I love me some pistachios

So does the squirrel clan –

 

 

They will sift through the mix for the pistachios.

The peanuts are last on the list, but still better than foraging in the wild for dinner.

Lucky little fur-balls.

 

 

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Lookit this bad mamma-jamma

It’s six foot tall, and the flower is the size of your head –

 

 

Admire it now, as it’s only a matter of time before the squirrels find it. And destroy it.

We tried one year to harvest the seeds. Read up a bit and tried a tip on how to keep the little buggers out of the seeds – “Put a paper shopping bag over the flower, so they can’t find/get to the seeds” it said. So yup, there were a handful of giant sunflowers with paper bags over their heads in the garden. Looking for all the world like they were ashamed of their football team. Then one day I noticed one of the bags shaking around, and you guessed it, the squirrel was in there have an absolute FEAST. Ate every single seed and left all the shells in the bag. At least it was easy enough to clean up.

Silly rodents. Smarter than me I guess.

 

 

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BackfireMoto in Ballard

Just for a couple beers and a look around. Some really cool stuff. Will have to budget more time for the next one. A couple shots –

That’s it for this month. Hopefully I can get more time/shots/effort into next month’s gathering. If the weather lets it happen at all? Check with me in four weeks…

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He’s a big boy

And quite the hero to Norwegians and Ballardites. They claim he was the first European to set foot in North America, some 500 years before Columbus. He was the son of Erik the Red, and one tough SOB. He, of course, is Leif Ericson –

 

Why they installed a 25 foot tall statue of him watching over the marina, I have no clue. But there he is, looking due North, like any minute now his ship is gonna come in.

Maybe it will?

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Everyone is loving this weather

This September has had the greatest weather in the recorded history of Seattle September weather.* Everyone is happy and playing nice. The turtles have even decided to share suntan space with the ducks –

Sharing at it’s finest. Way to go turtles. And ducks. And Seattle weather.

* I just made that up about the recorded history of weather bit. It sounds good though. And the weather has been spectacular. Why not.

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Meanwhile, down at Shilshole

I love this view of Shilshole –

 

 

Ten million sailboats, all their masts uniformly pointing to the sky, as if they’re asking the Gods for wind.

Makes up for the ocean being 2 hours away.

 

 

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Just look at what you’ve done!

That’s what Marla said to the squirrels when she found the hacked up sunflower. I don’t know about you, but I think in it’s current state, it’s kinda interesting anyway –

 

Stupid squirrels

 

It’s supposed to look more like this –

 

Keep off!

 

I’m afraid once the seeds get there, they’re gonna be right back to clean this one out too. All part of the game.

 

 

 

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Just hanging out

On the the front steps when I got home today –

 

 

One of Marla’s works.

 

 

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Not so unexpected visitor stopped by today

It is fall, and it seems to be the heron’s favorite time of the year to visit. He was having a look around the pond and poking at the netting. No doubt reminiscing about the savory sweet flavors of koi and goldfish –

Sorry, not the best photo

Until my tough-guy cat Barley showed up –

The heron bailed for the safety of the roof, cautious to keep one eye on us, and one on the cat. All the while wondering how to get at those fish!

Somewhere along the line he realized he could fly, and the three of us cannot. So he started laughing at us and even went so far as to stick his tongue out at my cat –

He then crossed the line, telling us he had a blackbelt in karate, while strinking this pose –

Barley, was not amused –

Before things got a chance to get out of hand with the wildlife and the domesticated animals, I told the heron, ‘Dude, you gotta scram’. He did, right to the roof of Pete’s house. Cause he still hadn’t had a chance to get his my fish –

Finally, after a couple more minutes of trying, we convinced the big bird to head home without any of our fish –

All in all, a good outcome on many fronts; No missing fish, no need for Barley to prove himself against a bird 5 times his size, and we got to witness one of Mother Nature’s beautiful creations up close and personal in the back yard. Usually the herons spook at the sight of us humans, this guy hung around for ten or twelve minutes, giving me ample time to take some decent shots. There’s plenty more if you like….

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You know you’re home when,

You go to the place you always go to. In our case, the Cafe at Ray’s Boathouse. We don’t go for the view –

 

 

And certainly not for the food and drink –

 

 

Who’s kidding who? We go specifically for those reasons. And they never disappoint.

Welcome home Marla.

Thanks Ray’s.

 

 

 

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