Farewell to the Bruce

Two more images from the Bruce Peninsula didn't fit into the other posts, but are too lovely not to share. Parnassia glauca, grass-of-Parnassus, the only species from this genus native to eastern North America, is abundant around Dorcas Bay. A Phyciodes selenis, northern pearl crescent, fluttering around our campsite at Cyprus Lake, landed co-operatively on my finger.

These will be the last photos from the trip posted here, for now. You can view a gallery of 46 images on Flickr. More than half of them have not appeared here.

Pirates

On August 27 djjo, Marian, Brenna and I attended a pirate festival at historic Fort York in Toronto. Lots and lots of eye candy! The costumes alone are practically orgasmic. Then add handsome men with facial hair....

Plenty of long hair, too, to which I admit a softness. These pirates seemed contradictively organized. I wonder whether there's anything like a Society for Creative Pirateering. Even if they're not genuine anarchists I want to be one, or better still, a cabin boy.

The week has been productive so far. Yesterday was rocky, but I got some impressive mileage out of my emotions by staying present with them. After morning coffee I went for a walk to pick wild elderberries; some waxwings had already feasted, but I probably found enough fruit on low-dangling branches, together with some in the freezer, to make jelly and syrup. An hour spent by the Eramosa River, wading through depths of jewelweed and goldenrod, focused my mind happily outward. Came home, showered, went to Two Rivers, returned home, tackled the dark-stained mouse-reeking enclave under the kitchen sink, showered a second time, and went to the library.

Best moment of the day came while sitting on a bench on Wyndham Street outside OOTS under bosomy clouds, cool enough to wear my jean jacket, eating spicy zucchini pakoras from Diana's next door, and reading Mark Doty describe an encounter with a bull. Then the sky started shedding tiny drizzle. I wouldn't have minded it, but retreated to the mezzanine to protect the book.

At Two Rivers today, I asked Alicia for help with my resumé next week. This afternoon I'm processing the backlog of photos. Must go wash more dishes now.

Tonight is the first season rehearsal for Rainbow Chorus. I look forward to seeing Les, Sylvie, Sarah, Moe and the gang. Good news is Jon intends to commute from Mississauga, where he and Bill recently rented an apartment together.

Gallery of gratuitous roguishness (6 additional photos).