Cute little car near the Alaska Junction

 

On the way home from the Y, I saw this extraordinarily cure car - a "Figaro".

I am trying to get back into the habit of posting a positive thing a day. This is something I'd never seen before so, just as a birder has a "Life List" of birds that they've seen, I can add this to my list of cute.

I have seen this truck parked, probably at a West Seattle dead end, but today I saw it in motion. They explained they were headed for Alki. I guess it's like a taco truck but for plants. 

Goth Tomatoes

 While my neighbor Ele is out, I water their plants. It's easy to do and gives me a closer look at some flora I havent' seen before - notably this black tomato! 

If they were red or yellow tomatoes, I would have figured they were big enough to be ripe, but when I tasted one, it was clearly to still to be done growing. I saw a couple that were slightly purple so perhaps they lighten up when ripe? Either way, I'll just let Ele deal with them upon return.

Cool stuff!

Decluttering Continues

I am making good progress decluttering! In the process I came across this artwork from years ago. I posted on a Middle Kingdom Facebook page, and hope to locate a Kingdom Historian or someone who will treasure it.

I bought it at an auction that was in support of ... I don't recall, probably the Pale ... on the impression that I was getting original signed artwork, but it is merely  cover from an issue of the magazine, signed and matted. I was disappointed but not going to complain since it was an auction for a cause, but I do like to get a little original art now and then.

However I haven't done SCA in decades and this really should go elsewhere.

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My walk today was to a chip drop on Donovan where a neighbor used all the chips they needed, and needed the rest gone. I did five trips of 2 buckets each, picking blackberries on the way and gathering apples from a neglected tree. I froze the berries and tomorrow I'll have to process the apples I guess.

 

Autumn Crocus

These particular flowers I see in a bit of unbuildable land on the way to Target, where stairs go down a steep slop that for some reason is not overgrown. Perhaps the city maintains it; anyway these crocuses growing here and there on the slope are a nice change.

When I posted this on Facebook, a friend commented: 

"Here's what I used to do, back when I had a house with a front lawn. At this time of the year, I'd fork up each dandelion, and in the hole made, drop a crocus bulb. Come spring, the lawn would have crocuses sprout up in a naturalized pattern. By the time they're done blooming, it's time for the grass to get its first mowing of the year. Year after year, I had fewer and fewer dandelions in the front yard, and repeated crocuses. Wins all around!"

My Hops

 

What you gonna do with all them hops?
All them hops inside them pots?
I'ma make, make, make some IPA,
With my hop-vines, they're cray-cray.

(Chorus)
My hop-vines bring all the bees to the yard,
And they're like, "Better than nectar, it's hoppy damn hard."
I can teach you, but I have to charge,
For brewing secrets, it's a reward.

(Verse 2)
You see me fermenting, sippin' my stout,
It's so rich and velvety, there's no doubt.
Citra and Amarillo hops in my stash,
Brewing up a storm, watch me make this batch.

(Chorus)

(Bridge)

What you gonna do with all them hops?
All them hops, make the bitterness pop.
I'll dry hop, wet hop, and double hop too,
Crafting brews that'll make you drool.

(Chorus)

(Outro)

So if you want some, better come to me,
I'll pour you a glass, and you'll see what I mean.
With my hops so fresh, and my flavor so bold,
My brews are worth their weight in gold.

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I prompted chatGPT and then edited the result. Is this mine? or is it just fun?

Plum Good Walk!

 

A pleasant morning walk, as usual, with Hanna and Julie up to the water tower or whereever, was followed by a short tour of their back garden to see how the bunny fencing is working to protect the new greens. The plums are falling so watch your step!

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I keep plenty busy with projects even as I am simplifying life by dropping lower priorities. How did I ever get anything done working full time?

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In the afternoon, I watered Ele's garden as they requested while they're out. When I care for cats, I text the owners a photo both to reassure them and to create a record for myself (I anticipate looking back years from now remembering ...). I figured, why not do the same with the flowers?

Labor Day Bees

 

My traditional Labor Day picture ....

....and some bees I saw working tiny pink flowers as I took my walk.

In the morning I got to the Y for the usual 8:15 class, but of course it's a holiday so no class. No problem, I asked the staff to help load a video and I did first a 20  minute boxing video then a 35 minute boot camp video. I am not fond of the bosu but I remind myself that I used to have excellent balance and this is a safe way to get it back - I can always just hop to the floor.

The bulk of the day I labored at decluttering. I am making good progress on the laundry room although there's much to go.

I went for an evening walk with the mission of dropping off spare cheap wired earbuds at the pantry on 16th and Roxbury. When I got home, no keys - and I still had earbuds in my pocket - the same pocket where I keep my keys!  In my defense, the earbuds and their wiring feel not unlike the keys on their wrist lanyard. I started walking briskly to the pantry, when I remembered that the out-of-breath feeling I get when I run is not unlike the feeling I get when I exercise - and in class I just keep on going. So I ended up running the whole way - except going down the steeper hill - and was rewarded with finding my keys just where I left them. Next time don't mix cargo with keys - and look at what I'm donating to ensure it's nothing I don't want to lose. Haha!

My Friendly Mug

Today I walked with my reusable cup to Dubsea Coffee in White Center. It's like a friend who helps me minimize waste - everything tastes better in stainless steel! #bringyourownmug