Let's Make Some Art, Dammit

September 30, 2017. The sweet peas are finally blooming. We got a total of three blossoms. That's not exactly the production we were hoping for. Presented the MOOC Aggregator in the office. http://ift.tt/2yfBd4r

September 28, 2017. Photo of the day would be impossible without cat photos. Pretty busy day coding and creating slides. Git the gRSShopper API working. http://ift.tt/2yPFyZw

September 27, 2017. Our warm spell came to a screeching end this afternoon with a violent thunderstorm. meanwhile, we're having heavy construction on the road in front of the house as we get new sewer lines installed. Combine the two, and you get this photo. Accomplishments: - completed CSPS paper http://ift.tt/2wkubqL

September 26, 2017. We heard chicadas in the back yard today in 30+ degree temperatures, the warmest September I can recall. Got some stuff done today, in addition to attending three meetings. This beauty is a wasps' next in the eave of one of the sheds in the back yard. It's not bothering anybody, so there's no need to remove it. http://ift.tt/2hxZ30L

September 26, 2017. You may remember when I bought this coffee maker three years ago . This is it today, still as shiny as the day we bought it. Still works really well too. http://ift.tt/2xJRX2T

September 24, 2017. Kind of a frustrating day today, The bike tires were too large for the rims. The bird stickers weren't stickers. I was afraid to try the tool that unclogs the shower drain. Oh, but the Blue Jays won big and Jose Bautista played probably his last game at home in Toronto. We'll miss him.

September 23, 2017. Back on the Russell Trail today, trying to make the stretch from Vankleek Hill to Rigaud. Th trail was in really bad shape here and eventually I got a flat. Fixed that, but overfilled the tire with compressed gas, and got another flat. I did make it to the end of the Prescott-Russell section; it's just tracks after that, another 20km or so to Rigaud. I called for help as I had no more inner tubes and got a ride back to my car (thanks CAA). Anyhow, these are geese I saw along the way.

September 22, 2017. Yesterday the CBC meteorologist said we should take today off. So I did, and went cycling between Plantangenet and Vankleek Hill, on the Russell Trail. This is Caledonia Springs, about half way along, which was once the site of one of the best hotels on the CPR. The last hotel in the town closed in 1955.

September 21, 2017. More work on a paper today. Tough to be inside on such a beautiful day. These are the asters at sunset.

September 19, 2017. Finished the Poland paper today. Yay! On the way home, took a detour to find a photo around the outskirts of the town. I've been agonizing over the colour of the sky in my photos. Of course we all love that bright blue. The problem is, the sky itself often isn't bright blue, especially near the ground. This blue is pretty true to the original colour. I will keep tending to it.

September 18, 2017. One of the sunflowers in the back, viewed as I mowed the lawn in what was almost full darkness.

September 17, 2017. I spent the day working on the Contact North paper. I really wanted to be out cycling, but work takes priority. On the other hand, had I been away, I would have missed this beautiful monarch butterfly in the back yard.

September 15, 2017. Andrea found this. If you look closely, you'll see a caterpillar underneath the white figures of wasp larvae feeding on it. Just a few minutes earlier, it was quite plump (I saw photos). Circle of life.

September 14, 2017. Had a couple of impromptu meetings today and otherwise worked on the Poland paper. On the way home went looking for herbicide for Andrea's buckthorn project. Ended up out in Russell, and I photographed the Castor River at the Limoges Road.

September 13, 2017. In the back yard mowing the grass I didn't find any toads but found numerous crickets and grasshoppers. And this moth, clinging to a goldenrod. Spent the day working on my 'gRSShopper in a Box' poster for an event in October. It will be the first poster session I've done since 2001.

September 12, 2017. While I continued work on the Olland paper, Andrea set about deconstructing the buckthorn bushed at the back property line. Buckthorns are invasive and need to be eradicated. Though I'm more of the laissez-faire type when it comes to garden shrubbery.

September 11, 2017. These new signs appeared by our parking lot over the weekend. They protect what is probably the most watched field in Ottawa, the field just north of CSIS and CSEC (our spy agencies). Spent the day working on the Poland paper, the evening playing No Man's Sky.

September 10, 2017. We took a bit of a break today and went to the festival in Vankleek Hill, about a half hour east of us. It was nice - and an interesting contrast - to visit a festival in my own home as compared to seeing them in Europe or Latin America.

September 9, 2017. New England Asters in the back yard. Work day today, as I spent the day editing and adding to my Contact North paper.

September 8, 2017. A view of M-55 in the clouds and sunshine after the rain. Another productive day. Accomplishments (it has been a while) - wrote 'Amazons New HQ' - created six 5-minute videos for George and David's course

September 6, 2017. I was trying to take photos of unique cone-shaped mushrooms in the back yard, but they were too tiny (my kingdon for a macro lens!) but I peeked around the shed and caught this photo of the neighbour's flowers. Got a little work done today, and I think the worst of the cold is over. Bleah.

September 5, 2017. Andrea got some new flowers for the back yard. I spent the day mostly being sick.

September 3, 2017. I'm still under the weather with a traveller's cold. This is our back yard. I know we should mow it, and we will, but I do like the rugged look.

September 2, 2017. Bees are flourishing in our back yard. This one moves on from one clover to the next. Quiet day today, with the usual after-travel cold, and playing No Man's Sky all day.