What would I do without them?

Yugly (yummy, ugly) turkeys

Indian paintbrushes, quite possibly my favorite wildflower

Pencil Repatriation

Today I am returning these 5 pencils from whence they came. I don't intentionally steal pencils and pens, I just stick them in my hair to hold it up and forget about the thing until I get home, let down my hair and inevitably say, "Where did that come from? Oh no, another one" and put it in my growing collection.

Without looking it up, what book is this from?

Garden Finds

Black swallowtail larva

Yellow swallowtails

This turtle had a tracking device on it. I called the number and told the guy, "I've got a turtle with your name on it." I've always wanted to say that. Not really, but it would have been funny if I had...anyhow, I learned that this species is endangered. Turtles have age ring-like things on their underside and you can tell how old they are (this one's around 50!)

WHAT THE HAIL!!!

Reviewlet: Brick Lane

Brick Lane by Monica Ali is about a Bangladeshi woman, her arranged marriage, her move to England and subsequent struggle to adjust, and the process of determining who she is/ who she wants to be/ who she can be.

Some books are self-consciously multicultural. Reading them, I get the feeling they're only in print because the editor thinks multiculturalism is so hot that an exotic looking cover and a few non-English words sprinkled throughout the text is enough to sell the book.

Brick Lane is nothing like that. For one thing, the author is subtle. She shows instead of tells. Also, Monica Ali is from Bangladesh and lives in England, which may account for the book's authentic feel.

Nearly all the characters are Muslim. I was fascinated with the religious dilemmas the characters experience living in a modern, predominately non-Muslim society. Some of the issues were very familiar to me as a Christian.

Kid Therapy

Wings & Blooms

Mixed Drink

To a cup and a half of going-flat Sprite I added about a tablespoon of lemon juice and a teaspoon of ginger juice (squished the ginger with a garlic press). It tastes great, very summery.

Reviewlet: The Caine Mutiny

The Caine Mutiny, by Herman Wouk, follows one man from officer training to the end of his wartime assignment aboard a WWII Naval vessel. The despotism of the monstrous little captain he serves under is fascinating: wondering what depths he would next stoop to kept me turning pages pretty rapidly.

The main character's development is really the point of the book. In the beginning he's just an average guy; which is to say, he's rather a rat. For the greater part of 576 pages I didn't like the guy at all, but in the end, he surprised me.

I've always assumed the idea that the military turns a boy into a man was a myth propagated by recruiters. If I'm wrong, as The Caine Mutiny--if it is at all factual--would indicate, then the conflict in Iraq might not be a bad investment.

Published in 1951, the story seemed dated at the beginning, but once the action was underway, I didn't notice. FYI: if the book were a movie it would merit an R rating for profanity.

Within Fire

Salamander (orig. from Persian: sām, "fire", and andarūn, "within"). Numerous legends have developed around the salamander over the centuries, many related to fire. This connection likely originates from the tendency of many salamanders to dwell inside rotting logs. When placed into a fire, the salamander would attempt to escape from the log, lending to the belief that salamanders were created from flames - a belief that gave the creature its name.

-Wikipedia

You Send Me

In These Shoes

Then I met an englishman
Oh, he said,
Won't you walk up and down my spine,
It makes me feel strangely alive.
I said in these shoes?
I doubt you'd survive.
I said honey, lets do it.


-In These Shoes, Kirsty Maccoll

Zig Zag

These rolling papers are the best piece of litter I've picked up thus far. I like the packet's retro design of orange background, kitchy font and picture. The paper is imported from France, making it Eurotrash, but still more posh than the usual assortment of roadside waste (beer and soda cans, cigarette packs, nips bottles, fast food and snack food bags and packaging).

And the papers remind me of the bad boys, cowboys and tough guys in classic movies who, in the face of danger and adversity, coolly roll themselves a cigarette.

What's that you say? You're gonna shoot me full of holes? He nonchalantly takes a packet of rolling paper from his pocket, separates one thin sheet, fills it with tobacco, forms a tight cylinder and licks an edge to seal it. Then he rolls the cigarette between his thumb and first finger. Back and forth, back and forth, staring his opponent in the eye. I'm not afraid of you.

Tip of the Day

If your vehicle can be easily distinguished from others, you might not want to litter. Otherwise, someone living in the same town might see you toss trash out your window and remember your car. Later, if that person sees your car parked at the bank or library he or she might take advantage of the opportunity to tell you that you foul your surroundings like a wallowing pig and you are as mature and responsible as a toddler for expecting other people to clean your mess for you. That means you, +DON+