Season Ender

And that's a wrap on our kayaking season.

Choppier waters than usual, with Isaias on our doorstep yesterday. Last day was actually today, but with the storm set to arrive, the consensus seemed to be to make the most of yesterday's sunshine and get on the water, then call it a season.

In the landscape on the shore, signs of Autumn... Colors in some trees, tents inflated over the tennis courts, gourd laden porches.

So after our last paddles (along with other association members out for theirs, or a final sail or motor about the bay - no illicit swimmers, though), we emptied our locker, and loaded up the kayaks on the cars for storage at the Mothership. Only a few other watercraft were behind us, awaiting retrieval by their people. Wishes were exchanged for a good off-season ahead.

And after our hard work, hot pot! The season is right for warming soups and hearty meals 😋. We all came close to imitating the Katmai bears yesterday by the time we were done.

Cinco Por Cinco de Mayo

Highlighting recent encounters with fauna - feathered and furry.

In the Jardin, we've had visits from some fine feathered friends.

Striking mostly-white pigeon.

House finches, I think.

Morning dove.

And then there was a different set that I met in Central Park yesterday - the Other, back from his last (most recent, and final one for his current stint) deployment, and his wild fauna crew in the Rambles.

Red tail hawk.

Squirrel.

Every Day Is Earth Day

Trying to live life each day as Earth Day.

Because 'tis true that every day is an earth day, and I try to live my life accordingly. But on this particular Earth Day, there were some extra nice encounters.

At the Harlem Meer, a blue heron! ...

...Turtles! 

...A butterfly!

En route to Central Park, a playground that honored some of the world's major rivers.

At the Conservatory Gardens, tulips galore! The last of the magnolias. Live birds splashing alongside sculptural birds in a birdbath. Squirrels.

Back closer to home in Carl Schurz Park, the cherry blossom arbor in peak bloom!

Even in our little island urban jungle, Mother Nature is all around to remind us that beneath the concrete is earth - her domain.

[Edited to complete photos December 13, 2024.]

(Co)existence

Conservation and conflicting conscience.

Earlier this week, I returned to Florida to meet with a client I traveled to see last year - a real estate developer of beautiful condominiums, in this case, situated by a conservation area.

The contrast of luxury, state of the art human residences set amid what would otherwise be the wild, natural home of birds and other untamed creatures is not lost on me at all. 

That this swampy land and water is so accessible adds invaluably to the appeal of the development - for me, anyway.

The buildings are done; if not by this client, other construction would rise on this site. We humans will want to live in pretty little palaces close to nature (or the "lite" version of nature that most of us crave). I feel some conflict. But I would not let the conservation area be lost for all the world; I enjoy it so. And I suppose that's always been the point of conservation - to highlight the treasures so we treasure them more, in hopes we leave the rest free.

Would it be compatible with human nature to just let it all be if we didn't already know firsthand the consequences of our darker inclinations toward greed and control and possession and subjugation? I don't know. Because the manifestation and consequences of all of those traits preceded all of us here today; I don't know that we could ever know if we could just BE and let be with what is around us. To some degree, our survival and progress depended on our not letting anything be, right?

But now that we know better, hopefully we will endeavor to do better.

Superb Owl(?) Sunday LVIII

Super Bowl Sunday with a gardening bent, on the heels of Tết (Lunar New Year 2024).

Nope, no owls encountered (and certainly no celebrity, resourceful, self-taught city owls); instead, a metal crane and its pond neighbor goose (and some ducks in the background) out in the 'burbs. Nope, not the football spectacle in Clark County, Nevada; instead, Clark Botanic Garden (see how the universe comes together?). There was not much natural botanical interest this early in February, the day after Tết - because, Winter - but we saw a smattering of nature-inspired sculptures, some pretty vistas, and feathered fowl friends. The Clark is a smaller garden compared to the ones we usually visit, but it offered just enough to let the parentals stretch their legs, get outside on a warmer than average day, see someplace new. I think it could be lovely when it awakens in Spring, and it's nearby, and free(!), so will be easy enough to return to in order to check it out in its full glory.

It was a nice diversion before, and maybe subconscious inspiration for, an impromptu stop at our favorite nursery. At some point since we were last there, they revamped their layout; it felt more spacious, a roomier setting to pick up some seeds, check out plants, for Dad to "come up with the idea" to get Mom an orchid for Valentine's Day.

And then we were finally off to Costco for classic game day food - prepared wings and a veggie platter with a ranch dip (I contemplated getting ingredients to cut into crudites and bake for hot wings, then opted for the easy way out; money for time and ease was well spent) -  followed by a mad dash back to the Mothership, arriving just in time for the coin toss. This was, in our collective memory, the first time, or one of the very rare times, we've ever had typical "American" sport watching faire for the Super Bowl; we've either been out at parties hosted by friends or eaten whatever was in the house, and with Mama Hen at the helm, chances are high that would have been home cooked Vietnamese food. This year, with the big game falling the day after Tết when we were already scheduled to be all together (and with Lil' Bro's friends, many also celebrants of the Lunar New Year, still being with their respective families and not taking on hosting duties) was unusual; we decided to make it an actual event for ourselves. The irony of the most important observance and expression of our cultural identity being the impetus for the most assimilated experience yet of our a most quintessentially American cultural ritual is not lost. Anyway, the food was great for the sibs and me; on the other hand, Papa Rooster and Mama Hen didn't quite "get" the appeal of this dining option (she took a few wings, and I believe had them with some leftover rice; inexplicably, considering how strongly fresh herbs and produce feature in Vietnamese cuisine, Mama Hen seemed incredulous about eating vegetables raw - maybe because they were cruciferous?).

Well, parental food incredulity aside, the rest of us had fun munching and watching the expensive commercials and seeing Taylor's boyfriend (ha!) win a nailbiter in overtime. A fairytale rookie football season for Tay-Tay! Alas, no postgame political endorsements on the field (eye roll). Perhaps there will be opportunities for that come Fall.