Home Sweet Home

When we arrived and started to unload our car, we were sad when this picture fell out onto the ground and broke apart.  We thought we might be able to fix it, but it just didn't work.  So we looked online for an identical frame and ordered another one.  It came and we have finally been able to get our Christmas gift hung up in the most prominent place in our apartment.  In case you can't see it very well, here is a close up....

What a fun family!  We love them and miss them, but they are with us now on our wall!

Our week has been filled with scanning, learning about old book bindings, some old established institutions I didn't know existed and some other institutions I am not particularly a fan of. 

The NFL took over the city last week.  Fortunately the weather cooperated and we only had to walk home in the rain one day.  The other days were more clear, but Tuesday the gridlock had already began and the shuttle bus available to us in bad weather was stuck and so slow we were better off walking even if we did get soaked on the way. At least it was heading home and not to work! 

Walking the other days we did get to see a few characters and all the advertisements.  

These notices were painted onto the sidewalk at downtown intersections

What team is this???

We decided to walk to the Franklin Institute on the way home to visit the Science Fair.  We were surprised to see all the scanners just to get into the Institute and all the police on the street in front, but figured it was something about the crowds because of the NFL Draft.  

Well, we entered and were told that the Science Fair was not at the Institute and that the NFL had taken over the building.  The owners had a special place downstairs and the lobby was filled with all the things that would be shown on TV. 

I wonder what Benjamin Franklin would think of all this? 

 I was surprised to see how many people were interested in looking at the empty seats, etc.  Even a few Amish girls were looking around! There was a dad with his children their and the little girl was way excited and was talking like she knew every player on her favorite team which happened to be the Philadelphia of course.  

We left the Franklin Institute and walked with the crowd across to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway (which has been closed since last week) and watched the excitement of some of those 200,000 people who spent a lot of money to come and be a part of all this.

I wonder what the police and EMT were thinking?  It had to have been a long weekend from the sirens we have heard late into the night.

Then again, we did also enjoy the flowers and and trees that have come alive over the last few weeks. It is amazing how quickly the landscape changes as the trees leaf out. 
The parks are filled with people enjoying the surroundings and the weather; the cafes have tables set out; and City Hall  has turned on the huge splash pad for all to enjoy!  (I am told that in the winter this splashpad becomes the city's ice rink and the Christmas Village is set up all around it with a huge tree in the middle.  It will be fun to see. )

I loved watching this wonderful little church courtyard come to life.  While I was taking the photos I noticed the cat in the window.  Ed thought he was watching me, but no.....he was watching the birds in the trees!

Rittenhouse Park

Ed was grateful for a place to sit while I took a few photos of this wonderful old church and the pink trees.  The photo doesn't do it (or my sweetie) justice.

Without a doubt, the most surprising site I saw this week to prove that spring is really here was this: 

I had not seen a day care with this many .....what are they....super strollers?  It was so fun to watch them come down the street, turn and cross in front of us.  One of the little girls waved at me and of course I waved back.  

When they passed I snapped a photo of the last two little people....they were holding hands!!!  

What a great way to welcome spring!!!