No big walk today…just a stroll around the ‘hood. It’s a beautiful day, but my shoulders are still fluorescent and it’s too hot to wear anything but a tank top (and shorts.) Also, I have to buy some new sunscreen. Also, I have stuff to do. Like sit in front of my computer. And oh yeah, explore the possibilities of the new love of my life, Nutella. Other than ‘off a spoon‘, my favourite way to enjoy this hazelnutasm in a jar is to spread it on double-churned dark chocolate ice cream. So good. I anticipate a very long, loving, and untroubled relationship.
Later on in the evening, went hunting for the rumoured owls in Whitemud Creek, and found three of them! I have NEVER seen an owl in the wild before, and it wasn’t just any old owl, it was the Great Horned Owl. And, we also saw two Great Horned Owl babies. As my niece explained to me, the tufts of feathers on its head are neither ears, nor horns, but merely…tufts of feathers. Uh..thanks, but I think they’re eyebrows.
The owl was sitting very high up on a tree. Through my binoculars, I could clearly see the owl staring straight at me with it’s yellow eyes. I felt kind of honoured to be noticed amongst all the people and squirrels. They must have heat-seeking eyesight. The burn on my shoulders from earlier today is still radiating great plumes of super-heated air. I feel combustible. And happy. I saw an owl! Also, beavers.
My friend and I decided to check out the Devonian Gardens to see what was sprouting. Not much. It’s beautiful and serene, especially in the Japanese garden, but there wasn’t much going on but squabbling geese and brittle grass. Found a beetle on his back, all sixteen arms flailing in panic, and so I flipped him over. Figured my good deed was deserving of a double scoop of ice cream, which it was, and so we did.
The ‘wetlands’ trail really needs to be renamed. Perhaps the ‘notsowetlands’, or the ‘notwetatall’ lands. The boardwalk stretches across dead reeds and old cattails. The only water is a pond far off in the distance.
dampishlands
The last time I was at the Devonian was in December for the Luminaria walk. All the trails were lit up by small votive candles. It was -25, but there were bonfires with hot cider on tap, which made the hour survivable. It hardly seems like the same place today.
Had my friend drop me off at Laurier, and somewhere in between Laurier and my home (about an hour and 15), I got burnt to a crisp. My sunscreen expired in April 2009. On the bright side, and there was plenty of bright, I have now received a year’s worth of vitamin D in one day!
Who’s a lovely day? Who’s a lovely day? You are! You’re a lovely day! Truly. All warm and pretty and sweet-smelling. Now the impatience begins. I’m happy with the progress of the green thus far, but I’m greedy. I want more. I want lush.
The great thing about this time of year in Edmonton is that once spring really begins (in May), it’s fast. Just like autumn. We spend a lot of time loitering about in the inbetween states of post-autumn and post-winter, both of which are brown, brown, and…uh… brown. When the first yellow leaf falls from a poplar tree, you know that thousands will follow in a matter of weeks. And then we wait, and wait for the snow to break up the dreary geometry of leafless trees and desolate landscapes. The snow melts, and the brown returns. But…a few months later, after the ubiquitous May snowfall, and much swearing, the Mayday trees finally pop their perfumed buds, and you know, ya just know, lush is just around the corner.
Distracted by the thrill of wearing sandals again, I forgot my running shoes. Blargh. Couldn’t walk home in my sandals, so I had to take the bus. On a beautiful day. However, I slapped on my running shoes as soon as I walked through the door and…wait. That’s not true. I fed the cat. That’s what I did first. That’s what I always do first. That’s what I must do first. And then I slapped on my shoes and and went for a walk.
Passed by a dying bird on the Low Level Bridge. I think it was a chick, but I’m not sure. There was was a lot of scattered feathers and blood. Must have been hit by a car, or maybe it was attacked by another bird. I didn’t know what to do, except cry. The poor thing was clearly minutes away from death, and as I moved away, I wished for a swift end to the bird’s suffering.
Later on in Mill Creek, I noticed that someone had put some black sunflower seeds and dried corn on a tree stump for the birds. So kind, and very cheering after that dreadful scene on the bridge. The rest of the walk was uneventful, but pleasing to my soul. Fragrant, warm, and full of birdsong.
OK. Not a post about walking, but I had to put it somewhere. This is an email sent to me by my friend, Cris. It’s his response to a junkmail requesting a ‘transfer of funds.’ His reply is below the actual email (in blue.) It’s fu%#ing hilarious:
