A Visual Path

Some photographs and brief observations by Ardan Michael Blum.

This page follows the parts of life that repeatedly draw me away from work and back into the world: dachshunds, walks, familiar streets, changing weather, tea, and the coast.

It begins at home and gradually moves outward. After the images, the path continues through essays, practical guides, cultural commentary, and independent projects.

The Hounds

The diary begins with my family’s tradition of loving dachshunds. These brave, funny, headstrong, and independent hounds have a remarkable ability to interrupt almost any serious matter. Jasper therefore receives the first word.

Image by Ardan Michael Blum of his Dachshund Jasper.

Jasper Hound waits for his iced chicken

Image of Jasper the Dachshund in Geneva by Ardan Michael Blum

Jasper Hound, having eaten a considerable amount of iced chicken and grown up.

On My Walks

Leaving the house changes the scale of the diary. Walks create time to notice objects, contrasts, streets, trees, weather, and details that would be easy to pass without seeing.

The first of these photographs was taken just outside the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park. An old farming tool stands near a young tree. One object carries the visible effects of labor and time; the other is still growing into the space around it.

Old farming tool beside a young tree near the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park. Photograph by Ardan Michael Blum.

Old wood and new growth outside the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park.

The next photograph records a different kind of change. Rain had passed through Palo Alto, and the approaching sunset briefly altered the appearance of an otherwise familiar residential street.

Side street in Palo Alto. Image Copyright Ardan Michael Blum.

A Palo Alto side street near sunset after rain, a few blocks from the downtown Ace Hardware store.

Pauses and Wider Views

Not every observation begins with a walk. Some begin with the decision to stop.

Tea creates one of those pauses. In this cup, Fortnum & Mason Breakfast Blend provides a malty foundation beneath the chocolate and caramel character of Mariage Frères Wedding Impérial. Combining the two produces a dark, rounded Assam-based cup with enough structure to support the sweeter aromas.

Glass mug of dark tea steeping with Mariage Frères Wedding Impérial and Fortnum & Mason Breakfast Blend tea bags together. Image Copyright Ardan Michael Blum.

Tea time: Fortnum & Mason Breakfast Blend with Mariage Frères Wedding Impérial.

The final photograph widens the view from home and neighborhood to the Pacific coast. One of the pleasures of living in Palo Alto is that the ocean lies beyond the Santa Cruz Mountains, close enough to turn an ordinary day into a coastal excursion.

Waves moving across wet sand at Half Moon Bay. Photograph by Ardan Michael Blum.

"Waves on Sand” at Half Moon Bay.

My Palo Alto tourism guide includes additional information about reaching the coast. Direct link: A trip to the ocean.

Recent Writing

The Best Data Vending Machine examines Google Search as an enormous system for storing, retrieving, organizing, and presenting information.
Palo Alto Tourism is an independent visitor guide covering Palo Alto, Stanford University, local history, transportation, neighborhoods, landmarks, and practical trip planning.
Travel Planning Guide explains why a successful trip depends on sequence, geography, energy, and timing rather than simply collecting highly rated attractions.
Palo Alto SEO: Local Relevance Is a Proof Problem considers how businesses demonstrate genuine relationships with the places and communities they hope to reach through search.
When Science Simplifies looks at the necessary simplifications that allow scientific models to function and what may disappear when reality is made easier to study.
Best Temperature to Drink Coffee follows the changing experience of a cup as it cools, allowing different aromas, acidity, sweetness, and texture to become more noticeable.
My Favorite Films is a personal selection of films that have remained important to me.

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Contact

For project inquiries, corrections, accessibility assistance, or general questions:

Ardan Michael Blum

A. Blum Localization Services

Palo Alto, California

Telephone: +1 (650) 427-9358

Online: Contact Form

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