Return Of The Black Blade

Day 332: 'Twas a cold dawn but there was a matter wot needed settlin' betwixt two old foes, and the Black Blade had a mind to see it to a firm end when she stepped onto the deck of a ship wot's name I'll not be sayin'. Ye'd know it if I spoke the word, and ye'd know for certain the name of a chap who'd stood on the very selfsame deck. I'll not be tellin' of that story here. The Black Blade will come 'round to it in her own good time. Yet 'twas a fine battle engaged on this day, her Ladyship victorious, and that be the tale for her relatin'. I only say she lived to tell it, mates, and wi' her skulkin' round her cabin lookin' for the rum, I'll not be crossin' her by lettin' the cat go out'n the bag.

Before The Battle

Day 331: Aye, 'tis the eve before the battle, and the Black Blade be takin' her leisure at polishin' her best poniard for the engagement. What's that, ye say? Ye didna know September was the month o' pirates? Ye'd best be keepin a weather-eye on that horizon, matey, lest the Black Blade take you sleepin' on your watch. She's not in a pretty mood, that one, 'cuz the bloody rum is nigh onto gone, and Her Ladyship's lookin' to redecorate her cabin with the innards of the scallywags wot drunk it. Best mind yer appendages, lad, if it were you who's been nickin' the juice.

Like Cookies, They're Better Homemade

Day 330: I find myself in total agreement with the authors of "Crackers!" Like cookies, crackers are better homemade.

My readers have often heard me talk about "birdseed crackers," and the recipe comes from Linda Foust and Tony Husch's wonderful book. It is my favorite...might have something to do with the fact that I'm a Crow...but running a close second are the "Jack and Dill Squares."

These puffy, light, cheesy delights are quite simple and quick to make.

Grate a quarter pound of Monterey jack cheese and set it aside. In a bowl, combine 1 cup of flour, 2 teaspoons of dried dill weed, a quarter teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Add to this a quarter cup of vegetable oil and fluff with a fork until the mixture has the texture of coarse meal. Add the jack cheese and toss lightly. Then add 1/4 to 1/3 cup of water to make a dough which just holds together. Divide it into two parts and roll it out as thin as possible without tearing. Cut it into 2" squares and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and bake at 325° for 15 minutes. Turn the crackers and bake for an additional 4-5 minutes until they are golden brown. Served with tea, they are simply delicious!

Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Day 329: Early this morning, I met with members of the Nisqually Land Trust at the Ohop Valley property where I serve as a Site Steward. It was a casual meeting, just a "getting to know you" get-together, and when I mentioned that I had business to attend to in Olympia, a visit to the main office was suggested. Because I had thought the main office was in an entirely different city, I asked for directions. "Go down to the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge...you know where that is, right? The office is in their maintenance area." It sounded like a good idea, so I agreed.

A word of explanation: the National Wildlife Area and the Land Trust are unrelated, other than by the fact that they both are agencies protecting the Nisqually River and its watershed. The Land Trust is a small operation. The Wildlife Refuge is more on the lines of a National Park. As much as it pains me to admit it, for the number of years I lived in close proximity to the Refuge, I never once visited it. One thing leads to another, and my stop at the Land Trust's office was brief. A few minutes later, I was on my way out to the end of the boardwalk, a "trail" which extends two miles into the tidal estuary. It is an amazing piece of engineering, to say the least.

My trips to saltwater have been few and far between, and another completely different ecology exists in that environment. Within the first hundred feet of my walk, I'd discovered a wildflower I'd never seen before, growing quite profusely. Cape Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis, top image) is a wetland plant native to the Olympics.

Continuing through the short forested section of the boardwalk trail, I was paying keen attention to the descriptions of Warblers on the interpretive signs. I figured a Warbler sighting would ice the cake! I knew to expect Red-Winged Blackbirds, Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, a variety of sea birds, sparrows, finches and so on, but there was also a good chance of spotting a Yellow or Wilson's Warbler if I kept my eyes peeled.

The planked portion of the trail stopped at the end of the forest and turned into a gravel path which cut across the estuary for half a mile. There, the boardwalk began again and continued for a mile across the tide flat. The tide was out, so I got to see a Heron and a collection of Seagulls browsing for sandworms, barnacles and other "seafood" treats. When I reached the observation platform at the end of the boardwalk, several women were watching Bald Eagles in the distance. They left when the Eagles flew, and I turned my attention to another wildflower. The bottom image shows Puget Sound Gumweed (Grindelia integrifolia).

On the way back along the boardwalk, I sighted my Warbler sitting near the top of a scrubby dead tree in the tide flat. As I maneuvered into the proper position for the light, two CROWS flew over and settled just below if, one on a branch on the left and the other to the Warbler's right. Warbler was having none of that, and took off before I could get zoomed in far enough to check for a black patch on its head. I'll never know what type of bird it was, because two of my best friends decided to play a little joke on me. I couldn't help but laugh, and gently scolded them for being a couple of stinkers. And never fear, I will be returning to this beautiful place in other seasons. I can tell there are many wonderful birdwatching opportunities for someone whose Life List is rather short on "beachy" species.

Twinflower Triplet

Day 328: Twinflower (Linnaea borealis) takes its name from the fact that paired flowers arise from a single stalk. Wait a minute, here! I said, "...paired." What the heck?

The Twinflowers are mostly gone now, and I've been lamenting the fact that I failed to get a photo of them in their prime. As I was walking up the Eagle Peak trail today, I happened to notice one which still looked fairly fresh. As I knelt down, I could see I'd gotten a bonus: my Twin was triplets!

Sky Fire

Day 327: A lively sky tells of seasonal transition. Mornings are chilly now at 42° or lower, and the calendar is marked not by pages of days but by ground fogs. The indeterminate month of Foggust has begun. We can hope for a brief reprise of summer, though it will not be strong or long enough to bring the tomatoes into ripeness, and it is not the sound of early bird-calls which wake us now, but that of the furnace's stomach grumbling for a breakfast of oil. Soon, the Mountain will draw the clouds around itself, and the sky will mourn the passage of warm and pleasant days with an unceasing flow of tears. Today, on this morning, the sky is alight with the embers of dying summer's fire, so let us enjoy its warmth while some trace of it remains.

Gazania Sunshine And Friend

Day 326: The first of the Gazanias has opened and is living up to its variety name of "Sunshine." When fully unfurled, this blossom will measure three to four inches across and will stand above a twelve-inch mound of grey-green foliage. Each plant bears multiple flower heads and the "Sunshine Mix" offers a wide variety of patterns and shades. Grown from seed, Gazanias are great for fall color which continues past frost. I have had them bloom at Christmas, bright blossoms smiling above the snow. Can you find the obligatory "bug-in-the-frame?"