Students in Rain of Petals

Photo & Text Copyright 2009 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

These students were photographing each other with the soft backdrop of cherry blossom petals falling all around them in the Liberal Arts Quadrangle at the University of Washington. The Quad is famous for the 30 mature Yoshino cherry trees transplanted around its periphery 42 years ago after being removed from the arboretum for a roadway project. People from all over the world visit the campus to see these trees and experience their lovely magic, like all these cute guys from Kabul you may remember from last year.

No Extra Charge for Laughter

Copyright 2009 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

I'm riding shotgun with a teen driver quite a bit these days, and it offers me opportunities to nab candid shots in passing. We were going past Rudy's, a popular haircutters with a few Seattle locations (this one on Phinney Ridge). The stylist's and client's animated smiles immediately caught my eye, so I offer you this series. She didn't spy me until the last shot. Was your last hair cut this much fun? I got a cut last week at my regular salon across town and it's a great cut and my stylist is pleasant and very skilled, but I don't recall haircuts having this kind of fun factor. At least not since a cut I got a long time ago at an out of the way salon on Taravel Street in San Francisco from a guy named Rudy (coincidentally!) that a friend had referred me to. He had so much fun while he was cutting my hair, he was literally dancing around the chair and singing along to booming music as he worked. He was great, too, and not as high priced as some of the downtown salons. I had quite a mane and he worked magic with it. I remember people on the streetcar and in a restaurant stopped me to ask where I got my hair cut. Maybe when you are really good at what you do you are extra happy doing it? Rudy was, and this stylist seems to be I hope whatever you are working at today that there is a bit of fun factor involved and great things to smile about.

Ring the Bells That Still Can Ring

Photo & Text Copyright 2009 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

. .  Forget your perfect offering
There's a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in ~Leonard Cohen 

I passed this huge roofed gate in front of a private residence in the Hawthorne Hills neighborhood. Next to it was a lovely small shrine (photos here), and the parking strip was landscaped with stone benches with inscriptions, fountains, trees and grass plantings. An unexpected and serene offering to the neighborhood.

Okay, I'll Stop Whining Now

Photo & Text Copyright 2009 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

So after the dreariness of the week and our drenching the day before, yesterday decided to be warmer and spring-like, and today followed suit. I took a two hour photowalk in the Hawthorne neighborhood. The birds were singing, neighbors were chatting as they gardened, cats greeted me on the sidewalk, and the spice of plum blossoms and other spring flowers was on the breeze. I got some lovely territorial views from streets at the tops of hills and enjoyed seeing all the mix of architecture and neatly kept yards. So, here they are, spring blossoms in the sunshine, just for you.

Iron Work Runners

Photo & Text Copyright 2009 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

This custom shop door of a pet supply store in the Madrona neighborhood echos the graphics of the shop's sign. Dog bone shapes are cut out of iron mesh in the upper portion while a painted metal girl tossing a stick to a running dog adorn the diagnol iron bars of the bottom. I love seeing this much thought given to artistic expression, using the talent of local artisans to make something truly unique and with a sense of place.

On Hold

Photo & Text Copyright 2009 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

It's April, but Seattle is not setting up warm weather outdoor seating at cafe's quite yet. We haven't put away our snow shovels yet. . .would you believe we had snow falling yesterday morning? It didn't stick, but the low gray rain clouds did. All day. So, were on hold with the patio gear just yet. Stay tuned. Those of us finishing up our taxes are kinda glad we're not being teased by beckoning blue skies.

Thanks to everyone for coming by yesterday to help celebrate. I had a lot of fun pulling out yellow shots from each year, so thanks for the kind feedback and fave picks. Did you spy with your little eye my self portrait from one of our long ago theme days? :-)

Theme Day: Yellow

Photo & Text Copyright 2009 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

This is my 1000th consecutive daily post. Perhaps you will remember a few of these (click thumbnail mosaic to go to Flickr where you can click any shot for a complete view). I invite you to explore the 2006, 2007, & 2008 archives listed in the sidebar for images of Seattle you may have missed.

Today City Daily Photo Bloggers around the globe are Fools for Yellow! Follow the yellow brick road city to city via our visual portal to enjoy the many interpretations of this month's theme, and leave folks a note if you can. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants. Have a fun April Fools Day!