A Livable Community

Sunday mornings are reserved for the wonderful CBS program of the same name "Sunday Morning". It used to be hosted by Charles Kuralt, now by Charles Osgood. One of the pieces that was on yesterday morning was about these new developments cropping up around the country called Livable Communities. They focused on one close to me in Kentlands, Maryland. I've never been there but it looks nice. They try to make the community walkable with little town squares for folks to gather. Some place to get to know your neighbors. What a concept!!

Okay, so I'm a little smug. I live in a community that has always been livable and walkable. I live a block and a half away from a co-op, corner store, vet clinic, gas station and firestation. I am about a 5 minute walk away from our little downtown area called "Old Town Takoma". I actually know my neighbors and we have a Labor Day weekend block party every year. Takoma Park was incorporated in the late 1880's. It was one of the first suburbs of Washington, DC. It was called a "sylvan suburb", high up on a hill it was cooler than the malaria-prone DC at the time. It is filled with old victorians and craftman bungalows. Almost everyone has a front porch that is actually used. Kids in my neighborhood have large backyards but they all play in the front yards, running between houses. For a single gal such as myself, it is a real comfort to live here knowing people know my routine, and check up on me if my car is in my driveway during the work week (such as this past week that I had off ;-), wondering if I'm okay.

Takoma Park is also known to be quite a quirky place. We are a "nuclear free" zone. We are home to many artists, college professors, non-profit workers such as myself and federal government employees. My brother-in-law once remarked when we were at the Takoma Park Farmers Market "I've never seen so many hippies since the 60s!" We are very proud to be a progressive community. I mean, where else will you find a statue in the town square to honor a rooster that roamed the streets of Takoma Park for 10 years (evading capture many times), only to be run down by a car with out-of-state plates!

Roscoe the Rooster

RIP

So, this is my last day of freedom before going back to work. My God, am I ready for retirement!!

Say, does anyone know the name of this flower? I bought it last year, planted it and it died. Then this year it came back about 3 feet away from where it was planted. Again, nature will do as she pleases:

Artsy, fartsy shot of same plant:

Opps, had the close up function still on taking a shot of Moochie

Well, I need to be off to Jiffy Lube. Last thing on my list of things to do while I'm off work.

Oh, a moment of silence please for my neighbor K. who had to put her beloved dog Honey Bear down yesterday. My neighbor is retired and a night person. I know better then to call her up before 9:00 am. So I knew something was up when she was up and loading her car with a dog bed yesterday morning at 7:30. Honey Bear was lying in the grass and I saw my neighbor take two photos of her, then gently picked her up and drove off. I had a lump in my throat at that point. Honey Bear was a sweet terrier mix, going on 18 years old! I don't care how old they are though, or what a long wonderful life they had, when you have to make the decision to let them go, it never gets any easier.

Namaste, sweet Honey Bear.