Monday, October 18, 2010

Feelin' groovy

I took this picture of these pumpkins at the Farmers' Market a week ago. I am amazed at the variety of pumpkins out there these days. And yes, I'm feeling MUCH better today. In fact, a small contingent of my favorite hikers will be heading out tomorrow for an early week hike, and I begged to go along, feeling the need to get some wilderness under my feet.

What do you think of these weird pumpkins? The warty one on the top looked deformed to me, until I noticed a whole lot of them around the market stalls. I don't know the name of it, do you? The one directly in front, kind of flattened, is called a Cinderella pumpkin. Can you imagine a carriage and team of horses? The frog also didn't need his shade, it was overcast and threatening to rain.

My ear is much better, so don't worry about me. I won't be doing anything tomorrow to endanger it, like I did last Saturday. But I do have to say I am so happy to have had the chance to get my knees in the breeze last weekend, this next one looks like a washout, and the season is definitely winding down when the sun has set by 6:30 pm. Once Daylight Saving Time is over, it will be dark by 5:00 pm. Or earlier. We are still losing about three-and-a-half minutes a day up here.

I had a Sharp-Shinned Hawk come onto my porch a few minutes ago, looking for a tasty treat. It was amazing how quickly the birdies disappeared en masse. I have a couple of Northern Flickers that are about the same size, but these birds know a hawk when they see one. They don't fly away from the flickers, but the front porch was deserted for a while when Hawk showed up.

I have noticed that the traffic on my blog has slowed to less than half of what it was a year ago. Is it because I'm writing on here less? Sometimes I ponder the meaning of blogging, and other times I just can't wait to say hello and see what all my virtual buddies are up to.
:-)

13 comments:

  1. glad you are feeling better...cool to see the hawk...and make sure you dont over do it tomorrow...(like you need to listen to me, but...)

    it is intersting to see the flow of people in an out of our virtual lives through the blog...those that visit now are vastly different than those a year ago....there are several that have been around for most of the 2 years...but it is intersting to see who is not...

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  2. I kinda dig the warty pumpkins!! I bet they would be fun to carve. Have no idea what they're called. I've picked up a few of the Cinderella pumpkins. One is light green and the other looks like a peach color. They're fun.
    If it makes you feel any better...you're still getting a lot more traffic than I've ever gotten on my blog.
    Glad your ear is doing better.
    Big smiles!

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  3. I love all of the strange pumpkins we have now. But it would cost a small fortune to buy one of each kind for my own display, so I just enjoy them where I see them.
    I'm glad you're feeling better, and are up for a hike. It does sound rainy for the coming weekend.
    I don't track traffic on my blog, just the comments. I never know who is reading and remaining 'silent'.

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  4. Glad you're feeling better. Like Linda, I don't track the traffic on my blog. Tracking traffic makes me nervous and puts pressure on me to perform.

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  5. Those weird pumpkins and gourds are called "Superfreaks". They're especially bred to look a bit creepy -- just for Halloween.

    I'm glad you're feeling better. And yes, my blogging stats have decreased too. I hardly have time to visit many blogs anymore, so that may be the reason.

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  6. I am glad to hear that you are feeling better! Those pumpkins the warty ones are pretty strange...
    I wouldn't worry about your blog traffic..maybe people are "bunch readers" like me..I try to keep up..but sometimes I cannot and I read a bunch!
    I don't worry about who reads or how many...it is what it is:)

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  7. We still have few birds come to the feeder we put up several months ago; none at the Hummingbird feeder. Glad you're feeling better. One thing is for sure, I haven't stolen any of your readers.

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  8. So glad to hear that you're feeling better. This season is just too lovely to spend not feeling right.

    I love the pumpkin photo.. warts and all. ;)

    I don't worry about the ebb and flow of blog visitors. I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate whomever comments.

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  9. So many homes around this neighborhood have stacks of pumpkins by their front walks and front doors. One house has fourteen pumpkins. Since we are moving the day before Halloween we don't have any out. We have our Haloween decorations in a bag ready to put up when we get there and we bought candy to give out to the little tricksters. I am so glad you are feeling better, DJan. For me, sometimes the amount of comments left on a post are about half of usual and then all of a sudden there are a whole bunch more. I appreciate all the comments left on my blog and I have a special relationship with so many of the regular commenters, like you.

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  10. I am glad your ear feels better. I was very concerned about it. Take it easy this week. Are you sure you're ready to hike again???

    I guess your blog gets fewer hits because you post just 3 times a week. That makes sense!

    My own blog fluctuates from day to day. Sometimes, I get 600 hits; other days just 280. Go figger. LOL.

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  11. Your blog is always interesting to me. I enjoy my virtual friends even though I am a newcomer. I don't track my blog because I don't want to feel the pressure. My purpose for writing fluctuates, so I am sure the interest in what I write fluctuates also.

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  12. Love you pumpkin pictures!! We hope we can get to the Farmers Market or a Pumpkin Patch!!

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  13. Great looking pumpkins, I am seeing lots of different kinds this year. Glad you are feeling better.

    I rarely check blog traffic but I'm sure it has slowed. It may just be a busy time of the year for everyone. I've also noticed a lot of the 'regulars' (you and I included) aren't posting as often.

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