Just like ships, we float through each others' lives...

Thinking back on today, I'm reminded of this song by the Umbrellas.  It was a peaceful walk on the seawall today with my friend SS.  We didn't talk much, which was a little bit of a surprise, but I don't think either of us minded.  It was fun picking up tiny little crabs and searching for sea glass amidst the debris.  We found a piece of glass with the word "FOOD" on it... I wonder what it's from?

Afterwards we went to Santouka Ramen - no photos because I was too hungry and it was too dark inside.  There was a line at 1:30 despite it being a Tuesday. The miso ramen was satisfying and enough to make me full; people have complained the portions are too small but I suppose I don't eat much.  The broth was rich, albeit a little salty - there was soft perfect pork, wood ear fungus, bamboo shoots, a chunk of kamaboko and chopped green onion garnish.

But anyway!  There were lots of wildlife out today at the park.  A set of three cormorants preened on a log (they seemed to have not moved in the three hours it took us to wander along the wall and back).  There were small ducks in a pond but seemed to have been chased away by a flock of Canada geese.  There was also a heron, and surprisingly, an intelligent and curious harbor seal that swam in close to the wall and looked around before disappearing.  They don't usually come so close in so I was surprised - it was only about five feet away.  But the oddest thing was perhaps this little guy: 

Why isn't there any ice...? 

Truth be told, he was getting rather unhappy at the bottom of my bag!  So he gladly sat in the sun for a few minutes while SS and I snapped shots of him.

I feel tiny!
(Photo credit: SS)

Edit [8/4/2010]
I remembered as a little kid, I used to watch this claymation short on television.  It was called Pingu.  I haven't seen it on TV in a while and I wiki-ed it to find out that the series ended.  The little guy I made looks more like Pinga (Pingu's little sister) than the troublemaking Pingu though.

Pattern Credit: 

This is made from a pattern in Tamie Snow's book, Tiny Yarn Animals.  You can check out her website here.

Materials: 

3.5 mm hook 

cream yarn (worsted medium - unknown brand)

black yarn (worsted medium - unknown brand but 100% acrylic)

Bernat Softee Chunky yarn in Grey Heather

~4 oz beanbag filling (aka polyester beads)

A small amount of polyfill for the head and wings

9 mm safety eyes