Theme Day -- Toys

My first real musical instrument is my favorite toy.

I'd call it a toy, because it gave me so much pleasure.
I loved playing this harmonica so much. 

Public Safety (Mounted)

Here are a couple of Austin's mounted police refueling their transportation along the shore of Lady Bird Lake.

City People

We live in the city (downtown Austin). The theme for City Daily photo this month is "City People." From our balcony, the city is usually quite busy with people. But the pandemic has changed everything and sometimes all you can see is a downtown lady and a downtown dog out for a stroll. Click here to see what other city blogs chose for the theme day.

Neighborhood

It is Theme Day once again. (Click here to see what other City Blogs posted for the theme.) I thought that I would put up a photo of this house. It was the first one built in the central Austin neighborhood called Rosedale, the area where I grew up. My dad, two of his brothers and his father drew the plans for it and did the carpenter work. I'm proud of that.

Our Park

This is the view of the nearest park to us from our balcony. Before the isolation we have been undergoing we walked to and through this park all the time. It has been refurbished and is quite nice with paths, sculpture and heritage live oak trees. However, lately, we only see it from our place because there tend to be people there and at the nearby bus stop in unpredictable quantities.  The street nearby is closed on Saturdays to allow a Farmer's Market. We haven't been going there either. Maybe soon as we see how the infection affects our city. Many things are opening up.

Today is theme day for City Daily Photo. Click here to see what other blogs from around the world did to show a park in their city.

Shopping!

This is the extent of our shopping these days -- deliveries at our door. I hope this horrible time in our lives is over soon. It's theme day at City Daily Photo. What an ironic theme for us. Click here to see what others around the world did for theme day.

Where he Went to University

FFP is only a few miles from all the schools he attended. The closest, of course, is the University of Texas where we frequently walked from our downtown condo. (Currently, due to COVID-19 we are avoiding getting outside our apartment as much as possible.)  Here FFP is looking across the fountain on the mall looking toward the Tower. Because of the events of August 1966, that edifice always gives him pause. Today is Theme Day at City Daily Photo and 'school' is the theme. Click here to see what others have offered for this theme.

Streetscape

It's the first of the month so it's Theme Day at City Daily Photo. Our assignments this year are to show elements of our city. This month it's a streetscape. Something typical or unusual or just something we like along a street. We chose this one. The owl is one of a pair in front of the new Proper Hotel and Condominiums. The view is looking west from the bridge over Shoal Creek on Second Street. The photographer shown is FFP. One can see the Austonian and the Ashton in the distance. The construction on the right will be an office people housing more Google employees. Across the street from that is the Northshore. I bet some pictures of the Butterfly Bridge show up here eventually from FFP's viewpoint! To see what other participating cities posted for Streetscape, click here.

Over the Rainbow

This little girl used some of the flags being distributed at the Veterans Day Parade to enhance her fashionable outfit and her rainbow backpack. It's theme day at City Daily Photo. The theme is rainbow. Click here to see how other members responded to the theme.

Theme Day-- Brown

Nothing could symbolize our summer this year than the brown color of so many trees, shrubs, bushes and grass -- in Austin. The drought has been horrendous, and it's a wonder there are any green plants left in town. I took this photo of a couple of dried-out bushes on a recent walk around downtown.

Theme day -- orange

This new eatery and bar in downtown Austin has a facade with orange colors worked into it. Always glad to see what our colleagues around the world post for their examples of the theme. Click here to see them.

Shades of Red

My Manhattan is the standard 'sweet' variety so it has a 'rouge' Vermouth along with the rye whiskey and a dash of bitters. And, of course, a cherry. In this case a nice one, not an outlandishly red maraschino one. Anyway, when it's properly done, a Manhattan (especially 'sweet' not perfect, which has half and half red and dry (light-colored) vermouth) will have a pleasant red glow. Today is theme day at City Daily photo. The theme is red. Click here to see other interpretations of the theme.

Black Birds

Scooters have taken over our town. The ones by the company called Bird are Black. They have become the bane of our walking existence both as sidewalk and street litter and moving hazards on sidewalks and crosswalks. Today is theme day at City Daily Photo. The theme is black. See other interpretations here.

Jenga Blues

The Independent Condos which will open soon, reflecting the blue skies and clouds recently.  Because of its unusual stacking and jutting floors, it is called the Jenga Building. It is right across Shoal Creek from our building. It is the first of the month and so it is theme day. The theme is 'blue.' Click here to see what other people have selected for the theme day.

Pink Toys

The other day when I was running errands I stopped in a toy store that is between the place that replaces batteries in my cheap watches and the Honda dealer where I had an appointment for yet another airbag repair. I saw this cap gun and immediately thought of the June theme: pink! Click here to see what other City Daily Photo sites have to say about the color pink.

Purple

This display of flora in East Austin recently included these purple blossoms. Today is theme day for City Daily Photo and the theme is "Purple." Click here to see what other participants in the portal posted today.

Theme Day -- Yellow

We loved these pretty yellow flowers that we saw on a walk the other day. Want to see what our colleagues around the world posted today? Click here for their entries.

Theme Day -- Green!

Here is a professional shot of our friend Janelle Buchanan, who recently starred in a local production of the play "Peter Pan at 70." Green for Theme Day, indeed! Click here to see how the rest of the world interpreted this idea.

Theme Day -- White

Linda took this shot at the Elisabet Ney Museum -- an Austin treasure -- the other day. We aren't sure who the sculpture is modeled of, but it is impressive and shows nice gradations of the theme color. To see what our colleagues around the world chose for the theme today, click here.

Joy! Theme day -- from us to you!

Here is our Theme Day shot -- and it is also our holiday card this year. We donate to the Paramount Theater, which is located on our town's main street, and one of the perks is that they put our names up in lights. We thought that we would just go ahead and make this photo our greeting card for this year. Have a good season, all of you! To see what how friends around the world who also post on City Daily Photo interpreted "joy," click here.