Day 15.110: Senior Prom

Prom was one of many events that didn’t happen during Exile #3’s senior year in 2020. Exile #4 is having a little more normal run at things. 

When they told me that they were meeting at the cemetery to take photos, I didn’t realize that it wasn’t just a group of friends but basically the whole class who were going to be there- quite a shock. 

Still, Exile #4 looked great and it was great to see them all and even meet a few fellow parents - for what feels like the first time since elementary school.

Day 15.109: “Look what I made at school!”

It was Exile #3’s last day in elementary school today (teaching experience as part of her college course in case you’re confused). Still, it does mean we can appreciate elementary school type crafts again - like this hat depicting the lifecycle of a frog:

Day 15.108: Seen at the cemetery

I have questions. I’m not sure if I want the answers.

Day 15.107: Here Dad, translate this!

That's what E5N1 said, passing me this at the end of dinner today:

"But I don't read Japanese!"

"No - use your phone!"

So, Google Translate in live camera mode was deployed. Here are some of the attempts it made at these phrases (I have screenshot evidence!):

• There is risk of an unexpected car accident
• I'm in love with a silver accident
• Do not fly or cover your face. There is risk of neglect.
• Please do not show it to children of the target age.
• Since the transparent bag is made of rice wrapping material, please dispose of the fluttering sound immediately.
• Please do not overturn your wishes on Journey R.
• Please do not handle it in a random manner such as hitting it or turning it around
• Do not leave the product in direct sunlight or in a place with high cats
• Please do not leave it in a place where it is exposed to surgery
• Please do not take pictures of children who are under the age of elephants
• Keep away from fire as it will be suitable for human borders
• Since the bag is packing material, please throw it away immediately after sealing it in the south
• Do not throw it in a high-altitude place where a new departure hits
• M's age is 67 or older and there is a risk of being released
• Don't let the new% slack in a strong commute
• Do not hit or pretend to be overturned
• Do not release children in direct sunlight
• There is anger to the wings
• Katsumei is a fine hugging material so please come to Sai immediately after the previous meal
• Shape-Keep away from fire as it will be a source of alteration and human land
• Keep away from fire as it may cause deformation, capital change and man-made disaster
• Please do not treat it in a descriptive manner
• Please do not release the price to the place where there are many surprise ships
• There is risk of a screaming accident, so please do not show it to children who are younger than the age of Australia

So now, we can be sure to use the item safely.

Day 15.106: A fifteen-slicer

Sometimes your lunchtime sandwich is so huge, you need 15 slices of cucumber:

...or - perhaps - sometimes your cucumbers are so tiny that even a tiny bread roll sandwich can hold 15 slices:

Day 15.105: First visitors

Exile #2 has seen some birds at the feeder (and learned to use the fancy camera).

Yesterday a chickadee:

And today some goldfinches:

Day 15.104: Exile #2's Sunday Column #393

Exile #2 writes...

On our way to Portland this morning, we were greeted with stern warnings that the highway running through the city was closed a junction or two beyond our exit. It wasn’t a surprise, fortunately. The closure has been well advertised but the reason is quite impressive.

Over a three day weekend, the department of transport are dismantling a busy highway bridge and sliding a new preformed one in place. Rather than do it bit by bit, they’ve decided, in their words, to rip the band aid off. We will see if they manage to stick to their deadline. I gather the ground has been shaking for the local residents, so I’m sure they’ll be glad to get it over and done with.

Here's a time-lapse courtesy of the local paper of part of the process carried out today:

 

Day 15.103: Invited to dine

We saw this rather splendid blue jay at the cemetery last weekend.

Today, we spent a chunk of the day setting up a new bird feeder. Although we haven't seen many birds around behind our house yet this spring, we hope they'll come and visit soon.

Day 15.102: Sucked in by Severance

I already admitted that we only planned to watch Foundation with our free trial of Apple TV+, then ended up watching Ted Lasso (three times in some cases).

Well, they did it again. We recently completed watching the first season of Severance. It's a really weird show - but we have all loved it and we're currently halfway through watching it again to see what hints we missed the first time through. Maybe not for everyone, but it's a slow-burn mystery that we're really enjoying.

Day 15.101: Marooned for Boston

I guess we both decided this was the right color for a gig in Boston last week:

Day 15.100: Other signs of spring

A few more from East Point including some signs of spring:

Day 15.099: Birds at East Point

As I mentioned, we saw a lot of birds at East Point Preserve on Saturday morning. Here are some I've identified and a couple I have not:

Lots of pairs of common eider floating and flying around:

A black scoter:

And these smaller ducks (unidentified):

On land, we saw this splendid song sparrow - singing of course:

A rather leery veery (I think):

A brown creeper (rather far up the tree by the time I got a shot):

A ruby-crowned kinglet, who even showed a flash of his crown:

And a very hard-to-get but reasonably identifiable golden-crowned kinglet:

It seems the birds have decided that spring is here, even if the weather isn't absolutely sure.

Day 15.098: Band in a box

I promised an explanation for why Alt-J appeared to be playing in a box. It was so they could have wrap-around projections like this:

It was staging genius for a band who mostly stood (and sat) still to play their music. At one point the box appeared to fill up with water as they started a song and then they were threatened by a shark that swam around them.

They didn't hide in the box for the whole gig - lifting it out of the way for some of the songs:

Day 15.097: Exile #2's Sunday Column #392

Exile #2 writes...

On our walk yesterday, we scrambled down from the path to a small beach, where we found some amazing quartz seams. The rocks were amazingly varied in color from slate blue through to rusty brown and there was some interesting layering to be seen.

I hope you had a lovely time, however you were celebrating today!

Day 15.096: East Point comes alive for Easter

We had a lovely walk at East Point Sanctuary in Biddeford Pool this morning. Most of our coastal visits have been very quiet recently, but suddenly there are sea birds and tree birds and all sorts.

I'll post some more pictures when I've had chance to go through them, but  here is one of us being happy to be out-and-about!

Day 15.095: Daffodils

Having woken up earlier than was sensible after our late night, Exile #2 and I visited the bank and then went to see the daffodils at the cemetery.

Exile #3 was the only one with normal responsibilities today and even that seemed to go fine. Later, Exile #2 and I helped with the Good Friday service but we're crashing hard this evening.