Squirrel Club

Lulu and her friends are obsessed with squirrels. Apparently there's an official squirrel club at school. She and three friends started it at lunch one day, while they were watching squirrels.

We're planning on having meetings and stuff, she tells me. The first one will be in January at our house.
Today I let her work on the computer for a little bit since she finished all her homework early. She told me she needed to collect information about squirrels for their squirrel club.
I can hear her squealing as she's looking at pictures. Oh they're so cute, she's exclaiming over and over again.

What's wrong with you? Sam keeps asking.
I'm thinking the same thing.

Momma, come look at this she says.
What I say.
This picture.
They don't know if it's a squirrel or a rat.
What? I say.
Take a look she says.

Where did you find that? I say.
I did a search on squirrel pictures.
Lu, that's not real. they're just being silly.

Chipmunks says Sam.
I don't want pictures of chipmunks, I want squirrels she says.

Chipmunks and squirrels are cousins he says.
I don't care, I only want squirrels.
This is a squirrel club.
Whatever. I'm just trying to help he says.
Your obsession with squirrels is weird he says.
I don't care what you think, she says.
Where did you get this weird music from anyway?
It's squirrel music she says.
They have squirrel music?
Yeah, i found it on the Internet.
Too much banjo he says.
I don't get it he says.

You're not supposed to. It's squirrel music.

It's twangy country music that she found on scarysquirrel.org. A little app is open on the mac and little squirrels are playing banjos and guitars and singing.

Squirrel club meetings in the tree house.
Squirrel fabric
Squirrel club pictures.
Squirrel club note pad.
White board to hang in the den for the squirrel meetings.
Large envelopes for keeping all the squirrel pictures and facts together.
That's the Christmas list I got from her.
Aren't they suposed to like horses at this age?

Snowy Edinburgh

Well, what else can I call it? The view is from Blackford Hill, north towards the Castle. Photo courtesy of my daughter, who was on a sledging outing with friends on Monday when her school was closed. Tuesday was another snow day, but with studying done at home (the year of Highers exams), and it was back to school on Wednesday once the ground staff had cleared enough pathways round the campus. The problem is that the snow keeps falling. Edinburgh airport is closed, the Forth Road Bridge is closed, trains are cancelled or delayed. The city is quiet, muffled.
But for some there's a bright side. Capitalising on our huge dump of snow, my daughter's school has hastily introduced a 'house snowman' competition for tomorrow, to go with all the other house competitions that happen throughout the year.

Winter sun rays over the Susie Islands

I made this image on my way to work a few days ago. This view is from a highway overlook that looks down on Wauswaugoning Bay and the Susie Islands. I'm very lucky to be able to drive past this view on my way to and from work each day! It has provided for a spectacular photo opportunity more times than I can remember!

Mt. Rushmore at Night

Last night I finished the day with a visit to Mt. Rushmore. Wanted to try more night shots. After all, I finally thought I had figured out the Rebel after 5 years!).
Used the new camera. Shot some really good shots. The one here is an example. A couple from California was watching me. and asked if I could tell them how they can take photos like the one I did. Explained to them about the settings and using a tri-pod and shutter release. Then mounted their camera on my tri-pod and let them take some photo. Think I made their day. And, I felt good about helping them taking a great shot that they wanted.

California Rainforest

California Rainforest, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

When the rainy season comes to California, the hills certainly do get lush and green.
I found this fern grotto off-trail in Diablo Foothills Regional Park. The ferns cascaded down a steep wall and over boulders, covering a height of at least 30 feet. With rain dripping from the trees overhead and mist filling the air, the mood was straight out of prehistory.
Interestingly enough, only a few hundred yards away was a large swath of rocky chaparral...quite the contrast to the verdant ferns.

Into the Ice Cave

Here is one of my favorite ice shots from this weekend. This "ice cave" was actually the hole in Hollow Rock, at Hollow Rock Resort in Grand Portage, MN. The hole was absolutely FULL of icicles, and was fascinating to photograph.

The Block That Pete Cokinos Built

Instagram Fever

I don't know if anyone has noticed, but I've only been posting, at the most, once a week. I was thinking about this and wondering why, and it dawned on me; I've joined Instagram! It's my new obsession. Does anyone reading this post on Instagram? I'll tell you, it's addicting. It's like a mini-Facebook only way more fun.
You take a photo with your smartphone and then post it to the Instagram app. You may write a descriptive sentence if you'd like. People who are following you can see your photo, like it, or make a comment. It's just another way to connect with people in cyberspace. I'm only following a handful of people, because I don't want to be consumed with looking at everyone's new posts all day long. Mostly it's friends and friends of friends that I follow, although I am following a few unknown photographers just to see their beautiful photos. They inspire me.
What's your favorite social media on the internet? For now, mine is definitely Instagram.

High Humidity

When I stuck my head out of the door this morning, I was not really sure I wanted to ride this morning. No air moving, hot, humid, and foggy. But I have other commitments Wednesday, and knew I will feel better once I got on the bike.
Early ride (left the house at 6am). Planning to do my normal laps around Lake Manawa. I was off and on the trail at 6:30. Hoping to see a nice sunrise. Really need to be up a little earlier for the best sunrise - but there was some clouds in the East sky, enough to put some color in the sunrise. Stopped on the road so that my sun will be partially blocked by a tree on Boy Scout Island. Anyway - that's today's photo.
The first section of the ride I felt some of a chill from the dampness. Other places I was comfortable. That is, until I was on my second lap when the sun started having its effect. Thankful for the breeze along the East side of the lake (or was it the breeze I was creating when riding?) When I returned to the car, there was NO air moving as I loaded the bike on the car.
Quickly changed shoes and headed over to Panera Break for coffee and some air.

My favorite billboard

The devil sign is near Montgomery on I-65 north.
Just in case you didn't get the message:

Go to church or the Devil will get you!
We belong to anti-billboard Scenic Alabama, but I think this is one advertisement that everyone can appreciate.
The original sign was even more devilish. Satan was a more dynamic figure, hovering sinisterly, attached only by his scythe. Seemingly more prepared to leap and reap.
The earlier sign was damaged in a storm, I believe. You can see a picture of it here. There's also an audio story at that link -- Scott Simon speaking to the landowner, Mr. Newell, when he temporarily changed the sign during the last governor's race.

Get The Bacon

With cyclocross ...

Sometimes you suck really bad. Sometimes you're mediocre. Sometimes you feel good. Most times not. Sometimes you win. And sometimes you lose pretty badly. Me, mostly, I'm usually pretty mediocre. I guess you could say I'm consistently pretty mediocre. And then once or twice a season I'll have a really fabulous race.

But yesterday, I have to say, I was the suck. I got owned. I never felt like I got into a groove. And I felt a little out of control the whole time.
Maybe it was the wine hangover. Maybe it was the cold weather that caught me off guard that I didn't dress appropriately for. Maybe it was because I had the wrong bra on. Or maybe it was because I felt guilty for racing while Lulu was curled up in a ball in the camp chair barfing, with the onslaught of the 24 hour flu.

The nice technical stuff was fun and twisty and swoopy and rooty. But with the kinds of swoops and twists where you feel like you're constantly on the verge of doing an endo. And then there was the long, long, long, stretches of pavement which was just, well, long. Not to my advantage I tell you.
So I made the best of it.

And by the third and fourth laps, when I'd calculated that I was in LAST in my field I took the bacon feeds and the beer feeds and heckled back.

So spectacular was my slow motion crash into the tree because I couldn't get either foot into the pedal and had both feet up in the air as I rolled into it, that I mumbled some bad words. But at least I stayed somewhat up right. At the same time I was jumping off the bike to run down and back up, I noticed two other women on the ground, bodies flailing under bikes, muttering similar words.
So I ran around them.

And did the swoops and hills and sand and at the top of the hill where you feel like barfing, and there it was, the bacon. Which caught me off guard the first time - and I couldn't get close enough because I was actually trying to pass people and keep my head above water.
But after the next few laps, I was ready for the bacon. It was time for bacon. It's bacon time. And I took the bacon, after climbing that awful hill. And ate it. And immediately started gagging. And thankfully, someone saw, and gave me a can of tecate. And that washed the bacon down.

On my last lap, they yelled out to me to GET THE MONEY! GET THE $5 BILL!
And I didn't see any bacon. So I yelled back I DON'T WANT THE MONEY, I WANT THE BACON. And lickety split a bacon bottle was set up right as I arrived and they all yelled GET THE BACON! And I got the bacon. And they cheered SHE GOT THE BACON!

(bacon pic by scotty paz)
And then I put the bacon in my shorts. And I finished my last lap with bacon in my shorts.

Tissington Trail short walk

Walk on 13 August late afternoon.



We walked from the Hartington Station car park north along the Tissington Trail as far as Parsley Hay, then we turned back, and took the High Peak Trail which goes off to the left.

We walked under the A515 and took a farm track to the right, which crosses the A515 before reaching the minor road a short distance from our starting point.



The High Peak Trail follows the old Cromford and High Peak Railway, which was one of the earliest railways in the country, opening in 1830.




Astone plaque inscribed with the crest of the C&HPR, a four-wheeled wagon on a shield with the motto "Davina Palladis Arte", the whole surrounded by a garter reading "Cromford & High Peak Railway Comp'y Incorporated 1825". Above this are the words "Jos.s Jessop,Esq. Engineer". There is a better picture in the link to the CPHR.

Back to the beginning



and by car to the Manifold Inn, Hulme End for Barry's Birthday meal!

New Detour, Mana-Swamp Update

Dropped the car at Lyle's for a wheel sensor problem. Killed time at Xtreme Wheels until time to take a bike ride. Still had the hardtail at the shop, so just changed clothes and hopped on the bike.
Rode past the Wabash Trace Trailhead over toward Mosquito Creek. At the end of E. South Omaha Bridge Road I encountered some new construction. Appears they are creating a gravel detour - see photo.
Wind was from the NNE. "Flew" down the Lake Manawa Trail along the creek. Rode on over to the mountain bike trail area. Sections of the trails there are still under water.
However, West Sidewinder was high and dry. Took a spin on that trail. Encountered a couple branches over the trail that will need to be cleared. Trail surface of this trail is dry and dusty.

It will probably be at least a week until the river subsides. Then still longer until the trail dries out and can be ridden.
From the MtB trails, rode around Lake Manawa, up Indian Creek to S. 16th. (The bridge over Indian Creek is still closed for redecking - at least during the day.) At that time, received the call that my car was ready. Continued the ride into town to Lyle's.
A good 15 miles ride in 80 degree temps. Great way to end March.

Ginger Lemonade

Ugh. That's 43°C outside, 26°C inside.
Healthy Chef Alex's Sweet Ginger Lemonade (Serves 4)
4 cups filtered water
4 Tbsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 Tbsp. fresh squeezed ginger juice
2 Tbsp. raw honey
You're supposed to make the ginger juice by grating fresh ginger and squeezing the pulp with your hand. Then you're supposed to simmer everything together until the honey is melted. Of course this makes warm lemonade, and if you want cool lemonade like most rational people, you have to wait for it to chill.
I'm glad to have gotten the recipe from Healthy Chef Alex, but this is how I really make it:
Karen's Quick and Dirty Ginger Lemonade (Serves 1)
(When you're in a hurry and don't have time to worry with all that)
2 Tbsp bottled lemon juice
2 Tbsp sugar
3/4 cup tap water
Small amount (to taste) bottled minced ginger
Stir it all up, and plunk in a few ice cubes. No waiting.
The amount of ginger you have to use is miniscule. The ginger I linked to is so fine that it practically dissolves.

A Real Life Visit

Today was a good day - actually any day when I see MSS of Zanthan Gardens is a good day! She came over for a few hours this afternoon bearing Japanese sweets, ready for conversation and garden viewing - mostly through glass. I tried to impress her with a salad containing some of our homegrown tomatoes and basil as we sat at the kitchen table and looked out the window to the fountain, where a constantly changing cast of avian characters acted out small dramas and comedies on themes of status, dominance and impudence. MSS took a photo of the view and posted it on Twitter.

We talked about the upcoming Austin Pond Society Tour that we all look forward to each July.
It will be hot this weekend when we're on the tour, but since the waterlilies are happiest in sun and warmth, like the Mad Dogs and Englishmen in Noel Coward's song we'll go out in the midday sun, hoping to catch some mist from the waterfalls on our faces. Tickets are only $15 - and for that price you get two days full of wonderful water features - don't miss it!
A hummingbird visited the Salvia coccinea while we ate our international snack of tomatoes and basil and soba cookies and talked and talked... about birds and weddings, journeys and parents, movies and restaurants... we may have even mentioned a few flowers. Unfortunately the sun had already wilted the flower I'd most wanted her to see! This morning a young Bauhinia from my friend Ellen opened its first white flowers but they were merely withered petals by mid-afternoon. From our air-conditioned seats we could see the fountain, and the back border, and the magnolia flowers, and the two triangle beds but we had to go outside to look at some other just-opened flowers. I planted two Amarcrinum bulbs along the back wall of the house a few years ago. This border gets strong morning sun but is shaded in the hot afternoon. I was pretty sure this was a good spot when one bulb bloomed last summer. This year that bulb came up with two tufts of leaves, and each tuft has made a flower stalk. Today the other bulb joined in and bloomed for the first time. One stem of delicate pink trumpets would be very welcome this year - a trio of these fragrant lovely flowers was totally unexpected. There was another plant blooming for the first time - one that was impossible for MSS to overlook before she said goodbye. Former Garden blogger MarthaChick was responsible for this show - she'd shared some Crocosmia bulbs in spring of ... In the hot sunny border along the fence this flower looks perfect with a background of Setcresia/Purple Heart.

Geckers

Geckie loves her (very fancy) humid-hide. It's filled with moist sphagnum moss and helps her shed her skin.





Plus I think she just likes the getaway. She's still not eating much though.
Click the pictures for larger leopard gecko-ness.
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Did you see the Friday Ark?

Lift-Off!

Check out these Bald Eagle shots I captured on my way to Grand Marais this morning. I was heading in early for a clinic appointment (tested postitive for strep throat... bummer!) when I saw this Eagle perched in a tree that was on the verge of falling over. These photos are proof positive that it always pays to have your camera gear in the car with you, and in this case, to have some extra time. I was traveling about 15 minutes early for my appointment so when I saw this Eagle I had plenty of time to pull over, walk down on the beach and get some pictures of him.

Speak Softly...

... and annihilate evil with... well, could there be anything more effective than Mr. Stick?

Glen Canyon NRA - Alstrom Point

I wasn't really looking forward to today, since the forecast was calling for some pretty miserable weather all day. That's just how it started out, too. I stayed in Kanab, Utah last night and when I woke this morning it was going back and forth between rain and snow. When I got in the car and decided to head towards Page, Arizona it was hailing... actually more like kind of a slush coming down. Kanab isn't a very big town, and by the time I drove from one side of town to the other my car was covered in this hail/slush mix and I had to pull over to clear my wipers of the mess. Once I got a few miles outside of town, the clouds parted and the sun came out. It was sunny and warm (65 to 70 degrees) the rest of the day!

On my way out of town I stopped at the Kanab visitor center for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. I ran into a very helpful older man with a white beard who has lived in the Page/Kanab area for the past 30 years. I told him I was interested in trying to get to Alstrom Point on Lake Powell, but wasn't sure of the way since the route is off the main roads. He gave me directions on how to get there and we visited for quite a while about other areas of interest as well. Once I had my fill of local knowledge, I thanked him and headed for Page and Lake Powell.

For those of you who might not know, Lake Powell is a man-made lake, created from the construction of the Glen Canyon dam in Page, Arizona. The dam is in Arizona, but the majority of the lake lies in Utah. Lake Powell and the surrounding land makes up what is known as the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. There are a couple of marinas on the lake, and houseboating is big business there. If you drive near the main marina you can see row after row of houseboats.

I spent a good part of the day just exploring the part of the lake that is right near Page. It certainly is a beautiful area... I could easily see myself living here. I wanted to shoot the sunset from Alstrom Point, and based on my "local knowledge", when 5:30 rolled around I figured I better get started on those backroads to get to the point. My directions told me it was about 25 miles to the point, which turned out to be spot-on. My GPS read 25.2 miles once I got there. I was told the way would be "relatively" easy so long as the clay portion of the road was dry. And it was, for the most part. There was only one section about 100 feet long that was a little bit wet but my Honda Element made it through without any problem, although not before flinging up a decent amount of mud and getting my car good and dirty.

Alstrom Point was sublime. I chose to walk the last mile and a half or "road" which went right out onto the point itself. I could have driven it, but it was easier to walk. The road at that point was more suited for a high-clearance Jeep. The sunset turned out to be the best one of the trip so far. The rocks seemed to glow as the light hit them, and the clouds were vibrant hues of pink and blue. After this amazing light show was over, I ate my Subway sandwich that I had brought along for supper, then opened the rear hatch on my car and rolled my sleeping bag out on the floor. I camped in the car for the night, since I didn't feel like driving back out on that road in the dark. It was a wonderful night and it was warm enough that I left the hatch open while I slept (no bugs here.... yay!!!!!), with the warm Arizona breeze keeping me company all night long.