In the Treetops

It's that time of year. The trees in our neighborhood are full of either birds or

men. The birds are preening. The men are pruning.

Guardrails for Construction

Along this street, these orange monkeys and frogs hold guardrails to alert drivers about construction. At night, their faces and the strips on their legs reflect headlights.

This one is winking.

Street Repair

They are tearing up the street along the curb in my neighborhood.

I was getting worried about the azaleas. In some places it looks like they are going to tear them out to make the road wider. That would be really sad because the azaleas bloom all along the street in early spring. Besides being pretty, according to a Nasa study, azaleas clean the air.

Walking further down the street, I realized what they are doing. They had replaced the middle of the road and now they have to bring the curbside up to the same level. See the drop off? They have to get rid of it.

We'll be glad when they are finished. They do most of the work at night when there is no traffic. Little Brother is studying to take high school entrance exams next month. He needs good sleep! He hasn't complained, though.

More Around the Neighborhood

Someone is airing futon outside this apartment building.

Street mirror.

Garage made out of corrugated plastic.

Train crossing.

Water Pipes Replaced

Our street has been a mess for over two weeks. They cut into the concrete to replace our neighborhood's water pipes. In this picture, the worker is smoothing out the gravel. First, he used the other machine to pound the gravel. This picture was taken from the roof garden. Click on the picture to enlarge it.

Pink Roses

A drugstore and its parking lot were built near this old house. Fortunately, they didn't tear up the pink roses to put the parking sign. We walk past this house and love the pink roses in the spring and fall.

Click on the picture to see the detail of the house.

Dandelions

The dandelions are in bloom, too. Click on the picture to enlarge it. I'm not sure why the green net is draped around this garden. It has been here for a long time. Usually scaffolding and cloth is draped around houses when they are painted or torn down.

Street Cones with Lights

Is that what they are called? I have never seen them with lights. These lights will probably be put in cones in the evening.

Every Day is Earth Day!

There is always something blooming in our neighborhood. The dogwood is blooming now. This is the view from our roof garden.

The Hole Filled In

They finished filling in the hole for the light pole that they were putting in on the 30th. Surely, they will smooth it out. Click to enlarge the picture to see how they attached the cone to the pole.

Today was the day for disaster readiness. It is the anniversary of the 1923 earthquake. In the past few years it has been the day kids go back to school after the summer break. School starts back on Monday.

Name That Flower

Anyone know what it is? Click on the photo to enlarge.

New Traffic Lights

On one side of the street, they were almost finished putting in a traffic light. Click to enlarge.

On the other side, they were still working on the foundation of the light.

The workers dug the hole. The dirt was put on a piece of cloth and a net. There was a cable running through the net and hooks on the corners. Perhaps the dirt will be lifted with the crane.

Water Between Glass

This is the window of a hair salon. The picture is not very good. The water was moving or running downward. It looked really cool. The curtains were drawn because the sun was so bright. I'll go back again to take another picture. Click to enlarge.

Pizza Pick-Up

I've posted several pizza delivery motorbikes. Here's a shop where pizza is made. You may recognize the name. You can walk in off the street (or park your bike outside), order pizza, and wait for it. There's even a chair inside on the right. You take the pizza home yourself.

Notice all the English?

Nashi Stand

Every summer, a stand is built on this corner. Asian pear apples or nashi are sold here. Click to enlarge.

Crossing the Train Tracks

A new overpass was built over the train tracks.

The road used to go under the train tracks.

Along the side of the overpass, a crossing was made for people who are walking or riding bicycles. Poles were placed in the middle so that people wouldn't ride their bicycles down the ramp.

The steps aren't very steep so they are easy to climb.

This metal wall was built to block the construction under the overpass.