Hien

I saw Hien.  She was reading something on her phone and had a serious expression.

She reminded me of women in Japanese woodcuts, so I asked her to pose seriously, which she did.

Here is a Japanese woodcut.  See what I mean?  (I really wish I took the photo of her with the phone.)

Being serious is not Hien's usual way.  She is happy and smiles a lot.  ("I'm a ditz.")  She asked me to guess her nationality and I said "Vietnamese," which is right.  Hien said that in the winter, when she is lighter, people usually guess Japanese or Korean, especially if her hair is up.  She came to the USA when she was six.  So, she says she is about 98 percent American.  Nice young woman.

I am away for two weeks without reliable wifi.  Back the 26th.  Daily posts are scheduled.

Out of the Jurisdiction: Guilford, Connecticut

Guilford is one of Connecticut's pretty shoreline towns, with a big town green lined with shops, restaurants, cafes, municipal buildings and at least three churches.

First Congregational Church flies colorful banners expressing the congregation's openness.

Just off the green, Perk on Church -- a coffee shop that occupies half of

 a repurposed Quonset hut -- extols its sustainable values.

Closer to the waterfront, a most unusual apartment building known locally as the spaceship

thumbs its nose at passerby's from a prime spot on a little knoll.

I am away for two weeks without reliable wifi.  Back the 26th.  Daily posts are scheduled.

Bench

One of my preferred benches was taken when Lola, Sequoia and I visited Elizabeth Park recently.

I am away for two weeks without reliable wifi.  Back the 26th.  Daily posts are scheduled.

Joe

Joe is the third generation in his family to run Imperial Decorating and Upholstering.

His wife and two sons also work in the family business.

My dining room chairs will have some new 

clothes in time for the holidays.

I am away for two weeks without reliable wifi.  Back the 26th.  Daily posts are scheduled.

Eunice and Gabriel

Eunice (yoo-NEES) is from Glastonbury.  Her friends have been telling her for years that she should see Elizabeth Park.  I met her on the day she finally decided to visit with her son, Gabriel.

That is Sequoia photobombing behind Eunice.  Sorry.

I am away for two weeks without reliable wifi.  Back the 26th.  Daily posts are scheduled.

Out of the Jurisdiction: Baby Giraffe

A giraffe center outside Nairobi, Kenya, cares for endangered Rothschild's "white socks" giraffes.

A mother grooms her one-day old baby. 

The same photograph, before cropping.  They are called "white socks" because
their legs are white below the knee.

Two weeks in Kenya and Tanzania looking at animals.  Today I had both wifi and some free time.
Next posting opportunity is probably in four days.  Until then, there are daily posts from Connecticut.

Pergolas

This house might have caught my attention anyway, but add some good gardening and

 pergolas on each side and it really stands out.

I am away for two weeks without reliable wifi.  Back the 26th.  Daily posts are scheduled.