Musings

THE day

Not for me, mind you, but for the younger nephew.

I’m going with the best part of the institutional event was the band, other than the awarding of diplomas. And, of course, the principal’s hat (not shown; use your imagination), a new one for each class…this one with a bonsai on top…a symbol of the resilience and adaptability and long life predominating in the energy of the Class of 2022, she said.

Here’s a pink palate cleanser: a peony processed with Waterlogue. Enjoy, as the servers say.

Busy day, in a good way

This morning’s walk became a walk to the sea…which was really this fine overlook, and not an actual walk to the water. And perfect, actually.

Then there was prolonged party prep, well, truly only a regular amount, and not taxing at all.

The most golden decorations were brought by dear friends of the guest of honor. We figure Seattle shops are out of 2s at this point, there are so many graduations this weekend.

Party tomorrow!

Assembly

We attended a HS version of Caen Laida, which the school maintains is a traditional moving-on ceremony of the Scottish highlands. This isn’t the graduation, but the fun stuff of celebrating individual accomplishments. Those are the seniors seated on the floor of the gym. The other three classes of upperclasspersons were in three sections of the risers. Parents and loved ones got to sit in the fourth section, soon to be occupied by the incoming freshmen.

For me, however, I experienced a bit more backless hard seating than I could easily tolerate. I’m still stretching after two hours of sitting. Now I’m resting up for graduation on Sunday.

Seeing yellow

Yeah, it was a bit rainy (not just misty), yet I went out, motivated by the many and various blooms in neighboring yards (and here, but increased diversity across a larger geographic area duh).

Just darned strange to see stem-flower collar, stem-flower collar, repeat growth patterns on a single bloom stalk.

Sunset behind the Olympics

We changed three time zones, and traveled via train, plane, bus, and rental car. And I’m taaaahrd.

Almost harvest time

I’m a bit discombobulated from our latitude shift that meant we left the spring of the way north and are now in the summer of the deep south. These directions are based on USA attitudes not continental, geographic perspectives.

Alliterative Apiaceae

Late this afternoon we had a storm cell/line come through and when it was in the final dripping stages, I snapped this of an upper section of the fennel forest out front. I like that: fennel forest.

With anthill

On the last day of May, we walked to Au Sable Point Lighthouse, and around the buildings we saw and heard many busy bees attending strongly scented blooming shrubs, about half along the ground like this and the rest upright yet not tall. I finally identified these: Prunus pumila, or sand cherry. I’ve undoubtedly seen them before, but never noticed them, perhaps because they weren’t in bloom and showing off.

Out the vehicle window

Spotted on the roadside. I think it’s an Edsel.

This, however, I know to be the rainbow crossing in Midtown. It was first temporary and removed, then there was an outcry and political maneuvering, and some time later, presto, it returned to stay.

In transit

We had to leave this beautiful place today. Had to be done. Travel was fine, with minimal delays and bad drivers (around us, not us).