The Greatest Show (In Town)

 A small sampling under their new Big Top

 

 

Ringmaster, Joseph Bauer, Jr  (15th generation, Swiss family circus)

 

 

 

 

The 'Wheel of Destiny', Marcos & Noe from Spain

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bello Sisters (Loren, Celine & Joline), Italian / German acrobatic trio

 

 

 

 

 

Myakka headwaters

Again, out volunteering with the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, planting once more, native 'pop ash' along the banks of the upper Myakka River. 

Myakka's headwaters in eastern Manatee County.

 

 

Standing in open prairie, the Foundation's volunteer coordinator & 'land steward', Esmeralda Figueras (L) discusses with a volunteer the day's placement of pop ash saplings.

 

Volunteers planting the saplings along the river's bank.

a volunteer's field packpack

 

 

A little further downriver, with inter-mingling mature pop ash lining the opposite shore, a likely swimming hole waiting for some late afternoon kids.

hot on the trail

around 75 degrees ..... warm for early February.

 

 

 

being outdoors should've helped

Spoke to my son Matt recently, as he was driving up to his family's newly renovated cottage, in the "Lost Sierra's" of California's northern Sierra Nevada mountain range. Over the phone he was giving me an update on the local weather conditions, reminding me of my last visit there, a little over a year ago.

The occurrence was rare for me, witnessed by a deep blanket of snow and having to really 'hoof-it'.  Then, at the age of 72, having only witnessed snow possibly three times in a lifetime - being outside would have normally lifted one's spirit.

But soon found myself struggling to even use a phone. And my attempt at a simple hand-held "selfie", after having made a lifetime of self-portraits.

 

 

off the path

With my old boots, I made my own path, stopping and occasionally looking around - wandering through the upper reaches of the Myakka river.

 

 

wild-life

Today out on the lower Myakka.  Tide was low, then finally the sun came out.

First guy seemed to be hiding.

 

 

Warmed-up. The second guy appeared wide awake.

gifting

Kind of a big surprise, when my daughter (Crete) and son-in-law (Gordie), came down and gifted me this big red box containing a 6-piece Craftsman tool kit. 

A few weeks before I had only mentioned that when they came down, could Gordie help me with a small outdoor project. Meaning could he do it, while I watch, and be a helper of sorts? Little did Gordie know that I have never owned a proper power tool before. Or even by happenstance, come across a helpful do-it-yourself tutorial that would have at once inspired me. While growing up, I never even saw a hammer.

Today, Gordie used most of the new Craftsman pieces while completing a rather straight-forward job. Down the road, the arbor area below could use a sprucing-up, a re-build. And now I'm more than thankful to have been gifted an opportunity to develop a new and long-awaited skill.  I’ve got the tools.