BallardBlog

I live in Ballard. You would if you could.

My Photo
Name:

Ballard was settled by Scandinavians in the late 19th-century. While we weren't part of the original migration, we've lived here a long time and still like it.

Monday, September 27, 2004

Harvest Moon

Shine On Harvest Moon

By Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth - 1903

Shine on, shine on harvest moon
Up in the sky,
I ain't had no lovin'
Since January, February, June or July
Snow time ain't no time to stay
Outdoors and spoon,
So shine on, shine on harvest moon,
For me and my gal

Friday, September 24, 2004

Geese

The geese are starting to head south for the winter. It seems a little early to me. The next few weeks are often the nicest of the year. It might be a bit cool at night but the days are pleasant. Foggy mornings, sunny afternoons. Some of the trees are already starting to turn color. Most of the annuals I plant in front of the house are starting to fade but oddly enough, the African daisies are thriving. It's spring in South Africa and maybe chronology means more to them than the thermometer.

One thing I've noticed over the years is that in September, the sun is lower in the sky and it will shine into the kitchen when I cook dinner. It's a dark kitchen, actually, and the sun at dinnertime is a nice change.

The air feels better, too. Summer air is dry, fall air is moist. More refreshing, somehow.

I like the clothes of fall: the sweaters, getting a new jacket, digging the thicker socks out of the back drawers.

So even though it's football season, fall is still the best season.

Monday, September 20, 2004

Golden Gardens


photo by BallardBlog

We went to Golden Gardens last night to see the sunset. There's a nip in the air these days and many people had fires going on the beach. The drum circle had a saxophone player with them tonight. He was pretty good. Couples were huddled along the beach and in the grass. There were lots of kids running around.

Over at the pond, the ducks were bedding down for the night but there was a strange one loitering around the footbridge. I suppose his little duck brain remembered Wonder Bread falling from the heavens. He had unusual coloring: a dark green head like a mallard but his body was a dark blue. He had a flash of white on his wing. I know a few ducks but I didn't recognize this one and my little bird guide was no help. I asked him what sort of duck he was but he just paddled over towards the goth kids hoping they might be wonderful to him.

Oh my



Three years later.

What to do?