Thursday, 25 October 2018
I have managed to forget about the leaf clusters that accumulate in corners of fences and buildings and the like; I was reminded today when I found this assemblage of light, dry leaves—still retaining some fine reddish maple color.
Tuesday, 23 October 2018
My hypothesis is that this is a new-pole crew, as there were not only the two bucket-trucks with guys working on the wires, but also another big truck with a giant auger (put away at this point, and parked down the block). I also saw a big pickup that was part of the crew—the boss?
This scenario is easier to figure out: verge ghosties.
And for those wanting a flower-fix: a bi-color camellia. With an ant and another insect (mostly obscured).
Saturday, 13 October 2018
The ceiling fans are muted, and the dark stays well into the summer-time coffee hour. The seasons turn.
Friday, 12 October 2018
Softening the blow?
Post-Michael we’re in a cool spell—truly cool, overnights in the low 50s. All of a sudden, the season-change is revealed. Yet, I see the azalea out front is giving the spring cycle one more belated go.
Friday, 5 October 2018
I got down to the sidewalk and no farther as there was a work crew setting up on our street, and the fellow driving this truck was quite concerned that I understand they’d be interrupting life on our street for a while. Something about a gas line going through the sewer pipe. I couldn’t quite figure out how that could be changed by opening up one square of the sidewalk, but didn’t hang around to ask and hear the answer. Yay for infrastructure improvements.
On my mosey, I found these spider webs festooning this ground cover in an artful way. Yay for arachnid aesthetics.
Later I found this holiday still life. Beware begonias? With spiders? Yay for creativity in outdoor decorations.
We went downtown to do a bit of business with the state, and waited at a stop-light with a great view of the capital’s gold dome. At the state office, we learned that a contractor had taken over their computer system so it was “down” and I could not transact my biz. I’ll try again Tuesday, as Monday is a holiday and they aren’t open on Saturdays. Yay for government work schedules.
Thursday, 4 October 2018
Today’s theme: clouds. And blue skies.
Some with god-rays.
Even uncrowded clouds.
And an especially colorful one at dusk.
Over and out from the southern zip code.
Wednesday, 3 October 2018
I decided the theme for today’s post would be lakes, although we skip a whole lot of the day…still, I have to start somewhere!
So, the first lake must be “our” lake, although this is a shot from yesterday since it was raining or drippy all morning, not good for photography at all.
Then, a Great Lake. Michigan. Chicago is way off to the right if you follow the coast, and keep following it.
I think of the Bridge as the dividing line between Lakes Michigan and Huron. I don’t know if geographers agree. Don’t much care, truth be told.
Note that by sunset we had left the rain and overcast behind. Yes, sunset over, hmm, soybeans? some row crop.
And now, the Guru says, we are in the promised land. Not for long; we’ll leave tomorrow.
Tuesday, 2 October 2018
My figuring last night was right on the money when I decided to lay the fire in the wood stove ready for setting aflame in the morning. And the morning was indeed cold, and the wood stove staved off the chill. Wood heat is radiant! And I think it sucks the moisture right out of my skin. [Where’s the hand cream?]
The Guru took Droney for a spin. Here’s the color developing in the Grove. It used to have white birches in the mix, but they’ve died. My bro, the tree guy, says for the most part the birch seeds need a fire to trigger them to germinate. [Another fire reference for today.]
Took my last private, unhurried walk on the beach. These shells have been deposited/revealed lately. I don’t know if they are from a die-off in a relatively short time, or an accumulation. I’ve never seen a clam die-off, so I’m guessing somehow they’ve accumulated.
As to the barberry fruits, they mostly full orange, with the merest hint of the orange-red to come. That’s the barberry berry report for this evening.
Monday, 1 October 2018
Doesn’t this old branch scar look like a strange wrinkly kneecap? A white birch kneecap. Next to the steps down to the beach.
I saw evidence of a deer-dance in the footprints in the sand. Those long drag marks ended in deer prints. I’m unsure of the moves that produced them.
I’ve noticed this plant on the beach my whole life and don’t know even a common name for it. Just got out the wildflower ID book—it’s a Polygonium spp., most commonly called some kind of smartweed or knotweed. So there.
P.S. It’s October!
Sunday, 30 September 2018
Was it an excursion to check on our beach’s wooden Nessie? Soaking in the sand today….
Just after lunch we left the property to check on the leaf color and get out of the house.
Just as we got to Eagles Nest, the sun came out for the first time! Yay! Gamed the sunshine! It didn’t linger.
We drove on past the Big Fill (didn’t stop) and Lavender Corners (only stopped at the stop sign; it’s a ghost town now).
At Seney we made a detour up to the campground to check on the Fox River. I looked for a sign saying Ernest Hemingway fished here. None. I would also have been happy with an Ernest Hemingway fished here sign. Nada.
Needed the wood stove today, but right at the moment we have windows open for a few minutes because it’s kicking out way too much heat. Not enough; too much. The dance of life?