One Thing After Another

I've been trying to get to my blog, really I have, but one thing after another has happened and my little space has gone empty. The truth is, I'm just not as fast as I once was, tasks seem to take longer, or I make silly mistakes that cost me time. For instance, earlier today I headed to the post office to mail a few packages, one domestic, and two international. I'd addressed them yesterday while waiting on our lunch guests and thought I'd gotten them right. Somehow, while filling out the customs forms, I thought I'd left off the postal code on the one heading to London. Duh! Texting Matt, I awaited his reply, although I knew it might be delayed as he was probably at work. Leaving the post office to visit Maureen, I vowed to return once he got back with me. He did, and I did. To make this long story short, it was on the envelope all of the time!!! Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself!

Speaking of Maureen, and I so wanted to write about this immediately, when I visited last week there was such a pleasant surprise, something I don't type lightly as that sort of thing has been few and far between. Anyway, an entertainer arrived with his electric guitar, amp, and prerecorded music. What he lacked in musical talent, he more than made up for with his ability to connect with the residents, some of whom I've never before seen awake.

See the bright green shirted fellow at the end of the table? He sang along with every song! As did Maureen, who is pictured below in the plaid blouse.

He worked the crowd, going right up to them while singing his heart out. And then there were the nurses and aides who were dancing away.

In my year of visiting I've never seen everyone so engaged, which really made my heart soar. His rendition of "Red, Red, Wine" got everyone who could, tapping their toes, and "Oh Susannah" was a sing along favorite. They loved "Jailhouse Rock" too. Oh friends, the power of music is really something, isn't it?

As promised, the new car which Bruce just loves for all sorts of reasons.

The church is decorated,

as is the complex.

One afternoon I was one of several volunteers putting out 100 poinsettias around the grounds.

That is Susan, our association president who is a tireless worker, and in fact, had so much to do, she asked if I would take over the Resident Relations committee to which I could not find a way to say no. More on that in a minute.

Must have been this same afternoon that Bruce asked if I wanted to get our tree. Hopping in the car, we went down the street to our usual place, only to discover the trees, unlike last years beauty, were small and spotty because all the good ones had already been purchased! December 3, mind you. By that I mean more open spaces in the tree than is ideal. We went to another lot where the prices were out of our range. Think $150 for a seven foot tree that will be trashed in weeks. Not happening for this frugal couple. Returning to where we began, I chose a tree that I thought I might have to call my Charlie Brown tree.

Spending a night in water, first thing in the morning it looked like the above. An example of things taking way longer, the tree was finally ready to be plugged in, and not so bad after all.

A gazillion lights works wonders! Bruce got us all fancy outdoors.

Perhaps you notice the branches on our little tree on the left? My word has that thing grown like mad. My theory is that with the floodlight hitting it all night long it is as if it is on light steroids! From upstairs you can see how it has almost filled the space in eight short months!

On our way home from church one day we came across this cool mural, meeting the artist who was still working on a wall around it.

Another thing I've been wanting to share is a sighting of a lone duck in Lake Davis, one that I first saw in Vancouver. What do you suppose it is called?

If you guessed Goldeneye, you would be correct! I saw droves of them in Vancouver, but as far as I can remember, this sighting is a first for me here. Let's see, the photo below is not so much about the tree as it is about my exciting, at least to me, little vase collection with the morning sun streaming through.

What can I say except that I'm a simple girl who delights in the ordinary.

Friday evening I learned that our friend Sue was in town, just down the street at Johnny's Filling Station, and wanted us to come up and see her. You may recall that I was sad that she was moving to Lakeside, Montana, near Glacier National Park. Sad for me, glad for her. Anyway, in a rare nighttime outing, we popped over and I hit the dance floor with Kathy and Sue, pictured on the right.

Let me tell you, that place was hopping, with old folks like us who rarely get to dance anymore! The band was pretty good too.

During the week I was also busy with party preparations, one morning taken up by buying table lanterns, checking into the office to see how our RSVPs were going, and stressing over the quantity of food and beverages to purchase. Plus we were having a toy drive for a worthy cause, Nathanial's Hope; in lieu of charging admission, we wanted gifts for the needy. Some were dropped off at the office,

while others were brought to the party. As well, we wanted folks to bring an appetizer to share. Saturday Bruce asked how he could help, other than pick up the ice and chicken, which was huge already. I sent him into our kitchen to make some salami rolls, an old family favorite.

Rarely does Bruce make food, but when he does, you just know it will be perfect. The big bucket of pretzels were used as a method to see if there was enough horseradish in the mix. In Bruce's mind, there can never be enough!

Five o'clock rolled around and the tables were set, the coolers filled with beer and water, the DJ was in place and Michelle had all new decorations. People began arriving in absolute perfect weather.

There were 76 folks who said they were coming, and I think we got around that number, although I never counted. I have a great group of ladies who all pitched in, Patti, Michelle, Ellen and Jennifer. You know the saying, "many hands make light work" and that definitely held true on this night.

There was even a beautiful sunset.

How can this be? Two nights in a row of dancing? Loved it! Even more than I loved dancing myself, watching Matt and Violet take to the dance floor--now that was a blast. He asked me if I wanted to see his dance moves and naturally I emphatically replied yes!

All in all, it seemed to have gone smoothly. 

And then it was time to get ready for some Canadian friends who were coming for lunch on Monday while they were here for the day. I made a very old sugar cookie recipe which, much to my delight, suffered not from any of my silly mistakes. Taco salad was good too. Following lunch we walked around the grounds, ending up in our little back yard (if you will), where they agreed to a photograph with their favorite American project manager! That would be Zarita on the left, and Beth on the right, two ladies who were so good to me during our stay in their beautiful city.

With the Christmas cards nearly (finally!) done, it is time for me to gather some of the stored party items and return them to the office. Can't wait to learn what our final toy count was.

I'll let you know.

your friend,

Gail

p.s. I wanted to give a shout out regarding a new author to me...Nickolas Butler whose book, Little Faith was gentle and good. Thought provoking as well. If you enjoyed Marilynne Robinson's, Gilead, I think you will like him as well. He's not as remarkable an author as she is, but he's good in my eyes.

Welcome to November!

If someone were to have told me six months ago that I would voluntarily go out in miserable weather, frankly, I would have thought they did not know me very well. Look who is eating crow now.

Me, that's who! I am learning the value of layering. I am also learning that there is no getting dressed in a hurry, unless you, like me, leave your pajama top on, throw on some jeans, jacket and shoes and take your dog downstairs as fast as possible upon first rising. I miss Bruce when he is gone for many reasons, one of which is his taking Baxter down first thing, wearing sandals no less.

Zarita guaranteed me that it would rain every single day in November, and although that hasn't been entirely true, it has not been too far off. Not rain like we get in Florida, I really think you have to experience it firsthand to understand how it is different. This week, particularly Monday and Tuesday, the wind has been super strong as well, knocking down more leaves than you can shake a stick at. The park lawn, from twenty floors above, looks as if it were strewn with confetti.

On Monday morning I walked to DressSew for Christmas ornament inspiration. I found none. Perhaps I'm thinking too ambitiously regarding our tree? From there I walked to Michael's on Alberni Street for the same thing, the route taking me by the Convention Center, and I thought this picture would give you a notion of what the sky is like with the clouds hanging so low.

I understand that blue sphere-like sculpture is meant to represent a rain drop. But, of course. Michael's was the same so I just came on home. Fortunately I got home before the rain began again!

Waking up to more of the same on Tuesday, I could have stayed home and brooded. Instead, after having a good conversation with Pam, followed by some texting with Sally, I readied myself for going out in the weather. Sally had sent me a picture of a bird, which made me seriously want to find some birds of my own, and the only ones, aside from crows and seagulls, that I thought I knew about were some Wood Ducks I'd seen in Stanley Park. So, I put on my super warm tights, jeans, a blouse followed by a super warm pullover, followed by my rain jacket, followed by a semi-waterproof coat. Socks and water proof shoes and I was ready to go. I nearly forgot the gloves I packed, as well as my new wool felt hat. All ready to brave the elements!!

Beginning my walk along the seawall, I was nearly a solitary figure out there. But wait...what am I seeing in the water? Holy Cow, some super cool ducks!

And lots of them!! That will get a bird lover excited, seeing a new type of water fowl. I only learned what kind they were when I returned home...more about that later.

See, nobody else was crazy enough to be out walking! Just me and the seagulls.

Crossing the street just before the park entrance, well, need I even remark on this photograph?

The rain may be a nuisance, but it sure makes the colors pop under the dim light! Who doesn't love a bush covered in red berries?

After entering the park, what should I see? Why, a film shoot of course! Three giant tents and tons of trucks clued me in that something was up.  On sidewalk and muddy paths, I made my way to the pond with the little bridge over it. Guess what? Not a duck to be found. Standing there in the drizzly rain, very disappointed, that is until, oh my goodness, a whole bunch of songbirds appeared, most of which I did not recognize. So, new ducks, and now new birds, what more could a girl ask for?  As they were flitting around me, and in some cases right at me, I tried to get some shots that weren't blurry from either their movement, or mine. I never could get a perfect one of this little cutie that I've now learned is a Black Capped Chickadee.

As I was looking and shooting, to and fro, all of a sudden this guy appeared below the bridge!

Meanwhile birds are landing on the bridge on the top rail and I'm, well, you guessed it, excited AND wet. Not really wet, because of all of my precautions, but let's face it, I'm not used to this kind of weather. So the raccoon heads back to the den, and I keep setting the ISO (film speed) higher, finally getting one shot I was most happy with. I learned from Pam that this beautiful bird is a Spotted Towhee.

Eventually I had had enough fun, making my way home during intermittent rain. Some folks might call it trudging. :) By the time I got upstairs, Baxter was just fine, not wet, but ready to go downstairs. That's how it works, I go out for a while, come in, put my bag down, and we head to the elevator. I think the medicine is doing its magic as he's only had about one wet pad since we started on Monday night. That is some good news!

Wednesday morning, after a night of rain pelting the windows along with the banners on the bridge snapping in the wind, around 8:00, it suddenly stopped. Well, after throwing out about seventy photos from the previous day, I had to make a return visit in the subdued sunshine. Putting on a similar amount of clothes, I headed to the seawall, where today there were others who were taking advantage of a little sunshine. I was hoping to get a better shot of those cool ducks, and my hopes were completely realized!

Now you can see why they are called Common Goldeneye Ducks. As well, I'd read that although the male's head looks black from afar, it really is a dark iridescent green, that I hope you can see for yourself. The female, as is so common in the avian family, is way more subdued, but pretty nonetheless. I probably saw a hundred or more before my walk was over. Call me smitten.

I am way over seagulls, but this shot with one about to land was pretty neat.

Tracing my steps from the previous day, I walked on concrete paths as well as grass, taking a somewhat diagonal route, and look what I came across. Crazy wet tail, don't you agree?

The closer I got to the pond, the happier I was, thinking it would be a cinch today, what with more light, and the camera settings already in place for action. Except, when I arrived there was nary a bird. Not one. Well, drat!! Standing there quietly, I kept hoping to hear some bird chattering or movement in the bushes. Just as I was ready to give up, lo and behold, I spotted a Towhee who instead of flitting around, posed for me.

Such a little fatty! Now I could make out how complex the feather pattern is, with multiple shades on the head, with those cute spots and white on the tail feathers.

Then, of course, there is the orange color. :)

There are actually two bridges in that area, one wooden, and one sort of a concrete arch type, and it was while I was standing on the concrete one, when what to my wondering eyes should appear, but birdies right next to me.

I have no idea what the one above is, nor really, do I know the one below, that looks super cute from the side,

and oh so amazing from the back. Those rows and rows of feathers!

As you can imagine, I was thrilled to see the little ones, but I still wasn't ready to give up on the Wood Ducks while it was still relatively sunny, albeit with temperatures in the middle 40's. I might has well have given up because I saw none even after walking down to the Lagoon, however, on my walk back towards the pond, I saw a cute little finch hopping amongst the garden debris.

Do you ever wonder how I choose what photographs to put on my blog? Sometimes it is because a story can be woven around them, but in the case of the finch, the bird clarity is not great, however,  I just loved all the natural textures and the cool color on the leaves. So, in a nutshell, sometimes it is because I just happen to like the photo, hoping you do as well.

Crossing some grassy areas, I thought since we'd seen the black squirrel, we might just as well see the ones that are similar to those back home.

Prior to yesterday, I had not gone down to the seawall in this area known as Second Beach, but now I have, taking the pictured steps down. Who does not love a windy staircase, pray tell?

I was getting a wee bit anxious as the cloud cover began to mount, so after admiring another fifty or so of those cool ducks, I began the walk towards home. There are fallen leaves just about everywhere, including amongst the beachside rocks.

Occasionally, a photographic opportunity presents itself and you never really know how it will turn out. In this instance, I was intrigued with the color of the fading hydrangea bloom and I have to say, I'm quite happy with the results. Isn't it such a lovely shade of green?

Walking home along Beach Avenue, I brought my camera out, trying to show you how neat this little tunnel of yellow is to walk through, when some young men behind me stopped, allowing me to take my shot. After explaining my thoughts, they both immediately brought out their phones to try and do likewise.

Finally, as I neared the condo, these fallen leaves, turned over by the wind and rain, were just waiting to be documented. Again, sometimes it is that kind of inspiration that can yield big results.

Looking through my photographs, trying to pick thirteen for my annual calendar, I was amazed to learn that fall colors began about mid-September, and although lots are now in compost heaps somewhere, there are still pockets of color just waiting to have their picture made.

And I know just the gal to do it!!

yours truly,

Gail