Musings

Cheerful color

I thought I might write about This Thing. But it seemed Way Too serious, so I considered This Other Thing.

Same problem.

So, here’s some color instead. It seems very upbeat and positive.

Mushroom pair

Don’t these mushrooms look a bit like pale beige turtles? 🐢

Here’s why I was thinking about turtle shapes. It’s from Peter Hessler’s “Learning to ski in a country of beginners,” in the 21 June issue of The New Yorker. The Country referred to is China. Present-day China.

Many beginners wore accessories known as huju: protective gear. Huju consists of three large stuffed animals that can be strapped onto the knees and the backside, in order to cushion a fall. The most common huju comes in the form of green turtles, but there are also brown bears, pink pigs, and yellow SpongeBob SquarePants. There doesn’t seem to be any social stigma attached to wearing these things, which are common at ski resorts across China. At Wanlong, it wasn’t unusual to see a hip-looking snowboarder in his twenties, dressed in fashionable ski clothes, with a huge turtle on his butt.

What kind of huju is your favorite…for skiing or whatever else? Is it plush? 🐢

Fasten your seatbelts

I’m astounded by the hot temps from northwestern central North America. This is climate change combined with an Omega weather pattern. It’s only going to get worse. And perhaps accelerate.

Muggy, sticky, stifling

The thoughts you have when I suggest “humid”—not humid enough to nail the air condition this morning. Outside, I mean. Where it’s not air-conditioned.

Mild confusion

To the right of the pair of poles and below the horizontal lines, there’s a double loop of wire, with a large tubular Element. There’s another Element above, attached to the horizontals. I don’t know what those Elements are called or what they do, but they must be important, as they are scattered about. Always above ground…. Nothing to do with the No Parking sign, however, I am certain. 😉

Patterns

In general, humans tend to pattern recognition.

Here’re a pair of architectural detail patterns, the kind that aren’t typically included in a book of architectural details. I especially like the flanking solar lights.

Mystery of life #422.8e

Orange gold lily

Still glorying in lily season. Particularly enjoying the deep red orange hues. Other years I’ve loved the pale yellows more. Why the change?

Cloud info

I see from the Great Database that is The Cloud that some hostas do bloom in relatively saturated purples; however, around here, they are usually rather pale

This cluster is quite purple-y, and I perked up when I found it.

Little did I know that (some part of) hostas are also edible.

Groupings

Art? Material culture? Sly reflection on plastic in our modern world? Celebration of pinkness?

This one’s easier; it’s gems decorating hardscaping…the intent is pretty-fication. Aesthetics.

Neighborhood notes

Most saturated hydrangea. Ever.

Whatta neighborhood! We have a Beer Car. 😎

Alterations along the BeltLine. Looks like an elongated pond. We’ll see if it stays that way.