Actually today wasn't so bad. Yesterday was dark and dreary. I had told myself yesterday to get out and at least do a short walk in between rainfall but it was so gloomy looking out my bedroom window that I convinced myself to instead hang out on the bed and watch Corvid videos on YouTube with Lucy the Cat. When I felt guilty, I had something to eat. Ultimately, I transcended shame. I think they call that suburban nirvana.
First, this is the only picture from last Sunday I liked and since the turkey buzzards (Cathartes aura) were circling overhead again today (I hate it when they do that), I thought I'd include it here. Besides photo subjects have been few and far between.
Today, Sunday, January 21, there were no excuses. I ventured out, camera in hand, with Docken on the phone. Thank you, Docky.
The weather. It got much bluer on the journey home.
I only saw a tiny amount of sprinkles when I took the car up the hill after a lower campus walk. The combined walks, lower and upper campus, amounted to 2.11 miles, dodging people, people with dogs, squirrels, and existential dread along the way. I successfully navigated the treacherous terrain of mostly sidewalk. There were some stairs involved.
A common raven. I grow fonder of ravens all the time.
I visited the garden twice because I was hoping to see the male Calypte anna hummingbird known as Dusty. I spotted him on my second stopover. You'll have to trust me that this is Dusty atop the dead California Bay tree. I cranked up the shadows and midtones quite a bit in another photo to be sure. That wasn't a presentable image.
From down below I had seen a red-tailed hawk land in one of the larger pine trees near the top of the hill but for the life of me I couldn't spot one once I got up there. In fact the only pictures I got were of another mockingbird...
and this sparrow which had just obviously found its way out of a puddle nearby.
That's all I got but the point was my getting out and walking. I believe I had walked every other day this past week and it was a welcomed change of space after yesterday's intermission.
Yesterday's precipitation, .60".
The Rainy Day
The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.
My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the mouldering past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.
Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow~
I’m afraid the rest of my week will be dark and dreary. Especially enjoyed the turkey buzzard and, for some reason, the sparrow. Glad you’re still out and about and sharing your tremendous vision.
ReplyDelete