Wish I'd Said It

Weeds are flowers too - once you get to know them.

- A. A. Milne

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Catching Up & Some Pics (#198)

We’re rolling out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer here in the Great White North. I don’t do real well with heat. Which means I’ve been even less ambitious than usual. So, I’ll tidy a few loose ends and post some pics in lieu of actually having to think about something.

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Some of you may recall my epic battle with Bell Canada. If not, and you would like to read the blow-by-blow accounts of my heroic struggle, you can find them here and here.

Well, I’m happy to report that since those words hit the Interweb, I have not received a single dunning letter. They’ve stopped. And no cop-voiced guys have called, telling scary stories about what happens to deadbeats when the Bad Credit Monster is unleashed.

I suppose it could be a coincidence. But I suspect Someone In Authority read the stories and decided to remove me from the list.

See? There is a God.

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I saw the young crow once more, two mornings after I wrote about him. Since then, nada. There has been no gathering of crows in that area. Nor have I seen a youngster hanging around. Pretty sure it’s safe to assume he’s flitting about with his friends and family, cawing his fool head off. I feel pretty good when I think about that.

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Some of the photos which follow should have accompanied the previous column/post. I took them the same day. However, due to that lack of ambition thing referred to in my opener, I didn’t get around to uploading them to my computer until now. My bad.



The above pic is a peek into what I call the North Cedar Grove after a couple days of rain. Ben and I walk through it most mornings.



This cedar gives you an idea of their individuality. I refer to this one as Elephant Nose.



This shot illustrates the texture that I mentioned when the bark is wet. You can see it more clearly if you click on the photo to get a larger view. (Then hit your back button to get back to this page.) You may also note the peanut I left for a squirrel or bluejay.



Since I'm such a fun guy....


This enterprising slug and snail climbed nearly six feet up a tree. If gooey critters ain't your cuppa, you'd best skip over the next shot.



This log was alive with tiny slugs and snails after a couple of rainy days.


This is the north half of my backyard. In the background, you can see the spiffy birdbath Hilary got me for my birthday. A couple of days after this shot, all the poppies you can see in the foreground burst open in a blaze of short-lived, orange glory.


I'll wrap up by showing the results of a fishing foray to a small stream about a half-hour's drive away: two nice brown trout. The bigger one was 16 inches. Both did my frying pan proud.

18 comments:

Hilary said...

I know that tree! :) Nice photos.. I especially like that first one. Always cool to see the places/things I know through your lens. :)

Reb said...

About Ma Bell, you can write equifax and get a free credit report once a year - you might wanna do that.

Lovely photos and what a great garden.

Thumbelina said...

I like the elephant tree! Lovely texture and nice thought to leave the peanut. Gorgeous poppies. And birdbath. ;0)

I remember the Bell escapade. Read it again to remind me. I really need you to write some letters for me...

Off to catch up on the other posts.

Barbara Martin said...

All your photos are great, especially the one called the North Cedar Grove. I can see walking down that mud or not.

Thank goodness your trial with Bell Canada seems to have come to an end.

Leah J. Utas said...

Those cedars have such character. I quite enjoyed the slugfest photo, and those trout screamed "Yummy".

Noname said...

Especially love the poppies/yard/birdbath picture, Frank. I'm into intense colors this year. Your yard looks peaceful. :)

Frank Baron said...

Thanks Hil. I'm looking forward to taking more as seen through your new lens too. :)

Thanks Reb. As long as they keep jacking up my limit on my credit cards, I figure my rating is okay. :)

Thanks Thumbelina. You're very kind. :)

Thank you Barbara. I sure am pleased too.

Leah, you heard those trout correctly!

Glad you enjoyed Pat. It's nice to see you. Thanks so much for the visit. :)

Ray Veen said...

The gray sky and wet greens you've portrayed look like heaven to me.

Michigan's starting to get too warm and bright for me, so... would you mind if I come live where you live?

Skunkfeathers said...

I agree on the heat index, 'specially where humidity factors in (thankfully, not much here in the Colorado foothills).

I had my own battle -- shorter-lived than yours -- with a "Bell" back in 2000 (aka, a bunch of real dingalings) over just getting a phone number. I now use an independent phone service, and about four times a year, get "come back!" letters from the other "Bell".

They get trashed ;)

Kappa no He said...

Speaking of slugs, yesterday when I went in to the computer room I noticed that the black blanket I put out near the window for the cats to sit on had a gazillion slug tracks all over it. Now, after seeing that log, I'm going to lose sleep wondering where all my little friends are hiding.

PS Package being mailed Monday! (Thanks sooo much for the picture.)

Dianne said...

Happy Dad's Day :)

I'm happy to imagine the crow free and happy in the skies

love the tree

and all those slugs!! like a reunion at my ex-husband's place ;)

MagnoliaGirl said...

Frank,

Your stories and photos always make me feel cool... Yes, literally and figuratively!

Nice to find another "heat hater" - seems folks here like to brag, "oh the hotter, the better!" Argh! The humidity is thicker than pea soup here and I am seriously considering getting one of those small portable oxygen tanks I always see advertised in "Sky Mall"!

Anyway, as always, thanks for the respite.

Sandra

Bruce Robinson said...

Thank goodness that for Frank and MagnoliaGirl we have reached June 21, the Summer Solstice, or, for them, the end of the hot season. From here on out it will be shorter days and longer nights. The swelter has ended. Long live the deep freeze.

Frank Baron said...

Ray, we've got lots of room and you'd be welcome. :)

Revenge is sweet, eh Skunkfeathers? ;)

Terrie, I'm sure they went outside. :) Looking forward to the package. I'll let you know when it lands.

Thanks Dianne. I had a very nice day. And I laughed out loud at the reunion line. :)

Sandra, I guess we'll both have to think cool thoughts and hang around places with air conditioning. Thanks for the visit. Hope you and Mom are well. :)

Bruce, you've got that positive thinking thing down to a science. I like it. :)

Crabby McSlacker said...

Love the photo tour! Especially that north cedar grove on at the top. I just want to crawl inside my computer monitor and walk through the woods.

Dang... that doesn't seem to be working at all! Maybe I just need a bigger monitor?

Shammickite said...

Happy Canada Day, Frank!

Country Girl said...

I love poppies. And your fish looks delish.

Frank Baron said...

Crabby, you could try that. But it never worked for me. ;)

Thanks Shammi! :)

They were Country Girl. Thanks for the visit. :)