November Glow

Wild Rose, Rocky Mountain National Park
October 17, 2015 

As I came to post photos of glowing trees (our November has been stunning that way), I realized that I haven't yet posted the carved glowing faces of a few weeks ago.  So, here, yes, evidence that Aster and Dianthus are getting older and bigger (compare to past Halloween's starting here), images of vegetation changing ever so slightly in the light, and the glowing faces carved into squash which I use to remind students that weird plant rituals are not confined to tribal people of another place or time.

One can fight and still be friends

November 14, Red Rock Canyon

Crazy disjunct Sugar Maple population

Glowing Day and Night

Evening Glow: Smoky Hills of Kansas Sept. 6

One thing I love about the "glowing" theme is that so very many things glow: candles, Venus, boys playing with their grandparents, aspen leaves, Mars, the moon*.  I've started noting the difference in glows that light up the darkness and glows that dazzle in the bright sunlight.
I'm sure there is a profound metaphor there-- let me know if you find one.  For now, some photographic examples from this season:

Birthday cakes emit lovely candlelight

 

Boys and eclipsing moon Sept. 27

Venus, Jupiter (and Mars) Before Sunrise Oct. 16

We tried to take a selfie with Longs Peak.  We don't practice.

Despite having seen some beautiful fall colors in many places, late every September for the last 15 years I have been sad about not being in the Colorado Rockies to see the aspen turn.  While we were well past peak aspens, we caught the very last trees on our trip two weeks ago.  They made me deliriously happy.  Aspenglow is a real thing.  People write songs about it.  They named a campground at Rocky Mountain National Park after it.  The trees really do light up with it.  It is like they are warmth botanified ("personified" applied to a plant.  Yes, I just made it up in an attempt to describe these trees).  It is wonderful to experience.

*Mars and Luna both deserve their own posts.  Maybe soon?

Basking in the reflected light

One distinction between luminosity and radiance (which, I just learned, is not the scientific difference) is that luminous objects glow with reflected light (i.e. the moon is luminous) and radiant objects (like the sun) create their own.  So it is completely in keeping with the theme of my year to glow with pride as I mention some of the amazing things my friends are doing, even though absolutely none of the credit is mine.

My college friend Witt, his wife J, and their "world-schooled" six-year-old Q, are wrapping up a two year adventure driving the length of the Americas in a van.  They are reporting from the Carreterra Austral in Chile at the moment, and the photographs of the blue waters and snow capped Andes, like most images on their blog, are stunning.   Have a look at "When Sparks Fly" before they settle down in Western Colorado.

Another college friend is just starting a year in Mexico with her husband and her three-and-a-half year-old.  While they will be living on the Pacific Coast, they are hunkering down in a safe place away from the coast at the moment.  You can read about their adventures not related to the current hurricane (like the wonders of the Baja wine region) on Debbie's blog.

Matt Cogar, a former student of mine (and defending US Champion), has advanced to the STIHL Timbersports US Championship Finals, which you can watch this Sunday on ABC (and since there is no Bronco game, and I happen to know the outcome of the competition, I am really looking forward to it).  I'm also particularly pleased that he married one of my other favorite students, and am immensely proud of her as she pursues her PhD.

SalSis, my great friend in Lawrence, KS, has tickets to go back to Haiti to teach ecology for another semester.  Want to help with the world but not pay for fundraising newsletters?  SalSis's work is low budget, local and direct.  She teaches college level ecology (to students without books or regular computer access) and also encourages collaborations between the college students and the local students so that people of all ages are starting to recognize good water quality, the importance of raptors, and that bats are not grown-up mice.  Should you ever want to take an ecotour in Haiti, she is the woman to talk to.  Check out some of the past adventures at her blog, Zwazo Yo.

And that's just the beginning of the glow of cool happenings in which I choose to bask.  Thanks for all all of you do to glow.

Fears about next year being here

I have exactly 6 minutes to write before class, and, as you will see, this is time sensitive material, so the editing may be poor.

I woke up up in the middle of the night last week worried about the Cubs facing the Royals in the World Series.  The Mister laughed because Royals vs. Cubs is the World Series match-up he wants to see, and why in the world would this be a problem?  In the middle of the night it was a problem because I wouldn't know who to cheer for.

Then, as the Cubs won last night, some fan commented that "It is next year," to which my immediate response was, "You shut your mouth right now young man," and then I worried as a life-long Cubs fan, exactly what would happen if the Cubs win it all.  Shouldn't we always be hoping for next year?

But deaths, accidents, and illness around me are reminding me that life is short.  I'm heading to Colorado tonight to see autumn in the Rockies (which I have been promising myself I'll do next year for 15 years) and we're sticking in a winter garden this afternoon (see here or here for some explanation about how these are related to baseball in my mind).  Maybe it is time to live like there is no next year.  Maybe next year is here.  Maybe my two second-favorite teams can face each other in the World Series and I will cheer for every game and I will be happy either way.

Super Moon Eclipse for Mister's Birthday

Of course we will be watching this evening.

Dragons and Kings in Our Midst: On Other Migrants

Politics is making me grumby lately.  So I'm not going to write about immigration in the US or the migrant crisis in Europe or . . .  many other things.  That many people I care about are unwell is also making me very grumbly.  While we are at it I could grumble about some of my students, some of my colleagues and some of the young people living in my house.  But I won't.

The monarchs are flying through.  A few pairs of lost looking kites are hanging around, and for about ten minutes on Friday evening, Sept. 18 we were under a cloud of dragonflies heading south.

Anyone know anything about dragonfly migration?

On Kites and Kites and Splurges

The Mississippi Kites are gone.  Their departure is not as dramatic as their arrival.  They were super-active and very loud Friday afternoon August 28 and I felt certain they were discussing their imminent departure (and perhaps they were discussing it), but at least a few were still around two weeks later, and then I saw none today at the park where they swarm.  (More about my tracking of Mississippi Kites can be found here).

August 19, 2015
3 1/2 weeks and ages and ages ago

Before school started (three and a half weeks and ages ago) the boys were flying a kite Dianthus received for his birthday and several Mississippi Kites circled by to investigate.  At $30, the kite, an, "Easy-Flier" from Into the Wind in Boulder, Colorado, cost many times what previous kites the boys have owned have.  And it is so worth it.  The Mississippi Kites came by because the dragon delta was calmly soaring.  It went up easily,  It stayed up.  It is pretty incredible (almost, but not quite, to the point of being boring to fly).

While flying the kite and marveling that such a wonder could be found for $30, complete with full service (annotated instruction book, long discussion about appropriate wind speeds, swivel), I started thinking about skimping and splurging, and listing luxuries worth the extra money and splurges I wouldn't do again.

Immediately it became clear that I am willing to splurge on condiments.  Mustard from the mustard museum is worth it.  Good jam is worth it.  Greek yogurt is worth it (but I can only justify plain in the 32 oz. size.  I can't feel good about expensive individual yogurts if I am not on vacation or at my parents' house).  Real maple syrup, real vanilla extract, and good dark chocolate are worth it.

I pay asking price for farmers' market eggs (which are a steal at $3.50 per dozen in my town), farmers' market produce and good peaches shipped in from Colorado.

As I am writing I am realizing that this list is not really revealing to anyone (Sparkling Squirrel is willing to pay $8 for mustard?  I'm shocked!)

I've been surprised at how much I have loved having new cars, considering how much I loved my used cars (for 13 and 11 years, respectively), but our new cars have hardly been marketed as luxury vehicles.  When my mother pointed out that other mini-vans have magically gliding doors, I had to add how many other uses I could find for the $10,000 difference.  Another friend commented on what a steal it was to upgrade the seats in hers, and I could only find myself musing at how much I would rather have another vacation than leather seats.

Speaking of vacations, I have found it well worth it to pay for location when dealing with lodging, but the few times we have paid extra for luxurious accommodations, I  have not thought it money particularly well spent.

I'm not sure how much I think "good seats" are worth it.  "Seats" at performances and sporting events are almost always worth it.  "Good seats"?  I don't know.

Back when I was thinking these things and flying a kite, I was partially trying to justify the amount I had spent on make-up while glowing at Nordstrom with my friend L, and having a hard time doing it.  I kept thinking about how much I was willing to spend for a facial (which I had not deemed worth it based on two in my life, but had been thinking of doing again as part of glow year) and adding it to the amount I was willing to blow on an afternoon of frivolity with L, plus the amount necessary for new foundation, and I kept falling short of the total on my new Nordstrom card.

August 24, 2015
Prairie Turnips in Background

Then my school started.  I didn't have any new outfits,  I felt I had limited, less-than-flattering wardrobe options (limited by my current size, by teaching labs all the time, and by walking to work in the heat), but I had my make-up.  With the magic of foundation that cost more than my mother-in-law has spent on a pair of shoes*, tips from the wonderful full-service beauty stylist at Nordstrom and the four brushes that I only pretended I would use a few weeks before, I popped the middle of my eye lids, I contour chiseled my cheeks with bronzer, and I glowed radiantly.  Wearing the red shoes that, three years later still make me immensely happy, so must be worth it, I rocked the first day of school.  And, horrible allergy days aside, I have been pulling out the brushes every morning since, combining $2 eye shadow with $30 bronzer, and feeling great.  Definitely worth it.

What's "worth it" for you?  What's not?

*For the record, my mother-in-law is just a great shoe shopper, the foundation didn't cost that much.  I mean, it cost far more than the $13 I budget for foundation, but much less than the red shoes that I have never felt particularly guilty about, for instance