The Norwegian adventure, part 2 (of three or four)

      The ship and me and my friend Patty and 300 other travelers were on the way at 9 p.m. and soon the obvious becomes, well, obvious. We are going to be seeing a lot of water in the next 12 days, a lot of rocks, some big enough to be islands, and yet there are signs of life everywhere.  We are headed to the most northern piece of land in all of Europe, and, since this is mid May, it will be light outside most of the time. (Luckily staterooms have some serious shades to create darkness while we sleep.) 

    The routine of ship life is pretty basic -- there is no pool, no band or dancing, no library, etc.  But there are wonderful meals, 3 a day, and many stops along the way. Fresh fish is therefore really fresh!  All the food is splendid, and very Norwegian.  (Smoked salmon every day, for one thing, if you want it!!)

    So on to the photos I made - with my cell phone because it is good with light, and there were so many wonderful light moments.  Enjoy!

An excursion stop -- colors and light - Nidaros Cathedral, started in 1070 and located in Trondheim, which was the capital of Norway,  A national shrine!

This cathedral, it turns out, was near where my Norwegian friend grew up! 

a wake.....

our ship inching in to the pier, one of several stops that day

the view from one of our two windows... and we appreciated those windows immensely, day and night. 

in the rain, which we didn't have much of -- though we had some snow flurries!  I love the colors on the houses, everywhere.

SCARY!!

getting closer to the north! We were still on an "excursion", and I happened to be sitting in the front seat of our bus... Most of the road is invisible!

on the bus with less mist -- not a heavily traveled road...  We will get back on our ship at its next stop.

   My friend Patty, in a borrowed rescue suit.

our bird watching excursion continues by boat --- Patty is somewhere inside that amazing rescue outfit. SEE THE THOUSAND BIRDS IN ROWS ON THE ROCK.  Our boat was basic, the winds were real, and I'm glad to have been there!!

This blog has done a new trick for me that I am not happy with, so I give up for now. Will resume soon in the next post!!

 

still catching up

         This is my last chance (I hope) to share winter photos that are part of the SIXTEEN DAYS of ice, then snow, then more ice, that we've had.  Most of that time there was with no phone or no electricity because of the amount of territory covered in order to provide repairs.  I'm so glad our electricity is back, though I remain somewhat wary.  There are still trees and limbs ready to fall over wires. In any case, thanks be for all of the hard work across our region that eventually put us back together again. Now there are horrible floods across southern Kentucky.

         Some photos, not all picture perfect, but when the photographer is iced in, every other warm body is fascinating and picturesque.  When I first met this opossum, he or she was badly wounded with an open wound across the back. It looks like it healed, and I wonder if a white back is natural or simply showing the healed area.

If anyone wonders why I don't have my taxes done yet, they can blame the competition and surmise which I find to be more interesting....

By the way, Cardinals are Kentucky's bird.

It was very cold outside, and I assume the puffed up chest had something to do with that.  I don't have camera equipment to do birds, but I enjoy even this much of their presence.

This downy didn't move for many minutes! Did the rare feel of sunshine captivate him?

This is my favorite bird photo from the storm.

        At last I made it back home. This photo is me showing my friend/hostess, before leaving,  how I had found the most comfortable place in the whole house.  Thank you again, Tom and Molly, for 7 days of TLC.  Sorry I won those early Rummy 500 games.  Very rude of me. And sorry I didn't really get to take over your whole house.  Just a lot of it.  My blog is being contrary tonight, or I would add two photos of you making that delicious naan.

Happiness is kind friends laughing with you.

 Happiness is also seeing electricity repair trucks in every driveway when I am almost home:

 

A second celebration of hopeful moments over the years, via some favorite photos

post #517

        While the wait goes on -- for an official acknowledgement of the normal transition process between American political administrations --  nature decided to try to blow us away!  And, here in Eastern Kentucky, this very afternoon was spent without electricity!! I guess we will learn the extent of what happened and where tomorrow. For once I have a very dramatic explanation for the belated time of posting this weekly blog.....  After all, I want this is all about hope since we know there will continue to be moments of hope in our lives. At the moment that reality can sometimes feel elusive.

 

I have to start with these lovely hay rows. Every year. The small cemetery on the hill. The beauty of the land near where I am lucky enough to live.

      

a visit from our friend George Ella Lyon -- and time together with a book

This photo happened -- it wasn't very posed -- during a gathering of writers at the Hindman, KY Settlement School. These two writers are good friends and great writers, and they each have a recent book.  Talk about hope for the world!  I mentioned George Ella's two weeks ago, and I really think it's terrific, Voices of Justice. Gurney Norman's is Allegiance. I have heard it is remarkable.

 

                          visits with good neighbors, good friends

        Next is a photo by Rebecca of her wonderful student Honami, from Japan, who came out to R's house to see if the sukiyaki we make in Kentucky has almost the same taste as hers does back home.  Note: Japanese families are well known to be extremely polite. We might never know what she really thought, but I think she actually enjoyed a Japanese meal while "away from home."  We enjoyed being with her very much. (photo by Rebecca O. Wright)

I love this after dinner moment with Peg, who now runs a Bed and Breakfast in southeastern Kentucky, very near Cumberland Falls. She and I knew each other in Connecticut 100 years ago... There are stories.... She also knows Gurney. (see above)

I don't know whether these three are related or just mellow full time, as mourning doves often are. The birds in our neck of Appalachian Kentucky are endlessly fascinating to me. 

        This is going to be enough for tonight. Kind of random, kind of amazing. I feel this science t-shirt says it all. I continue to have some problems with the revised blog info getting the photos I want to go where I want them to, and so forth.  Pulling the weekly post together works better now than it did this summer, but this blog is supposed to be all fun for me, and certainly not more frustration than fun.

         May everyone stay healthy and wear a mask when out in the world, for others, and may damaged Donald Trump be blessed with a sliver of insight, just what's needed to give it up about our elections being rigged. Enough already of damaging the very foundation of our nation.  

        Again I send thanks for all the grueling, caring work being done on behalf of those suffering from Covid 19. I'm glad the rest of us can at least help a little by wearing a mask and not being part of big groups. A lot of us doing what we can will make all the difference.

living each day in the now, for now

post # 499
          Here's a heat-filled hello from Eastern Kentucky! I hope everyone is healthy, wearing a mask when needed, and able to find a way to stay cool. I feel the week has been so full that I've decided simply to share some recent photos purely for their timely loveliness. Also this is the first week this year that has brought me to tears, which, actually, I appreciated. It felt way overdue. I suspect others have had that same response along this long and lingering path filled with so many "hard to believe it's happening" moments.

It has been a lot cleaner and calmer outside my front door after these Phoebe beauties left the nest this week. You Go, Kids!!  I kind of miss you, but not totally. Stay safe!

 

on the side of Sideway Road, during my evening stroll

sweet peas, from a visit to a friend's porch nearby to trade eggs for empty egg cartons

 

newly mowed fields which are favorites of mine

bale rows from that field

Look for this row of bales in the preceding photo, near where the road ends. I sort of risked my life to take this photo, in a hurry.  I just love hay bales, an every year happiness.

There are two more photos to add, but they are currently playing hard to get.  So I'm giving it a rest for a bit, a cooling down period.... That may be what we need now in our public life? The least we can do is wear our masks and care about those around us. That's a reality most people in the current administration seem determined to deny, to the detriment of all Americans.  

outside my window while I sit in my chair

post #489
         I finally gave up my reluctance to bear witness to all the birds drawn to my feeder this year -- so many more than earlier years.  As I've said before, I'm not set up to be a bird photographer, but the purpose here is simply to record what I could of the ones stopping by. They do tell a story even if I don't have time to do all it takes for excellence. I'm happy I can share some of my visitors with readers who can't come here to see them with me.

Cardinal

Chickadee

red breasted woodpecker

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are so showy!

goldfinch in summer glory

I am guessing this is a FLEDGLING Cardinal?  I only managed to catch this one photo of him.

not sure, because of the center stripe on the head

 

female Rose-breasted Grosbeak?

working on his abs?

This male red-winged blackbird does NOT stay still.  There are more of them this year than usual.

If no one can tell me what this one is, I will take the time to try to figure it out by next week!

         I have to confess that I also use that chair for Zoom sessions, and I was led to combine my Zooming and the bird zoomings. This was possible and necessary because the bird doesn't come when you want it to. It's a case of now or never.  The light has to be right as well, of course.  Rain helps with that when the camera isn't directly in the rain.
          I should add that I am thankful for both the birds and the sessions I have had via Zoom, including the virtual memorial service in New Hampshire for my dear cousin Steve. His was not a virus death, but because of all the virus deaths, we had to gather remotely.  We are all surely aware of all the deaths people face every day.  Again I say how much it helps that our Kentucky governor is determined to limit as many deaths as possible. Please stay safe and wear a mask where there are people nearby, and use common sense.  It's real.