Musings

We departed our VT sanctuary well fortified with coffee. This involved braving a steady rain. But not for too terribly long.

Soon, however, we basked in open skies, almost sunshine…and did (more or less) for the rest of the day. [If I had to name this photo, it’d be something about rest area (temporary) cones contrasting with everyday functions like picnic tables. I think.]

At a later rest area, irii (my plural of iris) exhibited in multiple colors. Here’s a medium purple one with yellow highlights, oh so lovely.

Posted at 9:28 PM | No Comments »

The benefits of staying with a friend who’s a baker are obvious…and tasty: apple pie.

Trees at night…not yet leafed out. BTW, this far north, today the mowing guys did our friends’ yard for the first time this year. As is common, the mowing guys change out their equipment and clean the driveway through the winter.

Posted at 8:20 PM | No Comments »

Flowering plum (?) on dunes.

1917 approach, Provincetown memorial.

New plaque, installed around 2010.

The historic main street in Provincetown, dating back to such olden times, is narrow, and now one-way. This section is residential, but most is partly commercial, and no doubt a horror for deliveries.

Tidal flats, very overcast and tide neither in nor out. Saw small crab remains, about 3cm in diameter.

Also, we’ve seen turkeys, one per day the last three days.

Apologies for the late post. I picked the photos, then fell asleep early, trying to fight off the cold (sniff, blow) that came over me Sunday night.

Posted at 10:22 PM | No Comments »

We went through the core business district of Newport, saw looming masts, shops of various sorts, and many tourists. Then, we looped around among the fancy houses, and I mean fancy. However, this is the only photo I took during that entire circuit, and I don’t know who it is…just driving by, ya’know.

I read up a bit on Rhode Island as we drove along, and wondered where that island was, as the state is mostly not-island. Turns out this island, now more commonly called Aquidneck Island, is historically tagged as the island called Rhode, Ile of Rods, or Rhod-Island. BTW, if you can see dots out in the surf, they’re surfers. They only get short rides, but then they don’t have to paddle much to set up again.

Today’s drink I’m sure I never had: a coffee Fribble at Friendly’s (one of the dwindling few still in business). Egads, it was sweet. And huge.

I enjoyed this large knotical display 🤣 🤣 🤣 but you only get to see a few examples.

Technically, the border is more complicated, but this canal is commonly considered to separate Cape Cod from the mainland, which is where I’m standing and the cormorant is posing.

Our late-day adventure was a visit to Nauset Lighthouse, at the beach where The Guru and his fam used to hang. It was relocated in 1996 because coast erosion threatened to topple it. This lighthouse originally stood in a different town from 1877–1923, when it was moved to this area. So this is the third spot for it (I hope I’m making sense 😄; g’night).

Posted at 9:01 PM | No Comments »

Obv, our travel today was on land, yet water was a near-constant companion. We began by heading north on the Jersey side of the Hudson River. Here’s a view south back toward NYC. I think the haze is humidity (ish).

Then we turned east(ish) for the rest of the day. Here’s a swing bridge that crosses the Mill River in New Haven.

We got a fancy lunch, stuffed lobster tail for me and Eggs Benny for the Guru. The Benny was exceptional, and included avocado. My pickled beets side was prepared in a way I’ve never had before, with mustard seeds, then with fresh onions and bay leaf added before serving, and was not very sour/vinegary. The other side is a Cole slaw that may have had a salt treatment to soften the cabbage before dressing.

We also split an egg cream, like we were teenagers on a date. I think I had it once before and thought the same now as then: it tastes like watered-down chocolate milk.

We took a sunset tour of the west side of the mouth of the Connecticut River, not far from our hotel.

We found a pair of swans, keeping their distance, so I have only shots of one at a time. That’s the railroad bridge over the lower Connecticut in the background.

Here’s today’s version of Fort Saybrook; construction began in 1636, directed by Lion Gardiner (1599–1663). Gardiner’s wife Mary Willemsen Deurcant (c. 1601–1665) accompanied him, and their first two (of three) children were born at the fort before his contract ended in 1639. They then moved to what is now called Gardiners Island off the east end of Long Island. The Montaukett sachem/chief Wyandanch (c. 1571–1659) deeded it to him in 1639 independent of the colonies extant at that time. The 6×3 mile island remains in the Gardiner family, whose many descendants include Alexander Graham Bell’s wife, Mabel Gardiner Hubbard.

Next to the fort remains are railroad remains, including this roundhouse. The railroad opened in 1871.

At another stop, we watched the ebbing tide, the clouds, and a few airborne water birds.

Posted at 9:17 PM | No Comments »

We ventured north today, crossed the state line, and kept going. We navigated mountains, had clouds dampen us, and kept going.

With the change in latitude, we traveled back in spring. Always love dogwoods…

And this rhodo sure surprised me. However, it was in a very protected spot semi surronded by reflective walls, so I figure that’s what (it seems to me) accelerated its blooming.

Posted at 9:32 PM | No Comments »

These shadows from the street light are proof that the leaves are well-out…but not all-out.

Posted at 9:01 PM | No Comments »

We strolled around the lake at Old Fourth Ward Park…

…and encountered a napping mallard family…

…and a pair of large-ish turtles…that may be a family, also…we couldn’t tell.

Posted at 7:49 PM | Comments Off on Nature narratives

I looked behind me soon after I left the house on my dawn-ish walk and I saw the sun had almost arrived.

I rounded a couple of corners, tromp tromp, and I saw the almost-up sun illuminating the firehouse floor.

Posted at 9:28 PM | Comments Off on Sun’s coming, two views

I can’t even bring myself to think about what all these shenanigans emanating from the White House are costing us, and I don’t mean money so much as good will and esteem, and things like that. Instead, I’ll think about the pollen count or something else that’s very positive. 🤣 🤣 🤣

Posted at 8:36 PM | Comments Off on Achoo