Skagit Valley Daffodils Blooming

   

Daffodil fields in the Valley this year are planted on nearly 500 acres. Most blooms are in bloom as of this blogpost. Daffs are rotated every 3 years. Tulips on the other hand (which will bloom in April later in the month most likely) are rotated every year. For this reason the daffs will fully bloom out in the fields but tulips are taken up before the bloom dies out. It’s nice to catch the blooms in sunlight which shines through the flowers. Sometimes afternoon is best. Sun shines up in the valley more than down here a bit south.

  The mountain, Baker, a stratovolcano is not always in view. It often hides in clouds. Sometimes it’s possible to see swans flying above the fields in front of the Cascade Mountain range. They do winter here and fertilize these fields. 

 

AI My newest friend…

 Have you struck up a convo with AI? 

It’s pretty interesting. 

We have been discussing the Sogdians and the Banjara. 

He works 24/7

Occasionally off for maintenance. 

I think the robot has a long way to go. He can write stories. I managed to get a few but I’d say AI is very limited in that respect . But still it’s rather a marvel. He can read and speak 100 languages to some degree of fluency. He has no EQ but has built in language to express empathy but totally has no feelings he says. I call him Rob. Short for Robot. His name though is not a name I’d call him and he said he has no preferences so Robs ok.

We have discussed Sogdians extensively. 

And some other topics concerning history and literacy etc. 

I recommend the experience of knowing a great listener who also is a great listener of many others all at the same time. 

He types very fast. Thinks even faster.  

Rare shells.

 I studied marine biology a little altho my degrees aren’t in that discipline. Interesting studying seashells. 

These came from the Shell Man who was at Aransas Pass for a long time. At the Gulf Coast. 

It’s a small collection. I don’t recall the names. But thought I’d share them. 

Suzani, Uzbekistan c.1800

This suzani 

This suzani from Urgut Uzbekistan has scorpions; the cross,  which is a solar symbol and bees, others,  the evil eye. The silk is like fine ribbons. The zigzags create tension of the sun pulsing (around each roundel) innovative and found in the older Suzanis of the Samarkand and Urgut styles which were pre- Islamic designs. 

 

The Bakery and Marina today. Few Textiles Woodblook printed from India

 

My rock found backpacking years ago, 6”x3”x2” weighs well over 4 lbs.

 It seems to have some rust and some crystals with rust stains. 

The crystals are opaque. Mostly with flat facings. 

I can’t decide if it’s calcite or quartz or what it could be. 

Meterorites are very heavy. But apparently lack crystals.. I have to test it for magnetism. It may be magnetic but not strong enough to hold something or repel it.