I miss ....

I miss ....

someone to scratch my back

someone meeting me at the airport

someone to thread my needle when I can't

someone to brainstorm with

someone to take care of me when I’m sick

holding hands

folding sheets together

someone to say “It’ll be OK,” or “We’ll get through this.”

a shoulder for my head

a head on my shoulder

a dance partner

someone in the empty seat at the table

someone to tell me my slip is showing

someone to wash the dishes after I cook

hearing “I missed you”

waiting for someone to come home

someone who gets me

Hike!

Yesterday was a great day!

We ran across a skeleton. Pretty sure it is an elk. It is fresh, as it still had a tiny bit of tissue on parts of the bones, and we were amazed at the thoroughness of the scavenging.

We drove by this on our way in without even seeing it, probably because we were looking for a trail and didn't notice the huge field, actually fields, of flowers.

Later I saw this cluster of flowers beside the car where we stopped to investigate another trail.

At that same stop we were very close to Nogal Peak. We were actually in Nogal Canyon, running around on roads that were barely more than trails.

On a different trail, we saw this little caterpillar. Isn't he colorful?

The aspens in this canyon were magnificent!  These trunks were the broadest I think I've ever seen. I'd guess they were a good 18 inches diameter. These are probably 50 feet tall.

Lots of hiking, sweating, beautiful things to see, pictures to take (I forgot my camera, so these were from my cell, and my battery ran out,  blasted short-lived smart phones), marvelously fresh air, but we found no crystals. It's OK, we found some good places to go back and investigate more fully. We will do one trail/canyon at a time, whereas we scouted several of them yesterday, skipping from one to the next to figure out where they were, getting our bearings, so to speak. We also need to get a good map of hiking trails to pinpoint where we are.

I thought I'd be unable to get out of bed without great pain today, but I'm actually doing very well! Guess I'm not as old and out of shape as I thought. Well, OK, I'm still as old, but at least my body is sort of in sync with my head. I'm eager to go back!

Gotta get ready for work!

Rocks

.... and rocks and more rocks.

One of the originals.

A new one.

Two originals, the one on the right was rebuilt today as it had fallen over or was kicked over by a deer.

A new one. This was challenging, because every time I lifted the big central rock atop the two "legs," they toppled. I think it was the 4th time I restacked that the balance was finally right to hold the heavy stone.

 

Two more of the originals. If you click to enlarge you will see the delicate balance in the one on the right. I'm really proud of that feat! The fact that it hasn't fallen amazes me!

And the last one .... This took some energy. Some of those rocks are not easy to lift and balance!

A closer view.

I didn't move the two big base rocks, but took advantage of their location to build a giant stack. It's about 4 feet tall.

I like this angle cause it shows the space in the stack.

I spoke again to the lady at the little store, and she said that she learned who is building the stacks. She didn't know much about him, but he is building them as they are supposed to help balance nature. That's good. I think anything we can do to bring balance into this world is worthy of my time. Maybe it's just a pipe dream to think that has anything to do with it, but that's OK. I like the way they look, I like the kind thoughts behind the process, and it was therapeutic for me to be out there, sweating and working out some of my angst from yesterday.

a terrible day

A coworker died today. It was completely unexpected. Too young at 57, she had an apparent heart attack or stroke.

She was in, or seemed to be, great shape. She was slender, active in exercise (played golf Wednesday), looked 10 years younger than she was. How an that happen?

She was a fairly new employee, a nurse, a great addition to our staff roster. She always had a nice word. I liked her right away on meeting her. Our patients liked her. I think everyone liked her. As we talked through the day, several of us recalled that several times this week she mentioned not feeling well, but she brushed it off, saying it was just a little headache or something undefinable.

Upon hearing this news our usual routine was gone. Business went on through the day, but there was not a single person unaffected by this news, and the work was mechanical. Well, mechanical and sluggish, anything but normal.

I fought tears several times, only because I had things that had to get done. One of my tasks was facilitating a bereavement group. I felt incapable of leading anyone, anywhere today, but I finally made it through the day.

Sometimes there is just no plausible explanation. This is one of them.

Birds, beds and bugs

I'm a bit sad as I think the hummingbirds are beginning to thin out, probably an indicator that the migration has begun.  :(  It seems a bit early to me. I'm thinking the thinning usually starts around mid-September. The consumption of nectar has dropped from around 1.5 gallons per day to something less than a gallon. I hope this is not an indicator of an early winter. I like cold weather, but I don't want 14 months of winter!! Anyway, I'll watch to see what the "Hummingbird Bar" looks like over the next few days.


Jazi seems to think I make the bed every morning just for her benefit. Soon after I make it, this is what I find ....

Spoiled little girl, that's what she is! I often come home in the afternoon to find the pillows moved, usually forming a perfect nest for a furry girl! I guess I should expect it, however, as she is The Princess! She thinks she is The Queen, but I get to be that!

Last night I saw this little moth resting just beneath the lights on my deck. You'll have to click on this photo to see him.

Pretty little thing! He's a very pale green, and almost translucent wings. I have no idea what he is, but I thought he was worthy of a portrait as one of the temporary residents of Chez Lynilu!

I'm going to go hunting for crystals this weekend with some friends. I'm eager, as I've never done this before. The place that is supposed to be good for this is very close to my house, probably 3-5 crow-flying miles, or about 10 miles driving. I hope I find at least one! It will be fun to know where to look for them, and I might well go back with one or two of the pups for a walk-about in the future.

I'm very tired this evening. I've had a very busy week, not a bad one, but I'm ready for the weekend. Just one more day!!

This .....

..... is my favorite corner of my desk at work.

Can you guess why?

Looking around

Today was a camera day. I'm not sure why, but here is the result ....

And how was your day?

Interesting light

This evening I was sitting the the deck talking to a friend on the phone when I saw a weird and beautiful phenomenon. When you look at these two pictures, it looks like there is a glare on my camera lens, but no .... it is a light (lights?) somewhere between my house and the Capitans. I have no explanation for this other than the obvious fact that it was at sunset, and this is refracted from the pink sunset behind me.

The oddest thing is that the light looks as if someone sliced the bottom off. It is straight across the bottom and doesn't reach the ground! It's not because the horizon cuts it off, because there isn't a straight line horizon around here. I have no idea!

Nuff said. Lookee here .....

Isn't that odd?

Sunday Funnies

Gooooood Moooooorning!!! Have some funnies on me!

Now .... grin like that ALL DAY LONG!!!