Concert in the Park

 All summer long there are Tuesday and Thursday night concerts in Ballard Park.

Last week Sue Foley, a noted blues and roots musician from Austin, Texas, performed with a trio.

It is a lovely way to spend a summer evening.

What a Tree!

 The trunk of this tree in Ballard Park grabs me every time I am there.

Swinging

 Willa wanted to see how fast she could swing.

Maritime Aquarium of Norwalk

 It is a favorite place for granddaughter Hazel.

There is a big tank with stingrays.  Guests are invited to pet them.  Two fingers lightly on the rays' backs.

And a tank of jellyfish.  One finger on the top.

Seals showed off for her.

Hazel is wearing her mom's dress from 30-plus years ago.  She wears it about once a week.

David Hurlbutt House

This greatly expanded 1802 house on Main Street at the corner of Market Street was once a meat market.  The house underwent numerous changes over the years.  In the mid-20th century, it was the home of a noted local suffragette.  Later it housed the Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association.

Today  a sign out front declares that it is the office of an aging life care professional.  Among the services offered here are end-of-life doula.  Like so many others in the neighborhood, the house has a big display of American bunting flags.

Yellow Italianate House

 One of my favorite houses on Main Street -- there is stiff competition -- is this yellow Victorian house dating to about 1865.  I like the green shutters and the coordinating yellow barn.  The house displays bunting and American flags all summer long.

I grew up on the North Shore of Massachusetts in a yellow Victorian house from around 1870, with green shutters and a yellow barn.  We had a flag pole out front but didn't hang bunting or flags on the house.

The familiarity appeals to me, but I would love this place even without the architectural similarity to my childhood home.

Red, White and Lots of Blue

 As readers will see in the coming days, American flags and bunting are very popular on Ridgefield's Main Street.  This house found new owners last year.  They have taken no time in adopting the American flag and bunting decor so popular among their neighbors.