photo by Ballard Avenue

Or imperfect timing, depending on how one looks at such things. I had to stop for this Union Pacific freight train in Napavine, Washington, on a recent lovely afternoon.

photo by Ballard Avenue

This sign might be all that's left of the real estate firm of Tiedeman and Twigg. I don't know anything about them, but that six digit phone number tells you it was a long time ago, and 5413 Ballard Avenue is now a parking lot.

A Pole-ka Dance! from Laura Leu on Vimeo.

When Kathrin and her sister grow up they can try pole-ka dancing.

video by saxgesicht

How cute is cute?

photo by Theresa

Let's take advantage of the real estate for photos this new layout provides with a Cinerama-size shot of Beany in the window.

photo by Theresa

Reader Theresa sends this photo of Booey enjoying a warm window perch. You are getting sleepy, very sleepy...

Pesto's favorite hobbies are sunbathing, chasing shadows, and trying to walk along the fence without falling off. That all sounds like a most excellent day in Ballard.

If you have cat pictures you think the rest of the planet would like to see, send them to ballardavenue@earthlink.net and they'll be posted with all deliberate speed.

photo by Ballard Avenue

You see here one reason posting around these blogparts can be spotty sometimes. We've had this piano since 2000 and love it to death. It's a Haessler, made by Julius Blüthner Pianofortefabrik GmbH of Leipzig, Germany. I was working through a songbook of Billie Holliday songs the other day. The upside-down copy of the Oxford Carols for Christmas was to hold the Holliday open. I'm afraid the piano always looks a mess with music piled here and there, but that's a good thing. Tidy pianos are usually unplayed pianos.

photo by Ballard Avenue

Madison Park is actually a few miles north of the hydroplane boat racing course, the focal point of the Blue Angels' show. At Madison, you just catch glimpses of the planes between the trees and through the power lines as they turn around for another run, but they're still pretty loud and exciting to watch.

photo by Ballard Avenue

It was Seafair Sunday and we went to Madison Park to see some of the Blue Angels airshow. There's a swimming beach with diving boards moored off-shore. Don't worry, it only looks like the kid is going to cannonball right through the lifeguard's dinghy.

I just noticed that Friday tap dancing with Gene Kelly was the 666th Ballard Avenue post. Does that mean Gene Kelly is the Anti-Christ? You can never be too sure with those Irish song-and-dance men.

from It's Always Fair Weather (1955). The song's not all that much, but wait until you see Kelly tap dancing in roller skates!