Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Mental Oz

You know those things that you had all along, but didn't see them until you smacked your ruby-slippered heels together and said, "there's no place like my brain"? I find these things when I take a different route, or take the usual route at a different time of day.

These old steps were a result of the latter. I often walk down this street with Boz in the late afternoon, but this time it was a morning walk. The steps appeared like magic. I had never seen them before. They're about four blocks from my house.

Does this ever happen to you? I don't know whether that's good or bad. Bad would mean I'm woefully unobservant. Good would mean I can allow for pleasant surprises.

18 comments:

Kalei's Best Friend said...

I know exactly what you mean.. Its like when things look different in the dark vs. daylight. Plus I think its the mood one's head is in...Ask Boz if he ever feels that way... :-)

BaysideLife said...

I'm always discovering new things and asking "Has this always been here?" These are nice stairs. Is their a building they lead to, or are they remnants of what once was?

Petrea Burchard said...

Kalei, I think Boz exists in constant discovery, except when we're at home, when he expects things to be constantly the same.

Bayside, these stairs lead to the front yard of a house that's hidden from the street by a fence and weeds. From what I can tell, the house is not extraordinary. My guess is the stairs went with what was previously on the lot.

-K- said...

Regardless of all the fame and fortune (?) attached to being an artist, a very real reward is simply the heightened awareness it brings to the day.

Kalei's Best Friend said...

Goood for Boz!. Its good to be in constant discovery- that's how we grow and learn...

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks for that, K. Much of the time I feel the heightened awareness you speak of, but on tired days it's not there, which could explain why I miss things.

Boz is still learning, KBF. You can teach an old dog new tricks.

Desiree said...

It usually happens with small things. Like: where's the mayonaise? Where are my glasses? The sugar?
Oddly enough they are all usually right in front of me, yet cunningly concealed in my blind spot.

Latino Heritage said...

Good - pleasant surprises always welcomed. The world is a big place with lots of surprises.

TheChieftess said...

Seeing things in a new light brings new awarenesses!!! Nice that you noticed these!!!

Petrea Burchard said...

I often cunningly conceal my glasses. This makes for surprises throughout the day.

Laura M said...

I love steps that don't have a house to them. One can imagine all sorts of things!

Adele said...

I love the mystery of wondering what was there before. I've noticed that Daily Photo Blogging has really heightened my visual awareness (which has always been mediocre, at best).

LONDONLULU said...

Crunchy leaves on hard stone, wonderful contrast. I love when things like that happen, just a slight tweak & voila!

Katie said...

Wow, it actually just happened to me coming back from voting at a new polling station in my neighborhood a few blocks away. On my walk home I took a street I guess I've never taken and discovered Allenoke Manor (built in 1903 according to the historic plaque). It's a huge estate but mostly enclosed by brick walls and hedges so it blends into the verdant neighborhood. How could I have missed this in the last 9 years? I say it's a good thing that we don't always see what's right in front of us; gives hope to the notion that something good is just around the corner.

Ms M said...

It's wonderful to discover new things around you that you just didn't notice before! And to see the same scene in different light. When I was a kid, I loved looking out the windows on nights when there was a full moon because the moonlight made ordinary things look magical.

Petrea Burchard said...

Wow, I just looked up Allenoke Manor. What a find.

This gives me a good feeling. I'm not the only one who does this and I'm not the only one who appreciates it! I once thought I'd never find a beautiful mansion in my neighborhood, then I stumbled on one. Then I followed the sound of a rooster and found a strange little alley with an urban farm (must post that photo one of these days). There's so much. I will never run out of things to photograph, that's for sure.

Adele said...

A couple of weeks ago, I walked north on a small street, rather than south, which I have done at least 50 times. There, in all its glory was a mansion behind a gate. I was shocked! Will have to post it one of these days. At the time, I thought it was a mirage, but since I captured the photo, I'm going to assume it's real. Had the exact feeling you did. There's always something "new" around the corner...

Petrea Burchard said...

Excellent find. I'd like to find more mansions, especially hidden, secret ones. I have a thing for secret mansions.