Mossy Cottage Knits

So Close, And Yet So Far Away

The ultimate in ennui: After waiting for five hours at the airport for your delayed flight, you run out of things to do, slump down onto the floor, and start photographing your feet, because they’re there:

For variety, you photograph the one thing that has kept you sane during the wait, the sage-and-cream BSJ you’re knitting, the stippled, ugly wrong side presented for your viewing pleasure since I wasn’t thinking very clearly by then, it being 11:30 p.m. and my travel plans having gone all to hell:

Soon after this, the Voice of God said my flight had been cancelled anyway and here were the directions for getting the voucher for the hotel where everyone would be staying for the night, have a nice night, and thank you for choosing WalkingWouldBeFaster Airlines. *%$!%#$*^!

After a grueling 24 hours, ameliorated greatly by a seat in first class won by flirting shamelessly with the young man behind the counter, I made it home. (You know you're back in Seattle when the first thing you see when you walk into the airport is a massage bar. I was sorely tempted, but the pull of the taxi stand and home was greater.)

Didn’t take many photos on the trip but here is the moment when I realized I wasn’t in Kansas anymore:

Avocados. Lots and lots of avocados, the zucchini of the southern garden, the fruit neighbors foist on neighbors to foist on neighbors to foist on neighbors, all from one tree in the backyard of the sister’s in-law’s.

Another not-in-Kansas moment, this astounding olive tree. This thing was massive, iron-hard, awesome, very Middle-Earthian and felt truly as if it were occupied by an ancient, wise soul. Or perhaps something evil that caused the roots to crawl into nearby houses at night and steal first-born children. Couldn't quite tell.

On Sunday, a trek to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Here a couple of pictures of how the wildfires came right, and I mean right, to the perimeter of the park. The darker area at the top of the hills? Burnt by the fire. The fence and road right where the dark area stops? The perimeter of the park.

Again, dark area at the top: Outside the park, burnt. Green area: Inside the park, not burnt. And, most importantly, animals: Not burnt.

Here, one of the many wild avian squatters who slum at the zoo's open-air ponds. Incidentally, no zoom was used in the taking of this photo. Dude was fearless. And wanted to everyone to know, this rock covered with bird poop? His. And that rock covered with bird poop? His. In fact, the bird poop? His. Scram, all’a youze.

And strictly for its cuteness factor, a picture of everyone’s favorite, a meerkat. This particular animal was in a hole when I got to the exhibit, came out of the hole, waddled veeeerrrrrry slowly and veeerrrrry deliberately over to me, got as close to me and the Plexiglas divider as he could, looked slowly up, and stared and stared and stared and stared into my eyes. I quite lost my soul to him.

Thank you, San Diego family, for a wonderful vacation, even if you did make me eat Mochi ice cream.

The latest on the Baby Harris Project:

A few people inquired about financial donations. Here is the link that was sent out to the company today.

I'm working on gathering everyone’s email addresses for a mass emailing about the knitting project. As a reminder to locals, I will be at Guild tonight if you want to make a hand-off. Thank you again, everyone!

Posted by Ryan at November 28, 2007 02:00 PM