Frozen Lily Pond

We had our first freeze of the Winter season. Except, technically, it is still Fall. I guess mother nature has her own internal clock that does not match up to our man made calendars.  I didn't mind. It was kind of nice to cuddle up in the house with blankets, hot tea, and a good book.

I did get some cool pictures of the lily pond. Too bad they didn't have a chance to bloom this year. I'm curious to see what will happen in the seasons to follow, how this pond freeze will effect their regeneration.

lillies trapped in the ice

air bubbles in ice

yen and yang of the thaw

pond crater

ice circles

looks cold in there

Being Squirrely

On weekend mornings I make coffee, feed the dog, curl up on the couch with my cup of joe and stare out the window into my front yard to watch the day unfold. The following pictures are what happend on one such morning all in the span of about thirty seconds. Why didn't I take a video... I don't know...it all happened so fast, and I was laughing to hard to think about it, I guess.

I am squirrel.

I have smelled something that makes me very happy (it's not the orb - i don't know where that came from)

it's someplace at the base of this tree.

 i will pounce on it. it will be mine.

 the pouncing didn't work.

 i will use my entire little brownish grey body.

 i will roll over and over on it.

i am not satisfied.

another roll and a flip. i will attain the smell.

i'm not sure what just happened.

Because when you're lost...

...look for a landmark. The Landmark Saloon is one of my favorite Portland OR bars. It has good drinks, and a BBQ wagon in the backyard next to the fire pit. Yep! Fire pit. All of these amenities do not even compare to folks who work here. Good peeps for sure. They always make me feel like family -not just because I come here often, they treat everyone that way! The music is always live, and top notch. Growing up in Texas, I heard my share of good 'ole country music. I rebuked it in my 20's and 30's and dove head first into the mosh pits of punk in the Los Angeles music scene. Now I've slowed down a bit as I am we'll into my 40th decade (ack!), and maybe I just yearn a bit for the familiarities of home town and family, but this old country bar with its old country music has my heart at this moment in my time. 

Lily Pads - update no. 2

Well, all good things must come to an end. The water lily stayed in bloom for about 3 days, then closed up and started to sink slowly into the pond. 

death of a water lily, and a moth

I'm curious to see what fall and winter bring with this plant. It's the first water plant I've ever had, so this is a year of discovery. 

Lemoncello turns 200000

My 1986 tanish-yellow Volvo 240 wagon flipped her mileage to 200000 today. It was pretty exciting. I don't really remember the scenery for the last mile or so while it was turning from 199999. I was too busy waiting for the exact moment and just as I parked at one of my favorite places, The Landmark Saloon, it turned to 200000! Cool, huh?! I think I will take her in for an oil change just to celebrate!

Lily Pads -update!

It bloomed!!

Black Eyed Susan

When I was a kid, I would ride on the wheel well of my Mom's big yellow tractor as she mowed our pasture. Hot Texas sunshine beating down on us, leaving a trail of dust and hay. Once in a while we would come across a patch of Blacked Eyed Susan's in the path of the tractors blade. I would tap Mom on the shoulder, and she would put the tractor in neutral. I would jump down from my perch and rescue the Susan's from harms way. With one hand clutching the flowers, the other reaching for my Moms, she would sweep me back up to the wheel well. A quick smile, and we were on our way again.