P is for Pelican in Public Park

Mrs. Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday has progressed to P. Click on link or banner to see how other bloggers have interpreted it.






Candace took me last Thursday to Oakland's Lake Merrit Park, an urban gem in the center of the thriving city. My camera and I (below) are on the outside of that cyclone fence that keeps mere humans from intruding on the water fowl. The birds are free to come and go in this area of the lake set aside as a wildlife refuge.

In the distance you can see a pelican on the shore among other feathered friends who have flown into this safe harbor. The park has built five artificial wooded islands edged with reeds. There they can breed and nest.

Here is a closer view of the pelican

intent on getting those feathers cleaned

Event

The prompt for Sunday Scribblings is event.



Just yesterday I went to a genuine community event in this town of Port Townsend, Washington, where I expect to make my home for at least part of every year and perhaps permanently.

May 1 was the annual opening of the Saturday farmers' market, a street fair where local purveyors of farm and nursery products and handicrafts have weekly booths. Unfortunately I left my camera at home, so I was unable to photograph the many colorful booths. Fortunately this left me free to roam in my trusty wheelchair to simply enjoy them. I was sorely tempted to buy a quilted hot pad that had at its center "Home is where I park my stuff while I go buy more stuff." Also fortunately, Peter Wiant, a local photographer has posted a gallery of photos taken yesterday. I have borrowed a few.

There was entertainment.

Copyright 2010 Peter Wiant
Here is the unofficial audience facing the official entertainment stage and Cal's Beach Band, one of the many groups in which my son Otto and his wife Kristin take part. That is the back of Otto's head with the billed cap in the lower right corner of the photo as he holds his concertina...

Copyright 2010 Peter Wiant
...and here is Kristin with her fiddle and her infectious enthusiasm.

Most of venders at the booths not only sell their products by the pound, dozen, bag or tray but also sell snacks such as sandwiches, soups or (paper) plate meals to eat at one of the many picnic tables. Hungry for a Baja style fish taco? You can find it here. How about a wild salmon and fried egg sandwich on local sourdough bread? It will be prepared before your eyes, and you can buy at the same booth a whole salmon or salmon steaks or fillets to take home for dinner or your freezer.

But perhaps you are in the market for handicrafts. There are dozens of booths selling everything from gorgeous cloaks of hand-spun handwoven fabrics (with the spinner working at her wheel) to whimsical hats and toys, beautiful hand-thrown pottery, jewelery, woodcarving, etc. etc.

Copyright 2010 Peter Wiant
Wheels and backpacks.

One of the reasons that I want to have a home in Port Townsend is that it is really wheelchair friendly. Friendly also to bikes, trikes and backpacks.

What did I buy at the market? Two pots of young sun gold tomato plants for the garden I will have here after May 15, and a beautifully silk-screened official Port Townsend Farmers' Market shopping bag made of environmentally-sound cloth - to carry to MY home MY future "stuff" from the market.