Book Related Stuff

This blog is so cool! It shows people reading in subways and the names of their books. I was surprised by the depth of their reading materials; lots of philosophy and other weighty matters.
Don't you just love this poster? Our children were always putting on plays and dressing up based on the characters in whatever they were reading at the time. We have the cutest videos of their antics! They did it all themselves. All I did was provide the books and costumes.
I'm finishing up an audio book today that I've really enjoyed, Mark Twain's A TRAMP ABROAD. He's a hoot. I love the story he tells about trying to use a glacier as a mode of conveyance. He figured out at their present rate of travel, they would arrive at their destination in the year 2046! So he decides that a glacier isn't a very efficient mode of transportation. I laughed my way all through the book.
I'm aiming to finish up QUEEN LUCIA by E.F. Benson by Saturday night. Here's another really funny book. I've already watched the Mapp and Lucia series from Netflix, so I have the characters in my head. Usually this isn't a good thing, but in this case it adds to my enjoyment of the book. Thanks, Angie! You always told me how good they were and you were right! I'm going to read them all.
Here's the link for the blog above: http://undergroundnewyorkpubliclibrary.com/About

Soaperrific

I run a small handmade soap business. Once a year, Alabama soapmakers convene for education, shopping, gabbing, and eating too much. This is known as the "big meeting". There are regional lunch meetings throughout the year, as well as a large social gathering in January. It's a friendly bunch. We started out many years ago as a group of strangers on the internet, and have now become so much more than just colleagues.

We are fragrance junkies.

There's always lots of stuff to spend money on.

We teach each other how to make things.

Vendors provide samples, catalogs, and door prizes.
The unofficial uniform includes overalls, pearls, and a tiara...

Not your run of the mill overalls.
The pearls and tiara are optional for men. We have had a few male members in the past, but somehow we've managed to run them all off.

Subject choice

The first of the 'last times' that is going to be a feature of the next 15 months. My daughter has just chosen her subjects for her last year at school. This is the 'subject choice form' which lists the subjects on offer, in separate columns to avoid timetable clashes. The school offers a huge range of subjects at the most advanced level, Advanced Higher, and also at the two lower levels of Higher and Intermediate 2 for those who want to take up a new subject at a manageable level and gain a qualification after only one year of study in their last year of school. There are also a few subjects such as Music and Art which offer the English qualifications of A level and Advanced Subsidiary. (Snappy names, eh?) Despite this variety, if you look at the close-up below you'll see that we have encountered the dreaded clash.

Column 4 is the only column which has Advanced Higher Music, but it also contains Advanced Higher History, another desired choice. Fortunately the school has been able to put in place a creative work-around. Not bad with 230 students in the year group. Her other choice, Modern Studies, is really social and political studies. I don't know why they don't just call it that.

Easy Street

Today it was Easy Street - the trail named Easy Street. Its a green trail in the Mahnomen Unit of Cuyuna Country SRA. Easy Street is a "2-way" trail. I rode (walked) the trail from E to W.
The trailhead is near the Pennington Lake parking lot (0.1 mile North of the lot). For nearly 1/2 mile, the trail climbs the "mountain" of overburden. Riders are treated views of Huntington Lake from most of the length of the trail.
After cresting the trail climb, the trail was a nice, flowing trail with short ups and downs. The trail turns away from the lake and the singletrack ended at a gravel road. Its about 1/4 mile down the road to the Boot Camp parking lot.
After the 1.8 miles on the singletrack, I was not ready to re-ride Easy Street on the way back to the car. While i had thought about riding Boot Camp again, I had enough of singletrack for this ride.
The Cuyuna Lakes State Trail - a paved bike trail - runs on the South side of Huntingtom Lake. A relaxing ride back to the car on the paved trail. Round trip - 4 miles.
The photo above is the view from East Street. More photos are on my fb page. Eventually, photos will be posted on my web site.

Falling in the Woods

Falling in the Woods, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

The recent heavy rains have filled up the creeks with water. This small waterfall is in Las Trampas Regional Park, a 5300-acre wilderness close by. It's amazing how green and lush it is up in the wooded canyons of the park...ferns and mosses coat every surface!

Show Set-up

Made it to Greenfield with my photos. One casualty - one glass was cracked. Will have the replace that.
Met a couple of the folks with the Opera House. Visited with a local reporter from one of the local newspapers. Hope the show goes well.
Now, if the weather cooperates, I will ride when I get home. Would also be nice to ride the Raccoon Trail later this weekend when I had back toward Greenfield for the show opening.

Peebles Highland Games

The highland games season is drawing to a close. Peebles was lucky last weekend to have glorious sunshine for its games. The pipe band competition is a major part of the Peebles games, and these photos are courtesy of my daughter, who was there to support her school band - George Watson's College.
Before heading into the arena to play, the pipes have to be tuned. Here's the school band tuning up. Notice the electronic tuner being held up to one of the drones.

Over 200 students learn piping or drumming at the school, feeding in to the three bands. They enjoy huge success, winning World championships and touring to Japan every year.
The kilt is no obstacle to whizzing down the inflatable slide if you're one of the younger band members:

When the competition part of the games is over, the bands process through Peebles with their trophies carried before them. Another successful outing for the school by the look of it.

A sea of pipes and drums:

Lake Powell Sunset - Alstrom Point

Yesterday we ventured out along the backroads of Southern Utah to watch the sunset over Lake Powell at Alstrom Point. This point is easily one of the most spectacular views of Lake Powell. It is also a very remote area, which means there is very little traffic. In fact, last night we were the only two people out there. We saw a couple of cars along the road on the way out to the point, but once we got to the point we had it to ourselves. The sunset light here is absolutely magical. As the sun begins to set the buttes begin to glow and if there is no wind (like last night) you get some really nice reflections in the water. Not an easy place to get to, but definitely worth the effort.
Below: Here I am earlier in the day taking in the view from Alstrom Point. Photo by Roger Nordstrom.

Making a Mountain Out of a Molehill

How Do You Do? Nice Day!

Did you hear a noise? If I look this wayCan you look that way?Did you see anything, Old Boy?There it is again.What is that man doing in my field?I say - You...yes...you!Clearing the field, tidying the molehills!

Thank-you for making a mountain

(of lovely graded-grains soil)

out of your molehills

Mr Mole.





It is time to get busy with the seedlings!

Harrington circular

Barry led this. With Maureen and Gordon. Grey morning, but we escaped the rain. Just over seven and a half miles.





We set off from Harrington, near the pump, just opposite the area called the Falls, as we did last time. I had hoped for bright sun, so that I could capture the contours better, but the weather wasn't playing ball.





Shaggy ink cap fungus and others in the Falls field, Harrington.Some lettering on the brick built overflow bridge for Newbottle bridge.





Newbottle Bridge -there was once a village - the only evidence is some humps and bumps in a field and this bridge over the River Ise.

A rather well-hidden stile

Inquisitive cows with Desborough (?) in the background.

A slightly overgrown path leads back towards Harrington.





Wildlife spotted - one high speed fox crossing between two hedges with the white tip of its brush clearly visible.