Sunday, March 24, 2013

Eaglets Flying/Fledging Very Soon! March 24, 2013

Eaglets Flying/Fledging Very Soon!
 
March 24, 2013
 
View image on Twitter
Here are our former little fluff-ball eaglets--all ready for flight training now!
 
Tune in to an empty nest last night or this morning!? We will keep everyone posted on the fledging status but just in case you see an empty nest, these pics show the eaglets are, for now, not far away. #happywatching
Mostly empty nest these days--eaglets are branching most of the day.
 
 
     This is the site of the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, sponsored by Dick Prichett Realty, of North Fort Myers, Florida.  The nest is located on the property of Dick Prichett.  The mature eagle pair, Ozzie and Harriet, have been nesting and raising eaglets for 5 years there.  The eaglets have been named Honor and Hope.  Local residents/watchers have submitted photos taken from the ground, so we can see what eaglets and parents are up to when not in live cam range.
 
      This is one of many live eagle cams on www.ustreamtv.com and other sites.  Do some investigating to find the nest family you enjoy watching.   Type in the word eagles to get a full list of live cams.
 
      The Alcoa eagle cam, located at Davenport, Iowa, is just as fascinating, with two new mouths for Liberty and Justice to feed now: 
Screen Shot 2013-03-18 at 12.39.41 PM
 
 
     There is one site, Eaglecrest Wildlife, where they are presently watching a barn owl with 8 eggs, a Canadian goose with 10 eggs, and a red-tailed hawk who has just laid her first egg of the season.  This site in Sanger, California, has 9 live cams watching all this and more on the private property.  Here is the link:
 
      If you are more interested in Great Horned Owls, watch the live cam of Bonnie and Clyde who took over an eagle nest before the eagles returned for nesting season.  The location is in New London, Wisconsin.  This is a bit difficult for me to watch as the owl nests completely out in the open, and the weather there has been horrific, not to mention the mother owl has had another owl intruder almost every night.  But now, she has one owlet, and everyone is hoping for a good outcome for her and the baby.

 
Here is that link: 
 
 
      This is nature in real time, so whatever happens, happens, both good and bad.  In any case, get yourself on one of these sites and see nature up close, a true privilege.
 

 
 

 

Planting Today--Butterfly Plants March 24, 2013

Planting Today--Butterfly Plants
March 24, 2013
 
Pentas, in fuscia pink for nectar, attract hummingbirds also. 
 
Lavender attracts bees which kill garden pests.
 
Tropical milkweed, host of monarch butterflies' eggs.  See the caterpillar under the leaf?
"Milkweed blooms entice swallowtails, painted ladies, American ladies, red admirals, fritillaries, and hairstreaks for nectaring."  http://www.butterflybushes.com/milkweed.htm

Thumbnail #2 of Foeniculum vulgare by darius
Fennel, host plant for black swallowtail eggs

     The beginnings of my refreshed butterfly garden, plants from my local Home Depot, are waiting to be planted this morning.  Several types are needed, so you will see the major plants above that were selected:  Pentas, lavender, and tropical milkweed. 
 
     Fennel and Mexican Heather weren't available this weekend, so another trip will be needed next weekend to see if they are in stock yet.  I've got loads of zinnia seeds, the tall yellow and orange zinnias, that I'll plant among the flowers, for good measure.  Mother Nature can handle those for me.
 
     I kept several Porterweed plants in place when I cleared out the old plants last week.  Here is a photo, not my photo, and I understand the Porterweed is a hummingbird attracting plant, also.  Bees love it!
 
IMG_2227_edited-1.jpg
 
     The best part of planting a butterfly garden is the shopping part.  The hardest part is the placing and planting.  The photo below is what I hope to achieve when all of the plants are in the ground:
 
Day Butterfly Center
Ha-ha!  This is NOT my butterfly garden; it is the butterfly center at Callaway Gardens in Georgia!
 
 
This is more like what my garden will look like, except my garden is bordered by my sidewalk.
 
     May I encourage you to try your hand at planting something butterfly-friendly this week?  You will be rewarded with a peek into nature at its finest, and you will love the view. 
 
 
Note:  None of the photos are mine;  I got all of them from Google searches.
 
 
 
      
 

 


 
 


Thursday, March 21, 2013

Taxes, Flowers, and Spring Break! March 21, 2013

Taxes, Flowers, and Spring Break!
 
March 21, 2013
(First Day of Spring)
 
 
 
 
 
     The front garden has been cleared, so my mind has been cleared as well.  I have a short list to accomplish, and all's right with the world.  I had a wonderful yard man completely whip my lawn, shrubbery, and edging into shape...(oh happy day!)
 
     I left the shrubbery, some smaller butterfly plants, and the birdbath in my front garden, after cutting and removing all the old butterfly plants and weeds last week.  What a glorious feeling to have done what I had planned to do.
 
     Three things remain to attack during the next day or so:
*Turning in all my receipts to the tax accountant to finish my tax return (yay!)
*Purchasing the colorful butterfly-attracting new plants to be planted in my front garden this weekend (beautiful!)
*Enjoying the next 10 days of my school Spring Break (hallelujah!)
 
     I'm not traveling anywhere for my long holiday, as I had to spend over $1100 for car repairs a week ago.  I can't complain very much because my car is 13 years old!  However, I will travel 20 miles south on I-4 to my favorite theme parks, DisneyWorld and Universal Studios Orlando, where I have annual passes.  I have missed seeing Harry Potter and Mickey Mouse for the past few months.
 
     The weatherman has promised temperatures in the 80s on Saturday, even though we'll have thunderstorms.  I don't mind the rain if it's warm outside.  I send all of my condolences to those who are still enduring the freezing temperatures up north.  I don't know how you live in that kind of cold all winter.
 
     So, Happy Easter to those who are celebrating, and happy Spring to those who may have the same holidays as I have coming up!
 

 
 
    
 
     
 
 


Thursday, March 14, 2013

Clearing My Garden--Clearing My Mind March 14, 2013

Clearing My Garden--Clearing My Mind
 
March 14, 2013
 
This is what my front garden looks like.  This is not my photo, but you get the idea.
 
At least it doesn't look this sad and forlorn.  This is not my photo, but it was taken somewhere in the United Kingdom.



 
This is my own photo of my front garden.  Best feature these days is the birdbath, used by many birds and squirrels.
 
      I am going to ruthlessly rip out the raggedy plants, that used to be beautiful years ago, and clear spaces for planting new healthy plants.  I don't know where this gardening urge came from yesterday, but I started by giving my front garden a good hard look.
 
     This morning, before I leave for work at 11am, I am going to attack with a vengeance.  On my way home from work, I'm going to pick up some plants that attract butterflies and bees, purchased at my local Home Depot and my local favorite garden shop, Palmer's Nursery. 
 
      This has the same mind-clearing effect as clearing out the clutter from one's closets and cupboards.  I need to help Mother Nature reclaim the front garden, as it was over 6 years ago.  I have honestly enjoyed the years of watching nature at my front window, and I want to reclaim that pleasure. 
 
      The one feature that has remained lovely is the birdbath.  Every morning and evening I watch as the tiny finches (?), graceful mourning and ring-neck doves, woodpeckers, cardinals, and squirrels enjoy a nice drink or a short bath there.
 
      Here is what I would like for my front garden to look like after I clear and plant for the next few days:
 
 
 
      If my motivation holds out through the weekend, I'll have cleared and restored both my butterfly garden and my brain!
 
 

 

 

 
 


Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Florida Eaglets Are Branching Now! March 12, 2013

Florida Eaglets Are Branching Now!
 
March 12, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
Photo above shows the parent eagle in comparison to the eaglet now.  Amazing growth in over 8 weeks!
 
 
In photo above, parent eagle watches eagle practicing its flight skills by hopping and flapping.  Proud parent, for sure.
 
I hope you enjoy watching this eagle family as the eaglets prepare for their future branching and fledging.
What a long way the eaglets have come as they grow toward leaving the nest in a few months.
 
Thank you to Dick Prichett Realty for allowing us to view this miracle of birth and growth through your live camera installed on your property in North Fort Myers, Florida!
 
 


Sunday, March 10, 2013

Songs That Make Me Cry--Enjoy March 10, 2013

Songs That Make Me Cry--Enjoy
March 10, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Thank you, Andrew Lloyd Webber, for making me cry.  It's always a lovely experience.
 
 
 
Disclaimer:  All videos are from www.youtube.com
                    I own no rights to these videos.  I just love the music.
 
 
 
 
 


Out of Ideas for Retirement--Now What? March 10, 2013

Out of Ideas--For Retirement--What Now?
 
March 10, 2013
Active Retirement
 
        Turning to Google, rather than my own experiences and memories, I searched for retirement activities today.  Sadly, I came upon the following article with 5 retirement activities for women.  It reminded me of the reason I began this blog; I don't want to do crafts and read for the rest of my life, really.  See what you think.
 
 
        Fortunately, there was another website, Retirement Cafe, by Ernie Zelinski, which exceeded my expectations in providing more ideas for an active retirement:  Here is the website:
 
 
Here, then, is a quote from this retirement website, written by Ernie Zelinski.  My favorite author, Dame Agatha Christie, listed 15 activities she enjoyed in retirement.  Mr. Zelinski quotes her list:
 
"Think of all the things in life that you love; then, in some way relate them to retirement activities that you can pursue for a more active retirement.
Following is a list of activities created by the British writer Agatha Christie (1890-1976) as included in the book Agatha Christie: An Autobiography (Dodd, Mead & Co., 1977).
  • Sunshine
  • Apples
  • Almost any kind of music
  • Railway trains
  • Numerical puzzles and anything to do with numbers
  • Going to the sea
  • Bathing and swimming
  • Silence
  • Sleeping
  • Dreaming
  • Eating
  • The smell of coffee
  • Lilies of the valley
  • Most dogs
  • Going to the theatre
This list of activities and things that Christie loved may trigger some of the stuff that turns you on and which you can use for an active retirement.
In fact, you may learn to enjoy all 15 things that Agatha Christie enjoyed if you implement them into your retirement activities. This will go a long ways towards conquering retirement boredom."
 
     Obviously we know that Dame Agatha Christie was fond of railway trains, thus her fascinating mystery, Murder On The Orient Express, featuring Hercule Poirot.  Happily, taking a trip on a train is on my list of retirement activities.
 
 
      From my research today, I have learned that depression after retirement is normal, due to the lack of purpose and and an active life, so I realized that I have somehow predicted that depression. 
 
        There are 8 months remaining in which to discover what my real purpose in life will be after retirement.   I hope it's not crafting and reading!
 
 
 
 
 

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Unexpected Nature In My Neighborhood
 
February 23, 2013
 
 
farm peacock photo DSC01249_zpsf497dc64.jpg

 
 
peacock photo peacock.jpg
 
     As I returned from grocery shopping at 7:30 this morning, I turned into my neighborhood and had to stop for three beautiful peacocks, all different, as they slowly strolled across the street and into someone's yard.   There they busied themselves with their ground feeding, seeming to appear totally at ease and happy to be taking their stroll. 
 
     These are not my photos, as I didn't have my camera.  One was totally white, full-grown, with a beautiful plume of feathers on its head and long, flowing tail feathers.  One was the beautiful royal/turquoise blue with flowing feathers and head plume.  The last was a younger, plainly colored peacock, but it already had its greenish-blue neck, its head plume of feathers, and the beginnings of long tail feathers. 
 
     The three photos I found on Google represent what I saw  in my downtown Orlando neighborhood.   It was difficult to  drive away from this beautiful family scene.  
 
 
 


Thursday, February 21, 2013

Sunrise, Sunset---I don't Remember Growing Older February 21, 2013

Sunrise, Sunset
I Don't Remember Growing Older
 
February 21, 2013
 
 
 
     My oldest granddaughter sent me photos of her in her gown for a competition at her high school.  She asked me to buy an ad in the program for the competition and to send a photo for the ad.  I found a photo of us together when she was about two years old at Christmas. 
 
      Then I looked at both photos and was immediately reminded of the song, "Sunrise, Sunset," from "Fiddler On The Roof."  When did she get to be a beauty? 
 
      Here are the lyrics that came to mind:
 
Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older
When - did - they?
When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he grow to be so tall?
Wasn't it yesterday when they - were - small?
Sunrise, sunset, Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze
Sunrise, sunset, Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears
 
 
      I am also reminded of that famous American soap opera, "Days of Our Lives" saying, "Like sands through an hour glass, so are the days of our lives."   My sands are trickling pretty fast now, so I hope I can appreciate and treasure the moments of each and every day.
 
      Here is the original video of that song from "Fiddler on the Roof":  (Get your handkerchiefs or tissues ready; it will make you reflect on your own life, I'm sure.)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, February 4, 2013

Mardi Gras Is February 12! Boo-Yah, Everyone! February 3, 2013

Mardi Gras Is Feb. 12--Boo-Yah, Everyone!
 
 
February 3, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Laissez les bon temps rouler!
(Let the good times roll!)
 
 
 
 
      I really miss living near New Orleans and all the festivities of the Mardi Gras season.  Happy Mardi Gras, everyone!
 
 
 
 


Saturday, February 2, 2013

You Probably Already Knew This, But I Didn't February 2, 2013

You Probably Already Knew This,
But I Didn't
February 2, 2013
Genta, this post is for you today. Genta、この投稿をします。
 
私はインターネット翻訳者が見つかりませんでした。 では、私の書いた文章に指定した1sのすべてに感謝します。 私はあなたのコメントに変換することができます。 素晴らしい日があります。 それは非常に風邪になりましたか? 私は先生と思います。 どのようなことをするのですか?
 
      On Google+, you can interact with people from all over the world, with short comments or by just adding a +1 to their photos, art, blog posts, etc.  It's all public.  But wait, there's more.
 
     One of the people who kindly gives my posts a +1 is a person named Genta.  All of his comments are in Japanese, as it turns out, so I don't know what he is saying to me.
 
      I had a memory of a student using a translator, internet translator, to change English words to French, years ago.  So I searched for one this morning.  Success!  How easy. 
 
       Who knew I could correspond in Japanese, or any other language? Well, everyone knew, but I had forgotten this service was available on the internet! Here is a link to one language translator:
 
     What I wrote in Japanese at the top of this post is this:
I found an internet translator. Thank you so much for all of the +1s you have given to my writings. I can translate your comments now. Have a wonderful day. Is it very cold there now? I am a teacher. What work do you do?
 
       Genta, this post is for you today.  Genta、この投稿をします。 
 
 
  
 
 
 
     
 


Friday, February 1, 2013

Becoming An English Trainer in China--For Disney February 1, 2013

Becoming An English Trainer In China--For Disney!
February 1, 2013
 
Give the gift of language - join us as a Foreign Trainer in China.
 
     Just as I was planning a quiet, happy new life in a condo near Disney World, I received this notice from Disney.  They are looking for English trainers in China, of all things. 
 
     Suddenly, my idea of retirement had a new spark.  Here are a few details from the email:
 
DisneyEnglish.DisneyCareers.com - EOE - Drawing Creativity from Diversity Copyright Disney
 
     So, my imagination took flight ,and I believe I will look into the details of applying as a "Foreign Trainer."  The job description mentions a contract for 12 to 18 months, and you would be using the Disney curriculum to accomplish their goals in teaching English to the young.
 
     What an opportunity to live in China and continue my teaching career AND work for Disney!
 
     Adding to my list of retirement activities as number 17, teaching English in China, I feel energized and excited today.   Happy Friday and happy weekend, everyone.
 
 


Sunday, January 27, 2013

Vietnamese New Year and Friends
January 27, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
     On Saturday I met a friend at the Vietnamese New Year Festival, and saw many friends from my previous school.  The festival was a huge event where food, plants, and merchandise were sold.  There was an awesome opening ceremony complete with the traditional Vietnamese dancers and dragons.
 
     At my previous school there were many Vietnamese students and teachers.  Every year there was a big T'et (New Year's) program and celebration.  The families were wonderful and made all of the food for the celebration, which took many hours of labor to prepare. 

 
     Every student in the school was given a red envelope with money in it for good luck in the new year. 
 
"In Vietnam, red envelopes are called lì xì (similar to the Cantonese pronunciation "lai see") or, in some cases, phong bao mừng tuổi (happy new age envelope)." from Wikipedia article.
 
I was already very familiar with the red envelopes, because I had spent much research on Feng Shui years previously. 
 
     However, getting to know the Vietnamese students and teachers was a gift I shall always treasure.  We saw many of my former students and their families at the festival.  We shopped and we ate. 
 
     There was a particularly intriguing booth/table with a large assortment of glass bead jewelry, simulating jade, pearls, etc.  My friend immediatly purchased a jade bead bracelet, which was beautiful and reasonably priced.  I was fascinated by the pearls.  My pearls, which I have written about previously, needed the clasp repaired.  
 
     I asked about the seller's pearl necklaces, none of which were simple pearls.  She said she could make a string of pearls for me while I enjoyed the festival.  I chose the size and color of the pearl, the length of the necklace, and the clasp color.   We returned about 30 minutes later and the necklace was completed.  Perfect.  It looks similar to this, but smaller pearls and no extra bead decoration:
 
  Glass Pearl Necklace, 16mm, Sold per 23.6-Inch Strand
 
     But wait, there's more.  The money from the sale of the jewelry goes to "Sandals for Leprosy", or Chuoi hat hy vong (Beads of Hope)."  This is a project in Vietnam for making sandals for those in remote villages  who have leprosy.  They need new sandals every six months as the disease progresses.  The project was started by the late St. Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan.  Funds also help the children of the leprosy sufferers.   We were very moved by this project's efforts.
 
     As if the festival food was not enough, my friend and I then headed to an afternoon meal at Little Saigon, our favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Orlando.  We spent a nice time visiting and enjoying the wonderful food. 
 
Goi Cuon 
 
 
     This year is the year of the snake, so don't forget to give your friends and family members little red envelopes with a little money inside for good luck and a good life.
 

The 2013 Year of Snake