Tag Archives: outdoors

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The numbers game #4

Here is my first try at Judy’s numbers game. The number is 125. I got over 300 photographs with that entry, so that’s a bit many to post. Many are of birds or our beautiful Salish Sea. And bowling, heh.

The first is from December 2018, of the ferry from Port Townsend to Whidby Island at sunrise.

Reflections off of North Beach. A storm was rolling in, but the sun was still lighting the clouds, which in turn lit the water. December 2018.

Taken at Fish Park in Poulsbo, February 2022.

Bowling, November 2021.

Napping. February 2023.

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Cat tv

The hummingbirds were very hungry in yesterday’s 17 degree weather. At first Front Anna looked disheveled and fluffed up and miserable, but she cheered up considerably after breakfast. I filled my squirrel chewed bird feeders too. I put a warm scarf on each of my desks in front and we had a nice day of cat tv. My house was built in 1930 and it is not well insulated. Usually it’s not bad, just cooler upstairs, but in this cold it comes through all the walls and windows, storms or not.

But the cats watched the feeder tv quite happily. I took them out in harnesses and they decided to come back in quite soon. I don’t think they minded the snow, but they did not like the cold at all.

And the sun came out.

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Bonfire metabolism

We are having our first real cold snap, with snow and lots of accidents two evenings ago. We have Anna’s hummingbirds, who can over winter. By yesterday morning, the temperature had dropped to 17 degrees F. Both of my hummingbird feeders were frozen.

I went out to wrap a hot towel around one. The front-of-the-house Anna’s buzzed me, inches from my face, to let me know she is HUNGRY and the food IS NOT AVAILABLE. The hot towel didn’t work, so I took the feeder in for a bit. She didn’t like that at all.

This looks pretty silly, but success!

The tiny feeder is one to hold in my hand. I have three, so I rotated them during the day to keep thawed food. Anna Front still spent energy chasing other hummingbirds away. She doesn’t look too upset, does she?

Anna’s hummingbird guarding her feeder and grooming in a rhododendron

The photos and video were taken through my window from my desk.

For the Ragtag Daily Prompt: bonfire.

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Teamwork

The plaque for this pollinator, the yucca moth, says that it and the yucca plant have evolved to be dependent on each other. Dependent sounds a bit worrisome. If I reframe it as teamwork, all of a sudden it sounds much better! And this is intentional pollination, which the author says is rare.

This is from the Holiday Exhibit, complete with train, at the US Botanic Gardens.

Does dependent sound more worrisome than teamwork? If so, why?

For the Ragtag Daily Prompt: pollinator.

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Mobile weather

I went for a walk yesterday evening and watched the weather just a little West of North change quickly. The lead picture was at 5:10 pm.

5:16 pm

5:18 pm

5:20 pm

5:21

5:24

I turned back towards the car at 5:27 pm.

5:39 pm

5:39 pm

It started hailing right before I got to the car. Once I was in the car, it started pouring.

For the Ragtag Daily Prompt: mobile.

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See

Elkill
I am filled with joy!
It is still dark out, early
I remember lighting a candle for you
and putting it on the porch
when we were friends
and you would come over early

I loved those times
you were a wonderful friend

but now I know what I want
wanted from you
and from others
in the past

I want to be seen and loved

I want to be seen and loved
deeply
all of me
the dark parts too
all on me

and that is why
I could love you
and my patients
and even people who hurt me
because

most people are afraid
to be seen
seen and loved
deeply
the flaws, the sad parts, the broken bits
all of it

Elkill
I am filled with joy
I know what I want
I want to be seen and loved
deeply

I do not think it will happen
on this earth with a human
though I am open, open

But the Beloved sees me
the Beloved sees me
deeply
and loves all of me
the flaws, the sad parts, the broken bits
all of me

Thank you
for helping me see you
for helping me see
what I want

I am filled with joy!

_________________________

For the Ragtag Daily Prompt: bedazzle.