Monday, November 1, 2021

City Daily Photo Theme Day: A Great Big Mess

The first day of each month is a theme day for members of City Daily Photo. For November that theme is Great Big Mess. Have a look at other takes on this theme right here.

I have two subjects for the theme. Let's get the unpleasant one out of the way. Somerset House was once a distinctive building at the corner of Bank and Somerset downtown. Several years ago while work was going on there was a partial collapse inside thanks in part to the incompetence of one of the workers. In the years since, the building has become an eye sore, with the owner going on and on through periods of silence and half hearted excuses. At this point it's beyond saving, and the city should just seize it and have it torn down, with the bill handed to the lousy excuse of an owner, who from time to time has broken windows boarded up and puts up posters promising "a new development" that will never happen. The latest one can be seen in the second shot.


This is a view from the side. 


Here's the back. Half of the building is now gone.

I've said it many times: this owner is an incompetent bloody moron, and enough is enough. Every citizen in this city should have the right to punch the bastard right in the face.

On the off chance that he should ever read this, I have just a few words for you.

You're an asshole.

Drop dead.


Now the more pleasant version of a mess, and getting back into my current autumn series. These four shots are taken on two days in Dundonald Park, a few blocks west of Somerset House. Fallen leaves litter the grass at this time of year.


These were taken the following day in the park. Imagine a thousand piece jigsaw puzzle made up of any of these four.


On another day I was walking in the Arboretum, part of the Experimental Farm that overlooks Dow's Lake. A black squirrel caught my eye rummaging around in the fallen leaves. The cute but devious critter is beyond the tree at center.


A few minutes later I took a shot of more fallen leaves elsewhere in the Arboretum.

36 comments:

  1. Owners should be taken to task for allowing a building to just deteriorate. Your other photos are definitely a more pleasing mess.

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  2. There's a building in Front Royal with a similar problem, but it was slated to be fixed up and then someone absconded with a lot of money... she's in the jailhouse now, but the blight remains.

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  3. The dead leaves make up a big mess indeed! 🍁🍁
    Have a gentle November, William!

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  4. Very sad about the house! It sure was very beautiful. What a shame.
    Beautiful ending of the post, though.

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  5. Happy November, It seems if the building had a partial collapse, it should all come down. It could be dangerous..
    Enjoy your day, have a great new week!

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  6. So sad for the beautiful building to allow it to deteriorate. It would be a challenge to complete the puzzles with the leaves.

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  7. Leaves on the ground 1000 piece puzzle is mind boggling.

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  8. ...one messy mess and then a lovely mess!

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  9. I do hope the guy reads your post, he's in for a rude surprise if he does. But I sure do love seeing all the fallen leaves. :-)

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  10. @fun60: the city needs to play hardball with that idiot.

    @Linda: in an ideal world, this guy ends up in jail someday.

    @Italiafinlandia: a photogenic mess.

    @Iris: in the hands of someone with skill it could have been saved.

    @Eileen: there's an architecture firm here specializing in heritage restoration. They could have saved it.

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  11. @Nancy: it would be.

    @Francisco: thanks.

    @Maywyn: indeed.

    @Tom: definitely.

    @DJan: he is vile.

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  12. I fully agree with you on this owner ! It is a real shame ! All these dead leaves are the reason that I don't like fall !

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  13. The idea of a puzzle of those leaves is incredible!

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  14. For prairie boy, that's a lot of leaves. Our trees aren't that big so we don't have so many leaves.

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  15. You are so right, fall leaves do leave a mess but it's a pleasant mess.

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  16. what no shot of you, William in the leaves?? what?? lol. kidding. love the fall colors. my fave. ( ;

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  17. I much prefer the second mess you’ve shown. Every city has versions of the first as well.

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  18. You've got more leaves down than we do.

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  19. There are lots of leaves to play in that mess. :)

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  20. I love your second mess far more than the first! Leaves I can deal with. Abandoned buildings just make me sad.

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  21. That house is indeed a big mess. But I do like the autumn leaves.

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  22. Las hojas caídas parece una alfombra, donde apetece caminar.

    En todas las ciudades hay edificios antiguos, para demoler.

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  23. @Gattina: the guy should be driven out of business. Of course, i have an extremely low opinion of developers.

    @RedPat: it would be a challenge.

    @Red: we can get big trees.

    @Sharon: I think so.

    @Beth: I enjoy this time of year.

    @Marie: this one dismays me.

    @Revrunner: to be expected.

    @Bill: yes there are.

    @Jeanne: me too.

    @Jan: as do I.

    @Ventana: thanks.

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  24. Lovely photo of the leaves ~ Abandoned building is sad ~ sigh ~

    Living in the moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  25. Sad to see such negligence.
    Your photos show that nature knows how to make its litter beautiful too!

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  26. I'm sad that the building has been neglected, we should appreciate history.

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  27. It's sad that building get so run down. Owners should have to keep them looking good, but that's not the way it is.

    I love the leaves!

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  28. Hi William, happy theme day. glad you were able to add your link

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