Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - May 11, 2014

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Since it's also Sunday, it's time for my weekly off television topic look back on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way. Later on tonight, I'll post The Amazing Race blog party -- that show's getting down to the wire with the finale next week. Stop on by if you watch the show!

This week? Hmm ... it rained, it had lots of fog, the temperatures were nice and springlike until mugginess (and more storms) hit yesterday. Thankfully, we didn't have any horrific storms like the Midwest did.

Huh. I really can't think of anything noteworthy to discuss this week. I worked. I ate. I slept. I gave a certain cat a lot of attention. My neighbors and I decided that we need to go to the landlord to complain about the overcrowding in one particular apartment in our hallway. It's a one-bedroom with four children and three adults. Those are "at least" figures. They've started sending the kids out to the hallway to scream, play, ride bikes, shoot rubber pellet guns, play ball and more. Sorry, Charlie. That's not going to fly here. The lease says no loitering in the common areas. One of the women always looks incredulous at us when we tell the kids not to play in the hallway. It's time the landlord dealt with the overcrowding in the apartment and the people there found something more suitable. The noise the children make is akin to having them stand outside your closed bedroom door and screaming.

Oh, well ... onto the photos from the week ...

Azaleas in bloom

Although, for the most part, the red and white azaleas haven't blossomed yet, the pink and light purple ones came to life this past week in Bridgewater.

Undivided attention

Er, okay ... divided non-attention. This bird couple has a nest under the bridge at the Bridgewater Train Station. Bringing materials for the nest, they tend to sit on the wire before swooping down to their home. It's quite an eclectic bunch down there -- grackles, starlings, pigeons and even a squirrel family.

Spring is coloring the trees

Although, I'm very disappointed with spring this year. First, it didn't come anywhere near on schedule. Second, the trees are blooming late yet the time span of the blooms seems to be very short. It's like the season is trying to catch up on lost time. The trees aren't as full and the blossoms aren't lasting long at all. This shot is a scene in front of Richmond Towers on East Front Street in Plainfield.

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Love the teensy blue flowers!

Growing in the grass in Bridgewater, but not even as tall as the grass.

Here's a lowdown side view

Then there's the white flowers

These are larger than the blue ones, but also seem to be some kind of wildflower or perhaps weed. Berckman Street, Plainfield.

Up close

Foggy spring morning

I took this shot on Church Street in Plainfield, looking across the cemetery at the back of the Friends (Quaker) Meeting House.

Yes, foggy foggy

On my way to the train station early one morning this past week. Corner of Church and East Second streets in Plainfield.

Will the sun come out tomorrow?

Plainfield Train Station.

An engineering masterpiece

Blow away, dandelion! Yeah, it's but a weed. But, think about it -- it's one of nature's little miracles in action. It goes from brilliant yellow petals to these spores. Then the spores take hold and new life begins.

Yet another weed

Two days later

Hey, Mr. Squirrel!

Throughout town there are these large boxes attached low to some power poles. I think they're some sort of FIOS hubs. I was walking by this one at the corner of East Front and Richmond and found my little buddy here. The foggy morning made the perfect backdrop for the photo.

Then there's the poison ivy

Already some of the leaves are as big as my hand. Bridgewater Train Station.

And others are new and colorful

Leaflets three, let it be

Well, take pictures of it!

Dandelion of the week

I've decided I'm going to post a dandelion each week. Each one is different and, they're definitely easy to find!

Another tree blooms

Although the white apple tree blossoms have gone by, the dogwood is now in bloom. Friends (Quakers) Meeting House Cemetery, corner of Church and East Third streets, Plainfield.

More white blossoms

I'm not sure what these are.

The big pink blossoms aren't lasting

I took this shot at the Bridgewater Train Station, but the same trees grow at the Plainfield Train Station. And they're going quickly. On Saturday as I waited for the train in Plainfield, there were four very young children and their mother. The kids were shaking a small tree of the pink blossoms letting the petals rain down while shouting, "Happy Mother's Day!" Their mom was taking photos and all five were covered with pink petals. I found it interesting that they all spoke in Spanish until the kids called out "Happy Mother's Day." Now, there's MUST be a phrase for that in Spanish! I wonder if, in the distant future, popular languages will meld into something totally new and a mix.

One bold white bloom

Out of the dozen white azalea bushes nearby the Bridgewater Train Station (at the ball park), only one single bloom was evident all week. It must be the advance patrol.

Yes, lots of rain this week

But not flooding rains like last week! Bridgewater Train Station or, more precisely, alongside the front of the TD Ball Park (Somerset Patriots).

So pretty!

Vincent, smile for the camera!

No, Vincent. You can't be on strike until you get cat treats. What a spoiled cat you are!