Returning this morning under much improved lighting conditions, we re-examine yesterday’s mystery sculpture/installation sighting, almost hidden in a nondescript, overgrown streetside yard in the nearby neighborhood. Then, turning to continue up the street, a winged creature pops up immediately in front of me.
While waiting for her ride for a four-day weekend to see Marina graduate from OSU, Ivi bakes peach muffins to supplement her take-along lunch. At the last moment, she and Dad sprint to the store for more essentials, returning just in time for Kim and Charlie’s conclusion of their morning outing. Soon Ivi is off on her six-hour sojourn.
Ivi’s choice as the most interesting of today’s dismal output is this study of Charlie’s favorite corner of the backyard.
Customary shopping day with my lovely spouse. While Kim exercises her finely-honed shopping skills, I distract myself by viewing the store ceiling and later snagging a relatively rare Saturn Sky (a rebadged, slightly tweaked and prettier Pontiac Solstice, but otherwise mostly unremarkable). And, of course, photographing items for later research.
Too hot. About 93 as this is written approaching dinnertime. Walked downtown this morning, drinking ice water en route. In the afternoon: Ivi and I remove the sunroof & drop down all windows (AC not quite finished yet) for library and banking errands. Sighted a Corvette cooking in the sun and cat seeking shade.
Today we were up at the crack of dawn to join a FOLM (Friends of Ladd Marsh) bird watching spree, a regular first Saturday event, we learn. By nine a.m., the heat had overcome us, and we departed for the downtown farmers’ market. 
Kim took notes during the proceedings, capitalizing on the expertise of our companions. Her inventory of our sightings follows:
FULL DISCLOSURE: The FOLM website was built several years ago by yours truly, although I have never, before now, taken part in any of their activities. The site was set up for self-administration, so the FOLM people maintain their own blog and some other parts of the site. (Of course, I would like to see them modernize the site, to more fully optimize it for use with mobile devices and perhaps introduce some other features. )
Walking the Dread-Dog while Kim works over the yard. Checking on the construction progress of the new county courthouse (wondering if jail labor is involved) as well as the status of the new parking lot extension for RMC (Regional Medical Clinic).
And today I also found some long-lost photos from circa 2000 of the historic EOU back steps.
