This time last year, I was recovering from our amazing trip to India on the Communities Connecting Heritage project. The vibrant colors of West Bengal were still playing in my brain, the warmth fading but still very much lodged in my memory.

This year, despite an impending trip to Florida which will no doubt form the basis for the next blog(s), the winter colors have predominated. White, and then increasingly more gray, snow. Black trees. Dull skies. Dead tan grass and brown mud. An occasional flash of lackluster green as some vegetation dares to pop up its head.

Every once in awhile, though, you see some attempt at coloring the world that takes you by surprise. We were out walking around a portion of Arlington, since we like to explore different neighborhoods and comment on the various types of architecture, from historic homes to compact WWII era brick houses to the Monster Houses built recently, and everything in between.

Yard art and gardens are also of interest. We came across a particularly clever yard display, the colors of which popped and delighted on the overcast and chilly day. The owners had lined their pathway to the house, from sidewalk to front door, with bright bowling balls.

How they collected so many bowling balls, and why they decided to use them in this way, is a mystery. Maybe someday I will knock on their door and get the story. For the moment, though, it just made somehow think of India. Not as vibrant, not as warm, but still a flash of colorful decoration that no doubt makes the home owners, and others who pass, smile.

Revisit my India posts starting here for a virtual trip to Kolkata and beyond.