Snow + warm air + dirt = mud Continue reading
Mud
10
Tag Archives: about
Ruby’s Stable Secrets
Moonrise Kingdom and Fictitious Books
I wonder if sometimes writers do this… I played hooky with my husband yesterday and went to see Moonrise Kingdom, the latest film from Wes Anderson. Several stars are in this movie including Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Harvey Keitel, and and many more. Wes Anderson’s films are unique. Every scene is shot from an unexpected view point with attention to composition and arrangement of elements creating visual interest. I would like to watch this movie twice. Once to enjoy it visually and once to enjoy the quirky story. And the story is definitely quirky! It follows the island adventures of in-love runaways, Suzy a troubled young girl, played by Kara Hayward and Sam, an orphaned scout, played by Jared Gilman.
Check out the trailer… Continue reading
Bird and Book: Mourning Dove
This bird stumped me at first. It looked like a dove but smaller. I did a little research and thought maybe a Common Ground Dove but apparently this type of dove doesn’t live as far north as Cape Cod. With the help of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology community on Facebook I have determined it is a juvenile Mourning Dove. I should have known it was a baby with the way it didn’t fly off right away. Similar to human babies not having stranger anxiety when they are very young.
Birders ARE TOO Cool!
Review of “Birders: The Central Park Effect”
I don’t watch a lot of TV because…
A. It is usually too noisy in my house to follow and I don’t like subtitles.
B. Even though we have a gazillion channels there is usually nothing on.
C. By the time I peel myself away from the computer, I am too tired.
D. I spend all my spare time at the mall shopping the sales.
E. All of the above, except D
My Life in Flags
We have a picture of me dressed up as Betsy Ross when I was about 5. Luckily it was the 70′s so I could wear one of my everyday full length calico dresses. Not sure what the occasion was but I remember the flag was handmade by my mom with a scrap of fabric and regular crayons.
Sparrow Preening
A Song Sparrow preening this morning (in slow motion)…
Preening is a very common bird behavior. They do it for a variety of reasons including to remove parasites and align feathers for optimum flight. I feel itchy just watching! Depending on the bird they may do it after a water or dust bath and may also be spreading an oil or power which waterproofs their feathers. I think it is impressive just in terms of balance!
What do you do to get ready in the morning?
It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! Beach Edition
Jots about the bird…
- Barn Swallows seem to really like the beach.
- Watch one take a mid-migratory sip here.
- They used to build their mud nests in caves, now mostly on man-made structures.
- A male may kill another’s babies in an attempt to break-up a mated pair.
- When it flies, I think it looks like a mini fighter jet.
Station Starlings
While pumping gas I heard a commotion above and looked up to discover a whole society of European starlings. There were about 10 I could see perched on the pipes and whipping in and out of girders where they have made their homes.
It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane!
Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!
Dr. Seuss Book Recommendations
In honor of Mr. Brown – try mixing up brown paint with the 3 primaries – so easy & satisfying!
Most of the little boys I have known incorporate sound effects into their play. When my brother was little he could recreate the sound of a car in need of a tune-up perfectly!
Maybe this is part of the reason why my son LOVES Mr. Brown Can Moo! This book is full of fun sounds! It’s a great introduction to Dr. Seuss for the very young and it’s also available as a board book. In my experience this is not a minor detail when you are buying books for toddlers! Continue reading