Reconstruction of the Black Creek Greenway is leaving it less green, deconstruction of the trees that overhung the trail being well underway. It used to be a shaded valley stroll during summer days, and maybe it be will again in 50 years, glad I got to experience it, sad I will not again.

Fish are nice, but these turtles got a real Gamera vibe at Pine Knoll Shores aquarium.

From the mountains to the sea, the Pine Knoll Shores aquarium covers a lot of exhibit ground in North Carolina, this being a sleepy screech owl all screech out.

Ten seconds of video from the Pine Knoll Shores aquarium because river otters.

#Animals

A Gulf Fritillary doing brunch outside the Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium on Emerald Isle, NC.

#Butterfly

Another Sandpiper at Emerald Isle with acquaintance in background–there are no friends among beach feeders.

Getting a close-up with a Sanderling at Emerald Isle takes patience, or its evil twin obession, and some ancient personal tech, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX10 lens camera attached to an iPhone 16e.

Looking a little more weathery early in the morning at Emerald Isle doesn’t close the beach for breakfast.

A surprising number of deer strolling about Emerald Isle. I guess they prefer the off season for beach vacations too.

Emerald Isle, not exactly sunrise, four minutes later, but still.

They blend right in.

Tis the season to enjoy fried dough with sugar, lots of sugar, and pumpkin spice while hiding from my wife.

Looks like it’s Boogen season.

#RickandMorty

A sign of the times at the downtown arts festival.

Too far for a decent photo (AI “enhanced”), but plenty of time to do off-ramp math: 5 minutes per red light, one scruffy cuteness, 3 handouts. I figure $60 to $120 an hour easy. The unseen dude holding the leash has cracked the code on supplication.

The Gleaners Branta

#Art

A couple of Bambis and their moms came through the back today, had to shoo them away from the dogwood I planted last year. Like cute locusts on four legs, deer have denuded a newly planted bush in the front yard and devoured most of the flowers. Still adorable, though.

#deer

Monkey grass, lilyturf, whatever, it’s endemic in yards in the South. Those at the top I dug out of the front yard and tossed on the hill where a previous owner dumped poison to kill some evergreen groundcover. They are unkillable. These ugly plants have one job: stop erosion.

Not an insta filter, but the view from inside out front every morning in the humid subtropical edging towards tropical rainforest climate around Raliegh, North Carolina. While the area is not really prepared for a future of flooding, on the plus side no fear of a Zero Day water crisis.

Butterfly bush has been busy lately, one of six swallowtails probing with its proboscis for that sweet, sweet nectar.

#Butterfly

Arriving for my 30,000 mile service, I forced myself not to drive another two miles and then back. But it was hard.

My embarrassed wife had to literally drag me away from the Montreal antique store selling The Rocking-Horse Winner yelling, “It’s Malabar! It’s Malabar, mother!”

Having traveled with only a (large) carry-on each, I thought my wife would be restrained by space shopping in Montreal. Wrong. An umbrella and travel pillow were left behind for two pairs of John Fluevog shoes, though thankfully not the Star Trek: Strange New World boots at $499 USD.

The most memorable meals in Montreal, poutine—fries, curds, and gravy—and a pancake, the former was a little heavy, the latter a light and fluffy desert—served by a robot!

Some of my favorite pieces at the Montreal Museum of Fine Art were done in the building by visitors.