What the hell?

Pachyderms

2013-10-05T14:55:00.000-05:00

According to Merriam-Webster.com a pachyderm is any of various nonruminant mammals (as an elephant,http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pachyderm)

a rhinoceros,

or a hippopotamus

) of a former group (Pachydermata) that have hooves or nails resembling hooves and usually thick skin; especially ELEPHANT (

I've always heard it used in reference to elephants, so the inclusion of rhinoceros and hippopotamus was a nice touch. But it made me wonder, what other animals are included in this group?

Well mammoths

and mastodons

were but like the group Pachydermata, they are extinct. (By that, I mean that the group name Pachydermata is no longer an accepted group name among scientists.)

But tapirs might be?

And of course pygmy hippos are another question entirely.

I mean, the original classification was supposed to be for the larger animals.

Now days we know that the closest relatives to elephants are actually the manatee

and the hyrax.

So now I'm thoroughly confused.

Anyway, elephants are still considered to be sacred animals in Hindu culture (for example) and their god Ganesh is an elephant headed god. So here's a depiction of Ganesh:

I also found some beautifully done embroidery of an elephant on a quilt:

As well as some lovely artwork:

Such beautiful creatures!

Brand New Notebooks

2013-10-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

I freely admit to having a thing for brand new notebooks. And I don't mean this kind:

I mean this kind:

And this kind:

(I LOVE MOLESKINES!)

I even admit to owning one of these:

And while a lot of my notebooks look like these:

And are mostly notes taken in a class, or for a show that I was working on, a speech that I made, or even just my grocery list.

But I've gotten interested in notebooks like these artist journals:

Admittedly I wish I could draw as well as some of them do, but I find that looking at others work is still inspirational.

And just in the accumulating of pictures for this post, I found some more that I want to accumulate:

Yeah, I know. It's an addiction. But that last one is The Hobbit! Can anyone blame me?!

A Boat Tour to See Picturesque Little Ocher-and-Reed Villages

2013-10-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

When I was looking for images of ocher and red villages, the village that came up the most was Rousillon, in the Provence region of France. In fact, that was the only place that I could find referred to as an ocher and red village. And they are renowned for it. Five of the links on the first google results page are about Rousillon. (The others: 4 are about art for sale and 1 is about the Himba, Namibia's famous "red women" who paint themselves with ocher mixed with other things.)

So here are some pictures of the famous ocher and red village of Rousillon:

This one is my favorite however:

Honestly, it's because of the lavender in the picture. I love lavender.

I could not, however, find any reference of being able to take a boat tour to Rousillon. But bike tours seem popular. If you're interested, look here: http://www.tripsite.com/bike/tours/famous-villages-of-provence/

Orchestras

2013-10-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

I admit it. I was a band kid.

I played the B flat Clarinet:

The B flat Bass Clarinet:

The B flat Contrabass Clarinet:

(Yes, that is really how tall they are. Now imagine a 5' 2" or so 8th grade girl with one. Hilarious, right?!)

And the E flat Contrabass Clarinet:

My mother also started taking me to see the orchestra when I was about 8 and I begged her to take me. Yeah. 8. Not 18. 8. My music teacher, Ms. Berry, was teaching us about music instruments or the orchestra or something at Lincoln Elementary School in Albany, GA and I got it in my head that I should go. So I badgered my poor mother into taking me. It was a late night, and I was awake way past my bedtime. And I fell asleep. My mom or the applause woke me. I don't remember which. I just remember loving it while I was awake. And it became one of my favorite things.

I started playing music under the tutelage of Ms. Eartha Watkins at Highland Middle School also in Albany, GA. I learned all but the E flat Contrabass from her. I stayed after school every day to practice. I was diligent... and also, because I couldn't get the B flat Contrabass on the school bus. My mom had to pick me up and take me every day in my grandmother's old Chevy Malibu.

But this will remain the symphony of my childhood.

Give them a listen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAsya6t_G3w

Babies Who Never Cry

2013-10-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

I think this is a misnomer.

All babies cry sometimes.

They are not born with the ability to talk, so this is how they let us know that they need something.

They cry to let us know they are hungry. They cry to let us know they need a diaper. They cry when they are too hot or too cold. They cry when their onesie is scratchy.

New parents, be realistic with yourselves. Having had and raised as many children as I have, I can tell you this:

#1) All babies are different.

#2) All babies cry. (Yes, some cry more than others. Those with colic for example. But they ALL cry.)

#3) You may or may not be able to tell the difference in their cries. Don't think you are a horrible parent if you can't. You are mostly likely sleep deprived and it's not the end of the world if you can't.

#4) It's ok to admit that you don't know everything. That you are not sure of yourself. That you are exhausted. That you want nothing more than the time to take a hot shower and take a wash your hair without a baby needing you. You're human. You are not perfect.

Just remember, to that perfect little being that you bring home from the hospital, you are their world. And they love you just as you are.

The Groan of Ice on a Lake When the Temperature Has Flirted with Zero All Week

2013-09-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

So, I'm assuming that this is referring to the ice thawing, because I've never heard a frozen lake make this sound.
According to the Minnesota Climatology Working Group, lake ice actually starts to thaw from the bottom. (Did not know that!)

I am also thinking that maybe the colder climate of the more northern states make it possible to hear the lakes groan. (If you know, feel free to post a comment letting me know if my assumption is correct.)

That being said, here are some pictures of some lakes in the thawing process.

A Baseball Game Going into Extra Innings

2013-09-29T20:34:00.003-05:00

According to Sports Illustrated (on June 14th, 2013), there have been 110 extra inning games in the 2013 MLB season.

In 2011, there was a record set of 237 extra inning games.

As of September 25th, 2013, there were 239 extra inning games, breaking the previous record.

Part of the reason that the record was broken is that there are now more teams in the MLB than ever before. But no matter how you look at it, that's still a lot of games. With more than 30 games left in the season and post season, I wonder how many more extra inning games we will see this year.

And in case you were wondering, the longest game (inning wise) was on May 1st, 1920 between the Brooklyn Robins and the Boston Braves. That game was 26 innings long with the end score being a tie of 1-1.

And the longest game (time wise) that went into extra innings was the Chicago White Sox vs. the Milwaukee Brewers played on May 8th, 1984. Chicago won 7-6 and the game was 8 hours and 6 minutes long.

Headphones

2013-04-20T12:47:00.000-05:00

OK, so I grew up in the 1980's. These were the only headphones that I remember from that time period:

And this is what they looked like if you accidentally tossed them in your bag with your stuff...

I have also tried these:

They look like this on:

And I have to say, I hated them. Couldn't get used to the behind the head thing after so many years of over the head.

Another one I hate?
These:

They just don't fit in my ears. They hurt and they fall out.

My favorites are this type:

They fit snugly and securely, rarely EVER fall out and can be found in noise cancelling styles as well.

Although I do sometimes wear these for my job(s):

Always on my right ear. I don't know what to tell you, it just feels right.

And now for some fun headphones:

Owls

Gnome and Mushroom

Spiderman!

Wonder Woman!

Breakfast

Crayons! (Pick your favorite color!)

Cupcakes

Fast Food

My Little Pony

Stethoscope

And finally, possibly the most expensive headphones I'd most likely NEVER wear:


Swarovski crystal ear buds

Clam-Strewn Sandbars

2013-04-20T11:53:00.001-05:00

So in my mind when I think of clam-strewn sandbars, my mind thinks of New England and baking clams on the beach (not that I've ever actually done that). And it sees images like this:

But my experience with beaches is more Georgia (where I was born and grew up) and Florida.
MY most fond memories of beaches look more like this:

More of the hauntingly and achingly beautiful.

But the most beautiful I ever remember the beach being was when I was about 12 or 13. I was generally ostracized by every group imaginable. Even the church choir with whom I was on a weekend tour. We did a performance in Panama City. And before we left the next morning, I took a quick, almost predawn, walk on the beach. I remember the wind blowing my hair, the smell of the salt water and utter emptiness of the beach at that time of morning. It looked more like this:

But mostly this one:

The sun was a little orange ball just beginning to rise and I think it was the first time that I realized that the world was a whole lot bigger than the microcosm in which I lived.

Brass Decorated Cash Registers

2013-04-20T11:11:00.000-05:00

Some beautiful examples of these timeless classics. One look at them and you are automatically transported back to a simpler time that I am actually too young to even remember.

I can appreciate the incredible works of art that they are.

Sweet Potato Souffle with Miniature Marshmallows and Raisins

2013-02-06T21:19:00.003-06:00

This one sounds yummy. So, I went and looked up recipes. And they sounded yummy, too.

Most of the rest of the recipes were like what I grew up with, Southern style sweet potato casserole.

However, not many sweet potato souffle recipes called for raisins and marshmallows. Only one did that I could find in a reasonable amount of time. I'm going to have to give it a try!

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1950,150172-247198,00.html

Teakettles

2013-02-05T19:40:00.003-06:00

OK, so growing up in the Deep South, and having a VERY proper grandmother, I grew up having "tea parties" with all my stuffed animals and dollies (I didn't have many friends as a kid.). So, I LOVE teapots. Especially whimsical ones like these:

My daughter loves these:

This is probably not surprising that my 4th great grandfather was Roswell Gleason and is accredited as bringing silver plating to the United States. He made such lovely tea pots as this:

Anyway, so once my daughter got old enough we got her tea sets: A pretty Disney princess one (plastic) and a nicer ceramic one in bright (but still pastel, sorry I don't know how else to describe them) colors.

And what I envisioned was something like this:

Mommy and daughter having tea and a great time.

I'm realistic, I wasn't expecting these:

In all honesty, it never happened. What happened was more like this:

Not in such dramatic fashion, of course. It happened slowly, one cup and saucer at a time. Yes, even the plastic ones. (And let me tell you, they hurt when you step on them in the middle of the night and they will cut your foot open just as well as the ceramic ones will.)

I still have the hope that one day, she'll appreciate it, but right now, it's not going to happen. I hope that one day, before she's a teenager she'll want this:

And this:

But right now, I'd be happy if she'd just drink her cup of warm Celestial Seasonings Lemon Zinger with honey when she has a sore throat instead of leaving it on the dining room table.

A Baby's First Tooth

2012-12-01T10:03:00.001-06:00

Being a mom, I know that thrill of discovering that your baby has its first tooth breaking through the surface of those little gums. Of course, being a mom, I also know the crying and fretting and very little sleep that goes along with teething.

Then, of course, there's the drooling, the chewing on everything your precious little one can get in its mouth. And, something no one tends to think about, the heat rash that can occur under your babies chin and on its neck from all that drool and the wet clothing and bibs that sometimes hang out right there until you have 2 seconds to put them in dry clothing. (Probably because they have drooled on EVERY piece of clothing that they own and they are in their last sleeper with their last bib on and everything else is in the dryer.) Yes, I've been there.

But it's a momentous occasion for both baby and parents and marked in baby books and calendars everywhere.

My kids always got them in at least 2's. Sometimes 4's. One of my boys had all 4 of his front teeth break through at once. That was an interesting time. I had 2 toddlers and a teething infant. FYI, if baby wants to chew on your finger, (after washing your hands and removing any rings, of course) don't offer the tip of your finger. Bend your knuckle and insert it sideways for baby to chew on. Believe me, it hurts less that way. That has been my little one's favorite teethers for all six kids.

This one is demonstrating what I was talking about but you can't really see how they are doing it.

This also works too, and is definitely less painful than letting them bite down on the tip of your finger. Believe me, if they get the cuticle one time, you'll understand.

Starting to Make Things Happen

2012-11-14T21:35:00.001-06:00

There are a bunch of motivational cliches that go with this saying. "Stop waiting for things to happen go out and make them happen." "Things don't just happen; you make them happen." "Things do not happen. They are made to happen." "Just Do It."

And there are several websites dedicated to helping you turn your life around and make things happen.
FlyLady will help you get your house uncluttered and clean.
Making Things Happen is "An Intensive Designed To Fire You Up"
Makings Things Happen (this version) is apparently last years version of the above site.

There are books: Making Things Happen by Scott Berkun. See his website here for a preview.
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

My personal favorite is the 101 things in 1001 days movement on the internet. Check these out:
Day Zero Project
Scarlet Words (Tips on starting your own 101 things in 1001 days project)
And really, just google search for 101 things in 1001 days for tons of peoples lists and follow their progress in accomplishing the things on their lists.
If you can find it, mine is on livejournal. There have been a couple incarnations of it now.

Please share any other websites that you might know of and your own 101 Things in 1001 Days list. I look forward to hearing/reading your lists! I've learned so much from reading other peoples lists so far.

Moderation

2012-11-14T20:54:00.001-06:00

Moderation is the process of eliminating or lessening extremes.

We frequently hear "all things in moderation." Usually regarding food. After just watching an episode of "Not My Mama's Meals" I am completely understanding the saying. Holy cow the fat content of some of Paula Deen's food.

I'm not condemning her. Don't get me wrong. I grew up in Georgia. I know what southern food is like. But who ever thought of using doughnuts to make bread pudding! I think I'll take my grandmothers any day of the week.

I guess I'm lucky. I've somehow managed to lose a lot of my sweet tooth. I think chocolate cream pie is too sweet. I prefer scones and muffins to sweet breads and doughnuts. I mean, I'll occasionally eat a Krispy Kreme doughnut. I AM from the south after all. But wowzers, some of her stuff is just TOO sweet.

All things in moderation.

A Small Music Box That Plays The Blue Danube and a Tune from La Traviata

2012-11-12T20:43:00.004-06:00

When I think of music boxes, I instantly think of one like this that I had as a child. My grandmother was a prima ballerina in her prime and she had the same dream for me. Sadly, I'm sure, her granddaughter had weak ankles, and was never nick-named Grace, not even ironically.

One identical to this belonged to my grandmother. It was passed down to my mother and was sadly broken when my parents moved cross-country and in with us. This is a flickr site so I can't copy the picture. But it's broken pieces still sit in my house waiting for me to fix it. Which, in reality, will probably never happen. :(

Early music boxes were reportedly made by watchmakers and used clock parts and clockworks. The first popular ones were made by the Swiss because of the popularity of their watches.

Metal disks like this one were used to make the music back in the old days.

Now, the makers have switched to using cylinders like this one.

Some of my favorite music boxes are below.

The pretty butterfly one would be perfect for my mother.

This one is perfect for me.

Shadows Cast By Shutters Against Shiny White Walls

2012-11-11T21:29:00.002-06:00

Shutters have apparently been around since the ancient Greeks who made louvered shutters made of MARBLE! Yes, you read that right, marble. Can't even imagine the effort it would have taken to open and close those things. But talk about providing security. But security wasn't the only issue. Being as they are in the Mediterranean, they were also vulnerable to some pretty severe thunderstorms (think tropical storms) so marble shutters would also have helped keep out the rain and wind.

Nowadays, we tend to use wood and metal and polymer shutters. And please, make architects everywhere happy, if you are going to put shutters or faux shutters on your house, please, get the appropriate sized shutters. Bob Borson wrote a blog about it here, and I have to agree with him. It drives me a little nuts to have itty bitty shutters on big windows. Also, I think it's hilarious that he calls inappropriately sized shutters, "shudders." Have a read. He's a funny guy.

This is an appropriately sized shutter for it's window.

Now for the shadows. I think the shadows created by shutters are interesting. Not real sure if these are from shutters or from blinds, but from the larger shadow in the middle I'm going to count it as shutters.

This one is fascinating for the shadow of shutters across the shutters. So many lines going in so many directions!

The shadows on the wall combined with the ornate and pretty yet functional banister on the stairs is amazing.

I threw this one in because I had never seen shutters like this before. I've seen several other pictures similar to this now, but this was the first.

This flickr site has a LONG history of shutters if anyone is interested.

And this website has a lot of pictures of shutters. The ones for windows as well as the ones for cameras.

So anyway, sorry I didn't get more up today. I've got a gig tomorrow so I don't know how much I'll get up tomorrow either. But I'll get back to you as soon as I can!

The Position of Your Head as You Bite Into a Taco

2012-11-10T23:35:00.000-06:00

Have you ever tried to eat tacos without turning your head to one side? And I don't mean like my daughter and disassemble the darned thing and eat it with a fork either. Did you succeed?

From a taco eating competition

To tacos from a food truck

To just random girls

And random guys

Even celebrities can't avoid the head tip

Not even the first lady herself. Although I do think she looks more elegant eating one than I do.

But you gotta love that head tip. Not to mention all the yummy goodness inside!

A Lake Catching the Last Flecks of Sunlight Coming in Over the Pines

2012-11-10T23:20:00.000-06:00

Not living near a lake with pine trees any more or a lake at all for that matter, I have resorted to stea....borrowing... other people's picture of a lake at sunset. Do me a favor and go buy and visit them for me.

#1) http://peevishpen.blogspot.com/2009_01_01_archive.html It's about a third of the way down the page.

#2)http://www.skinnymoose.com/outdoorsmorgasbord/2008/08/ This one is about a third of the way down as well.

#3 & 4) http://www.upoverland.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=646 This guy took a trip up the Overland Pass. He has some incredible pictures as well as some unique camping equipment that I had never seen before. Fascinating and well worth spending a few minutes looking at his pictures.

#5) http://www.thelensflare.com/imgs/lilly-lake-sunset-3_636.html Lilly Lake, Utah. This was apparently where a lost Boy Scout was found safe and sound after getting lost about 5 miles away.

#6) http://www.treknature.com/gallery/photo24877.htm Lake Mindemoya, Ontario, Canada

#7) http://www.skimountaineer.com/Trips/CraterLake99/CraterLakeSunsetColor.html Crater Lake, Oregon. Not sure if it is a sunrise or a sunset and neither apparently is the photographer. But it's still pretty :-)

#8)http://www.campsitephotos.com/campground/Little-Crater-Lake/photos/Timothy;Lake;Sunset Timothy Lake, Oregon. This is within a National Forest Campground. And apparently they allow RV's. If I had an RV, I'd be planning a road trip.

The "Snuggle Right In" Feeling

2012-11-10T22:42:00.002-06:00

When the day looks like this:

Or This:

Then I want to wear something like this:

And this:

Curl up with one of these:

Or maybe a movie:

Or maybe even my favorite craft:

But who am I kidding? Knowing me, I'll probably have all three on/in the bed with me. And a carafe of coffee, too.

Sweet Fresh Corn and Tender Baby Green Lima Beans Drenched With Cream

2012-11-10T22:07:00.002-06:00

I can't find any recipes of of corn and lima beans together except for succotash. So here are two recipes that have lima beans with cream and creamed corn.

Stewed Lima Beans
Put the beans into boiling water, and cook until tender, but not till they fall to pieces. Fresh beans should cook an hour or more, and dry ones require from two to three hours, unless previously soaked. They are much better to simmer slowly than to boil hard. They should be cooked nearly dry. Season with salt, and a cup of thin cream or rich milk to each pint of beans. Simmer for a few minutes after the cream is turned in. Should it happen that the beans become tender before the water is sufficiently evaporated, do not drain off the water, but thicken with a little flour. A little flour stirred in with the cream, even when the water is nearly evaporated, may be preferred by some, or the cream may be omitted entirely.

~Every-day Dishes and Every-day Work by Ella Ervilla Kellogg, copyright 1897

Creamed Corn

Husk and clean silk from the corn. To cream 6 large ears of corn, which is 6 to 8 servings, you will need the following ingredients:

3 tbsp of butter or margarine
1/4 cup minced onion
1 tsp. sugar
Half and half or cream
Salt and pepper to taste

Cut the kernels off the cob into a deep sided bowl. This will help catch some of the corn as it splatters when trimming it off.

Stand the cob on end, holding on to the stem end. Using a sharp knife, slice down the side of the cob, cutting the kernels off.

Rotate the cob after each slice and make another cut down the side of the cob. Repeat this procedure until all the kernels are cut off the cob.

Then scrape down the sides of the cob with the back of the knife to remove any remaining pulp and milk from the cob. When all the ears are cleaned, set the bowl of corn aside.

In a large saucepan melt the butter over medium high heat and then add the onions. Sauté the onions in the butter until they are soft and translucent.

Add the corn and sugar. Stir to combine evenly. Cook over medium heat until hot and then allow the corn to cook another 3 to 5 minutes. Stir the corn often as it is cooking.

After the corn has cooked for 3 to 5 minutes, turn the heat to low and add 2 to 3 tablespoons of half and half to the corn. If the corn is still too dry, add 1 or 2 more tablespoons of half and half but be careful not to add too much. You do not want the corn to get soupy.

Add salt and pepper to desired taste and then bring the corn back to a simmer, cover, and allow it to cook another 5 to 6 minutes. Stir once or twice during this time. The corn should be tender when done.

Serve immediately while hot or cover and turn the heat down to very low to keep it warm until ready to serve.

~All About Sweet Corn (Check these guys out. Every way to cook corn imaginable! I can't wait to try some of them. Especially the grilled corn... next summer)

Also, I discovered on Polyvore.com that someone is doing essentially what I'm doing here, but she's doing it with clothes! So I'm going to add her posting for Sweet Fresh Corn and Tender Baby Green Lima Beans, Drenched in Cream here! And if you are interested, then you can look at her other clothing ideas across the top of the Polyvore page.

The Feel of a Rug Under Bare Feet

2012-11-10T17:18:00.000-06:00

Sorry, I tried to link the website so you could order these, but apparently they have been hacked.

This rug is cool. It even comes with those 3 wooden cars pictured for kids to play. You can order them from this design firm.

Now for my nerdy side!

You can order them through this Etsy page. They also have Zelda Tri-force rugs. And PS3 controller rugs.

For more nerdy:

You can find her instructions here!

A funny rug:

Bear Rugs!

Making your own rugs. My grandma used to do this. It's called latch-hook.

And finally, just a cute puppy on a rug!

Seeing the Moon Rise

2012-11-10T16:49:00.000-06:00

I remember the very first time I watched the moon rise. I was 14 years old and a Counselor in Training (C.I.T.) at Girl Scout Camp Okitayakani outside of Cuthbert, Georgia. I went down to the dock on the lake one night just to sit there and watch it.

I can't remember watching the moon rise since then, but I do notice the moon almost every night. I don't think most people even realize that the moon does in fact rise, just like the sun. Regardless, here are 2 time lapse photos showing the moon rising, one from the northern hemisphere and one from the southern hemisphere.

Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

Masterton, New Zealand

Kind of cool. I never thought about it but it does make sense that the moon would appear to rise differently in either hemisphere.

Reed Fringed Lagoons

2012-11-10T16:35:00.002-06:00

Langebaan Lagoon, Cape West Coast, South Africa great picture by Colin-Paterson James but copyrighted so go look at it on his web page.

La Janda, Spain Golden Plover Field. La Janda is a comarca (similar to a county) in the Cádiz province of southern Spain. This was once Spain's largest lake. It was at one point a haven for millions of birds, both resident and migratory. Sadly, the lagoon and its fresh-water wetlands were destroyed. Their water was diverted to support local rice growing efforts and the area almost completely dried up. The lake basin floods in the winter still however and many hope that it will one day be returned to its original status. It is now a part of the Los Alcornocales Natural Park. But that did not come soon enough to save Spain's last reproductive population of the Eurasian Crane.

Blue Lagoon, Queensland, Australia (Yes, it's real boys and girls!) This lagoon is the home of the world's southern most coral reef and was listed as a World Heritage site in 1982. There is surprisingly little on this lagoon to be found online. I suggest this travel site.

Bool Lagoon, Australia This lagoon is situated in southern Australia as well in the Limestone Coast region. It is officially a game reserve. Up to 150 species of birds can be found here. UNESCO also designated it as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The lagoon is not usually open for hunting but when it is, only steel pellets may be used as the lead pellets used in the past are another ecological issue.

Cuyutlan Lagoon reed workers. The Cuyutlan Lagoon is the largest in Mexico stretching over 31 miles. Its waters are a mix of fresh and salt waters. Its flora and fauna are protected but the reeds are still used today to weave hats and mats for floors. The mangrove trees nearby are the heart of the thriving eco-system and are the home to Canadian geese, eagles, hawks, cormorants, egrets, herons, pelicans, and others.

Oasis De Maspalomas, Spain While this is a tourist destination town in the Canary Islands, there are actually a lagoon and dunes here. The dunes are known as the Natural Reserve of the Dunes of Maspalomas. It was declared a Natural Protected Area of National Interest in 1987 and a Special Natural Reserve in 1994.

El Blanquito Lagoon, Venezuela. This small reed-fringed lagoon is in the Yacambu National Park which is on the southern slope of the Portuguesa Range. Yacambu has a lot of rainforest (and that is putting it mildly).The lagoon supports a variety of birds (like most of these lagoons) including the Rusty-flanked Crake, the Least Grebe, the Caribbean Coot, the Striated Heron, and the Green-backed Heron.

San Elijo, California Lagoon Ecological Reserve protects nearly 1,000 acres of habitat and 700 species of flora and fauna, including, you guessed it, lots and lots of birds. Snowy Egrets, the Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Anna's Hummingbird, and Cliff Swallows all are found in this beautiful lagoon in San Diego county. There are multiple trails and there are guided walks also offered.

Camargue, France Nature Reserve Lagoon is located south of Arles, between the Mediterranean Sea and the two arms of the Rhone River delta. Camargue was also named a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 1986 (see links under Bool Lagoon up above). Camargue is home to more than 400 species of birds including the Greater Flamingo. Also, apparently the mosquitos there are ridiculous so if you decide to visit, buy bug spray. There's also a roadside museum that provides history info as well as flora and fauna info.

Kwara Camp, Nigeria is on a lagoon in the open flood plains of the Okavango Delta.It is part of the private Kwara Concession and shares a boundary with the Moremi Game Reserve. Kwara Camp is owned and operated by Kwando Safaris. They appear to be a part of the Wilderness Wildlife Trust and the African Wildlife Foundation.

I know there are a LOT of mentions of birds in these various locations around the world but that's kind of the way it goes. They are precious wetlands that provide a safe place for endangered species. And Birders are really good at making webpages saying where certain birds can be found. :-)

Pajamas at Breakfast

2012-11-09T21:49:00.003-06:00

This one is a bit trickier. I don't want pictures of me having breakfast in my pajamas on the internet. And I would feel really creepy if I randomly google searched and put pictures of complete strangers having breakfast in their pajamas on my blog. So, I went vintage.

There are pictures of vintage pajamas and vintage breakfasts. (Since people from the past didn't seem to keen on having their pictures taken while eating breakfast in their pajamas either.) But there are a couple that combine them.

She's calmly reading the news while sipping her coffee/tea. Also, seems very well put together for early in the morning.

This one is interesting. Did some research. Mornidine was an early drug for morning sickness.

Random guy in a really frilly bed.

And this one is just wrong on so many levels. Why is she kneeling like a slave? Why did he wear a starched white shirt and tie to bed? And why on earth would yo put tobacco on your eggs? Feel free to guess along with me.

I want to title this one Making Use of Every Second. Or Please-tell-me-she-didn't-leave-the-baby-on-the-table-while-she-was-cooking

Corn Flakes!

I could do without the stewed prunes...

More Corn Flakes! But look!!! TANG!

And even the Australians liked Corn Flakes I guess.

I can't tell if these are a 2 piece set or a 1 piece, but they're kinda cute.

Ah, Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable!

No idea who this lady is but she has some elaborate pajamas.

And these are just indescribable. So elegant and gorgeous. But why she's wearing shoes instead of some form of house slipper is beyond me.

And last but not least, Sophia Loren. In pajamas. The epitome of sexy, even though she's wearing what appear to be mens' pajamas.