crates | April 20, 2009
Spring is marching on here. A couple of days ago my feet were slipping on the front steps, and for a brief flash I thought there was frost. Further examination revealed that there was a thin, slippery layer of what appeared to be yellow flour. As I walked to my car I could see a [...]
crates | April 16, 2009
The unexamined life is not worth living. Socrates, in Plato, Dialogues, Apology Greek philosopher in Athens (469 BC – 399 BC) I am reading Peter Pouncey’s book, Rules for Old Men Waiting, enjoying the wonderful writing and the images and thoughts that were evoked. I got to thinking about how difficult it is today to [...]
crates | March 31, 2009
I was reading this incredible book (God’s Demon by Wayne Barlowe) about the demons of hell and the story of one demon who attempted to regain Heaven and I came across this character called Lilith. I had heard of Lilith before, of course, but I really knew nothing about her. Much has been written about Lilith. There [...]
crates | April 12, 2008
Three days ago as I walked down my favorite road to the nearby beach, I came across this teeny-tiny little grey creature lying on its back on the side of the road. This little mammal was a shrew, apparently the Wandering or Vagrant Shrew (Sorex vagrans) as far as I could make out. I often [...]
crates | April 7, 2007
Yesterday morning when I walked out on the porch, it was so slippery that I thought for a moment that it had frosted during the night. I then realized that there was a film of yellow pollen over the porch and steps which acted as as a fine lubricant. Wiping the railing, I found that [...]
crates | March 26, 2007
Well, there are so many plants flowering forth that I thought I’d put on some more photos. I am in the process of learning what some of these plants are, so bear with me. The shrub with the red berries are shown to the right is yet to be identified. I thought for a moment [...]
crates | March 18, 2007
This wonderful Big-Leafed Maple (Acer macrophyllum) is one of my favorites on my walk to the beach. It is only about two hundred yards from my place, and I always have to stop and admire its moss-covered branches which are festooned with the lovely epiphytic Licorice Fern (Polypodium glycyrrhiza; aka P. vulgare). The Licorice [...]
crates | March 17, 2007
Western Trilliums (Trillium ovatum), the beautiful early Spring wildflowers, are now blooming in the nearby woods. As you can see the white flowers (sometimes pinkish or purplish as they age) are arranged above three offset leaves or giving the plant a pleasing symmetry. This set of “threes” is reflected in their name, latin for “threes.” [...]
crates | March 10, 2007
The leaf buds on my lilac bush began to swell over a month ago, and now the Indian Plum are blooming in the forests with their long catkins hanging down and the first hint of new green leaves. Crocuses are emerging, but only open up in the sun. Flowering crabapple trees are also beginning to bloom. Early [...]