🤣. It's the angle of their brow. Gives them a determined look. They aren't shy about coming to the feeder. But they are also respectful of other birds.
Fire about one mile from my home in Baja in the last hour. My home on the beach will be fine but it makes me think about what more than a half century of farming has taught me. Two weather events marked vegetable production in California like clockwork. One was that rains would start in the fall almost exactly on November 1 after a long summer of no rain - meaning time to make sure all tomatoes and other non rain-tolerant crops were out of the field and on their way to market. The other was the Santa Ana winds. Every fall they would come within a few days of September 21, the fall equinox. It defined our plantings in the Imperial Valley near the Mexican border where the salad and brassica crops feed the country every winter. I was trained to start planting the day the Santa Ana winds ended so that the soil temperatures would have dropped enough. This year no rains have come to southern California or northern Baja in 8 months. ZERO! And the Santa Ana winds came this week - almost 4 months late, and fiercer than any on record. Some people with political agendas are trying desperately to point fingers but us farmers know the problem. The clock is broken. www.michaelogormanfarming.com
I happened to see, on a news site, a photo of a burned out church. Looked it up and it turns out it was the United Methodist Church in Pacific Palisades. It was the entity that the town of Pacific Palisades was founded by and now it's just a burned out stone shell. The lost the church, many of their congregants lost their homes, and they lost a church member to the fire. It makes me especially sad because they were clearly an "open and affirming" church, which means they welcomed everyone of all orientations. Their Website
Good article and makes the point that most of these places also serve as community centers where concerts, art events and more take place. I especially appreciate what the rabbi said at the end.
We were coming home around sundown, and near the horizon the sky was a somewhat unusual shade of orange; presumably Tyndall Effect from smoke originating in the LA area.working its way up the coast (about 200 miles). Reminded me of the demonstration our 12th grade Chemistry teacher gave us. -----Alan
I saw that Texas also is sending help to California; I assume (haven't checked this afternoon) that Trump is intent on demonstrating his senility. -----Alan
{listener} Wow, that’s impressive … (the orange glow, not Texas).
As for Texas, I guess beggars can’ hr choosers. And at least the folks arriving are there to put out fires, not start them as most of their state mates tend to do.
How This Giant Grass Could Save 15 Billion Trees A Year [Click] This reminds me of work being done at California State University Fresno by an agronomist of our acquaintance (since deceased) with a lot of experience in sugar cane production. He was working on developing a plantation of large perennial grass for various uses. I think part of his experimental plantation is still there on the University farm.
{listener}
ReplyDeleteGoodness! This didn’t post on time!
I think I missed a day when I set the photos!
The photos are set through Candlemas, so far, and I double checked that all the dates are covered. LOL
DeleteOh, hello, Mr. Bluebird. Aren't you sweet? Just seeing you brightens my day.
ReplyDeleteIndeed! Even one Bluebird changes the whole landscape and lightens the mood!
DeleteThat bluebird looks VERY assertive!
Delete-----Alan
🤣. It's the angle of their brow. Gives them a determined look.
DeleteThey aren't shy about coming to the feeder. But they are also respectful of other birds.
by Michael O'Gorman of California:
ReplyDeleteFire about one mile from my home in Baja in the last hour. My home on the beach will be fine but it makes me think about what more than a half century of farming has taught me. Two weather events marked vegetable production in California like clockwork. One was that rains would start in the fall almost exactly on November 1 after a long summer of no rain - meaning time to make sure all tomatoes and other non rain-tolerant crops were out of the field and on their way to market. The other was the Santa Ana winds. Every fall they would come within a few days of September 21, the fall equinox. It defined our plantings in the Imperial Valley near the Mexican border where the salad and brassica crops feed the country every winter. I was trained to start planting the day the Santa Ana winds ended so that the soil temperatures would have dropped enough. This year no rains have come to southern California or northern Baja in 8 months. ZERO! And the Santa Ana winds came this week - almost 4 months late, and fiercer than any on record. Some people with political agendas are trying desperately to point fingers but us farmers know the problem. The clock is broken. www.michaelogormanfarming.com
I happened to see, on a news site, a photo of a burned out church. Looked it up and it turns out it was the United Methodist Church in Pacific Palisades. It was the entity that the town of Pacific Palisades was founded by and now it's just a burned out stone shell. The lost the church, many of their congregants lost their homes, and they lost a church member to the fire. It makes me especially sad because they were clearly an "open and affirming" church, which means they welcomed everyone of all orientations. Their Website
ReplyDeleteNote: On their website, they have links on where to donate, if interested. Sounds like they are actively helping the community, too.
DeleteNPR: So Cal wildfires destroy or damage many houses of worship
ReplyDeleteGood article and makes the point that most of these places also serve as community centers where concerts, art events and more take place. I especially appreciate what the rabbi said at the end.
We were coming home around sundown, and near the horizon the sky was a somewhat unusual shade of orange; presumably Tyndall Effect from smoke originating in the LA area.working its way up the coast (about 200 miles). Reminded me of the demonstration our 12th grade Chemistry teacher gave us.
ReplyDelete-----Alan
I saw that Texas also is sending help to California; I assume (haven't checked this afternoon) that Trump is intent on demonstrating his senility.
Delete-----Alan
{listener}
DeleteWow, that’s impressive … (the orange glow, not Texas).
As for Texas, I guess beggars can’ hr choosers. And at least the folks arriving are there to put out fires, not start them as most of their state mates tend to do.
* can’t be choosers
Delete{listener}
{listener}
Delete(Texas represents a different sort of orange flow, eh?)
{listener}
Delete* glow
How This Giant Grass Could Save 15 Billion Trees A Year [Click] This reminds me of work being done at California State University Fresno by an agronomist of our acquaintance (since deceased) with a lot of experience in sugar cane production. He was working on developing a plantation of large perennial grass for various uses. I think part of his experimental plantation is still there on the University farm.
ReplyDelete{listener}
Delete👍