Water Works

I've been curious for years about this facility on the east side of US101 down in Ukiah. I took the tiny "River St." exit last time, to give it a closer look. I suppose I hoped for a little more deco detail, but a fresh coat of paint would do it a world of good - maybe a darker contrast on those moldings. The monumental lettering deeply satisfies. It probably houses a pump to draw water from the nearby Russian River.

Tenacity

I can be pretty pessimistic about the chances of humanity surviving another hundred years. But I also notice how tenacious many other, older lifeforms are, even in the most challenging circumstances. The earth will express itself, one way or another, with or without us.

Happy Solstice Eve

On a quick getaway while the clothes dried at the laundromat, I explored a road I'd never gone up before. It crossed the crest of a ridge at an open field, offering late day light with a view.

Farm Fresh?

You never know what fresh things you'll find on display at the Farmer's Market.

Apple Leaves in the Rain

I often run brief fantasy scenarios in my head, perhaps as a result of not watching TV, but more likely just a mental "quirk" of mine. The scenarios almost always involve choices to be made in response to some kind of supernatural reduction in resources. Some examples:

- If you could only have one kind of tree to take on a spaceship to colonize another planet where nothing else yet exists, what would it be specifically?

- If you were to enter into a Brigadoon-like village for the rest of your life - separated from modern technology and materials, and would be imbued with a specialty skill/occupation to contribute, what would it be?

- If you were allowed just a dozen books to keep you company in isolated confinement for a year, what would they be?

I think my answer to the first scenario would be apple trees, specifically Rhode Island Greenings.

Mayan Weaver at the Market

Today's farmers' market had some light rain, but some people still turned out to shop. The market manager wrote up a nice preview for the local paper, including this tidbit:

Special this week: Katja Grace will bring her friend, Albertina López Húmez, a Mayan weaver from the town of Santa Catarina on Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. Albertina will demonstrate Mayan back-strap weaving and show her work, along with that of other Mayan craftspeople featured in Katja's "Tomorrow's Traditions" fair trade business.

According to the resident vendor, Katja, this woman will be going back to Guatemala before next week, even though her home has been "wiped out" by the flooding down there. I wish her well.