Why do some farmers plant rows of sunflowers at one-week intervals through the spring? Because people like sunflowers enough to pay for the privilege of photographing them. Because people like sunflowers as backdrops for portraits. Because people like sunflowers and will spend money at co-located retail stalls selling flavoured sunflower oils.
But why do people like sunflowers?
Not a hip-as-in-with-it hip face, a hip-as-in-joint hip face, as seen on the skeleton at my physiotherapist’s office. I was moving quickly–I was supposed to be doing shoulder exercises–so I didn’t look for the best angle, but I think you can still see the face, anchored by the two screws as eyes and a sideways mouth. Picasso messed with perspective like that, but to better overall effect I think.
I’ll see if I can get a better shot next time. I’m sure there’ll be a next time.
What do English cucumbers and French baguettes have in common, besides a certain Continental flair? They don’t fit well in standard grocery-store bags, that’s what.
Let’s take the cucumbers first. In my mind’s eye–and now in yours–two are being held uncertainly by an unfortunate clerk even now regretting the life decisions that have led him to this point. It’s too late for that, buddy: You’re up. What are you going to do?
Early training tells. I grew up in Alberta, so when I see a spitter-spatter of rain on the early-morning pavement I step out onto the sheltered porch, expecting the air to feel less oppressive, temp-and-humidity-wise, than it has for several weeks.
Nope.
Early training is not all. I’ve lived in Ottawa for more than 20 years, so when I see a full-fledged scatter of rain on the early-morning pavement I step out onto the sheltered porch again, hoping the air will feel less oppressive than it has for several weeks.
Nope.
I have a reputation as a precise estimator. I’d say that the spruce trees separating the practice range from the adjacent fairway were planted, oh, a while ago. They are, after all, pretty tall.
Ahem. Assuming they are not in destructive-testing mode (counting the growth rings after chopping the tree down), it turns out that experts do not use the height of a tree to estimate its age. They use the diameter of the trunk after measuring its circumference (about 4.5 feet from the ground) and then applying the growth factor applicable to the species.
However, even if I had known this technique at the time, I doubt that I would have used it: my tape measure was at home with my knitting kit and those branches are densely packed and sharp besides. So. The trees were likely planted during the development of Hylands Golf Course, which opened in 1961. That doesn’t seem like a long time ago–I mean, I remember 1961–but it would make them 64 years old if they were planted from seed and does that seem probable? No, they were likely transplanted as saplings of some sort, with several years or even a decade of growth already under their belts.
WTF?
Oh dear. That’s never a happy start and from there it actually gets rude. I’m checking in on a group chat and now I’m sorry that I did. Before gently closing it, I involuntarily get the gist of the post (it’s political) but I don’t learn the details of exactly who has done what unforgivable thing. At this point, as someone once said, does it really matter?
No. In this case at least, it doesn’t.
My phone camera is ancient as these things go: it must be three years old at least. Of course, ongoing software updates help, but at some point I’ll be tempted to option-up to a newer version and will be current for about three months. Three weeks? Whatever.
In the meantime, it’s fun to get decent flower close-ups without lugging around a camera that weighs a few pounds – more if I take more than one lens with me.
It will even get decent shots of insects.
I can (sometimes) do better with my big camera, but as they say, the best camera is the one you have with you. More and more, that’s my phone, which lets me entertain myself at a low carrying cost, as it were.
Good news! I just stumbled across clear instructions on how to set up my phone to receive emergency alerts.
Bad news! It’s mostly for the USA.
Good news! I sometimes travel in the USA.
On the self-same visit to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum that generated deep thoughts about language and sexual roles/stereotypes, we saw this CT-114 Tutor aircraft hanging upside down in the foyer.
Why was it upside down?
Playful creativity–even or especially in a museum display–is a joy forever.
Go, Blue Jays!
