Garage Hawk
In 2008 or so we found a red-shouldered hawk in our garage.
Flight of the Osprey
Yesterday we observed a first. The first osprey fledgling took flight. She did not go far but we recorded it in a set of stills. We share these as a slideshow that has been converted into a video. Enjoy!
Evolution of a Photograph
The following photograph was taken at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm a couple of weeks ago. The subject is a pair of fledgling egrets (siblings). This is how it came out of the camera. Please click on the photos to view larger versions.I was attracted to it because I liked the spread wing of egret …
Dishwasher – 1, Knife – 0
Everyone I care about insist on using their dishwasher to clean their good knives. This, despite all the experts telling them not to do it. Well just, look at this knife!
Morning Mist
Note: This was originally posted on Blogspot in 2009 then and updated in 2013 with new links.
LifeSaver Plant
On Linda’s last trip south to purchase violets she spied this plant. It is a succulent known as Lifesaver Plant or Lifesaver Cactus (even though it is not a cactus). The flowers last only a few days but they are very interesting.
The Holy Grail of Birds
The Florida bird guidebooks all show a multi-colored finch known as the painted bunting. This bird has a blue head, green wings and an orange-red breast. It looks as if nature used its purist spectral colors in designing this bird. This bunting is not common. A neighbor had told me that 20 years ago there …
Kiss Your $700,000,000,000.00 Goodbye
This week the U. S. Congress passed and the President signed legislation that authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to buy up to $700 billion of securities from certain companies. This is a bailout of Wall Street firms or a rescue of the U. S. banking system depending upon your viewpoint or degree of skepticism …
Book Review: Service Included
“Service Included: Four-Star Secrets of an Eavesdropping Waiter” by Phoebe Damrosch (William Morrow, $25)The sub-title refers to the four stars that the New York Times awarded the New York restaurant, Per Se. Per Se is the East Coast effort of Thomas Keller. He is famous in culinary circles for his Northern California restaurant, The French …
Blinking Hawk
Caught this fellow blinking yesterday. What we see in the second photo is actually the third eyelid, which, I believe, comes from the right side of the eye (maybe from the back of the head). The first two eyelids are rarely used during the day. Read more here.
A Death in the Vineyard
Robert Gerald Mondavi (1913-2008) died on the 16th of this month. He was the patriarch of the modern Napa Valley wine industry; Doing more than anyone to change the perception of California wine from jug wine to fine wine. He traveled to fine restaurants all over the country promoting his wine at a time when …
What is it?
Quiz for Monday morning. Can you identify the following item?. Hints: In was photographed this morning three steps from our front door. Here is another photo of the item–showing a larger view…Got it yet? . Well here is the answer. And a photograph of the artist. I hope that is a mosquito. My first thought …
Easter Bunny
When we moved here 12 years ago we saw rabbits everywhere. Since we had no garden they posed no problem for us. The fat hawks and owls seemed to enjoy them too. The previous owner had taken a liking to rabbits and had purchased a dozen. After a while he had a lot more rabbits …
Restaurant Review: P. F. Chang’s China Bistro
St. Johns Town Center, Jacksonville, Florida Why have we eaten at this Chinese restaurant six times within a year? Is it the quality? Yes, but relative quality not absolute quality. Let’s take a ride on this rickshaw! Hot and Sour Soup. Prepared by an accomplished Chinese chef this dish is an easy-to-understand example of the …