Words on a Wordless Wednesday

I joined Instagram recently, and am enjoying the all-images format.  We'll see how it goes.  Like Facebook, my children use it, so that is my excuse for opting in. 

My friend arrives from Polynesia in a few days.  Looking forward to sharing my little world with her. The seasons are changing here. We now get less than 12 hours of daylight, not 13.  The mandarin orange tree is producing like mad , and our navel orange and lime trees are as well.  Looking forward to another round of Surinam cherries, and still picking tomatoes and green beans.

We are now into the second season of Breaking Bad.  Yeah, it is definitely deep and dark at times.  I think they do a brilliant job of revealing what speed does to everyone it sinks it's rotten teeth into.  Since I watched a dear friend succumb to it's ravages before he even reached 40 years of age, I know only too well.  I will stick with ganja, thank you. We do break from the intensity with comedies, cartoons, and even the original Dragnet series.  (Which we also consider to be great comedy!) Tonight's comedic feature: This Is The End, a movie that was just released on Netflix, and recommended by my offspring. We love to laugh!

I am disgusted with politics and most of the news.  I still read plenty online, but am SO appreciating that we don't have television access to any of it right now.  I'd be throwing heavy objects at the screen if we did. 

One may gather, based on my recent viewing habits, that a show about the madness of crystal meth is preferable to what passes for news reporting these days. Which would be a correct assumption.

Mother Ocean

Still Life

Yep, it's still life. Or a reasonable semblance of it. I have another camera and am increasingly unafraid to use it. Anybody still out there... six months or so later? If so, hello!



"How often do the dead wake~ we thought were safely buried?" Robert Hunter

Down to the Bone

Still alive and well and above ground. One reason I don't post much anymore is that I am camera-less. When I have one again, perhaps I'll be around more often. Or... if life suddenly becomes exciting and exotic--- whichever comes first. This photo of sheep skulls was taken by my older daughter, when the family visited Stillwater Cove Ranch last month.

Down To The Bone - Cold Blood

Sun Village To You

Dweezil and friends tore the top of my head off. That feels just fine!

Village of the Sun - Frank Zappa

You Visit Every Flower In Town

This was taken by a friend who went to Hawaii about a month ago.

Love that bee.

Unfettered

Albion River~1863

Why are we so full of restraint? Why do we not give in all directions? Is it fear of losing ourselves? Until we do lose ourselves there is no hope of finding ourselves.
Henry Miller

Love, Reign O'er Me

Here's what the backyard looks like underwater.

Another view of our new pond.

Ready for the elements, and off to school.

Abandoned ironing board in the nearby woods.

It has rained for days. Thankfully, that's something I am accustomed to. Typical winter weather on the wild north coast. Last winter was sadly deficient water-wise. Now we may have enough water. Always nice.

I don't really follow football, but am glad that the Patriots lost. Apologies to any I may offend with my snark. The word patriot has really begun to grade on my nerves these last few years. It's a word that has been used-to-death, and bastardized. I made delicious snacks for the "big game"... potato skins with blue cheese and mushrooms, and puff pastry with spinach, feta, and garlic. All washed down with Lost Coast Beer. Burp!

Looks like Maria Shriver really is a Kennedy girl, after all! She endorsed Obama today, a few days after her husband, the Terminator endorsed McCain. Curiouser and curiouser. I can't stand Arnold, as an actor OR the Governor of my native state. He has screwed things up even more than they were screwed-up when he cost us all millions with the (unnecessary) special election. It was a total sham, which I thought from the start.

Today I spoke with my dad by phone, as I often do on weekends. He proudly informed me that he had just cast his vote for Obama. Older daughter cast her vote for him as well. One voter is 73, the other is 21. A substantial gap, bridged by one candidate. I like that. We are already imagining the party we will have, if he wins. It will last at least a week! For the first time in many bleak years, I feel a slight glimmer of hope. Guarded, yes. But it's a start.


I took down my plea-for-a-ticket-post. In my over-exited state, I thought that Barack Obama would be at the show. I think the original rumors said it was going to be a rally, with music. Nope. So... my desperate need to attend the show on Monday has dwindled almost completely. I will listen to the live stream of the show, warm and cozy at home. It's always good to read between the lines.

After The Rain

I took these later in the day, following our first big storm wave. That one brought us winds up to 75 m.p.h. When you live in the middle of the forest, this can be significant. Trees fell all around us, but not on us. (This time!) Just down the street, a row of massive bull pine were snapped off at their bases. Those were the fallen trees that caused our extended power and phone outage. In the afternoon, I walked around our place. The light was serene, and the greens were vividly so. This in contrast to the hundreds of limbs and natural debris scattered-about everywhere. Another case of nature's unique ability to please, while reminding me that she's always in control.

This flowering shrub is along our drive. I enjoy the shade of pinkish-red. It's in for a serious pruning in a few months.

This is an old workshop on the property. The fallen door-turned-gangplank had a latch and lock on it. Gale force winds made quick work of the hardware.

This one gives you an idea of how humongous the trees surrounding us are. That's my car, parked in front of the garage. More an outbuilding than garage.

Slimy Rock on a Sunny Day

Speaking about sliminess, have you watched Z e i t g e i s t online, or heard about it? Just wondering. My older daughter brought it to my attention recently. If you've watched it, what did you think? My mind is still reeling. (That's nothing new) Anyway, don't be afraid--check it out.

It's The Little Things

At Big River beach, on Saturday.

Back On The Chain Gang

Water Chain in the Rain

One of my host's Inuit Masks

Headed to the airport in heavy traffic. A last peek at the Space Needle.

Sing it, Chrissie...

When The Tourists Go Back Home

The town is ours again. Today was that way. No noisy hordes, no cell phone addicts, no wild hounds. Just the ocean and the sun and a couple of blissful ten-year olds. Now ready to take on the work week, and a trip to the
Emerald City.

They knew the other boy from school.

Paradise waits on the crest of a wave...

Mostly redwood driftwood

I like the patterns in the rock walls along the beach.

Toothy Smile

Here's one for Aiko Jim, who has some cool images of a starfish and a most unfortunate abalone on his blog. Although Halloween is almost here, this is apparently not a doctored photo. Real nice choppers.

Link

Love Is The Seventh Wave

Taken at Big River Beach/Mendocino Coast/Thanks again to my trusty co-worker.

It's Cloud Illusions I Recall

Another one from my co-worker. He takes lots of cloud photos.

Sunrise Rainbow

These were taken early today by someone I work with. The very first words out of his mouth to all of us? Sunrise Rainbow. Maybe you had to be there, but it just sounded... nice.

I know - no ones going to show me everything


We all come and go unknown


Each so deep and superficial


Between the forceps and the stone

Life's Rich Pageant

The mother and child reunion


At least I'll get my washin' done


You are the apple of my eye


We're lost in the masquerade

In My Life...

Speedway Meadow, Golden Gate Park~ September 2nd, 2007
We prefer the nosebleed seats these days. Less mayhem occurs back here. The backdrop on stage was done by Peter Max... my brother has some nice close-ups. (hint hint)



My brother and my man, sipping their chilled Veuve Clicquot. We were stylin'! I'll be writing more about the experience later this week, as time allows.


Aiko: The next generation. My older daughter and my Aiko bro's only son, enjoying dim sum in the not-so-dim-sun. That is either a Chinese long bean or a pea pod between her chopsticks.


These nutty freaks were selling flowers out of a shopping cart, and here you see them dragging that cart through the crowd, to the other side of the meadow. Notice their porta-potty hanging off the front of the cart. Ready for anything!


Later, that same week... I took an afternoon off and went on a long walk up Big River with my love. It was the last of a series of very warm days on the coast.



Remains of a tree along Big River.



The deadly beauty of "ripe" poison oak.


Here is the place I was this weekend, kid-sitting.


Outside the kitchen door, in the early morning dampness.


Another view of their lovely place from the yard.


The kid I looked after and his pal, ping-ponging in the foggy dew.



Weekend Bonus! I got to meet Joe Spado for a cup of coffee. We talked for about an hour, and it felt like we were old friends. Aaarghhh... Peace, matey!


When I returned to my duties at the house, my daughter was playing the piano. It sounded terrific.

The sun was shining out in the yard, so I stretched-out in the hammock and her sweet piano music filled the air.






... More to share-later.