No fire without smoke....
And no fires here at the moment, but still a great deal of smoke in the air from all of the weekend excitement all over the northern part of the state. It's going to be a long, flaming summer if it's already this bad in June.
Random progress notes:
On the over-long kayak trip a week ago, one of the highlights was the flock of turkey vultures (12-15) ambling alongside the river and eyeing us with disdain. I disremember when I've ever seen so many clustered together -- and they weren't even feeding.
The matching low-light of the trip was the extra three hours of steady paddling (with accompanying blisters) to reach the takeout point; it was much farther than anyone had remembered. So we were on the water for about 8 hours. Too long. Really. But a lovely cool place to be on a VERY HOT day.
Last night I completed the second sleeve for my current sweater project so I'm preparing to assemble same. This is the dull part, and the chances to screw it up are many. also halfway through the first sock for E's birthday next week, but we've mislaid the camera again, so no up-to-date photos until that's remedied.
International book orders are up with the current exchange rate, but unfortunately everyuone wants to buy the 10 pound three volume sets which are a huge pain to package and mail. I'm getting better, though.
The Bakersfield/SanDiego/LA/Bakersfield Rally went well, though it was a damned hot week down there and I managed to forget how to get to BPAL Will-Call , thus wasting a good 45 minutes wandering around various freeways. What? Call for directions? Are you kidding? it was lovely when i got there though and still ight out, so I managed to sniff many hitherto untested and/or upcoming scents and make milding informed decisions (I don't have to have everything, it turns out).
The Aged P is getting more and more tired with every visit unfortunately and I've spent much of the last week contemplating my own mortality, it being "all about me" of course. We're so grateful for his angelic housekeeper and the fact that due to her he can stay in his own house and putter in the yard.
And I'm nearly through "Swan in Love" with a side order of short stories by John Buchan, which are seriously period. I'm not sure I love his non-adventure tales, but they are short and soothing for bedtime reading. As for Proust, Angela Thirkell may have had a point when she suggested that it doesn't matter what page you open it to....but I'm enjoying it anyway.
Random progress notes:
On the over-long kayak trip a week ago, one of the highlights was the flock of turkey vultures (12-15) ambling alongside the river and eyeing us with disdain. I disremember when I've ever seen so many clustered together -- and they weren't even feeding.
The matching low-light of the trip was the extra three hours of steady paddling (with accompanying blisters) to reach the takeout point; it was much farther than anyone had remembered. So we were on the water for about 8 hours. Too long. Really. But a lovely cool place to be on a VERY HOT day.
Last night I completed the second sleeve for my current sweater project so I'm preparing to assemble same. This is the dull part, and the chances to screw it up are many. also halfway through the first sock for E's birthday next week, but we've mislaid the camera again, so no up-to-date photos until that's remedied.
International book orders are up with the current exchange rate, but unfortunately everyuone wants to buy the 10 pound three volume sets which are a huge pain to package and mail. I'm getting better, though.
The Bakersfield/SanDiego/LA/Bakersfield Rally went well, though it was a damned hot week down there and I managed to forget how to get to BPAL Will-Call , thus wasting a good 45 minutes wandering around various freeways. What? Call for directions? Are you kidding? it was lovely when i got there though and still ight out, so I managed to sniff many hitherto untested and/or upcoming scents and make milding informed decisions (I don't have to have everything, it turns out).
The Aged P is getting more and more tired with every visit unfortunately and I've spent much of the last week contemplating my own mortality, it being "all about me" of course. We're so grateful for his angelic housekeeper and the fact that due to her he can stay in his own house and putter in the yard.
And I'm nearly through "Swan in Love" with a side order of short stories by John Buchan, which are seriously period. I'm not sure I love his non-adventure tales, but they are short and soothing for bedtime reading. As for Proust, Angela Thirkell may have had a point when she suggested that it doesn't matter what page you open it to....but I'm enjoying it anyway.