Things You Should (and shouldn't) Do in Portland, Oregon

If you are fortunate enough to be in Portland, Oregon in September, there is a must see event. I'm talking must see, not maybe, not hope we have the time, not I read that there are crowds and the neighbors are annoyed so we're not going, not I don't have my LL Bean blanket and picnic basket set. Just do it. There was a crowd. And lots of kids running around. Especially one rather heavy set kid who kept running through the crowd saying he couldn't get anywhere and finally reduced to sort of wailing grunting moans by the end, but so what? We all did that. No, I would have been killed if I'd done that, but never mind.

Because all that really mattered, to us anyway, was seeing the Vaux swifts go down a chimney. Really. Sarah took this video and I suggest going full screen with it. This was probably the coolest moment. Ok, there were a lot of very cool moments. You really should see this.

This was another moment with the Cooper's hawk coming through. Or the falcon. Teresa can decide but we think it's too small for a falcon. What do I know?

After an hour or so of writing, somehow all my clever bits just disappeared. So! I'm just going to give you a few recaps, between my gnashing of teeth, of what I remember that I wrote. Which isn't much. Ok, here we go.

Vaux swifts are named after...no. I can't do it. I'm just going to let this guy do it for me, and for you, because. Because he's pretty funny and it's all true. The good news is, your reading time will be much shorter. The bad news is, I really had fun writing a lot of useless information . Ugh.

While swifts prefer hollow trees they'll settle for the Chapman School chimney. The school actually got rid of the heating system that used this chimney and between the Audubon Society and some donors, put in another one, so that for the month of September, the swifts could fill this sucker from the basement up. Being slightly claustrophobic, this fact is one I'd rather not thnk about. And can't stop thinking about 

And just know this, too. If there wasn't some stupid science rule that you can't name a species after yourself, these birds would be called Townsend's Swifts. Vaux was a mineralogist and apparent good buddy of Townsend, the real guy who sussed out this particular swift (one species out of 96 if you must know).

One more thing. The Audubon Society woman who was carrying around the DEAD swift in the plastic box, talking to, and I quote - "anyone who looks interested" - which Sarah and I escaped because we are well practiced in the art of becoming invisible around people like that and sometimes succeed - that women? She should not be doing that; telling gruesome stories about the swifts suffocating in the chimney. Oh, but not NOW, she says, like the elixir of modern times has somehow changed physics. Now they all live happy little lives, flying around from sunrise to sunset, eating bugs, never stopping flying, because they have these sort of bound geisha type feet that they can't really use for much. Frankly, it was all the stuff of nightmares.

But the swifts were awesome. Completely jaw dropping (as we wondered if they were pooping tiny little poops on all of us). Too awesome to let an entirely finished post complete with brilliant links suppress me for long. And you thought you were getting off easy today.

All of that swift and people watching was after we went on a long hike we were both pretty sure was going to kill us, but I think I'll leave that for tomorrow. I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

Hint: it didn't kill us

Have a transformative Thursday. Do something that tires you totally.

Victory Gardens

I got this in the (e)mail today and being here in the land of front yard, side yard and backyard gardening, it hit a strong note in me, a deeply reverberating chord that runs through my life. Ok, really, I just like the free and delicious tomatoes on the sidewalk edges.

If it's good enough for Super Heroes, it's good enough for you!

Yes, here it is October, and while a lot of you are either putting your gardens to bed (or wishing you had a garden to put to bed), or getting ready to, lots of other people are figuring out their winter gardening plans. There are lots of online articles and advice in a technological world of way too much information, you have to do some work here. And some work in the garden. But what better way to beat winter blues than coming to Culebra and frolicking in the sea on a warm white beach playing with dirt and plants? And there is something to be said and enjoyed for reading bright, comforting seed catalogues (yes, organic and heirloom, of course!) that come in your mailbox, most for free.

Some winter garden seed ideas

Personally, I'm itching to get my hands back into the warm, rocky, needing compost and love dirt of my yard and make edible stuffs happen. Right now, everything could be dead as we've had no rain or not enough rain. I either come home from these trips to a jungle or a wasteland, but either way, in a couple of months all is up and making me grin again. And for a few dollars in seeds and water? That works for me. It will keep the chickens happy too. Which is what I will be living for, very shortly. Chicken worship, in a coop near me. Soon.

Just a thought.

Have a weed free Wednesday! Do something workable.

Rollin' Down the Barmudah Triangle

It's Barmudah with an H, I've been notified. Regardless, it's handy location made it easy to pick the Water Trough as the meet up place with Lynn and Aaron, who are always great to spend time with. They brought along their son and daughter-in-law too, as I did Sarah. You know how sometimes when people meet, that you are bringing together, you have a good or worried feeling about how it might work out? No, I didn't have that feeling. I knew it would work out. But even better, I think some new friends were made. I'm pretty sure that's bettable.

The Water Trough Saloon. Good drinks, good beer (ok, I guess it's good; I don't usually drink beer but seconds rounds were had so I'll guess they were better than just drinkable) and 25 cent pool tables. Really. We had cheese and crackers because it was time to eat something, and I never even looked at the menu, but I'd imagine it's fair bar food fare.

I love these old games! Not enough to play it though. This time.

But 25 cent pool? Oh yeah! We got there in mid-afternoon, with just a couple of guys at the bar. Then it was just us. Then, after Lynn et al left, in came a few people, most notably, a couple of guys singing. They sang really well too, but sort of got eased out the door...
It was pretty much time to go not long after that.

Pool isn't always so easy when you are short, which is why god made bridges.

We're very serious about our pool.

The juke box here is the real deal and filled with great music. Sarah picked good!

Earlier in the day, I was wandering around this end of the block and admiring the continued work on the yards across the street. I've seen the progression for three years now and they just get better and better.

No mowing neccesito, and so lushly gorgeous - a visual buffet.

Yes, every year I put up a photo of the rosemary giant in Sarah's yard. I'd kill give a lot to have a rosemary bush like this. It's over my head and maybe ten feet in circumference.
I confess. I have  rosemary lust in my heart. 

Last year, we didn't get to go see the swifts who come here every year. That's on the list and I'm excited about it. Now. To make sure it doesn't slip slide away while we're playing crosswords and finding books.

Have a teach your children (2 or 4 legged) well Tuesday! Do something transparent.