As I have mentioned in my profile in the side bar to the right, I live in the San Fernando Valley, part of Los Angeles County in the state of California. Some of you may be aware of the raging fires that have been happening this summer, as they always do. I could see and smell the smoke where I live but didn't realize the fires were getting so huge you could see the smoke cloud in my work neighborhood of Leimert Park...
...This is taken standing in the median in front of the offices where I work at the corner of Leimert Blvd. and 43rd/11th Street...
...This is at the corner of 43rd and Edgehill...
...This is at the corner of Stocker and Creed...(I must confess, though, that the only smoke I ever smell is the smoke that comes from
Phillip's BBQ two doors away! I'm so glad someone mentioned Phillip's on their blog - they did a better job reporting about it than I could have!! Thank you Aubrey...)
...This is taken standing in the median in front of the offices where I work at the corner of Leimert Blvd. and 43rd/11th Street...
...This is at the corner of 43rd and Edgehill...
...This is at the corner of Stocker and Creed...
There are some Jacaranda trees on the block where I live in the San Fernando Valley, but Edgehill Drive in Leimert Park is lined with them, as you can see by this image.
Earlier in the year, during the grey cloud season (can we call that a season here in LA?), I was struck by the cloud formations that occur in the Leimert Park area, since I don't see this kind of cloud formation in the San Fernando Valley where I live. The clouds tend to break up when they hit (literally) the Santa Monica Mountains before they enter the valley proper. Here in Leimert they were quite rich and lush looking, as though they would just drop tons of water upon the city if you gave them a poke with a pin...
I also liked playing with my camera in this median with trees located at 9th Street and Stocker at the Audubon Middle School. In the far distance I could see the Hollywood sign but wasn't really able to capture it with this grey sky...
...but I did hope that I might be able to capture it on a sunnier day. My little camera could only zoom in this close but I could see the Hollywood sign from Leimert Park. And the trees have more leaves to provide more shade on a sunny day...
This mural can be found on the wall of Eso Won Books located at Degnan Street. There is a great selection of African-American literature and writers at this cozy bookstore where jazz is usually playing...I hope to capture an image of the whole mural to share here, it is so beautiful and colorful!
