davepolaschek

Wood. Food. More.

Seven boxes for books

I’ve been building bookcases to hold my books. I have seven of them done, and another 40 or so to build (I’ve been doing the largest sizes first). It’s a big project, but each new box that’s built is a step closer to being done, and it’ll be a nice feeling to be able to say, “Yeah, I built those.”

Edited to add: here they are with more books unpacked. I’m going to have a lot of sorting to do.

#HomeImprovement #woodworking

Discuss... Reply to this in the fediverse: @davepolaschek@writing.exchange

Weird layers of clouds for the sunset tonight. There’s rain (or possibly virga) moving in just as the sun poked out from behind the distant line of clouds, lighting up the lower, nearer clouds.

There are also five or six hummingbirds contending for the feeder.

Lots to see on the veranda this evening.

Edited to add: And the #sunset kept evolving...

#photography

Discuss... Reply to this in the fediverse: @davepolaschek@writing.exchange

Another beautiful #sunset after another pretty dang good day.

Got many things done, including cancelling the AHS warranty. Only took 75 minutes on hold to get to the first person, and then the clock passed 90 minutes before I got to speak to the “retention specialist.” When they asked why I was cancelling, it was pretty easy.

Also got shop time and glued up another bookcase. I now have six done, out of forty-some. I’m pretty happy with the bookcases, even though it’s a lot of work.

just another sunset

And for the first time in a week, I managed to grab a half-hour nap. Plus we had a tasty dinner. In all, life is pretty good.

Santa Fe Brewing Cider with tropical fruit

#photography

Discuss... Reply to this in the fediverse: @davepolaschek@writing.exchange

We repeated the coconut tilapia tacos but with a canary melon salsa this evening. Didn’t quite give the salsa enough zing, so we had to add some store-bought salsa. Still a dang yummy meal. We’ll have them again, I bet.

Reminder to self, low-fat tortillas don’t hold together as well as the good ones with lard.

Edited to add: take three was with banana salsa which was maybe the best yet.

#recipe

Discuss... Reply to this in the fediverse: @davepolaschek@writing.exchange

Our rufous hummingbird is sitting on top of the hummingbird feeder, protecting it from any other birds again. This seems to be his mid-morning to mid-afternoon perch. Earlier in the morning, he sits on the yucca stalk in the sun. And in the evening, he goes to the juniper a little farther out in the yard.

#photography #birb

Discuss... Reply to this in the fediverse: @davepolaschek@writing.exchange

This little guy is, I think, the same one I got a couple pictures of yesterday. He’s jealously guarding the feeder again this morning, but with the better lighting I got a better picture of him. Pretty brilliant red, I think. And pretty big attitude for such a little guy.

#photography #birb

Discuss... Reply to this in the fediverse: @davepolaschek@writing.exchange

Had to set down the hummingbird camera, and grab the #sunset camera for a quick picture. I love the way the sky lights up here, and our veranda is perfectly positioned for watching sunsets.

#photography

Discuss... Reply to this in the fediverse: @davepolaschek@writing.exchange

I think this is a female Anna’s Hummingbird. She spent about fifteen minutes feeding at our butterfly bush, and she let me walk up to within about five feet. With the big zoom lens, that means pretty dang big pictures.

The strange thing is, I have never seen this hummingbird at our feeder, but my sweetie says she sees her a lot in the front yard, feeding on the flowers there. I wonder if she doesn’t like the aggressive guys that hang out by the feeder.

Merlin (@MerlinBirdID) says she’s either a broad-tailed or a calliope hummingbird. Guess I’m going to have to keep an eye out and see if I can spot the differences.

#birb #photography

Discuss... Reply to this in the fediverse: @davepolaschek@writing.exchange

One of the hummingbirds has taken its territoriality to a new level today. We came home from the grocery store to see it claiming the feeder.

Hummingbird saying, “My feeder!”

Here’s another photo with the exposure turned up so you can see him better. I think it’s a rufous hummingbird. He looks much more red when he flies out into the sunshine.

Nice perch

#photography #birb

Discuss... Reply to this in the fediverse: @davepolaschek@writing.exchange

Early in the morning, there will often be two or three hummingbirds fighting for access to our feeder. They’re territorial little critters, and aren’t the best at sharing. Guess they should watch more Sesame Street.

Anyway, I’ve been trying to capture more than one of them in a frame at a time for a while now. Neither of these are great exposures, but I at least succeeded in getting multiple birds in-frame.

They make quite a racket when three of them are buzzing around the feeder.

#photography #birb

Discuss... Reply to this in the fediverse: @davepolaschek@writing.exchange

Enter your email to subscribe to updates.