Philly Photo Day

Friday, October 26 was annual Philly Photo Day, when everyone is encouraged to take photos within city limits during those 24 hours.  We had until Wednesday to submit them, so they can be included in an exhibition.  Unfortunately, I was distracted by good old Hurricane Sandy, so I didn't submit my photos, but that doesn't mean they can't go here!
I met my sister for dinner at Llama Tooth, on Spring Garden St., and took my time getting home to take in the views, as well as some pictures.  I love this city so much.

Recycling and The Election

Here's what I recycle in a month.  And I'm just one person.  And this isn't even all of it.  Because in the last 3 weeks, I have gotten almost this much in election mail!



I'd like to point out that this election is perhaps the best thing for our struggling economy in a long time.  I saw on TV today that almost a BILLION dollars was spent on getting votes.  A great way to have people employed - pour money into local TV stations, printers, postage, actors, filmmakers, researchers, the USPS, writers, and on and on.  A lot of the people who work at the local headquarters are volunteers, but their literature, etc., is purchased.  SO while all this JUNK being sent to my house seems a waste, at least it's helping people have jobs, even if it's only until tomorrow.  On the other hand, I REALLY, REALLY hate that there is so much waste associated with this, and that I know so many people are NOT recycling all the junk mail.

So tomorrow, you should do two things to assert your American Independence.  The first thing is rock the vote.  I don't care who you vote for, just do it.  Get involved in SOME way!  And the second thing is make an effort, even if it's just for that one day, and just to clean out your mailbox, to recycle.  Both of those moves help to shape our future.

Historic Yellow Springs

About an hour outside of Philadelphia, Historic Yellow Springs is a little collection of several periods of PA history in one easily walkable area.  Based around a studio barn where artists work and offer classes, there is also an historic post office, the ruins of a Revolutionary War hospital with a carefully tended herb garden, a bath house, a lovely restaurant, an old school house, and a gazebo.  It's all-around, a beautiful place to spend an afternoon walking around.  

The bath house was, for me, the best part.  I went to Yellow Springs last year with my mom, just to poke around and see what we could take pictures of, but we didn't walk over to the bath house.  It looks like a little schoolhouse from far away, but doing a little reading tells you the actual history of the area.  The spring (it's literally yellow due to mineral deposits) was used as a mineral bath/spa throughout the 18th and 19th centuries (except for some war-time hiatuses, etc.) by people who would take the trip from the city for some healing and resorting in the bath house, which is now unused.  We used a wooden pallet and some people-support (I jumped, Mom pushed, Claire let me use her shoulder and head to lean on) to climb up the wall and look into the now-abandoned mineral bath.  It was beautiful, despite the algae-filled, murky water and peeling blue paint.  I can only imagine what it was like in its hay-day, filled with glamorous women and men in their not-at-all revealing bathing suits.  Even George Washington was apparently there, soaking in his skivvies!  (Although probably not in that building, but it's fun to imagine, right?)

Among all this history, there is also studio barn, where last year we met some artists working in clay, who explained the kiln to us, and showed us what they were making.  The artists were inside on this past trip, but their work was still outside.  It makes me want to learn to throw some clay!

can you see both deer?  we saw a fox later, but he was too fast for my lens!