LiamLicks

Friday, November 27, 2015

SUMPdate

LIAM LOOKING AT TULLY LAKE (THE SUMP)

This week's blog story is a SUMPdate.

Date with a sump.

Sump update.

Both.

WE CAN SEE IN!

Our blog of October introduced our park and our lake/sump. See following link for refresher.

http://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2015/10/a-walk-in-park.html

We are in November and now the leaves are dropping from the trees and a wider vista is opening up. By holding my iPhone up on top of the fence I record an unobstructed view.

We have an update on the sump. My BIL (brother-in-law) is the one who had a date with the sump by doing a bit of research in an on site visit to Tully Park. He interviewed a few park people who added a bit of local history.
They said
Yes, it is a sump.
No, it is not a lake.
It does have fish
All liquids in the surrounding area drain in.
It never dries up.
It is deep
The bottom has years of chemicals.
It is unnamed.
There are two other sumps in the area.

LIAM ON HIS TULLY PARK WALK

BIL did consider descending to its shore. A very steep drop deterred him. There is a chain link fence guarding the perimeter and the entrance gate is padlocked. However the adjacent part of the fence is bent back and allows easy access. Looks like someone left his/her coat.

THE WAY IN

THE BLUE OF THE WATER CAN BE SEEN

We enjoy glimpses during our walks.

Each November walk affords us a wider view and we are looking forward to seeing the entire sump. Most of the trees are deciduous so we should have a clear view when the leaves are done. This week I spotted what I thought was a formation of canoes. The shape was right and they were paddling along. Liam nibbled some grass as I strained to process the images I was seeing. Oh, of course. Not canoes. Geese. Hundreds. Their heads appearing as the bow of the boat and their curled tails the aft. Moving in unison. They are sump sailing.

Looking forward to the changing seasons in our new dog friendly venue.

This year our neighborhood walks have been enhanced and expanded.
Liam has his rabbits and I have my lake.
Thankful for all our adventures.

And hopeful for a future dog run...

Happy Thanksgiving weekend to all.
Enjoy your meals and treats. Liam is trying for his.

LIAM NOSING AROUND THE STARBUCKS TREATS

And riveted on the annual

Thanksgiving dog show

Woof, Woof

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Red Cup

LIAM READS THE TIMES AS HE LICKS HIS REDCUP

Every November 1st the Starbucks red cup makes its appearance. I know this because I have recorded it many times.
I welcome it showing up. Others don't. They say its arrival is too early. Rushing the season. Ignoring Thanksgiving and this year it has been blamed for being unChristmasy
I am fine with the red cup's coming November 1st. I want to enjoy the fun as long as possible. Red cup leaves early...a day or two after Christmas. While other decorations hang out past New Years. And my reaction to the 2015 version was delight in its stark simplicity, red cup and green logo. Did not occur to me to want more on it.

Liam loves it. I take a photo of him lapping the foam. A spontaneous moment... not setting up the shot. It happened and I took it.

There is an annual red cup contest.

We enter our photo.

I look at the other entries. I see a problem right away. The Starbucks logo is not shown in our photo. Here is our Instagram screen shot and what I believed to be a cute caption.

OUR INSTAGRAM ENTRY

And no boxes or name visible. Another strike. This could be any red cup! I did not consider deleting and redoing. Why? I saw the caliber of the entered photos and realized we had little chance. I read the criteria. Here is a screen shot of the qualities...the right margin is cropped but the judging criteria are what I want you to see, the five words at the center.

We might qualify for creativity and individuality.
Okay, maybe only individuality.
Liam is an individual.

People keep hashtagging #redcupcontest even though the contest ended 11/5/15. I suppose they want to be included. There are currently 38,827 entries. Last one posted minutes ago.

The earlier ones feature animals, kids, families, friends, with their red cups in ingenious locations and positions. What a gallery. The newer ones have the red cups as the star. Guess word dripped out.

BUT it is over
The results are in...below is the link to the winners...this year the cup is the star. No people, pets, scenes...

It's all about the Red Cup and it being a blank canvas.

Now I am esctatic. My cup had nothing but a dog's head in it. I had no chance. Better than little chance.
http://blogs.starbucks.com/blogs/customer/archive/2015/11/10/red-cup-contest-results.aspx

If you don't do links here is a screen shot of the winning photos as shown on Instagram

These five are the winners. Each receiving a $500 gift card.

Which would not last me that long anyway.

THESE ARE THE 5 WINNING PHOTOS

Liam wants to share more of our red cup shots. So here they are...

EVERYDAY

I SEE THE RED CUP

GOT IT

STICKING OUT MY EARS MAKES IT WORK

People are still entering the contest. I have a new entry also.

Woof, Woof

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Window Mistreatment Update

HEY HUMANS, WHAT ARE THESE?

We have them. New blinds! From...

http://m.stuartshomefashions.hdwfg.com/home/home

If you missed the blog story about our mistreated blinds here is the link for a refresher

http://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2015_08_30_archive.html

And Liam is leery

Not for long though

He wondered where his head hole was...see these two shots of the old blinds which he had twisted and tormented into shapes perfect for his viewing

blinds are gone and the new living room sets are brocaded imprint verticals. Liam, pushed the slats aside for better looks

PARTING THE VERTICAL SLATS

Then the cat comes by and standing is necessary

no, this is not okay Liam

We must keep them open during the day

And it works!

And we have horizontal everywhere else. So far no attacks on them
old ones above, new to the right

AND THE KITCHEN WINDOW


CLOSED FOR THE END OF THE DAY

Woof, Woof

Thursday, October 15, 2015

It was a Fine Autumnal Day

LIAM LAPPING AUTUMNAL LATTE

It was? That statement was given to my grammar school class in the early sixties or late fifties. I am thinking seventh grade. Why? I think the use of autumnal might have stopped a student writer in a lower grade in his/her tracks. Though possibly a fourth, fifth or sixth grader may have come up with an essay. I remember knowing it meant fall and also thinking the word was a bit stilted. Does anyone ask "how was your autumnal day?"
http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/autumnal
Knowing its meaning did not help the process. I am sure I wrote about leaves and not much more. Maybe apples. And returning to school. More than a half century later I do have a more complete catalog of autumnal experiences. Here we go...

It was a fine autumnal day

when Starbucks stocked its warmly fall cups.