April 12 & 13
written April 13
The weekend was mostly normal things and this is just our normal record-of-life-in-Fresno. On Friday I visited with neighbors while Marianne had her nails done. The friendliness of neighbors remains, for me, the highlight of our new home. Most houses on our street have front porches and they get used every week for one gathering or another. It's almost from an earlier, simpler era.
When Marianne got back, she was so fancy that I offered to take her to dinner at "Pinot Wine Bar and Small Kitchen", our local Tower District stop for good wine and interesting food. We probably need a few more regular joints to visit, but at least we have one.
Saturday
started like most days, with house and yard work. Marianne had
finished her painting on the art studio, so it was time for me to
re-hang the windows and shutters. The task went as well as could
be expected for 80-year old windows, but at least they can be opened
and closed. I also started the job of reinforcing the roof
structure, a requirement before we allow anyone up there to put down
new roofing. Maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel for
this studio project, and the sink installation is planned in about ten
days and, I think, we have settled on flooring material. Really,
it has been a whole house remodel.After chores, Marianne went shopping and I went to the annual Tower District Auto Show. Shiny, colorful cars are a fun topic for photography and I enjoyed my time wandering among the folks who clearly have spent so much time and money on their pet projects. This Auto Show may not have the rigor and enormously expensive cars of the Pebble Beach Concurs, but pride of ownership was all the same.
Way too many pictures, I know, but it was fun and I am showing only a fraction of what I have.  Classic California open wheel hot rods        Low-riders, a local favorite.      There were three Shelby Cobras, but number 97 was my favorite. It had a dashboard signed by Carrol Shelby and an instruction manual by Bob Bondurant.    Another favorite, a fully customized 57 Chevy.   Other customs    A few cars were restorations, not customizations.    This red Chevy reminded me of my dad's '61 Impala hardtop, one my first two cars to drive. Mom's Renault was the other, at the far opposite end of the power spectrum.     Other vehicles were ... personal projects.     Fun and colorful details everywhere.      Note that in this show, it was 98% American machines. From the good old days. |
Regards and send a note about YOUR weekend.
John and Marianne