Blogging has lapsed. I admit it. The new house, moving, paddling and a resurgence of summer albeit a bit late have all conspired to keep me from the keyboard.
Today is the first day blogging in the "300's" and while I still am not doing the news, I have news of my own. I have booked the flights for my next installment of travel to SE Asia. I am leaving in late January and will be gone for a full month. So, that saga continues.
Despite the absolutely momentous change the year has wrought, both on a personal and world level, I remain safely inside my no-news bubble. With less than two months until the end of the experiment I have to say that I do not miss my former day-to-day, hour-to-hour involvement in the goings on of the world. When the full year rolls around on November 13th, I do not think I will rush out to buy the NY Times.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Day # 296 Critters
Deer are liars.
I know, they are sweet looking and have convincingly large eyes, but make no mistake: they are treacherous. Last evening I found my same doe and fawn patrolling the estate. I have had gentle conversations with them about staying away from the blueberries but helping themselves to the apples. The fawn just stares at me, sneaking peeks at moms to try to figure out the cues. The doe does her "Yeah, yeah, I know, I know man, you got it..." while looking at me askance. She does her best charming deer routine and then when I go back in the house they start munching away.
To their credit, they have left my precious blueberries alone. The furry little bastards did eat my tomatoes. Who would have thought that deer would pilfer my one cultivated crop when there are apples by the dozen to be had? Right now the squirrel is going insane harvesting the walnuts behind me. Do I care? No I do not. There are lots of walnuts and the little maniac is welcome to them. But not my 'maters, dammit!
I trundled the potted tomato into the newly cleared out greenhouse in an attempt to preserve what is truly mine. Damn furry bandits. But the damage has been done. Next year, next year echoes the sorrowful cry.
Arriving home today I had to stop short in the driveway so as not to hurt the lovely little garter snake sunning itself in the early autumn warmth. Its true, my small slithering friend is sensing the waning of summer and feeling of crisp fall in the night air. I strung up the hammock today, almost predictably, between an ancient apple tree and a fence post, so I could savor the inching away of summer first hand.
My next task in tending to my tribe of critters is the filling and placing of the many bird-feeders I found whilst clearing out the aforementioned greenhouse. I have all manner of ways to make my winged friends more comfortable and well-nourished and I intend to do just that.
I know, they are sweet looking and have convincingly large eyes, but make no mistake: they are treacherous. Last evening I found my same doe and fawn patrolling the estate. I have had gentle conversations with them about staying away from the blueberries but helping themselves to the apples. The fawn just stares at me, sneaking peeks at moms to try to figure out the cues. The doe does her "Yeah, yeah, I know, I know man, you got it..." while looking at me askance. She does her best charming deer routine and then when I go back in the house they start munching away.
To their credit, they have left my precious blueberries alone. The furry little bastards did eat my tomatoes. Who would have thought that deer would pilfer my one cultivated crop when there are apples by the dozen to be had? Right now the squirrel is going insane harvesting the walnuts behind me. Do I care? No I do not. There are lots of walnuts and the little maniac is welcome to them. But not my 'maters, dammit!
I trundled the potted tomato into the newly cleared out greenhouse in an attempt to preserve what is truly mine. Damn furry bandits. But the damage has been done. Next year, next year echoes the sorrowful cry.
Arriving home today I had to stop short in the driveway so as not to hurt the lovely little garter snake sunning itself in the early autumn warmth. Its true, my small slithering friend is sensing the waning of summer and feeling of crisp fall in the night air. I strung up the hammock today, almost predictably, between an ancient apple tree and a fence post, so I could savor the inching away of summer first hand.
My next task in tending to my tribe of critters is the filling and placing of the many bird-feeders I found whilst clearing out the aforementioned greenhouse. I have all manner of ways to make my winged friends more comfortable and well-nourished and I intend to do just that.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Day # 294 Blueberries and Bugs
So it comes down to this. I know about the big fire in the Olympic National Park. I did not read or hear about it in the news. I was, however, looking down on it from the summit of Mt. Jupiter. Now that I am living the country life, far flung from the urban center, I am closer to the edge. At least the edge of the Olympics. Hiking in the Cascades will be supplanted by hiking in the land of many consonants. The Dosewallips, Hamma Hamma, Humptulips and all of the other east range rivers are going to be my playground now.
Today I paddled new waters, finding the put-in for Blake Island and the sanctuary between the northern Bremerton ferry run and the southern Southworth ferry run. Not so good being chummed by a ferry boat. They have the right-of-way tonnage.
Yesterday the coals were fired and the salmon seared, to be consumed al fresco at the gloaming of the day.
Today, apres paddle, the blueberries were harvested once again to adorn this evenings ice cream.
A grasshopper just joined me on the deck, soaking up the last sun of the three-day weekend.
I have things to thing about, an apple harvest to do something with, a fig tree that will hopefully produce fruit and a hammock to hang. Busy busy Bokononist I am. Today, exile is not so unpalatable.
Today I paddled new waters, finding the put-in for Blake Island and the sanctuary between the northern Bremerton ferry run and the southern Southworth ferry run. Not so good being chummed by a ferry boat. They have the right-of-way tonnage.
Yesterday the coals were fired and the salmon seared, to be consumed al fresco at the gloaming of the day.
Today, apres paddle, the blueberries were harvested once again to adorn this evenings ice cream.
A grasshopper just joined me on the deck, soaking up the last sun of the three-day weekend.
I have things to thing about, an apple harvest to do something with, a fig tree that will hopefully produce fruit and a hammock to hang. Busy busy Bokononist I am. Today, exile is not so unpalatable.
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