Sunday, December 30, 2012

It's that castle


Yes, it's Eilean Donan Castle, recognisable across the world from many a shortbread tin in duty free shops. We didn't visit, I have to admit. We had already 'done' Cawdor Castle a couple of days previously, to come in a future post, and we were keen to cross over to Skye. But if you want more detail, Eilean Donan has its own website, cottage for rent, blog and Facebook page. I think I should compile a list of things from modern life that the first occupants of Scottish castles might have liked to have (F16 fighters, Facebook...).
We did take the bridge to Skye, I admit. The last time I crossed to the island was by ferry, but now there's a concrete curve of a bridge linking the island with the mainland. Much debate for and against, which I'm not going to get into here. But we came back by ferry, delightfully, and it's that short sea crossing we'll remember.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

My Cottage Has A Name

I'd been playing around with the idea of a name for our place ever since we moved here three years ago. We'd never named any of our four previous house-and-gardens, but living here felt different. Was it the single-story cottage-style house that called for a name? Are there too many English novels on my bookshelf? Perhaps it was the combination of a long, covered front porch and an enclosed fenced garden with a wooden gate?
Last spring inspiration struck, and my intention was to paint the name on the top board of the green bench in the new Pink Entrance Garden, take a photo and write a post about it. The paints sit unused next to sketches and print-outs of fonts, so there's no decorated bench to photograph as yet, but Carol at May Dreams has asked if our garden & house has a name, and my answer is Yes! In October .. we bought a 'Forest Pansy' redbud tree for the shaded area at the far right of the front yard - the photo at the top of the page shows the newly planted sapling. After a few rough summers our young tree is becoming established, and so is the American Beautyberry/Callicarpa americana to its left in the photo above.
In .. we bought a Texas Redbud/Cercis canadensis var. texensis and planted it to the far left of the front yard, then added the Pink Entrance Garden this spring:
Because we lost a tree this year - the immense Arizona Ash of my YouTube song- we decided to plant a new tree in the left center of the front yard. It seemed like fate at work when we walked into a local nursery right after some small trees of the white version of the Texas Redbud were delivered. I'd always wanted a Whitebud!

So here we have them, left, right and center - three Redbuds chosen from the genus Cercis, growing in the garden of someone who loves to sprinkle her pages with botanical Latin ... what else could the name be but

What do you think?? Is it a keeper? Maybe I'll get around to painting the name on the bench one of these days. Every circus needs a Sideshow, so step right up to the obelisk and see the moonflower in close-up just before dark:

In the daytime the Butterfly Peas open blue flowers, with the long white buds of the Moonvine poised to work the night shift.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Mountain mist



Climbing a mountain into the mist is always an interesting experience. There almost seems to be a process that must be followed. First the mist is admired from afar, then the climb begins in earnest, you gradually close in on the mist, before realising that it wasn't really that high after all. Thus it was on this morning's ride to Binna Burra. In truth, the mist commenced at around 475 metres above sea level -- not a huge amount, and yet it seemed so high at the start of the day's ride.
The flood damage was considerably less on the range, predictably, than it had been in Tallebudgera Valley the previous morning. That said, an additional 24 hours to start the clean up always makes these differences appear greater than they actually are. Nevertheless, it made for a spectacular ride, as I climbed through mist on the way to the summit of Mt Roberts, before the clouds lifted, and the mountain views opened up on the return. I did manage the detour along the western spur of the range which is now becoming mandatory on that ride. Once again, it was spectacular.
The only downside to the day was yet another flat tyre, my third of the year (there was another yesterday), about 2km from home on the return. At this rate I'm well and truly on course to beat last year's tally of 28 by the end of February. It's probably Murphy's law that I should have a run just after my high-powered pump refused to work, but it seems the no-name pump that I bought in Scotland has a few tricks that I wasn't aware of (hardly surprising as it didn't come with instructions). The extendable stem means that I'm now able to pump with literally twice the power that I had thought, and this makes the job of reinflating tyres so much easier and more efficient.
I've also made some on-line equiries, and should have a replacement camera in use at some point this week. The first objective will be to retrieve the pictures from Saturday's ride.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Sunrise at Indian Creek Bridge



With temperature reaching 100+ in the afternoon, I continue riding at about sunrise. Sunday I took the day off. Breakfast at Panera Bread and back home to bask in the AC.

This morning, I was not sure about riding. Weather.com was showing already over 80, buy did not feel that warm when i stuck my head out the door. In fact, the thermometer on the car was showing 70 as I drove to the trailhead.

I was out from the Wabash Trace Trailhead at 6am. Caught this photo when i stopped at Indian Creek Bridge for hydration. From there, I continued the loop around Lake Mamawa. Added a side section to the North side boat ramp.

The air had one of those "clammy" feeling. Knew it was going to be a humid day. Parking lot had many more cars when I got back. Others out to break the heat. Ended up with 11.8 miles at 11.2 mph. Happy with the ride.

Quote of the Day


"We write to taste life twice," Anais Nin wrote, "in the moment and in retrospection."

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Why We Buy (George money)


My new favorite t-shirt.
It's wrinkled, because I had to dig into the dirty clothes for it. I guess I should be ashamed of such a slipshod photo, but I couldn't convince myself to iron a dirty shirt.
One of these days I suppose I ought to start acting my age. I imagine even now, people point and whisper behind my back. Since my hearing's not what it once was, I just don't notice it.
Will I still be wearing zombie t-shirts when I'm 60? I don't know, maybe. I don't have any children to embarrass, so it's likely.
One of my friends calls the upcoming US tax rebate her George money. We plan to be good citizens and help the economy, by spending our George money instead of saving it. (Uh-huh.)
I started a little early. I've bought this zombie shirt and pre-ordered the new Charlaine Harris book. I'm already listening to my new REM CD. (I slipped up and bought a Teddy Thompson CD too, before I realized that he's British. To be a solid citizen, I should concentrate on US products only I guess.)
I also ordered this Zebra/UPC t-shirt but haven't received it yet.
I plan on buying a coffee press.
I want Annie to throw me a few bowls (if she ever gets around to pottery again).
Mmm, what else?
I've been meaning to read This Republic of Suffering and Peter Sagal's book. I want all of Elizabeth Dewberry's books. (Ack! Elizabeth Dewberry, you are brilliant, but you really need a website.)
When I told my husband I might spend all my George money on books and CDs, he thought I was kidding, and laughed.
What are you doing with your George money?
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The shirt is all Twinks' fault, by the way. I'd never have know about shirt.woot if I hadn't read about her Nessie shirt. I have a feeling I'll be spending lots of money there in the future.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Heading Home


Well, it was a GREAT reunion. Good to see all the guys and wives, welcome to the first timers. Lots of wet eyes with the "good-byes".
I would not resist making at least one more ride on the Santos trail system. After checking in a hotel in Ocala, lunch, and a nap - I was ready to go. Explored some more trails. Really likes Twister.
Now - I will see how I feel and what the weather looks like -- perhaps a morning ride before heading back on the road.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Where did these come from?


First of all, some quick web surfing the other night revealed that another blog, cfsmtb, is currently linking to this page. Actually, that blog has quite a few interesting cycling tidbits from Melbourne, and would be quite an interesting read for anyone with a spare few minutes. I should probably take this opportunity to ask if there are any other cycling bloggers out there who have linked to this page and want me to reciprocate.
Something else I'm wondering, is who managed to snap this picture of Dubya in this particular pose?

Someone as cynical as myself might suggest that it's entirely appropriate, given one or two polices that have surfaced in that particular part of the world in recent years.