June 4th, 2010, posted in 365 Challenge, Photography, Random Musings
(June 4, 2010) – The sky is grey and cloudy, the weather forecaster says sun, and the barometer indicates storm. Your guess is as good as mine.
I do know when my Hoya is crying out for water though, it flowers because it thinks it’s going to die from lack of moisture. Neat flowers, but that sticky sap is messy. That sap probably helps them with distribution. The flowers stay on when they dry, barely clinging to the plant until something brushes up against them. I imagine they would stick to thick animal hair and be carried away. For size, each flower is approximately 15mm across once in this fully opened stage. And the scent they give off in the evening…heady!
I ended up with this plant more or less by accident. I was after a rope hoya, same family, but strange curled leaves. When the plant store called me to let me know they had one in, this was what they had, wrong plant, but I bough tit anyway. I’ve had several rope hoyas since, killed every one, but this thing just keeps on surviving. It likes where it is and I for one wont’ move it or it will probably die too. It is still living in whatever soil was in the pot when I bought it some 15+ years ago, I wouldn’t even know how to repot it since it has wound itself so fully around the wall hanger. So, here it stays. I probably should see if I can get a little bit of dirt in there though.
April 4th, 2010, posted in 365 Challenge, Photography, Random Musings
93/365 (April 3, 2010) – Part of Saturday is often spent at Granville Island, picking up some local produce, organic meats, cheeses etc. And generally roaming the Island. When the mood hits us, we’ll often stop at the Granville Island Brewery or at Bridges pub for a sleeve of Granville Island beer. Today was Bridges and a glass of winter ale. Didn’t realize that would be somewhat prophetic as I looked out the window at about 10:30pm and there was snow falling for a few minutes. It is supposed to be April ‘showers’.
I like the way the reflection worked in this photo, and the way the sunlight lights up the glass of beer that Kirk is enjoying.
March 21st, 2010, posted in 365 Challenge, Photography, The Environment
80/365 (March 21, 2010) – Early this morning (well, it felt early since we were up partying until 2am), before we got the Student Cruise underway, the clouds were thick and heavy but a splotch of sunshine lit up the water and a boat in the distance. I love these mornings, it feels like the world is still safely tucked in and those few of us out on the water on these days are lucky in our solitude. Thankfully, the clouds held their rain until later in the day after the cruise was over.
The cruise went without any hitches, although I need to tweak the course a little bit. It was the first time I’d actually been out on a boat while running it since I wrote it for the Squadron. A few little things need some attention.
Otherwise, it was a great day and there was a great BBQ afterwards. So many great volunteers in our group, some seriously great organization and great organizers.
March 2nd, 2010, posted in 365 Challenge, Photography, The Environment, Travel
61/365 (March 2, 2010) – When I lived in the North I never noticed birch trees unless I was looking for fire starter. Then I moved to the coast and suddenly noticed that there were no birch trees. You never know what you have until it’s gone?
Hanging out in Thunder Bay with my girlfriend, the birch trees were plentiful and holding their bare white branches to the clear blue sky, waiting for the warmth of spring to come before they burst forth into leaf.
Waiting……
March 1st, 2010, posted in 365 Challenge, Photography, The Environment, Travel
60/35 (March 1, 2010) – I love winter. I admit it. I’m sure I’m not a complete oddity in that. It comes from growing up in the North and then moving South to an environment that exchanges rain for snow (most of the time).
Winter brings cold, but it also clears the air, brightens up the world, and affords a sense of peace when a blanket of snow covers the ground.
No, you don’t have to shovel rain, but snow is so much more cheerful on a miserable day…at least for me.
