An Early Thanksgiving

Generally, my extended family gathers 
on Thanksgiving at one of three residences.

 This year, because of conflicting schedules, 
we met this past weekend at the
"party barn" belonging 

to my brother's sister-in-law. 

All together, there were about twenty-four 
adults and children milling about in the heated 

confines of the old, re-purposed barn, 
just on the other side of walls that house 

a dark brown donkey, several pregnant goats,

and a flock of chickens.

The kids, all ten and under, took over one
of the tables for their activities.
These involved a vast array of colorful markers,
glitter, and cut paper.

My nephew Cyril, checks his messages 

while his youngest daughter, Maggie,

munches a marshmallow.

Here my brother, Doug, and sister-in-law, 

Fran, watch the proceedings 

with their granddaughter, Tallulah. 

We were preparing for our annual

holiday picture, taken with each of

us wearing a silly Christmas hat.

Afterwards, one of my grandnieces,

Kinley, made a project of stacking as many

of the hats as she could on her uncle Joseph.

The result is shown in the first picture.

It reminds me of artist Nick Cave's

Sound Suits.

Fall Colors

Even at night, autumn color in Indiana has been beautiful.

Standing at the bus stop on New York Street,

looking across towards the library, the trees stand in rows of red, 

while the sunset shown on the oranges and golds

of the tree-lined street to the east.

My favorite, however, has been the array

of color surrounding a tree just outside the journalism

building. The frosted glass of the windows

make the color seem as though muted by fog.

Cosmetology Student

I was on my way downtown a few weeks ago, 

when I was joined on the bus by a woman who was 

on her way home from her cosmetology classes 

a block or so from the bus stop.

Under her arm, she carried a mannequin

head on which she practices all the

techniques she's learning at school. 

The heads are de rigueur for all students,

but this is the first one I'd seen

that is male. I've always been a bit startled by

the heads. Some are carried in totes,

others in backpacks, but this one was

being carried under the young woman's arm.

one half of his head shorn,

the other with his black hair

 flitting in the breeze. 

Long Time, No Post. Well ... Duh

A Facebook page I like is devoted to 

the works of cartoonist Gary Larson.

One admirer posted the above Far Side panel 

the other night, which prompted me to think, 

"Fppft! I see that every day I go to work!"

I stopped at the intersection yesterday to take pictures.

Here it is ---

Where Washington crosses Delaware 24/7

and has for many years.

Washington Street, which runs east/west through 

Downtown Indianapolis. is a part of the old US Route 40.

Delaware Street, one of a number of local 

streets named for states, runs north/south, about 

two blocks east of Meridian Street. 

The intersection of Meridian and Washington 

serve to mark the center of the state,

known for years as 

"The Crossroads of America."