Monday, October 31, 2016
After a blustery night, about half the leaves are down from the maple tree, and I can see Pike's Peak again through the branches. Meanwhile, Embers has been keeping watch in the kitchen, staring at the gap under the stove. Last night I saw a mouse dash across the counter and jump down through the cold burner into the stove. I lifted the lid and filled the pan below the burners with water--It needed cleaning anyway! Mousie had gone down the vent, and did not reappear, but was probably not going... Sign in to see full entry.
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Last days of October,
... the leaves are falling fast, and the morning dawns full of pink against the brightening blue skies... https://flic.kr/p/MKuVhv start here, click left... Sign in to see full entry.
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Additions to the DressUp Box
Charlie added a few items to the DressUp Box today, something of a deed considering how crowded it is already with the costuming! He added some of his wood-working items and a couple of his stick-creatures, one of the prop Books and a leather map. There will be photos, of course, but not today. At the moment I am smelling of garage dust. While at Willowstone today, we were in line behind someone who is moving out of her booth this weekend, and offered us a free shelf unit. Big one, 6ft tall,... Sign in to see full entry.
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
The Plan
From vague and shadowy, just a notion without firm edges, I realized something today about my plan to move to New Zealand and live there, mainly. Having spent a total of 3 months there, mostly near Wellington, that's where I will start: in an area I already have some familiarity with landmarks and locations, places I didn't get enough of before, like Mount Victoria and all the trails there, and the wild and cultivated gardens of Zealandia, and all its wildlife. It was seeing an article about the... Sign in to see full entry.
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Another day closer to winter...
Autumn storm today... a little thunder, a little rain, a brightening of the colors as they are washed and wet now. It has been weeks since the last of the summer thunderstorms, and a while since the most recent grey day, that one maybe 3 weeks ago when a misty fog lasted all through one day. I'm liking this change in the weather, it's refreshing! Outside my bedroom, the maple is shades of gold and brown and even still a bit of bright green, and the ground beneath it is carpetted with the bright... Sign in to see full entry.
Sunday, October 23, 2016
ELEPHANT MAN
John Merrick was such a physically hideous child that his mother abandoned him to the workhouse when he was ~three years of age. After a few years he was sold to a freak-show, billed as the Elephant Man. He was a thing, a distortion of a human being considered unable to speak or understand, an attraction who made money for his keepers. John Merrick was nearly 20 when a doctor saw him and was professionally fascinated and rescued him to study him. He lived for the rest of his life in rooms at the... Sign in to see full entry.
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Colorado October
There isn't much of a smudge to the south, so it would be easy to believe that the fire at Junkins Creek is contained, but that's not the case. Two homes have been lost, and five other structures, and it is 0% contained at this point. Up near Castlerock, 40 miles north of the Springs, the landscape is bright with that particular autumn light that signals the change of season almost subliminally, and it's clear of haze or smoke. I spent part of the early afternoon along a walking path just... Sign in to see full entry.
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Smoke in the air again...
There's a fire burning southwest of here, ABC reports 24 square miles involved, 175 homes at risk. This one, they think, came from a spark off a construction worker's vehicle. That's how dry it has been here, that a little spark has the effect of a lightning strike. The smoke has drifted on over Kansas by now. It's one of four fires currently burning in the mountains west of here in a band from Beulah in the south, also called the Junkins Creek fire, up into the mountains well west of Estes... Sign in to see full entry.
Monday, October 17, 2016
Decision made...
Today I upgraded to a proper (not lap top) computer for the business. It's a Mac which has creative advantages, and the other big advantage: No Windows. It's mostly set up now except for a few minor details that can wait. I have the screen-saver set to randomly show a variety of photos, changing every 5 seconds. Lovely, most of them! In other news, Alice and Crumpet have moved into new digs--good term for gerbil homes! It's a 20-gallon tall aquarium tank and they seem to be enjoying making it... Sign in to see full entry.
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Saturday morning
It's clear and sunny today, quite a contrast to a couple of days ago when a mist hung over the region, mountains were cloaked and, walking, you felt the tiny particles of water on your face. It lasted all day and into evening. This is an unusual occurence in this desert town. Many folks enjoy the novelty. Mornings are chilly of late: the temperature on the misty day never got above low 40s F. Then, the 70s yesterday. Yoyo thermometers! The maple outside my deck is swiftly going gold, and all... Sign in to see full entry.