Maxwell Street Blues

Maxwell Street

 

My daughter had a doctors appointment at her doctors alternative office which happened to be on Maxwell Street in Chicago.  Maxwell Street, how exciting ... for years early in our marriage we would go there to shop and even when I was working at UIC Hospital we would go over because it was close.  Maxwell Street was a mile long neighborhood famous for it's bargains, for it's milieu  and most of all for it's music.  The Maxwell Street  sound is the sound of the Chicago Blues, the basis for today's Blues and even much of what we know as Rock music.  What a delicious history ... and sadly, while I was not paying attention, it disappeared. 

The street that I found "Maxwell Street" was a block long with restored old buildings and several statues and small monuments to commemorate what had once been a thriving market full of immigrants of all colors, languages and music that reached your soul.  I wonder are these small monuments in honor of a time past or were they the Eulogy of a culture lost?   In my heart I ask ...Where is the music?

 

 

 

Johnny Lee Hooker ... Boom Boom

Maxwell Street Blues

 

Wild Bird Wednesday

Wild Bird Wednesday #53

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The House Sparrow House :)

 

 

 

 

 

Is he looking for Mom or is he thinking about fledging?  Not sure, but I haven't seen any babies in this house for a few days ... I am hoping they have fledged.

Mandarin Orange Monday

Once again I am captured by a chicken ... what is that?  I have no idea!  There is nothing in my history that should attract me to chickens, yet, here I am, orangifying another chicken.   I am certainly an animal lover and I did have a pet rooster as a child, but that was ##*!%#* years ago.  Well, whatever it is ... I hope each chicken has brought you pleasure ... :)

Happy MOM ...

Feline Friday

Feline Friday #46
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Being Izzi

I have started a new page for just Izzi.  Over time I will transfer previous Izzi posts over, but today Izzi posted her first story in her own words.  Click on the "Being Izzi" page at the top of the blog and enjoy ...

Wild Bird Wednesday

Wild Bird Wednesday #52

 

 Link to Wild Bird Wednesday

This is the handsome pair of Downy Woodpeckers that lives in our neighborhood.   I see them often, but don't always have my camera handy, but on this day I did ... 

 

 Mr. Downy, helping himself to some suet ...

 

Mrs. Downy waiting her turn ...

 

and waiting ...

 

Finally ... tired of waiting, she moved to a different suet feeder.  What ever happened to "Ladies First"?

 

And, One year it is for Wild Bird Wednesday ... Congratulations, Stewart (didn't I do this already:)

Mandarin Orange Monday

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I started by using a pdpa texture, added the blood drops then the orange overlay.
Now what to put on it ... I felt it required something dramatic so I chose this Peregrine Falcon.

Now to play with filters and lighting ...

Happy Mandarin Orange Monday!