Musings

We decided today was the day…to eliminate this lovely row of funnel volunteers in our front walk and the black yuck on the mottled grey granite stonework…. We did power-washing for a couple of hours on the front steps etc, plus de-yucking both vehicles.

I’d say things went swimmingly, but maybe I should just say “fine.” I got these rubber boots in part to do power washing here—and walk in the dew-dressed grass in the UP—not going to be doing that for a while. It was warm today, so I just went for it with the spraying…and I got wet to mid-thighs. Which was fine.

More mildew eradication awaits, although things look much better. Yay!

Posted at 9:00 PM | Comments Off on Sunday funday

Greens! Only they’re not mine…a productive container garden in front of a rental…four apartments…someone’s commandeered the sunniest spot for these lovelies.

I liked the light through the leaves. Looked better in person. Through my polarized sunglasses.

And looking up…high altitude magnolia blossoms.

They are huge. Here’s a bud at finger height.

Posted at 9:47 PM | Comments Off on Greens, and…

Playground in the time of covid.

Widest rickrack I’ve seen in ages honoring health care workers…in the time of covid.

Stain protection, in the time of ripe mulberries.

And just a house of (apparent) mystery. Gate latch is a keeper. And a kind of protection. [Wide-wide-angle.]

Posted at 8:57 PM | Comments Off on Protection noted

Just move the garbage cans, and game time!

I went out early (like morning rather than afternoon) because I heard the afternoon would get warmer than conditions I wanted to adventure in. And I heard a high of nine-zero predicted for Sunday…rrrrrrr. First time since October…. Helllllll-ooooooh summer.

So making early rounds meant fewer people. No basketball players. Tree needing propping up.

And art! Art waiting for me! I’m special!

Posted at 7:27 PM | Comments Off on Neighborhood activities

Carry-over from yesterday…apparently no redbugs from my berry-picking. Fast and feet on pavement saved me. This is a red bug, but not a redbug (aka chigger).

This bee mastered this rose. Dead aim into the core, trundled around for a minute, bzz bzz, and I captured its soul.

And the third “b” is berries. Not the kind I found yesterday, but smokey-, sage-colored lovelies.

Posted at 8:55 PM | 2 Comments »

Hands down, the most exciting happening in my day was finding this blossom, and its family. Because I knew it was a berry blossom. And a signal….

So I kept looking. Eeee-heeee! Berries! Hmm, any ripe ones? How ’bout ripe-enough ones? Gentle twist on one with color. Nope. So I try another, hmmm, add a bit to the gentle on the twist…thinking, well, I’ll try it, probably a bit…not-quite ripe. Sure enough, not full tasty, but…mmm…sun-warmed berry! Yay! Fortified, I keep looking. Back there, way behind the close distracting berries, a fully ripe berry…mmmmm. A new season…berry-season! Yeah. Life is darned good. Ripe. Sun-warm. I’m so lucky.

Artsy picture. Not sure why this grass has not greened up…must be a stay-brown a LOOOOONG time species.

Jay commented not that long ago that a V-marked marker probably announces a valve. Duh. She is so right…as I expected. Here’s a different V-marker, a hydrant, and a valve cover. Done and done. Thanks for the tip, Jay.

Posted at 9:18 PM | Comments Off on Adventuring

These evergreen magnolias become big trees. And the flowers can be far overhead. This one was. And a big bee was buzzing about in it. Perfect, I thought, and fumbled the phone, which didn’t recognize me with the mask on…fumble more, and bee buzzed away. But, here’s the flower. Alone again. Naturally.

Bonus second shot…. No bees here either. But many flower friends. Of two species.

Posted at 9:01 PM | Comments Off on Lonesome flower

Flower-shadow art.

Lit-fern art.

Sidewalk art.

Posted at 9:17 PM | Comments Off on Art “flavors”

Near perfect. Those colors!

I encountered recommendations for “Money Heist” (true title “La casa de papel”) several disparate places, and asked the Guru if he’d be interested in giving it a try. We embarked, and have watched two episodes. It has a Euro feel, which makes sense because it’s a Spain Spanish production. The subtitles are teensy, which is both less distracting from the picture and difficult to read. I’m warming to the fast-speaking cast and their Spain-accented Spanish—been YEARS since I heard that….

So, oddly?, we’re bouncing between “Money Heist” and running through old “Billions” to get caught up or refreshed before dipping into the new season. Both have to do with cash and power, but in quite different ways. I’ll be staying tuned.

Posted at 9:21 PM | Comments Off on So far so good

Walking Partner and I had to cross the street (actual traffic!) to get shots of this huge cactus with many blooms and buds. Beautiful yellow-orange color.

New York markets are up; I’m wondering how much money is flowing in from foreign buyers…US market as a haven?

Posted at 6:30 PM | Comments Off on Rain quit for our walk