Musings

I heard/read various sorts of news today, including multiple examples of the power of MaNachur, and also of spineless federal politicians spending OUR money frivolously.

In our living room, we talked more about the annual September Apple presentation. This is an Apple promo photo of the two sizes of the newly announced iPhone 15 Pro Max (larger on the left) and 15 Pro. Our phones are still fine, but venerable at four years old. I am most attracted to the Pro Max, as the Apple lens developers have managed to create, in that teensy thickness of a smart phone, a lens that will telephoto to 120 mm, at ƒ/2.8 aperture. Wow. [No comment on buying (lusting after? hah, I exaggerate) a product called a phone while valuing more an additional capability called a camera. 😎]

With the phones and with new models of watch/fitness devices, I heard reapeated mention of nits. To me nits are louse eggs, so that threw me until I figured out that nits are also brightness units, although my APPLE DICTIONARY does not include that definition. 🤣 So, the new phones have 2000 nits peak brightness (outdoors). Woohoo.

Posted at 9:28 PM | Comments Off on Nit counts

On the calendar, a visit to the small-and-wonderful local library to meet the State Librarian of Michigan. Unfortunately, he had to cancel last night: Covid. Maybe it’s just as well that we didn’t join the crowd that would have included three school classes…and possibly get exposed to Covid ourselves. However, we did get new library books.

I’m concerned about this new Covid, and will dig out my N-95 for future face-to-face activities. And avoid gatherings.

Later, the overcast became drippy rain while the car recharged. Drops and dust make art.

Posted at 5:16 PM | Comments Off on Covid concern

Change the light, I thought, by choosing a photo from a day or two ago. Good idea, I thought…

…for today was overcast and it tried to rain several times. When it was more temperate and I was restless, I did do a few outdoor chores, unearthing thistles by the clothesline, adding organic matter to the compost pile, downloading the update for my phone (then for the watch, they often need such attention in pairs; I do this using the neighbors’ satellite feed, so that’s the outdoor part…walking next door)—that kind of thing.

Reasonably virtuous for a slow-Sunday.

Posted at 9:54 PM | Comments Off on Human-environment interaction

Every time we have these morning fogs, I feel compelled to stand in awe of the tree line and the sky color.

This time I also looked down and enjoyed the dew on the lupine leaves.

Posted at 8:33 PM | Comments Off on Morning joy

The too-hot is gone and the rain is gone. This is the early morning sunlight on the cardboard-walled ringfort. In the foreground are miscellaneous escapee plants, and probably weeds. In the center are many basil plants, and I’ll harvest one or two tomorrow for the appetizer I’m taking to a potluck that evening. In the background are some “wild”flowers; blooms so far are white (three types) and pink (one species). Outside to the right are rhubarb leaves.

Here are exploded lupine pods, still furry. I also found some blooming lupines in the field where I had cut the grass—and lupines—earlier.

Posted at 6:03 PM | Comments Off on Late-blooming tales

Buds rock. I could stare at this far longer than any Dutch Renaissance painting.

Posted at 10:24 PM | Comments Off on Sunny rising

A week or so ago, the orchard smelled like apple juice. Now it smells like hard cider, although hours of rain and lower temps blunted the scent today.

Posted at 8:45 PM | Comments Off on Natural progression

I stepped outside this evening to try to figure out odd vehicle noises out on the road, and by my feet heard stampeding chipmunks…two, running like I broke up a party.

Meanwhile, here’s a tiny cucumber. The species is native to Asia, and now very widely planted and consumed.

Posted at 9:29 PM | 2 Comments »

I went to the lake alone for a pre-prandial, late-afternoon bathe and discovered I had some”one” looking out for me. S/He stayed around until I got out, then drifted away.

Posted at 5:56 PM | Comments Off on Eagle eyes

After a hot and sticky day, the temp abated enough for a sunset stroll. And what a sunset. Now all the windows are open to let some cool(er) air in the cottage, as it is finally in the low, low 70s.

Posted at 9:50 PM | Comments Off on Timing is all