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Red Admirals

So today one of my Twitter friends posted a link to what the Tweet called a Red Admiral Migration.

Okay, if you know me (and if you don’t, it may be for the best, on the whole) you already know what I thought: an image popped instantly into my mind of Soviet-era Naval officers trudging across [...]

Summer's almost gone

With the advent of my birthday comes a bittersweet time for me. It means summer’s on the wane.

On the one hand it means my favorite time of year is at hand:  autumn. It’s cooler than summer, warmer than winter, and less ridiculously windy than spring. it’s perhaps the most beautiful time of year in New [...]

Ditchbank Drama!

Emma Dog and I were walking south down Bear’s Ditch, headed back for the car on a pleasant summer evening, when we encountered a Mama Mallard and her family of maybe 6-8 adorable ducklings.

Like these.

They happened to be approaching a culvert beneath a dirt road. Mama Mallard steered the brood expertly clear.

Except for [...]

In which Spring does

Today I took Toshi, Jr., my notebook computer, to Village Inn for what we’ll (continuing yesterday’s theme) euphemistically call a late breakfast.  Right outside the door a fruit tree was in full bloom. I could even smell a hint of it.

Pictured: Spring

After a blessedly mild winter – sorry, rest of the Northern [...]

Living euphemism found in US lake

It’s long been an axiom of my existence that any word or phrase can be used as a euphemism.

But, c’mon, guys. This is making it too easy.

Disporting itself in public, no less!

Spring has, at least here, at least for the present. Only a fool (and not this one) would state with any [...]

In which Emma escapes unscathed

- from Great Sky Demons; plus When Purse Dogs Attack!

Great Sky Demon hunting near scene of today's attack

Got a bit of a late start today; got to sleep about 1 AM, didn’t wake up to stay until almost 11. I’m still a bit drained and catching up.

Anyway, I took myself off to VI, ate [...]

It’s a Beautiful Day!

No, seriously. The day is beautiful. It’s not about the band.

Here in this stretch of the Rio Grande Valley, anyway, we’re enjoying a mild winter. A pleasant surprise, inasmuch as most of the rest of the country, and I guess the Northern Hemisphere, is getting slammed by savage cold and snowfall for the second year [...]

Outrage: Symbols of Peace Mug Emma for Food!

Okay, “mug” is probably not the right verb.  Actual mugging would be notably unwise, given Emma Dog’s size and disposition. Call it raconteur’s license (a concept I just made up, having no shame.)

(Crap!  Was that just a sonic boom?  A big blustery puffing boom just came from out back somewhere. Emma barked but doesn’t seem [...]

The cranes are back in town!

Guess who just got back today?
Those big blue birds who had been away.
Hadn’t changed, hadn’t much to say,
But man, I still think them birds are great.
The cranes are back in town…

With a shout out to Thin Lizzy and the long-lost Phil Lynott.

Yes, it’s silly. And I’m not even sure they just got back today.  But [...]

Duck, Duck … No Goose (‘Nother Duck!)

That’s what paraded across the path in front of Emma and me as we walked north along Bear’s Ditch, which runs past the east side of the RGNC preserve. Emma was cool and didn’t try to fetch any of them.

They were all drab – not a shiny green head in sight. Either they’ve yet to [...]