Spinner Dolphin

My son in law hates dolphins. He went to a swim with the dolphin attraction when he was little and the Dolphin bit him. He calls dolphins “jerks” and I understand why. While I have no desire to swim with them, I do think they are fun to watch from a boat or dock.

I took this picture while on a whale watching expedition in Maui. The boat captain called this school of dolphins spinner dolphins. They are smaller than a lot of dolphins and tend to stay near the shore areas. They are called spinners because they perform wonderful acrobatic dances when they jump from the water.

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Spinner Dolphin

Spinner Dolphin

Flame On!

Watching fire can be mesmerizing. Subtle changes in wind cause the flame to change shape.In real time it happens quickly but using the camera to slow down the process causes the flame to almost take on the appearance of a liquid.

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Flame On!

Flame On!

Found Art

Pittsburgh is a great city for just finding art on the street. Some are huge wonderful murals like the one I posted August 11th on my blog about the Pittsburgh Strip District. Others are hidden away and must be discovered.

While walking though Mellon Park I smelled wood burning and noticed it was coming from the Kiln Building behind the art center. I walked over to look at the kiln and hidden away on the wall by the loading dock I found this.

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Found Art

Found Art

Happy Labor Day!

Now that I am retired, I think I have a deeper appreciation of those who labor. Of course I worked for a long time and still do creative work every day, but there is work and then there is labor.

I have also done some labor in my time. I worked in a commercial bakery. I worked in supermarkets. I was a cab driver. I have done photography inside nuclear reactors, steel mills and paper mills. I understand what labor is and to all of you who labor…thanks and enjoy your day!

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Biddle’s Escape

Months ago someone told us to try a place for coffee and breakfast called Biddle’s Escape. Of course, it is on Biddle Street in Regent Square and for months we would walk by it and not go in because we usually do not carry cash or credit cards on our exercise walks. Today I took a $20 and we went in and had a great breakfast sandwich and coffee.

You would know it is a different sort of place even if you could not see the weirdness. People sing at you rather than talk to you but the place is a feast for the eyes. Not only that but they have so many different sort of coffees and teas it is tough to make a choice. The food choices are limited but quite good and reasonably priced. Definitely worth the trip.

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Biddles Escape

Biddles Escape

Mellon Park

When I lived in Pittsburgh back in the day, I never hung out at Mellon Park. Frick Park and Schenley Park were are parks of choice. Both had lots of great places for walking dogs and throwing frisbees. Since returning though we have discovered Mellon Park which borders Fifth Avenue and Beechwood Boulevard. It is a lot smaller than the other two parks but has nice paths for walking, beautiful gardens and outdoor sculptures and this lovely fountain where you can contemplate your place in this world.

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The Fountain at Mellon Park

The Fountain at Mellon Park

Lunchtime Serenade

There are many good reasons for wishing Summer lasted all years. Comfortable weather, fresh produce at community markets and beautiful gardens are just a few of summer’s benefits. I also love the plethora of street musicians that pop up in parks, squares and sporting events. Some are great and some are not so good. This guy serenading the lunchtime crowd at Market Square was quite good though. I wonder where he goes in the winter?

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Lunchtime Serenade

Lunchtime Serenade

A Windmill in Paris

The Moulin de la Galette is a windmill and restaurant situated near the top of the district of Montmartre in Paris. It has been there since the 17th Century and at its base is the Le Moulin de la Galette which was the “hangout” of famous artists such as Renoir, van Gogh, and Pissarro. Le Moulin is still there and this shop keeper is opening his store in the early morning in Montmartre.

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A Windmill in Paris

A Windmill in Paris

Summer Garden at Carnegie Music Hall

A beautiful summer garden in full bloom outside the Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. I used to be an usher at The Music Hall and remember sneaking into the Museum at night. There was some sort of excitement to see the giant dinosaurs in the dim night light and staying one step ahead of the roving guards.

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Carnegie Music Hall

Carnegie Music Hall

Run Around the Square

We love our new Regent Square neighborhood in Pittsburgh so when the opportunity presented itself to volunteer for the annual race we jumped on it. Next year we will volunteer again but are also planning to walk in the 5K race. Run Around The Square started in 1982, four years after we left the Pittsburgh area. In the first year the race just had over 90 entries. This year the Run Around the Square was capped at 1800 entries.

The race features three categories. A 1.5 mile family walk and 1.5 mile dog walk through the streets of Regent Square. Then a 5 kilometer race through Regent Square and into Frick Park. The race has many sponsors and supports local charities. We posted some pictures below of walkers and racers as they went passed the barricade we were manning on our street. The weather was perfect!

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The Fun and Dog Walk

The Fun and Dog Walk

The Beagle Brigade

The Beagle Brigade

Racers

Racers

Best Beard

Best Beard

Pachyderm  Our neighborhood band

Pachyderm
Our neighborhood band