Monday, October 25, 2021

Watercolor Orchid


Dave and I walked Olga to the cemetery yesterday afternoon beneath a sunny autumnal sky, complete with vapor trails. That sunshine felt great. Olga chased pigeons on West End Green and found a wrecked soccer ball in the cemetery that she determinedly carried around for a while, until she got tired of it.

Still no word on why that mysterious police helicopter was buzzing around over our house. I suppose we'll never know. Lots of people complained on Twitter, including some with much better video than me and even a route map of the copter's flight path, but no one had any answers.

I finished another Newbery -- "Flora & Ulysses" by Kate DiCamillo. It was very cute. That's not a word I often use to describe a book, but it definitely applies to this story of a "cynical" girl who rescues a squirrel after a household accident that seems to give the squirrel mysterious powers.

I also cleaned the house and watered all the plants. I discovered this:


Those are buds on a Cambria orchid that I rescued from Homebase when they gave away all their plants just before lockdown in spring 2020. The flowers had already faded by that time so we've never seen it bloom. I know they'll be red but that's all I know. Stay tuned!

I painstakingly painted that watercolor (ha!) using the Waterlogue app on my phone, because my original picture wasn't that good. Photo processing conceals a multitude of ills.

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh dear, someone complaining about being woken by a police helicopter in the sky enforcing the law or catching criminals. Just wait to hear them sound off about the lack of police resources when their house is robbed.

Moving with Mitchell said...

I would have believed that was an actual watercolor. Beautiful. Why, I wonder, would people complain about a police helicopter when they have no idea why it was there.

Sharon said...

Such a beautiful sky and I love the watercolor.

Ms. Moon said...

I have a cousin who believes that vapor trails are the US government dosing us with some sort of mind-controlling chemical. Did I already tell you this?
Your photo with the vapor trails is beautiful. Love the color of the sky.

Edna B said...

Your watercolor isn't bad! Why would anyone complain about a police helicopter? Tis better to be safe than sorry. You have a super day, hugs, Edna B.

ellen abbott said...

it will be fun to see what the orchid looks like.

The Bug said...

That sounds like a lovely day! I'm very interested in why the helicopter was there - probably to look for an armed & dangerous fugitive who has taken over Mrs. Kravitzes house.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful skies there and a lovely ap-painting.

Red said...

Okay, you have a mysterious helicopter flying around at night and then you have vapor trails and you don't know anything about them! Yes, the helicopter is a more immediate issue.

Kelly said...

Usually if I hear a helicopter at night, I know it's someone being airlifted to a hospital in the big city. Otherwise, I think it's fun to hear/see them. I always wished I'd learned to fly one. (I did have my single engine pilot's license at one time)

I like the watercolor!

Ellen D. said...

I am amazed at what your phone can do with that watercolor app! Interesting and pretty!

Colette said...

The watercolor app painting looks great.

Margaret said...

The watercolor is beautiful, app or no. I rarely hear police helicopters and might be concerned if I did. (but certainly not angry) Some people are constantly upset about everything.

Catalyst said...

I've been remiss and had missed your post about the lockbox and the helicopter. Perhaps the po-lice were looking for the person who swiped that lockbox!

John Going Gently said...

The one thing I loved about lockdown
Skies of blue without vapourlines

The Padre said...

Stoked About You And Mr Dave Walking The Olga Girl - Well Done Humans

Cheers

Pixie said...

The watercolour app photo is lovely.

Janie Junebug said...

When helicopters hang around the hood I know they're looking for someone. Most recently it was because of a shooting at a nearby gas station. It's frightening.

Love,
Janie

Steve Reed said...

I know! You'd think they'd be thankful to have some law enforcement response! (Although that helicopter IS loud.)

Steve Reed said...

I do wonder what the police threshold is for calling out the helicopter. It can't be inexpensive to fly that thing around, so there must be a pretty serious offense involved.

Steve Reed said...

I loved that sky too! And yes, Waterlogue always does a good job, even with a bad photo. :)

Steve Reed said...

I've heard of that "Chemtrails" conspiracy theory, but just like most conspiracy theories, it seems completely insane to me.

Steve Reed said...

Well, it's really not my watercolor, since I made it with an app on my phone -- but no, it's not bad!

Steve Reed said...

I agree. I'm very curious about it!

Steve Reed said...

There's still nothing in the newspaper this morning so I guess we'll never know. Unless there's a shootout next door!

Steve Reed said...

It was an unusually nice sky. (Since most of the time at this time of year our skies are gray!)

Steve Reed said...

Lots of weird stuff going on in the sky!

Steve Reed said...

This one was definitely a police copter as opposed to an air ambulance -- but either way someone was in trouble!

Steve Reed said...

Isn't it amazing? I'm always impressed by that app.

Steve Reed said...

It does, doesn't it? Waterlogue is a very good app.

Steve Reed said...

It's true. I once heard a commentator lamenting how easily offended everyone is these days, and I think he had a point. We all need to be a little more resilient.

Steve Reed said...

Well, after you see my post today (the subsequent post) you'll agree that's unlikely. :)

Steve Reed said...

Yeah, we noticed that too, although the vapor trails have their own weird beauty.

Steve Reed said...

We would never miss it!

Steve Reed said...

Thanks! It's a great app, and the beginning photo was so terrible. LOL

Steve Reed said...

If I had to guess, I'd say there was probably some sort of robbery or knife crime -- which is basically the London equivalent of a gas station shooting!

Elizabeth said...

I love that watercolor!