Creek Journal 2010-09-22

The High Cost of Low Impact

The small, high-intensity lamp that has hovered above my keyboard now for years finally gave up the ghost. I replaced it with a larger, more familiar architect’s articulating desk lamp, and I put a low-watt CFL bulb in it, which is great for light. But it gives off so little heat, I cannot use it this winter to warm my hands like that little halogen bulb used to do so well–ah, the costs of more efficient appliances. Whine.

Plastic Eggs and Rubber Snakes

It has been mighty convenient having the hens lay eggs in a hand-made hay nest right next to the front steps–that is, until the monster egg-fed kingsnake discovered the easy pickings. We’ve now started looking to collect eggs 4-5 times during the day, and have added two plastic Easter eggs to the nest–which remind the hens why they’re there, and might induce our snake to snack on an Incredible Inedible Egg, and help him lower his cholesterol.

Fracking and Water

I’m hot on the heels of a story that is not news in some parts of the country, but has just really registered on my own personal radar as the environmental block-buster of the coming months and years. I’ll have a lot more to say about “hydrologic fracturing” or “fracking” as it is called, including a column for the Floyd Press. Meanwhile, go here for background.

Canon-lust

There’s still a slim chance I’ll swap horses at this point in my photographic life, but the Canon 60D–which is now available for purchase–still tempts me. So far, I’ve managed to talk myself out of it. I have more than enough to do with the camera, lens, printer and Photoshop I have now. Why can’t I just be content with what I have that has served me well (if not in every way; and hey: am I not worth the best? Don’t answer that.)

Place Settings When Homeland Security is Watching

The image above is from a recent dinner gathering from a lofty part of Floyd County. Let it be known that six couples were NOT gathered for the purpose of watching a movie that is so anti (Big Oil) establishment that its showings around the country has attracted the attention of Blackwater and associates. (Now showing at the Lyric in Blacksburg.)