THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley

Tag Archives: Ellicott City


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A start

Bang we’re off in the month of June and it’s one of my favorite times of the year. The beginning of the SUMMER season and the great outdoors and sun. I must have some secret sun worshiping genes passed down to me because I’m drawn to it.

I went for a ride this morning and got a haircut. Great way to start the day.

I thought I’d try to start taking a few shots around the county each day and posting them. A good way to get my butt out of the chair and out and about.

Construction worker in a green shirt and hard hat working on the rooftop of a building, with windows visible behind and greenery in the background.
Work continues at the old Flour Mill in Ellicott City. Photo by Mike Hartley

Above and below, inside and out of that giant structure.

A construction worker in safety gear is using a scissor lift to work on a building entrance, with plywood boards on the walls and a sign warning of overhead power lines.
A lower entrance to the mill project. Photo by Mike Hartley

A good seat to watch the progress.

Exterior view of a café with a brick facade and a black roof, featuring orange umbrellas over outdoor seating where customers are dining.
Breakfast at the Old Mill Cafe. Photo by Mike Hartley

The sun was hitting the castle nicely this morning.

A unique, partially stone castle-like building surrounded by greenery, featuring a large window and decorative architecture on top.
Historic Castle Angelo. Photo by Mike Hartley

By 10am I’d finished walking up and down Main Street. Good exercise.

A street view featuring a vintage clock tower in Ellicott City, Maryland, with an American flag waving above it. Nearby, there are parked vehicles, a streetlamp, and a fire hydrant, set against a backdrop of buildings and trees.

And the bell told me it was time to get going.

Bell tower with a weather vane and steeple in the background against a blue sky.
Bell at the Firehouse Museum. Photo by Mike Hartley

Personal remembrance –Today was one of my best childhood friend’s birthday. He passed a few years ago and I do miss him. He was one of those people that you have a connection with and in sync with them. Big Pete was one of those people to me. A genuine person that passed too early. RIP Bob.

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • Lots going on inside this head of mine. Unfortunately, more questions than answers at the moment.
  • If you like doing something, get busy doing it.
  • The yard, a love hate relationship. I hate it when I start working on it and love it when I’m done.
  • I don’t dislike shopping when I have something to buy and money to do it.
  • This is an interesting neighborhood I live in.
  • Hegseth is someone trying hard to be badass. If you compare his talk to military commanders who are quiet and measured in their tone and response, it’s because they know they are badass.


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Another beautiful day

A good Friday evening. Knocking out some tasks and working on my hobbies.

Photo by Mike Hartley

Just thought I’d share a few more images from Wednesday.

Photo by Mike Hartley

I won’t be up much longer. A rather painful late afternoon and evening.

Photo by Mike Hartley

But first a late dinner and a few emails.

Photo by Mike Hartley

This fills up every so often.

Photo by Mike Hartley

An early morning walk is in order for Saturday.

Photo by Mike Hartley

Color just springs to life this time of year.

Photo by Mike Hartley

Let me finish this work of art and move on to the next piece.


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I still remember

This was still an active fire station growing up and even when I worked in the town in the 70s. Those sirens would blare through our building and especially the pressroom when the loading dock door was open, which it was most of the time unless it was cold.

That was about the only noise that could drown out the roar of the press. I always liked that the guys would come in from the pressroom to get the plates for the next run, and they would forget they weren’t standing by the press, and they would yell, and then catch themselves and laugh.

In 1977 the Montgomery Road fire station opened. I missed the sirens when they left.

I love this little town. Photo by Mike Hartley

Today it’s The Wine Bin. A great store that anchors the top end of Main Street.

Has he been helping himself with some of the merchandise? Photo by Mike Hartley


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Wandering

Wandering Old Ellicott City this morning I found a shot or two I liked.

I found another spot for one of my photos to hang. Photo by Mike Hartley

My goal this week is to get out every morning and walk a bit.

I guess if you’re feeling blue, this is the place for you. Photo by Mike Hartley

I think I’ll explore some of the side streets tomorrow.

With all the flood mitigation work going on this warning system will be obsolete. Photo by Mike Hartley

Fall is coming, it feels earlier than usual this year.

The Patapsco River is always full of life. Photo by Mike Hartley

And this town is always under construction.

Looking up Maryland Avenue. Photo by Mike Hartley

Just a slice of Howard County this morning. I’ve got another shoot lined up later today and might even sneak out this evening and see if I can do some night photography.


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Talk to the umbrella

Communication – I love it if it’s both ways. Otherwise, it’s a lecture, I’m not always big on those.

Just passing by at an interesting angle. Photo by Mike Hartley

Good day, I wish I had gotten an earlier start. No problem, I’ll stay up later today working on my passions.

I have a love-hate relationship going on with my property. I love my yard so much and then there are days like this and I look at the work in front of me and sigh with dread. Charging the battery for the rider is the first thing today. I don’t want the grass to get out of control from the get-go. I’m guessing in a week or two, it will need its first cutting.

It does feel good to be outside. That sunshine feels nice even though it’s much cooler this weekend than the last few days. I still took some outdoor furniture back outside, if there is sun out, I want to enjoy it.

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • The earlier gouge on my hand reminded me to use my gloves before working outside today.
  • Our shed is old but in pretty good shape still. It’s small but functional. And like the mower in it, both will need to be replaced in the coming years.
  • There is always one power tool that will give me trouble in the spring.
  • Taking stock is difficult. Taking a flier is easy.
  • My willpower is fading, I’m hungry. I have to keep active. Back to work in the yard, I go.


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A lock on love

Just a few more shots from the mid week shoot.

Crossing Into Love City. Yeah I love this little town. Hell, my wife is from here. Got my first real job in newspapers in this town. Started our own newspaper in this town decades later with two wonderful partners. My dentist and friend is on Main Street. It’s great exercise to walk the town. I have enjoyed many walks and meals with family and some of my closest friends.

Where a lot of people smile and say hi or hello. Well at least I do when in town. Photo by Mike Hartley

When troubled or feeling good I go there to walk, or sit or photograph or explore. Or just to chow down of a roast beef sandwich from Duchess up the road while watching the Patapsco flow by.

I can’t wait for it to green up again. Photo by Mike Hartley

The town changes looks so much during the various seasons that I always feel like I see something new. It’s my next project to put together the shots of this over the years and start to fill in a few things I might have missed.

And being its near Valentines day there seemed to be some symbols of love around town.

The seasons are always represented well by the merchants. Photo by Mike Hartley

In some ways it will always be part of my home. We got married in town. Our first apartment was just up the road in Normandy Woods.

Love birds. Photo by Mike Hartley

It’s been a place for engagement photos or even wedding events/photos for decades.

Love in a lock. Photo by Mike Hartley

A town where some have generations of people living there or surrounding hills. Not as much as when I first ventured into town in the early 70s, but a good friend of mine who grew up in town, still keeps in touch with a few long time residents.

I bet it’s the place where you see more people holding hands than other spots in the county.

When floods devastated the town from Agnes in the 70s to the 2 once in a thousand year floods a few years ago it ripped a piece of a lot of peoples hearts out. I was in town the morning of the two most recent ones. A family walk from the home my wife grew up in to downtown EC the day of the 2018 flood.

The second one I was out photographing along College Avenue and on the way home early that morning I stopped at the corner of Main and Maryland Avenue by the old Phoenix Restaurant. As I pulled onto Main it was quiet and I just raise my camera over the windshield and snapped a shot of what would be destroyed later that day.

Saturday morning 7/30/2016, the day of the first big flood that came from above. Photo by Mike Hartley

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • I don’t remember feeling so indifferent about a Super Bowl before. I don’t know if its the gambling or the league treating the players like old Roman gladiators, totally indifferent to there health regarding the brain injuries and that settlement they came too is appearing to be a joke. So NFL, take the game and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine.
  • Finally realized some sad truths recently.
  • Time to put the cover on the car again for the coming rains.


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Nope

When you can’t see all the steps to even count them to get to the front door, no thank you. Beautiful home and porch though in Old Ellicott City. And the view is probably great. Maybe there is a back drive up entrance? Then again, taking the trash to the curb might be an effort.

Step right up. Photo by Mike Hartley

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • Dear Mr. Fantasy by Traffic is a great early morning song.
  • When the choice is to take time to get organized or keep creating, I’ll take the creating all the time.
  • I’m learning a bruised tailbone takes a while to heal.
  • It’s a “More Cowbell” type of day.
  • I had the top down on the Miata yesterday. Wind and sun in the hair again. Life is good.


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I have roots in this town

Decided I needed to do some walking outside yesterday and skipped the treadmill. So I took the go cart (Miata) out to Ellicott City, parked at the upper lot, wound my way up to the old courthouse and down by the old fire station. Back up the street to the Wine Bin and back down the street to the Trolley Stop and admire the river for a bit and then back up the street through a couple of back ways and lots.

I sat outside the old Times building and the Stone building at the bottom of the hill by the river which both used to be my offices. But really I went down to see some major changes in the towns where buildings are being torn down for the new flood tunnels and park area I believe.

Lower end of EC. I’d like to see this town bounce back in a big way in the future. Photo by Mike Hartley

The next time I’m there I’m going to try that Milkshake shop called The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar.

Window at the Phoenix Restaurant. Photo by Mike Hartley

It’s also been a bit since having a meal in town so I’m going to have to change that also. More photos from the shoot coming later. Busy morning ahead.


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Different spot

I was going to go down to the Patapsco River by my home but decided to walk Ellicott City instead of the train tracks and woods. I will do that later this week. It was an amazing day for mid-February, sunny and with some high clouds. Sometimes I just pause on the streets of this town and think back to many decades ago.

Like standing across the street looking at what used to be Stromberg Publications (The Times Papers) now Su Casa Furniture and La Palapa restaurant. And as I walk across the street and look back and see Talbott lumber yard and store and now the Phoenix restaurant. The same thing happens to me all up and down the street. Ellicott City never gets old for me even though they call it Old Ellicott City.

And as always it was friendly as ever. You can tell the tourist, they don’t always respond but residents, merchants, and locals always are cheery and will look you in the eye and smile with their greetings. A lot will stop and talk. I’m one of them because I want everyone there to feel welcome. It’s a great little town that keeps changing and evolving. Not always in harmony but it certainly is resilient and a survivor.

Everyone in town seemed to be paired off today but me. As promised yesterday I did get another shot of the Patapsco River. I have some more to share but it’s supposed to rain the next few days so maybe I’ll sprinkle in one or two of those.

Photos by Mike Hartley

I’m back on track shooting every day again now and hope to keep pace with my blogging effort which has been daily for a while. I feel so much better when I get new images.

I forgot to wish you all a happy Valentine’s Day yesterday. My better half and I really don’t make much of it anymore. Buying overpriced candy or flowers seemed a waste so we stopped the exchange many years ago. It was fun when we were young but practical needs seemed to be a better use of our funds.

If you share the love throughout the year. If you give flowers randomly throughout the year. If you cook once in a while throughout the year. And don’t forget to throw in several “I love you’s” throughout each day. Those and other efforts are far more important than a bunch of chocolates and roses on Valentine’s Day once a year.

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • My performance review is tonight. Will be interesting to see if I’m up for another one next year.
  • Important people are never gone from your life at any time.
  • Walking is the first step. Well, maybe the second and third also.
  • I’m sure I walk by many better photos than I bring back.