PBS - A Murder of Crows

Last night on Nature, PBS aired a segment titled "A Murder of Crows" and I thought I'd share it with my 3 followers as a PS to my post this summer...

As you might have guessed, I have a fair amount of curiosity and admiration for crows - they are a constant of Seattle's city living, and the UW has a researcher who is doing really interesting work on urban crows...So - last night's segment featured the work of our local crow guy, and in general is just a really interesting look at these wily creatures. Check it out when you have an hour or so - who knew that baby crows had blue eyes?!

Time does heal - or 2 years later, still standing

Dates loom large in the imagination, anticipating this day for the past couple of months has been much harder than experiencing it - ironically enough. Funny how the feelings don't appear on cue, when they ought to, in an orderly fashion.

I've been spending some time this fall investigating myself, and working on being with whatever presents itself in each moment - it's a big challenge, but one I'm enjoying. At any rate, what do they say - where ever you go, there you are?

Well, I am here, and I'm doing ok. I hope you are, too. Wishing today of all days we weren't quite so far away - but I know you're here with me as I am with each of you, missing Eleanor.

Leonard Cohen

Got Bob LC's new cd/dvd Songs From the Road for his birthday, tonight we watched the DVD. What an amazing creature Leonard Cohen is - after watching his performances from the tour he's been on for the past 2 yrs at the age of 70+, I am in complete awe of his talent and generosity of spirit. In the extra backstage clip, he recites the chorus from Anthem:

So, ring the bells that still can ring,

forget the perfect offering,

there is a crack in everything -

that's how the light gets in.

I'll leave it at that, sending my love to those who are needing it this weekend.

Magical Mushrooms

Why, hello October...

How did September manage to completely escape me this year? Work has dominated the past couple of months, I guess - but my big push is finally over. As things calm down for me, however, they're just heating up for Bob as Fall Qtr gets underway - just in time for my favorite season...

This year we're determined not to let the academic calendar overshadow the lovely NW autumn. It's harvest season after all, and with that comes the emergence of...mushrooms! One of the biggest upsides of our damp mossy climate is the abundance of fungus everywhere you look: chanterelles, matsutakes, porcinis, lobster mushrooms - the list goes on and on.

Our brief forays into the forest were quite the contrast with noisy city life; while wandering amongst the trees I noticed a sound I didn't recognize, then realized it was the falling pine needles landing on the moss at my feet...amazing.

Here are a couple of photos, you can find more here...

Hope your harvest is bountiful...