a few more moments, we were back to taking the path to our point of origin. This wooden path reminded me of happy times. I couldn't really pinpoint what exactly. My hubby told me I was confusing it with an almost identical wooden path in Alaska.


Instead of going straight to the parking lot, we took a little side detour to check out the animals. Little kids come here to pet and feed the animals.


Mr. Rooster was in foul mood I see.


Brown Sheep.


Black Sheep. Did not see any white ones. There were also goats and cows and turkeys and bunnies.


This is the setting.


And of course there is a red barn to complete it.

It was indeed a lovely late spring day. It felt more like summer.

I Take Pictures

When we travel, we take many many pictures to make us remember our holidays, the places we've seen, the food we'd eaten, and hopefully the images would also remind us of how we felt when we took the photos.

I may have a little edge with any of you in the number of photos I take. My love for clicking is bordering on the pathological. Just ask my husband. He cannot believe the amount of photos I take home with us and upload everytime we come back from a trip. That's why he bought me a terabyte's worth of storage. He's afraid I'm going to fill it soon :) He's kidding of course. But who knows.


When I look at this picture, I remember how I thought these people are so lucky to be living in Paris (I'm guessing they're locals, because they're walking fast past the Eiffel Tower without glancing at it.) with all that the city has to offer. I also remember with this picture how cold it was, because the guy's breath was visible - not captured in the camera though.


If I were a local just like him, I would not rush home to read the manual/booklet of the software I bought. Like him, I'd sit here enjoy the breeze. I envied him.


I cannot help my prying eyes and inquisitive nature. They stood there side by side, not talking, not looking at each other. Close enough, yet distant. Were they together?


This picture keeps reminding me that I have been to Europe, a place under the sun that I've been dreaming of. I had the sense of satisfaction when I took this photo. We were standing in the street corner; I just finished surveying my surroundings - gorgeous architecture flanked both sides of the street, tall enough to keep the sunrays off the road, traffic was flowing freely, people were rushing to catch the bus, and we were thinking what to do next.

The following sequence of photos stresses the whimsical nature of travel.





Photographs really do prolong the memories of vacations. It keeps the emotions fresh.

The Color and Texture of Nature

.........a no words post, just pics....................