Businesses, birds beasts and blooms

Walking with Black Jack a few evenings ago, we encountered this cat.  It was lying on the sidewalk at a street corner.  It watched Black Jack calmly.  Black Jack tried to be cool, but wasn't successful for long.

Two or three minutes later, we saw this cat.  Again, it was about as calm as a cat could be.  Poor Black Jack.  The ones that stare calmly just about put her over the edge.  
Some time ago, I stopped at the Garden Party Flower Shop at the corner of West 4th and Alma. I was looking for a hanging basket.  I'm not sure that hanging baskets are the main focus of Amy's business, but I could tell that she really wanted to make me happy.  She asked me about the colors I like, and we exchanged several e-mails after that. I still don't have my hanging basket, because Amy is searching for the perfect one.  However, she e-mailed and asked me to stop by.  She had a gift for me.  She said she wanted me to have something beautiful to look at while I was waiting for the basket, and knew I loved the color blue.  Seeing that lovely orchid gives me a jolt of pure happiness.  I have come to appreciate, lately, the people who run small businesses who genuinely love to see their customers happy. 
On Saturday, I had my hair cut by Majid at Spring Hair Design on 10 Avenue.  I had to cancel my last appointment, as it was scheduled for the day after my cycling accident.  I didn't reschedule, as I dreaded the thought of letting anyone touch my head.  But, I will be attending my niece's wedding in Ottawa this coming weekend, and there was no more stall time.  Majid is a gem.  He is kind, gentle, and, like Amy, truly wants his customers to be happy when they leave.  I was.  Actually, I felt like a new person. 
Bill walked Black Jack while I was at the salon, and then sat with her in his lap, until I was finished.  He is so supportive, sometimes I can hardly believe my good fortune.  This next part is positively amazing! We went directly from the hairdresser's to a clothing store called Changes, and Bill sat for ages, while the staff there found two outfits for me.  Other women shopping in the store were ready to kidnap him and take him home to give their husbands some tips.    
A (handsome) man and his truck.
These flowers were near The Wicked Cafe.  With the sun on them, they shimmered like magic.  
The next 8 pictures were taken at Jericho on evening lately when i walked with Black Jack.  I wonder if this heron was EvenSong's Ned.
This bird seemed so small in that tall grass.
The ducklings are growing and becoming more independent.
Black Jack loves to gain altitude any way she can for her observations.
So many shades of green...
... and one beautiful, orange tree.
The sign on the post made me smile.

I thought of the fun the gardener may have had arranging these plants in a circle. 

These were on a street walking home from Jericho.  The combination of blue and purple works for me.

These are the clothes I bought at Changes.  I like the people in this store so much, I sometimes feel, as Bill said, that I will never need to shop anywhere else again.  I know it's a little strange to lay out the clothes on my bed and take a picture of them, but that's how happy I felt.  This from someone who hates shopping. Black Jack loves to go to Changes as well (sometimes, they give treats), but I guess the attraction doesn't have much to do with the clothes. 

And, another angle to show off the blue/purple flowers, and conclude this post.

Part 3 - Mostly blooms

Yesterday, I stopped at The Wicked Cafe for a latte after getting my stitches out.  If time allows, I like to go to The Wicked after dentist or doctor appointments.  I like to go there any time, but planning for that treat almost has me looking forward to things I would otherwise dread.  Bet you thought this post was about blooms.  I'll try to get back on track.  The connection to the post topic is a man named Thomas Berry.  He died on June 1st.  I'll bet I'm one of the few people on earth who hadn't heard of him, but his picture and a story were on the front page of a newspaper section that I picked up to read with my coffee.  There were a few quotes on the page, and the first one to catch my eye was: 

 What happens to the outer world happens to the inner world. If the outer world is diminished in its grandeur, then the emotional, imaginative, intellectual, and spiritual life of the human is diminished or extinguished. Without the soaring birds, the great forests, the sounds and coloration of the insects, the free-flowing streams, the flowering fields, the sight of the clouds by day and the stars at night, we become impoverished in all that makes us human.

Sometimes, I wonder why I feel so excited about a tree or a flower or a bird or a sunset.  That quote jumped off the page and sent me home to find out more about Thomas Berry.  Googling his name brought pages and pages of web sites, but I particularly enjoyed this youtube interview.  It was a bit slow getting into, but when he talked about Nature Deficit Disorder, there seemed to be a connection to some of the unformed ideas that have been running through this blog, almost in spite of me.  At the very least, the newpaper article and interview made me feel less apologetic about devoting this post to blooms.  

I feel somewhat sorry that I can give little information about these photos except that they caught my eye and made me happy.  For now, that will have to do.  It would be great to learn some of the names of the blooms, though, so If any reader has time to point out a few, it would be much appreciated. 

I saw these last night on 1st Avenue, near Tatlow Park.  They seemed blue to my eye at the time, although they appear more purple on the screen.

This was also taken last night, and also near Tatlow Park.  I call it Perfect Bloom #1
I am fairly certain this is a poppy.  It was on a small street near Jericho Park.
Bill has been noticing a flowering tree that he thought was called Dogwood.  The flowers are usually white, but I saw these pink ones, also near Tatlow Park.  If it is Dogwood, I guess the blooms can be different colors.
These bushes are near the heronry in Stanley Park.  It takes a lot to pull my attention away from the herons, but early in June, with the sun shining on them, the blooms were magnificent.
One thing that strikes me as curious, is that I take so little time to grow and tend plants myself.  I have a few at home, and from time to time, they do well, but at other times, they are positively neglected.  Right now, I am working to bring back to life a plant that my mother had in her apartment in Montreal.  When she died, I brought a few "slips" (that's what she used to call them.  Is that term still used?) back to Vancouver.  For a while, the plant was doing really well, but lately, I have had to take a few healthy bits from the sad looking main plant, in an effort to root them and start over.  For some reason, it seems an important connection to her to keep that plant alive.  That need is again curious, since I could not say that she loved her plants.  In fact, hers were often neglected as well.  All that to say, I really appreciate the people who work so hard in their gardens.  

These were at the corner of a street, barely even on a property, but someone has taken time to keep them in beautiful shape.  
I do not remember where I saw this one, but there is such promise in a bud.
Here is the white plant Bill noticed and thought was called Dogwood. 
This was on 3rd Avenue, a couple of blocks east of Alma.  I love it. 
I've forgotten where I saw this one, but remember I couldn't pass by without stopping.  Something about that one coral star.  Will the green ones surrounding it also change color?
I think this would be called a wild rose.  They are growing near my school and smell absolutely wonderful.  Very thorny, so they are definitely a smell but don't touch plant for me.
I left the heronry one day in a rush to get home, but couldn't pass by these without stopping.  The sun was shining on them and the bees were loving them.  I have no idea what they are.  Here is the close-up version...
... and the group perspective.
Perfect bloom shot #2

Perfect bloom shot #3 focuses on one of the above.  The sun was determined to show it at its best.

These are just a few blocks away from where I live.  They look like little jewels to me.

There is a bee at the center of one of these blooms.  Camouflage at its best.
I remember when I was a child, being told I must never combine red with pink.  I guess this gardener on Fell Street in North Vancouver either never heard that advice, or decided to ignore it.  I'm glad.
Another red-pink combination.  Or maybe deep rose and pink.  These were in the next garden to the ones I call jewel flowers.
Last weekend, Bill and I went to a street festival in East Vancouver.  I saw this plant and found it to have a powerful-peaceful beauty.

This is a shot of a pond at Jericho.  They are impossible to see here.  They may not even show in the clicked-on enlargement, but there are pink blooms in the water.

This was on a street corner by a bus stop at Alma and 4th.  Another jewel-like bloom.
This tree is on 1st Avenue, a block or two east of Alma.  There is no way to do it justice with my camera.  It is as huge and breath-takingly magnificent as some of the ancient trees in Stanley Park.  Here, I was able to show only the very top of it.
Here is the trunk of the same tree. Even with both shots, there is much of the tree that isn't shown.  Do you see the one small beast sneaking into the picture.
There it is again.  I couldn't resist giving you a better look.
This is my favorite garden.  It's not far from where I live.
Perfect bloom shot #4
This tree is by the pond at Jericho.  There was perfect light to show off its splendor.

"The universe is a collection of subjects, not objects. Everything has a voice, it speaks - a tree, a bird, whatever, it has a voice. 

Another quote by Thomas Berry to conclude the post.  The geese, the sunset and the pink clouds in the last three pictures all seemed to slip past the bloom topic in spite of me.  His words gave them permission.

Part 2 - Birds

Here are a few of my memorable bird moments over the past couple of weeks. 

One adult heron shown in a recent post is the only clear view I've had in the past three visits to the heronry.  I did get the photograph below, which I thought was too poor to post.  However, Bill noticed the two feathers pointing straight up, in juxtaposition to the thin legs trailing behind.  

As he noted, herons have skinny bodies and skinny legs set between enormous wings.  I hadn't thought of them in quite that way, but I do know that the first time I saw one fly, I was hooked.  And, it was the wings.  The slow, powerful flight, the range of colors as light filters through the accordion folds, and a feeling of some sort of prehistoric connection.  This is the romantic view that, for me, cancels out the loud squawks, the stench around the heronry, the knowledge that the survival rate for the chicks is not great. 

Many would say that geese are less exotic, but lately, I've spent quite a bit of time enjoying them.  The ones in the photograph below were part of a flock that I watched one afternoon as I sat on the rocks at the edge of the ocean in North Vancouver.  They seem to love to be in formation, whether flying or swimming.  I would say they are less independent than herons.  It's rare to see one go off by itself, as herons do.  They seem content to hang together, peaceful in between bickering sessions.  Check out the one below, with neck outstretched, as it is tailgated.  The fact there are so many of them can be daunting at times.  Walking one's dog in places where they congregate is definitely not for the faint of heart.  

As I watched those geese on the water, a couple of birds of prey soared overhead.  They were very high up in the sky, and this was the best photo I could manage.  I don't know if it's clear enough for anyone to identify.  I've guessed that it might be a peregrine falcon.
As I biked through Stanley Park on the way home from school one day, this little chick-a-dee was singing its heart out, and something made me stop.  It granted me just enough time for this photo...
...and this one which I love even more, because it was so unabashedly deep in song.
One evening, walking with Black Jack along 4th Avenue, I noticed these etchings in the sidewalk by Jericho Park. I will always wonder about the person who did them.  Child or adult?  Worker or passer-by?  Did they use a stick or perhaps a knife?  Did anyone watch them?  The date says 2004.  Do they still come by to check out their artwork, five years later?  I'm happy one of the drawings is a bird.
I can hardly remember the last time it rained.  No matter when we walk at Jericho, there are photographers, many with tripods and enormous lenses.  I snap quickly and move on, just a tiny bit intimidated by the sophisticated equipment.  The auto-intelligence mode is my friend, though, and did a good job of capturing this mallard, although the end result, as true to the image as it could possibly be, still seemed to me to have an almost fake quality about it.
Just a few steps further, this crow watched me with such knowing, it brought a lump to my throat.
Then it drank.
I love the navy blue tucked under the female's wings.
The sun also pointed out the lovely patterns in her neck.
The ponds lately are covered by a thick scum.  Sometimes, I wonder how the parents keep track of their kids.  This is one of four families swimming around in a relatively small space.
In all the bird families, it is humbling to observe how hard the parents work.
This female mallard and its reflection was one of those "almost" shots.  The one that got away.  But, there's always tomorrow.
Another dear little bird that sat still, and allowed me time to record its beauty. 
I wonder which bird left this feather.
Black Jack and I were charged by this pair of geese.  I thought we were keeping a respectful distance, but I can tell you that when they half-run, half-fly in a charge attack, it is REALLY impressive.  We didn't stick around to argue the point.
This crow was so large, I am almost wondering if it was a raven.  Like the crow above, it seemed to look right into my soul.
Here it is again.  It sat for a long, long time.  In fact, it was still sitting there when I left.  I would so have loved to know its thoughts.
The third in my little three-part series, will show some of the blooms that have caught my eye lately.  Thanks for reading!

Beasts

Three posts coming up to leave a photo and thought record of some memorable moments over the past couple of weeks.  No particular theme except to divide them in categories of beasts, birds and blooms.  

My interpretation of the word "beast" is very broad.  Here, some photos of a cat, a rabbit, a Chihuahua, a turtle, and Black Jack.  "Beast" almost always conjures up positive images, but I include a couple of photos of a baby goose bullying some ducks.  They should theoretically have been included in the bird post, but I guess they represent one instance where "beast" has negative connotations. 

This is Jocelyn with her cat Charlotte. They live in my building, and were enjoying some outdoor time Saturday morning, along with their rescued poodle, Philip. Philip is elderly, and quite deaf.  He wandered out of range of the camera, so his picture will have to be posted another day.   I know absolutely nothing about Charlotte, except that she has a very expressive face, and she is loved.  As for Jocelyn, her expression says it all. 

A couple of weeks ago, Bill and I were walking with Black Jack and saw this little Chihuahua.  The girl said she is a "teacup" variety and was rescued from the SPCA.  I have heard there is no official breed called "teacup" and that the term is only used by backyard breeders.  Still, I am very glad this dear little dog found someone to love her.  She lives with a very large cat who declined my portrait request, wandering off, much as Philip did.  If you look closely, you can just catch a glimpse of the cat's ears.

I took the next two pictures on that same walk.  We stopped at a thrift store and I bought a navy blue cushion.  Then I stopped to buy some groceries and Bill waited with Black Jack in the park across the street.  When I returned, Bill had put the cushion on his knees, and Black Jack was enjoying her soft seat, as she checked out the nearby trees for squirrel action.  Bill always considers Black Jack's comfort, just one of the things about him that warms my heart.  I mean, think about it.  There is Bill, sitting on a hard rock, while Black Jack sits in luxury.
Here is another example of ways Bill tries to make Black Jack's life better.  He knows that, for a little dog, getting a good view of the action in trees can be quite a challenge.
Another day, I took Black Jack along Point Grey road to Tatlow Park.  She hopped across the rocks in this pond.
I've just recently become aware how comfortable she is on rocks.  I love her alert expression in this picture as she spots something of interest.
Phyllis, Bill's sister, knows much more about rabbits than I do.  She has a black and white Dutch bunny named Nudge.  Some day, if she gives me permission, I will post a picture of Phyllis riding her bike in Winnipeg, with Nudge sitting happily in the basket.  The bunny below was at Jericho Park a couple of days ago.  I am wondering if a heartless human dropped it off.  I'm worried that it will have a very difficult time surviving if it was previously a sheltered pet.  I continue to look for it, but have only seen it that one time.  Maybe, Phyllis will be able to tell me what type of rabbit it is.  Could it be a Dutch bunny?

I have never come to terms with the fact that beasts eat other beasts.  That hunting instinct is becoming more and more evident in Black Jack.  It both fascinates and saddens me.  Recently, she has begun to crouch low and creep up when she sees rabbits.  Have no fear for the rabbits.  Bill and I are both really careful to make sure Black Jack has no chance of satisfying her prey drive.
More Black Jack photos.  She loves checking out the action in the water under the bridge.
Here, she has spotted a family of geese.
I was fascinated to watch some families of ducks and geese competing for food.  Here, the photograph is quite poor, but if you click on it, you will see that a young goose is trying to intimidate the ducks.
The adult duck is telling off the adult goose at the left (who is unfortunately cut out of the picture).  I had the feeling he was saying something like, "Can't you supervise that kid of yours?"  Meanwhile, the delinquent goose continues to glower menacingly at one of the ducks. There was a time when I thought of nature as an example of harmony among living beings, but that all changed one day when I watched some seals on a rock.  There was always one climbing up to push another off.  Watching the herons at Stanley Park and the eagles on the web cam are more examples of sibling rivalry that can be lethal for those with the poor luck to hatch later. I guess all living beings have the potential to be cruel - one of those facts of life I will never be able to fully accept, as much as I understand nature's need to weed out the weak to strengthen the species.  
Last night, Bill and I walked Black Jack at Jericho.  Bill spotted this turtle, quite a distance from the pond, and pointed away from the water.  It's back was completely dried out, and we perceived it to be dying, or at least, in extreme distress.  As I have mentioned over and over, Bill is one of the truly gentle souls in this world, and one more time, my heart was warmed by his actions.  He carried the turtle to the pond, even as he pondered the wisdom of doing so.  He remembered a scene from the film March of the Penguins when one baby penguin marched in the wrong direction to certain death.  The people filming were told not to interfere with nature, and did not turn the penguin around, a small step that could have saved its life.  I don't know.  Perhaps there were good reasons why we should have left that turtle alone.  I would be interested to read your thoughts on this.
Once in the water, the turtle began to swim, but then seemed to be stuck under this heavy branch.  I used a stick to lift the branch, and it finally moved on, I'm hoping to a long and healthy life at Jericho.
I began this post thinking I would just put in the photos with very little comment.  It is interesting to me that blogs, as Jean once mentioned, "...take on a life of their own."  Stay tuned for part 2 (birds) and part 3 (blooms) in this series.  Articulating thoughts I barely knew I had is one benefit of posting, although I must add that whenever someone takes time to comment, the input makes me feel especially privileged and stimulated.

Peter's Picnic and Bill's Birthday

Bill and Peter both had recent birthdays.  "Who is Peter?" you might ask.  Peter is Mali's brother, and we've only met once, although there have been several "almost" meetings.  Mali is a colleague and friend.  You can see a picture of her near the end of a post written quite some time ago. I'm hoping one day soon to get a picture of Peter, since his birthday picnic inspired this post.  

As for Bill, we celebrated his birthday yesterday.  Our friends, Kitty, Jock and Mali joined us at Tang's for a great supper, and then at Greens and Gourmet for dessert.  Bill says the fresh fruit cheesecake at Greens and Gourmet is the best in the city.  I had my camera hanging over my shoulder, but was enjoying the company so much, I forgot to take any pictures.  That was disappointing, but I have some pictures of Bill from Peter's birthday picnic adventure last Sunday.  That day, I forgot my camera, but Bill fortunately had his, so now for the story, courtesy of my vivid memories and Bill's camera.

Through a comedy of errors, Bill, Black Jack and I never did meet up with Peter, for his birthday celebration last Sunday.  We thought it was to be at Spanish Banks, and I, always game for a good walk, thought it would be fun to walk there with our picnic supplies, from Jericho Beach.  I did forget that Locarno Beach is between Jericho and Spanish Banks, so we walked quite a distance.  We began searching for Mali's blond head as soon as we had passed Jericho.  Then, we saw the Locarno sign, and knew we still had a fair distance to go.  Only five days past a small surgery, the sun was beginning to feel a bit warmer than was comfortable, and my energy was waning, but I was still game, and looking forward to the celebration.  After leaving Locarno, and walking the length of Spanish Banks, the picnic food was looking more and more tempting.  Bill left me sitting in a beautiful spot, while he did a final walkabout, searching for that ever elusive blond head and signs of birthday revelers.  When he returned alone, there was nothing for it but to make our own picnic in honor of Peter. 

Black Jack definitely approved of the entire excursion.  I discovered that she really loves rocks.  I think she is motivated by critter potential under the rocks, but whatever the incentive, her agility and enthusiasm was fun to observe.  Her long leash gave her quite a bit of freedom to explore, although it occasionally caught up around rocks.  Undaunted, she waited until I fixed the problem, and then continued her adventure.

So many crevices and potential critters.
Her back end was the one that most often presented itself to the camera.
But, she occasionally allowed me a front view, as long as I was quick enough to catch it.

She wasn't keen to stop exploring, but always loves to be in Bill's arms, and took advantage of the moment to assess the bigger picture.

I finally relinquished the camera to Bill, and followed Black Jack as best I could.  Bill, in the meantime, amused himself as he documented the contrast between Black Jack's agility and my challenges to keep up with her.
His challenge was to get a picture of me looking up, as it took all my concentration to remain upright.

I really wanted to cooperate, as Bill has been such a patient (and beautiful) model for me, but I barely dared to lift my eyes.  The best I could do was to keep smiling, and keep concentrating on where my feet were landing.  
Finally, I held Black Jack, and was stable enough to look up.
I would like to say that we saved the picnic supplies just in case we finally met up with Peter, but in fact, all that picture taking and rock stepping consumed quite a bit of energy, so we had the most wonderful feast.  There were beet and sweet potato chips, hummus, the best little carrots and other veggies, and strawberries.  I recorded the evidence, so Peter would know that we were thinking of him.  Black Jack would dearly have loved to consume a bit more of that evidence.  She did really enjoy sharing those carrots with us.

With much more energy now, we walked back towards Jericho, still scanning for a blond head.  Black Jack took a moment to help us out with the search.

Back at Jericho, Bill took one more photo on the bridge, before we finally headed home.  We had great fun celebrating your birthday, Peter.  Thank you for inspiring a great adventure.

Happy Birthday, Peter!  I can hardly wait for your next beautiful birthday celebration!

And Bill, the day you were born was a very lucky day for me.  Happy Birthday and thank you for the gift of you!

Herons

This heron update lacks news of the two pairs (Stanley and Stella, and Sam and Serena) I had followed when the branches were free of leaves and the nests easy to see.  I've been three times in the past week, once driven by Bill (thank you!), and twice for quick stops on my way home from school.  I am certain that Stanley and Stella have chicks, but am still not sure how many.  The only clear shot in three days was of this adult.  It sat for a long time at the very top of a tree, surveying its world.

Then, it looked up...

...flapped its wings, and left.  I'm wondering if it was a juvenile, hanging around its old home, and reminiscing about the good old days.  It didn't appear to be taking care of any young.  The ones with kids are working like crazy, mom looking after them in the nest, and dad flying in and out with food and the occasional bit of nesting material.  I wonder if it could have been Sam.  I've looked for Sam and Serena's nest, and if it's there, it is too well hidden by foliage to identify.

As for chicks, the struggle for survival is intense.  When food arrives, they squawk and bicker and are sometimes downright abusive.  Pictures are poor, but if you click on them, you can make out some of the action.

The picture below is the most dramatic.  The fellow at the bottom left is being attacked by the one above.  A man who was watching them told me that he saw one fall last week.  There is a phone number to call, and the good people who follow their progress regularly will come and try to rescue them if possible, but it's generally not a great prognosis for the young ones on the ground.  The chicks I could see were surprisingly big.  Soon, the only way to tell them from their parents will be when they stand on the end of a branch and flap and flap, building strength for eventual flight.  I will continue to stop by and will post any new or interesting developments that I can catch with my camera.  

The three b's and some other bits

This post lives up to the title of bikes, birds and beasts.  There are a few of each, plus one lamp, just to add a touch of something absolutely unrelated.  This first picture of a dog on a motorcycle was taken at the corner of Hemlock and 7th, as I waited outside with Black Jack, while Bill ordered a 10.2 wicked latte.  The lattes at the Wicked Cafe cannot be matched for the enjoyment they consistently give me, but the one that day rated higher than the usual "10".  But, back to the dog on the motorcycle.  I was torn between worry for its safety and laughter for the cuteness factor.  That dog was having a 10.2 day.  I could feel it.   

On one side of my apartment live Castor (nearest) and Pollo.  I have misnamed them in previous posts, but this time, the spelling and names are 100% correct.  Finally!  I love them.  Two of the sweetest dogs you could ever meet.  In this picture, they are watching Kimberly, their human.  Pollo means "chicken" in Spanish.  He is a very happy, laid back dog who "listens" well to hand signals, since he is deaf.  Castor worries a bit more, but also has a gentle, kind nature.  A cat also lives with them, but doesn't go outdoors, and I haven't learned its name yet.  Black Jack is comfortable with her canine neighbors.  This morning, she almost invited Pollo to play with her, but then she wandered off to explore the morning smells.  
To the left of my apartment are new neighbors.  I noticed them for the first time a couple of days ago.  First, I saw this cat in the window.
Then, I saw the dog.  It's quite a jump to that window, but I'm guessing there is a step-up arrangement, at least for the dog.  I don't know their names yet.  They appear to live together cooperatively, although I get the feeling the cat views the dog with just a slight amount of disdain.  It's not exactly rolling its eyes upwards, but.... 
Always in the back of my mind when we walk at Jericho, is the hope that one day, I will catch a red-winged blackbird in flight.  I haven't managed it yet, but this fellow gave me quite a close-up opportunity.
And the lamp.  Bill put it up for me the other day.  I've had it for many years, but haven't seen it up for a long time.  It makes me happy.  Thank you, Bill!
Black Jack took a moment off from rabbit hunting at Jericho to respond to a call, but I think she's still licking her chops as she anticipates getting back to the chase.  We're working on that recall, but it sure takes a lot of treats to keep her interested.
This squirrel watched us intently, as we went for our morning walk yesterday.
After that walk, Bill and I joined our friends, Jock and Kitty, for a trip to Burnaby to see an exhibition of electric vehicles.  Do you think Jock enjoyed himself?
Black Jack and I had a good time too.
There were some cool pictures of Bill on a bike, but I wanted to show him with the fellow in the top hat.  They had quite a conversation about that car.  It was driven by Mrs. French, in Victoria, BC, from 1912 to sometime in the 1950's.  You can read about it, and the exhibition, here.  (The story about the car is at the bottom of the page.)  Hearing that electric cars were popular such a long time ago brings me to a conversation I had the other night with Bill.  We were both remembering when empty milk bottles were left outside the front door, and the milkman delivered the same number of new bottles to replace the empties.  Bill remembers that the milkman's cart was pulled by a horse.  I'm not sure if I remember a horse or whether it was a truck that came, but both of us remarked that recycling was common long before it became a modern phenomena.  I remember my father shaking his head at the terrible waste, as we became a throw-away society. 
Here is Kitty with Jock.  They tested out these electric bicycles, and liked them, I think, although they had a bit of a shock when Jock's started on its own and ran into Kitty's.  When they took it back, I heard the fellow say, "Oh yeah.  I forgot to tell you about that."  I'm not sure what the rest of his explanation entailed.
This dog was also at the show.  She is seventeen, and a mix of Siberian Husky and coyote.  She was recovering from an accident, but appeared to be doing well, and was clearly very much loved by her human.  He allowed me to give her some salmon and liver treats which she definitely enjoyed.  Lovely dog.  I hope she will soon be back to herself.
Jock commented that he loves this kind of show, because there is so much creativity all about.  There were electric farm vehicles, motorcycles, cars, spaceships (okay, just kidding, but very cool cars), skateboards, and this, my personal favorite, although I opted not to try it until my head is more or less back to normal.  So simple.  A start/stop button in the fellow's hand, and the rest, just as you see.  The steering is done by shifting weight on the board.
This beautiful area, and suspension bridge, were a two-minute walk away from the exhibition.  Black Jack appreciated the greenery and paths through the woods.  Here, she has spotted something.  Who knows what, but Bill, ever patient, smiles and tries to hold her still for the camera.
We all met back at Granville Island for a delicious meal.  I loved watching the birds, and especially the seagulls' expressions.
This mural was under the overpass, as we walked up to 7th and Hemlock (where I indulged in another latte!) from Granville Island.  I love the colors and something about the energy.  
We passed through a beautiful little park on the way.  I only had to coax Bill a little bit to try out this slide.  (There wasn't a child in sight:)  
There they go!
So many flowers, everywhere!
My favorite flower shot of the day.
We both napped after our fun day, and then watched a documentary about plastic found in the ocean.  A fellow named Charles Moore is working hard to create awareness of the immensity of the problem.  Then, we went for an evening walk at Jericho.  Bill finally had to stop himself, as he picked up litter, much of it plastic, all around.  Once you start to notice, it becomes sad indeed.  It was still a great walk, but I made a mental note to take my cue from Bill and start picking up at least some of the litter I see on our walks.  I took pictures of lots of bunnies, a beautiful sunset and magical light over the ponds, but I'll conclude the post with this one silhouette of a bald eagle.  It was being chased by four crows.  It seems to bring together some of the thoughts, emotions and small dramas of the past few days.

A Bill Blog and some other stuff

It's been a while.  It seems my nature is either to keep going steadily at something or risk letting it go all together.  

There's not much about me that's halfway.  All or nothing isn't the best way to go about things, so I'm happy to be back again.

But I called this a Bill Blog.  That's because, even when the pictures appear to be about other stuff, most of them seem to come back to Bill.  He is a huge and positive presence in my life.  Bill knows what it means to be a true friend.  Let me count a few of the ways.

When I moved in my own apartment, Bill took it upon himself to come every day to feed Black Jack her lunch, and take her for a walk.  He took pictures, and sent me e-mails showing their adventures together.  The next five photos are all taken by Bill.

I love elephants.  Bill never forgets when I mention something that makes me happy.  He saw this sculpture on a neighborhood street.  How I've missed it, I can't imagine, but I'm going to make a point of finding it soon.  I love it.

He has posed Black Jack with branch, rock and tree backgrounds. 
His caption for this one is: "I am the master of the universe and this is my rock."
His caption for this one is: "Is that my tail tickling my nose?"
He took this one of me a couple of weeks ago, when we walked in Park and Tilford Gardens, after a latte at JJBean's and a stroll through Bridgman Park with Black Jack.  I am happy to have that photo, as I look a little bit different now, after a surprise surgery a couple of days ago.  But, more about that later. 

The next five photos are rare ones, as Bill hasn't seen them.  He sits patiently, looking at my pictures, admiring the better ones, and never putting down the worst ones.  I rarely post without first asking him which ones he thinks work better.  Anyhow, I took these as I walked along 4th Avenue this morning with Black Jack.  I'm off work for a few days, to heal from the surgery.

I stopped in a flower shop to ask about a hanging basket that will survive on my balcony, in spite of a very low amount of sunlight.  The girl was incredibly kind, and she is going to assemble one for me.  My only request was that it be bright and cheerful.  She took time to check out my favorite colors, and Black Jack checked out this beautiful cat under the table.  The cat was much calmer than Black Jack.
Some of you will remember that I had a subdural hematoma 4 months ago, after a cycling accident caused by bramble bushes.  It's possible to go back and read all about it but I don't recommend that.  I recovered well, except for one area just over my forehead.  For some reason that wound didn't heal, and this past Monday, when I was just thinking I'd have the doctor take a quick look at it, he  decided to admit me right away, and do what's called wound revision surgery.  I arrived with nothing in hand but my helmet and two bike panniers, so here comes another Bill story.  I had left home that morning, wearing my last pair of clean underwear, so he did my laundry before coming to bring me enough clothes for a couple of days in the hospital.  I still can hardly believe it.  Anyhow, a little more hair shaved, a wound clean-up, removal of the titanium plate, some new stitches, and I will hopefully soon be on the way to full recovery.  Not much fun, but I have only the best things to say about the staff at the hospital.  I took this picture of myself, looking in the bathroom mirror this morning.  I put it here partly so my sister can see that while I'm not pretty, I can still smile, and I think I look fairly healthy.  
I do think I look better in my cap, though.  Don't you?
A couple of posts ago, I talked about happiness, and the same day I posted, I saw a book called "The Art of Happiness" written by a psychologist named Howard C. Cutler, after spending several months interviewing the Dalai Lama.  One of my nurses at the hospital is Tibetan, and her first name is Tenzin.  She gave me this blue hospital hat.  I still think I look a bit better in the cap, but this one makes me smile.  Tenzin was so, so kind and gentle.  Any patient would be grateful to have her as their nurse.  She told me that in Tibet, many children are named after Lamas, and she is named after the Dalai Lama.  His name, I hadn't realized, is Tenzin.  She, her sister and her brother all have Tenzin as their first name.  When calling them,and needing to clarify which of them is being addressed, their second names are used.  This I learned because the book was on the window ledge.  I'm not sure why, but I loved that story, and I don't think I will ever forget Tenzin, the sweet, gentle nurse who also enjoys photography.

Now, for some "other stuff" that caught my attention over the past few weeks.  Here is Una.  Una is one of the many canine residents in my apartment building.  Just a totally happy, friendly, enjoy-life sort of dog, even after surgery to remove a tumor.
Una was more than willing to cooperate for a photo-shoot, but had difficulty resisting the urge to get up close and personal.  How's this for just about the most joyful smile one could ever be lucky enough to witness.
Here are, from left to right, Quagmire, Castor (back end only), Paulo, and Vegas.  Paulo and Vegas live next door, and often have visitors.  I love my friendly, lively neighbors!
Bill chose this crow photo, taken at Jericho.  (See, there he is again.)  
This is Andy.  Some of you will remember his sad story of losing his best friend, Miyoko, and a post some time ago about his new treasure, Robin.  They visit me every once in a while at the school where I teach, and it always makes me happy to see them.  
Although I haven't posted for a few weeks, I have taken pictures almost every day.  Believe it or not, I was quite ruthless in ditching most of them for this post.  Only three scenes, this one from the Lions Gate Bridge...
... this one from Jericho Park one beautiful evening...
... and this one also at Jericho, the same evening.
One of the feline residents in my building, staring down Black Jack. 
On our walks, we sometimes see foreign beasts.  Bill chose this giraffe...
... and this sort of stylized cartoon cougar figure.
I took these crows enjoying their bath in a puddle pond at Jericho.
We saw this Laburnum when we walked together one evening.  I didn't know what it was, but Bill sent me a link in a later e-mail so I could read all about it.  Here it is.  
Trick question: How many rabbits are there in this picture?  We watched the rabbits one night after eating supper at the Jericho Sailing club.  The next day, I went back and took this photo.
This heron lives at Jericho.  I found its nest one evening.  I think it is a juvenile, not yet old enough for a family.  It seems to fly between its nest and various spots where it can watch for fish and other food potential in the water.
It always seems that special things happen when I walk with Bill.  Not a good photo, but it was amazing to watch this crow follow, with extraordinary persistence, a bald eagle.  I hope it survived.  It was definitely taking its life in its wings.
Here, for Phyllis (Bill's sister), is a picture taken of Bill the same evening.  We had great fun, and I love this memory.
The same evening, I saw, for the first time ever, pelicans!  What stunningly beautiful birds they are.

I love the mischievous look on Bill's face, as he gets even with me for all those pictures I take of him.
It's not a race but I'm winning!
See?  I won.  That guy in the boat hasn't even left the water!
Come on, everybody.  Let's go for a beer!
Taken the same night.  See?  I told you magic things happen when Black Jack and I walk with Bill.
This one was taken a day or two later, also at Jericho.  Black Jack put on a show for this dog.  I think his name was Ben.
"You think that's good?" said Ben.  "Just watch this!"
We met this dog a few minutes later.  Its name is Mali.  My friend, Mali, at school, will find that very interesting.  Don't you think he's handsome?
Here is another feline resident of my building.  I came into my bedroom one night to find this fellow sitting on the carpet.  Thank Heavens Black Jack was busy with her bully stick in the livingroom.  I was somewhat shocked, and I guess didn't act in a properly friendly manner, so the cat quickly escaped through the narrow (like about two inches!) opening in my window.  How do they do that??? 
And finally, the view from my hospital room on Monday evening.  I love the ivy on that building.
Also taken from the hospital window.  Like Bill, I found myself surprised to see those oh so webby feet.  Of course, webbed feet for a seagull make sense, but sometimes, it takes a particular perspective to bring them to your attention.  I'm not sure what was in its mouth.  Hope it was organic and vegetarian:) 
Here endeth the longest blog post ever, and here again, I give thanks to my good friend, Bill!