Hey, I won a photo contest!
http://www.laurensconservation.com/index_files/Page364.htm
Yeah… really…. over on the right…. scroll down….
Update: They changed the web site for this year’s contest, but I was able to obtain a copy of the web site as a PDF with the “2014 winners” page. You can find it here. See page 4.
Recently we had a cherished family member in the hospital, and they were handing out masks for the visitors.
I can’t help but think that, somewhere, in a small, beige, windowless cubicle deep in one of many office buildings owned by some giant medical supplies conglomerate, someone is laughing.
This time of year has been a time of observances since the planet got its axis tilted (creating seasons) and there has been life around to notice that fact.
For those living in the wild, the change of seasons is critical for timing migrations, breeding, finding food, and just surviving. The Solstice is a key timing mark, and is a sign that (in the northern hemisphere) the worst of winter is yet to come, since we’re still cooling off, but also spring will follow in turn, because the days start getting longer.
Probably because of that, other celebrations and observances have accumulated around this time of year throughout history, be they spiritual or secular: the Solstice itself, Bodhi Day, Hanukkah, Christmas, Saturnalia, New Year’s, Yule, Kwanza, mall sales, breaking open a new calendar, and many, many more “reasons for the season”.
The neat thing is that this time of year is special to so many of us, regardless of our backgrounds, beliefs, ethnicity, or even species. This is something we all have in common, something we all share. As we come together with Friends &/| Family, let us remember that we also have this connection to every other Earthling.
I don’t know how many places are like this, but one thing about winter in the Carolina’s (USA) is you can start out at 26°F needing hats, gloves, and coats in the morning and end up out on the lake in the afternoon with just shorts and a T-shirt. That was the case this weekend, and I took advantage of it to get out there for the first time in months (as usual, click on the pictures to get to a higher-res version).
In the meantime, things have transitioned to a winter configuration.
These Gulls are winter residents:
I’m not sure what trick of the light or angles made this one look a bit like a stealth bomber:
We do know, of course, that sufficiently large flocks of birds do show up on air traffic control radar. Wonder how that will be affected with ADS-B?
The Kingfishers are around all year (have I mentioned how difficult it is to photograph these birds?):
If you’re reading this blog, you probably recognize this guy, taking advantage of some late-season nuts:
Probably the only thing trickier than flying through tree branches at speed is taking a picture of someone doing exactly that:
These Mallards are also year-rounders, flying around under a sky that amazing shade of blue that this planet is so noted for and photographs never do justice:
And, of course, the obligatory Great Blue Heron picture:
We live in a universe where everything is connected.
From the galaxies of stars that created the elements we’re made from, to the solar system that shaped our world, to the plants and animals that nourish us, down the the little subatomic bits that make up everything, it’s all connected, and nothing works without something else.
On this Thanksgiving Day (USA), let us give thanks not just for all those connections to which we owe our existence, but also to those special connections between family, friends, partners, team members, and others that gives our existence its Deepest Meaning.
I noticed early this chilly morning that the heat was on:
Later I stopped in while passing by and talked with one of the first responders and he said that everything is pretty much done (I suppose, as much as any building is every “done”), and their equipment is in place:
Big sigh of relief that is project is now done, and we wish the Ekom Fire Station Volunteers the best of luck with their new home. It really does look nice.
The whole saga as I saw it can be found via this search.
In the 30+ years I’ve lived in upstate South Carolina, USA, I don’t think I’ve ever seen snow on the ground this early, November 1st.
While out doing some errands, I decided it’d be a good day to make a pot of my chicken-pantry soup (chicken, and whatever else is handy):
Bill of materials:
Heat to a boil, then let simmer on a low boil for a few hours or until everything is cooked. Serve with noodles and crackers.
My cared-for thinks this is a good idea, too.
There are a lot of reasons one might need someone to care for them, and varying degrees of all of them. Someone might have a disability (permanent or temporary). They may be ill (temporarily, chronically, or terminally). They may be at one extreme or the other of age (very, or somewhat, young, or old). So. I should mention that the reason my cared-for needs a caregiver is because of “advanced age”
What do you call someone in that condition? Many of the terms that get thrown around carry connotations that fail to appreciate the variety and complexity of things that condition entails. “Elderly”. “Senior Citizen”. “Aged”. “Geezer”. Just plain “old”. They all carry stereotypes that over-simplify the needs and problems of these folks. So, maybe I’ll use “advanced age”, or “one of many seasons”, just to have a term with minimal baggage.
Lest we lose perspective, it’s not all needs and problems. These people have unique capabilities too. Wisdom is something that tends to come with advancing age. Providing an anchor for the family. Giving witness to history that the rest of us never experienced (your orders: go talk to the advanced-age people around you and learn and record history first-hand). Or just being around to sign for that package at the house or meet the cable guy.
It’s often made into a joke that people of many seasons seem obsessed with things like digestion and bowel movements and even just getting up. There’s a good reason for this. When you’re younger, these things are pretty much automatic. You don’t give them any thought. Later on, these things become difficult and require attention and conscious effort. Something like walking is done with great care and planning to ensure a safe transit. Medications become necessary and require careful management. And, if you live long enough, you will have had enough problems with these things that you no longer take them for granted.
It’s the time of year to be seeing things like this:
…although I suspect these geese were just flying around, and have no intention of leaving the area for the winter. We have a lot of year-round resident geese.
I found a rock that had fallen off the wall, and was about to put it back on top, when
I decided to put the rock somewhere else and let this guy be. There are actually very few venomous snakes in South Carolina, especially the upstate, but I had no reason to give this little critter any trouble.
The new Ekom fire station continues to take shape:
And the electricity is on!
