Nature Observations: Big Birds

4
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)

No joke, this 11" hawk landed on a small tree outside the living room window while I was standing there looking out. It was 10 feet away and stood there for a good minute.

Then, it flew up to the tallest branch on the Tree of Heaven across the street. In a blink of an eye, it swooshed down the street and out of sight. It probably went for a cute little Junco, see "Nature Observations #1" below.





5
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

On a long West Seattle walk with Jana, we followed Longfellow Creek from Camp Long to Firefly Park. Along the way, across Genesee Street from the golf course there is a small little wetland before you get to the bonetail bridge. It was here that a mom and her children alerted Jana and I to the presence of a very huge heron, its head down, standing on an island in the middle of the pond. Very peaceful indeed.





post-script: why is Gen obsessed with birds? Not really, but they are Nature Observations that literally fly up on you. And these guys are waay cool, no?

Strawberry Pear Crisp

I, of course, waited to the last minute to get the ingredients for a pear cobler I was going to make. Stores closed on Thanksgiving. Now I know. *looks down sheepishly* So instead, here's a tastely dish that can be made post-haste, with the ingredients found in your own mother's kitchen.

The Yummy Strawberry Pear Deliciousness
(still working on the name)

preheat 375

layer in 9x9inch oven dish
1 pear, peeled, long-way sliced
1 can of sliced pear in the back cupboard
1 pint of strawberries (generously donated to you by a relative)
(any fruit really)

mix with hands, spread evenly over fruit
1/2 cup flour
1/2 brown sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1/4 cup oatmeal (if desired, I liked it)
1/2 teaspoon salt
chopped up half-stick butter

30 minutes

put on vanilla ice cream, mmmmmmm

Nature Observations #2

3
Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)



Shh, I'm looking at this guy now, right outside my window. He sits on the fence. Looks around. I try not to move... nope, gone. Shoot, that was cool.

Steller's Jays are quite large. Larger than most blue jays I think.

Skewed Google search results?

I wonder if Google's search statistics got skewed when they introduced the as-you-type instant results.

I'm sure they can measure how much of the search word is typed before it is interupted by selecting a result. I'd also have to believe that the data they get from 'clicked results' alone would be mind-blowing.

Now, all those searches that are not phrased right, spelled correctly or are simply outlandish (and nothing gets clicked because your boss walked into the room) -- will they be lost? Maybe good riddance to those searches.

High School Encouragement

One goal I had coming back was to help out at my local public schools... those poor, under-paid schools need us, ya know? I would not consider myself a genius at any given subject but for some reason I checked "tutoring" on the volunteer application when I signed up at the high school around the corner from my house. I may live to regret that decision..

I ended up in an afterschool study hall. The kids I help are "adviced... to their parents" to come to this study hall because they are failing 2 or more classes. Most of the work they are doing is class work, that they just didn't get done in class... needless to say, this bunch takes about 25 minutes to settle down before they get any homework going.

The good days are when I can work through homework assignments with 1-3 students. Even if I do know the answers, I act kind of dumb to show them HOW to work through the problems and get these stupid worksheets done quickly. I call them stupid because they are often wayyy too wordy that get the students to "discover" the phenomenom out by themselves. However these kind of kids aren't very eager to wait through all the words to find out what you want them to find out. It's confusing. It's confusing, so they just give up.

The bad days are when their bad attitude and constant indifference quiets or disarms me. I usually pump myself up with music and fist-jabs before coming in, that helps.

I really like helping. :) Too bad I might not be able to do it once I find a money-making job.

The Goodwill Outlet bins

This past weekend, we trekked over to the Goodwill Outlet 'bins' on Holgate and 5th in the SoDo (industrial) District. This is where everything donated to Goodwill is available first... in a huge warehouse with lanes of big, blue bins. (Before it is more thoroughly washed, sorted and sent to the various stores around town.)

There's not much rhyme or reason to the order of the bins, mostly 'clothing material' in one area and 'items' in another. Sometimes you can stumble upon a jackpot of clothes your size, still bunched together from its same sized donor. Sometimes you can find amazing things. Like brand-new Columbia jackets, fur coats, or leather pants. All cost something like a $1.50/lb.

This weekend, I scored some excellent interview clothes, shoes, 2 fleeces, sweatpants, and a leather jacket... all for $9.95.

Reduce, reuse and recycle, bit***s!

...all yours if you just put up with the mad digging crowds, the much-handled clothing and the occasional old Mexican man flirting with you. "bonito"

Nature Observations #1

As you drive west on I-90 over the Cascade Mountains, you pass by the pristene Keetchelus Lake on Snoqualmie Pass; for me, this is where the Pacific Northwest starts. Maybe it's all the lush coniferous trees that go on as far as the eyes can see. Or maybe it's the tall mountains, whose peaks can barely be seen in the car.

Something is different and it's not just the mountains. It's the air. The fresh, moist, salty air. And things thrive on it out here.

To tell you the truth: I was completely oblivious until my return 2 months ago to just how much biodiversity booms from the benefits of constant moisture and moderate temperature. Now that I'm aware, I'd like to know more.

SO, goal #25723: plant/animal log. So to learn more, appreciate more, do more.


1
Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus armeniacus)

This species is incredible in its ability to survive and out-compete. It can live in sandy soils, wet wet soils or dry sun-exposed areas. It doesn't mind disturbed areas one bit like around telephone poles or under electrical lines. Plus, its delicious berries are eaten by birds and spread far and wide.

The bush itself is a beast of a creature, with dense, tangled, thorny stalks. It winds itself together, pushing higher and higher, crawling over everything. It takes heavy-duty lopping shears, then clearing/raking of debris, then digging out the root nut and extensive roots to finally defeat the thing. Still then, annual inspection must take place to make sure it doesn't come back (it so often does).


I know these truths because I helped remove the beast last Saturday with my parents, volunteering for the Nature Consortium in Seattle. We made a small (but significant) indent in the West Duwamish Greenway.

I appreciate you Himalayan Blackberry, you cut me up, I cut you up.


2
Oregon Junco (Junco hyemalis)

They have been filting around my yard for weeks now. So cute!

Adding general fonts to your computer (PC)

Gar, I hope this helps someone save time sometime. I spent an hour searching for this. How do I download/add new fonts to [software]?

Find new fonts:
- Google "cool fonts"
- download (commonly a .ttf file, usually comes in a .zip file)

Install new fonts:
- Drag/copy the .ttf font file into your "C:/WINDOWS/Fonts/" folder. :O

... then it wonderfully appears in font menus across the board :)

I now have the coolest fonts ever. How did I never learn this?